Owning just one bik...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] Owning just one bike is silly.

47 Posts
32 Users
0 Reactions
124 Views
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Well, scientific research over the past two and a half weeks on my part has revealed that to be the case at least. I set off for a late afternoon ride on the hottest day of the year on dusty trails that are a no go area over winter. Within 50 yards I'd stopped because the bike felt wobbly- I blamed the main pivot bearing, although I'd just replaced it a month ago. Got off to have a look and found this-

[img] [/img]

I'd bought this bike as a replacement for three bikes, and until now the plan has worked. While it's being sorted out I needed something to ride- no bikes for two weeks has made me grouchy and it's doing the wife's head in. With a strict budget of £300 I have built this for the pricnely sum of £295. Weight is 27.5lbs (ironically 2lbs heavier than the 6" travel full suspension bike it's standing in for) and ride quality as yet unknown, but I'll find out in the morning.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 4:52 pm
Posts: 3271
Full Member
 

Thats a very nice bike for £295!

Personally I work on quantity over quality - I get on fine with £1,000 bikes so rather than have an all singing all dancing £4,000 superbike i've got a garage full of perfectly adequate hardtail, full susser, singlespeed and fat bike - and just pick whats best suited for where I fancy riding (and whats not broken!)


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 5:02 pm
Posts: 4315
Full Member
 

How did you get new looking SIDS on that with a budget of £300?


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 5:04 pm
Posts: 13192
Free Member
 

That bike is far too clean, go and get it dirty.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 5:06 pm
Posts: 1748
Free Member
 

When you say £295 did you have some parts spare in the shed that you used also?


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 5:15 pm
 m0rk
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Good stealth / n+1 bike


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 5:27 pm
Posts: 13164
Full Member
 

So a refinement of n+1 such that this is greater than 2!


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 5:38 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I had the bar, front mech, cranks, stem and saddle. Scrounged the shifters, rear mech and cassette.

Frame was £50 with seat post and headset.
Forks £120 from pinkbike.
Wheels and tyres £40.
Brakes £64 from Ribble.
£20 for the powder coat and stickers.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 6:15 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Why do you have your name on it?


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 6:54 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Its lukes mates name, sentimental. Leave it at that


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 7:38 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Bikeneil, it's the name of my old racing partner who was killed last year. We had a deal when we started racing that if I beat him he had to put my name on his bike, if he beat me I had to have his name on mine.

I'm not so crass as to have my own name on a bike!


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 7:44 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

That blue is awesome, is the frame steel or alu?

Is the saddle set at riding hight? Looks a little lofty.

And as per others you have done very very well to put that together for £300.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 7:51 pm
Posts: 7812
Full Member
 

I like that. Broom needs straightening the head should be parallel to the wall.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:05 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

It's steel. Lord knows what the blue is, I dropped it off and they said "yeah, we're doing a blue on Monday. OK?"

Saddle is at bike fit road bike height, may drop it an inch but it's a very low but long 18 inch frame which length wise is just about perfect.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:07 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Broom queries should be directed to the wife. Obviously.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:08 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Your Spesh was 25lbs?


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:23 pm
Posts: 7812
Full Member
 

Are you not supervising her? 😉


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:23 pm
Posts: 45504
Free Member
 

Are you sure you fitted the crankset correctly there Luke?
Niice bike.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:27 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Chunky, it is 25.5lbs, yes. Silly light.

Matt, is this a reference to my previous form? ;);)


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:32 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

that's a sexy cheap bike


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:36 pm
Posts: 45504
Free Member
 

Maybe. 😆


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:39 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Looks ace Luke.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 8:55 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I really wish I hadn't seen this. I literally just paid for a second hand carbon stumpy frame.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 9:05 pm
Posts: 8318
Full Member
 

Wife should be told it would be far more efficient to keep the broom by the bin.

That does look very nice and I really like the idea of remembering someone by carrying their name on your bike, I can think of no higher honour a friend could confer on someone, I hope he rides with you for many years to come.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 9:26 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I ache, its the only one I've ever heard of cracking, and I used to work in a dealer, I wouldn't worry. Also, carbon can be repaired so it being secondhand shouldn't make much difference.

Avdave- thanks, seeing it provides extra motivation.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 10:28 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Wish I could manage to find deals like that and make something that nice for £300.


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 10:49 pm
Posts: 41395
Free Member
 

Nice luke


 
Posted : 28/03/2014 10:58 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I know your right, it was just awful timing with me opening the thread.

I hope you get it sorted and while your waiting that kona looks great.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 1:49 am
 JoeG
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Awesome bike for the price! I like the frame color, too.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 3:13 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

what frame is it?


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 5:14 am
Posts: 828
Free Member
 

If I brought a bike inside my wife would beat me with the broom, no radiator in the garage 🙁


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 5:16 am
Posts: 1
Free Member
 

Is that crack really just a sticker to help justify the new arrival (which is very nice by the way) ?

If it is, I doff my cap sir, splendid move. Well done.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 6:28 am
Posts: 110
Free Member
 

Looks lovely.

Where are you getting frame powdercoats for £20? That's a bargain. I struggled to get a steel fork done in black for any less than thirty, tried my three local places in leeds.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 6:44 am
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Dicky- my bikes live in our house, normally in the basement. This was only allowed upstairs because it was brand new.

Jaymoid- Express Coatings in Sheffield.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 8:20 am
Posts: 12
Free Member
 

Dicky- my bikes live in our house, normally in the basement. This was only allowed upstairs because it was brand new.

There's the same rule in our house 😉

That's a lovely looking bike, regardless of budget!


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 1:24 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Some serious bargain hunting gone on there and a excellent end result.

Currently in the process of doing something similar due to being skint and fancying a change.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 4:56 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Feels ace to ride i can testify


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 5:05 pm
Posts: 11937
Free Member
 

That is a lovely-looking bike.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 6:03 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Had a go today and it was nice. Nice racy position sand comfy. I had forgotten the eyeballs rattling in my skull feeling of riding a hardtail. Good stuff. It got properly mucky too.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 7:55 pm
Posts: 1670
Free Member
 

Is it a Steely? If so, let me commend you on your choice of frame, I've had one about 2 years now and it's great.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 7:59 pm
Posts: 1612
Full Member
 

Damn tidy bike!


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 8:00 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

It's a buffer, so pretty much a steely, yes.


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 8:22 pm
Posts: 1205
Full Member
 

I agree about the one bike thing. My frame and my forks seen to be on a constant warranty repair rotation 😕


 
Posted : 29/03/2014 8:30 pm
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

And lo, I am now a two bike man again. Sort of- the freehub bearings are totally dead. They were pretty much dead before the frame went, but two months in my cellar means the bearings have rusted solid. And the brake pads are worn out, which I'd forgotten about.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 21/05/2014 8:35 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

nice


 
Posted : 21/05/2014 8:38 am
 D0NK
Posts: 592
Full Member
 

nice
prefer the look of the kona myself.

but I'm sure it's nice to ride.

I agree 1 bike isn't enough but it's a short, very easy step from that thought to way too many 🙄
I have too many, can't seem to rationalize it down tho and still got a couple of niches I'd like to cover.


 
Posted : 21/05/2014 8:43 am
Posts: 7544
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I'm not really aiming to fill niches fortunately- the Specialized is light enough that the Kona will get very little use, it just does everything nicely.


 
Posted : 21/05/2014 8:46 am
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Bikes are like wives really. Whilst having 1 is conventional, owning more than that opens up new and potentially unexpected opportunities for riding.......

(although watch out, the maintenance costs can go up with the square of the number owned)

😉


 
Posted : 21/05/2014 9:15 am

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!