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Footflaps you know how you’re saying it looks weird for people to pursue a vendetta against On One. Yeah, the opposite of that…
I'm starting to wonder they're on the payroll.
I wasn't sure what the opposite of vendetta was so I had to Google it. Apparently.......agreement. calm. forgiveness. harmony.
I'm not getting that from footflaps.
Twodogs
Full MemberSo what you meant to say was “literally every one of those frames that went out that people on the internet complained about”
OK so your alternative theory is that they ordered their frames in, they arrived, they post them out and loads of people get the wrong bolts because they'd specced the wrong parts and didn't do any QC, but some got the right bolts despite the spec error? Does that seem more or less likely than them all being wrong?
(if you care, which I doubt you do, I didn't see even a single person say "I got the right bolts" in all of those threads, not a one)
When I got that month’s payslip, I was dismayed to see that my hourly pay had been stopped before I’d reached the hospital.
Yorkshiremen, making the Scots seem generous since the Romans
For the record, my Scandal frame arrived last year with the correct bolts.
Hasn't Dave Loughran now left the building taking some of the randomness with him? I've always had okay - ie: perfectly normal - experiences with On One, though I factor in a sort of 'One One' expectation premium, so I accept that if I've misjudged the time to stop the On One spinning price wheel of doom, bike prices may go down as well as up. And I don't expect the 400 quid Dirty Disco frame I bought from them on eBay to be finished like a Santa Cruz.
They were one of the pioneers of direct web-selling, which is easy to forget now that loads of people do it. Anyway, if I were looking at that sort of market right now and didn't want the On One factor, I'd go Sonder (aka Alpkit) who are decent people [waits for tales of woe]. The ongoing problem right now seems to be finding anyone with anything in stock for immediate delivery.
Anyway, gotta love nostalgia, though it's not what it used to be.
Technically, to lose charm then they had to actually have charm in the first place.
Not sure about that....
Technically, to lose charm then they had to actually have charm in the first place.
The initial charm was the cheapness, an instant magnet to the majority of bike riders who are as tight as a gnats chuff
Then being early adopters of 29er etc
Then selling to niche needs, SS etc
Back in the day there wasn't much competition for what they offered, now there is lots
Back in the day there wasn’t much competition for what they offered, now there is lots
Really? At similar prices and spec?
I'm considering an On One purchase, possibly a Whippet or a Scandal. I can't find anything that looks as good at the same price - certainly nothing that's in stock
The initial charm was the cheapness
B&M is cheap, doesn't mean it's charming!
Cheap with decent design was part of the attraction.
The main attraction for me was they produced singlespeed bikes without the enthusiast tax.
Pompinos, the original Scandal. I still use them.
BTW I don't understand why folk think the Pompino felt dead. Mine certainly didn't and it's been well thrashed. Could it be the complainers fitted a cheap wheelset with crap tyres, that can make any bike feel like a slug.
I think it's a shame they never proceeded with the Ti Pompino. I bought the Lynskey built prototype, it's a lovely bike to ride, climbs like a goat.
Just had a quick look at their accounts.
Year, Turnover, Operating Profit (pre tax etc)
2012, £11.6m, £1.3m
2013, £12.8m, £1.8m
2014, £20.4m, £0.4m
2015, £20.0m, £0.1m
2016, £18.3m, £0.1m
2017, £20.0m, £1.1m
2018, £15.0m, £1.9m
2019, £12.7m, £1.1m
2020, £15.1m, £1.2m
Not a bad bussiness. Sales fluctuate quite a bit year to year.
That big 2017 jump in Operating Profit must have been when Brant left and they were no longer paying his wages.
Really? At similar prices and spec?
Depends on exactly what you are looking for but e.g. big dog frame is the same price or more expensive than pipedream, cotics, stanton, bigwig, Sonder, ns, Nordest. Well, you get the idea. When you factor in the superior materials and finishing in the others it's no contest.
That big 2017 jump in Operating Profit must have been when Brant left and they were no longer paying his wages.
Seems to have been headcount reduction down from 118 people to 91 with a salary cost of £2.8m down to £2m, so saving £800k.
They cut again the next year as well: 91 down to 60, going from £2m to £1.4m wages bill.
Depends on exactly what you are looking for but e.g. big dog frame is the same price or more expensive than pipedream, cotics, stanton, bigwig, Sonder, ns, Nordest. Well, you get the idea. When you factor in the superior materials and finishing in the others it’s no contest.
The cheapest Sherpa complete build is £900 more than the most expensive Big Dog build.
Not ridden a sherpa, but with all the stiffness standards these days I'm not sure i'd be able to tell the difference.
The paint on the big dog is rubbish though. If I was a frame only kind of guy, I'd buy the Sherpa just for the pain job 🙂
The cheapest Sherpa complete build is £900 more than the most expensive Big Dog build.
Yeah, I know. I was just comparing frames though. The complete build prices tells you what on one's 'real' frame price is.
The big dog wouldn't be my first choice, except it's one of very few steel frame, not too radical bikes with rack mounts.
At £149, you could get it repainted. At £699 you could buy something better.
My experience; a couple of inbreds and scandals from the Brant incarnation then nothing until I couldn't resist the dirty disco of about 6 years ago. Rear mech hanger broke 2 weeks before a holiday and they managed to stop me taking the bike with me by selling me the wrong hanger 3 times ( the replacement on the website didn't fit) fast forward to last year and a scandal from the auctions they had was too good to resist. Tiny paint chip and a cracking frame for little money.
Bought the tempest just before the evergreen knocked back the delivery by 6 weeks. They sent me everything they had and the frame( I was always swapping that 1x nonsense out) and £100 credit. Unlike my previous experience and what I had seen in the past with the London Rd seatposts, they seem to be trying to screw the nut.
to last year and a scandal from the auctions they had
I got a raw hello Dave frame then 🙂
I think people are right thou they were the first to direct to public model then everyone else jumped on the bandwagon and the worlds moved on.
Also probably a brand for bike riders than bike polishers and I do think they opened up the market for ti bikes without the boutique pricing.
At £149, you could get it repainted. At £699 you could buy something better.
You would never actually buy at £699 though would you? Anyone after frame only would just wait until they have a temporary price reduction to £300 or something like that.
I had an Inbred and a Pompino many years ago and they were fine for the price but that price was in the £100 - £200 area.
Oh we haven't had a good fight / slagging thread on here for ages.
My first was a red 456, loved it, my best days on a bike were on it, Torridon, Ben Macdui etc. Shortly afterwards I got a Scandal with sliding dropouts and gear hanger. Built it Single speed, that bike was rapid and a lot of fun for a XC flying machine. Frame is still hanging in the shed. Replaced the 456 with one of the original Ti456 on eBay. Still hasn't cracked. But when it came to treating myself to a new bike 2 years ago I never even considered On-One. I'd stopped looking at the rubbish on the rubbish website long ago. Their pricing annoys me now and I couldn't be bothered trying to work out the difference between models. And all the socks I've bought have been rubbish.
You would never actually buy at £699 though would you? Anyone after frame only would just wait until they have a temporary price reduction to £300 or something like that.
I wouldn't, no. They seem to think someone will, though. So they are treating some people as mugs. The point was in response to the similar price and specs comment.
Given anyone who knows them knows it's a £200 frame not a £700, why would you even price it there? They must know they are only going to sell to the hopefully limited number of people who they can mug. To everyone else the are just proving on one is still on one.
Given anyone who knows them knows it’s a £200 frame not a £700, why would you even price it there?
If you can sell a few at that price you are quids in. Maybe sell others on eBay at a more realistic price, say they are shop soiled or something to justify the price difference and bingo everyone is happy. Well, apart from those who paid top whack and still received a biffed frame hanging out of it’s box but c’est la vie
re: the VAT etc - nor do many US sellers or any european sellers that ship to the UK.
I bought a 45650b ages ago and experienced all the negatives on here.
I recently bought a London road as i wanted a cheap frame for my turbo. Unbelievably it came withouth BB threads drilled. Fully expected a horrendous experience but in fairness to them their service this time was faultless and I had the frame back and a brand new replacement (having purchased a "second" off ebay) all within a week.
They are a price point lower than everywhere. Something has to give.
or any european sellers that ship to the UK.
I’ve never paid EU/German VAT since brexit. If a company is charging it, I buy elsewhere.
I do think they opened up the market for ti bikes without the boutique pricing.
I wouldn't dispute that but I think Airborne aka Van Nicholas should also receive some credit. I remember a time long ago when Tri UK were knocking out at the bike show Airborne mtbs for £1k.
Admittedly it was many years ago but at that time a Ti MTB would easily cost more than double that.
Coincidentally I was talking to Paul Smith formerly of Enigma Bikes yesterday who claimed that up until it was sold all OO ti frames came from Van Nicholas.
Coincidentally I was talking to Paul Smith formerly of Enigma Bikes yesterday who claimed that up until it was sold all OO ti frames came from Van Nicholas.
It always amuses me when other people in business comment on other business peoples business.
Why on earth would Enigma know (everything) about On-Ones sourcing?
Well I did say "claimed". I know he has a close personal relationship with Van Nicholas so I assumed that it was based on that.
Very happy to be corrected though. My point concerning Airborne/Van Nicholas still stands though.
Is that the former San Andreas riding journalist Paul Smith? Or another one.
I don't know what a San Andreas riding journalist is so probably no.
Oh rite. Ok. Well I could tell you stories about the San Andreas riding journalist, On-One, Van Nicholas, and various titanium factories I’ve visited around the world.
But I don’t work for On-One any more (left in Nov 2019) so I’ll just keep watching.
They seem to be doing ok!
Well I could tell you stories about the San Andreas riding journalist, On-One, Van Nicholas, and various titanium factories I’ve visited around the world.
Get it published and I'll buy the book.
If you can sell a few at that price you are quids in.
AKA mug the unwary
Maybe sell others on eBay at a more realistic price, say they are shop soiled or something to justify the price difference
AKA lie.
and bingo everyone is happy
Never, ever seen that in an on one thread.
Well, apart from those who paid top whack and still received a biffed frame hanging out of it’s box but c’est la vie
Au contraire, c'est S.O.P at on one.
Which all adds up to not a great way to run a business.
I had one of the original Planet X Ti Pro Road bikes and that frame was made by Van Nicholas so I expect other On One Ti frames of that era were aswell.
I had a 2nd gen Inbred, 1st gen Tinbred and the Ti Pro Road and they were all great for the price, back in the day. Not what I would buy these days, but they are great when needs must.
Well I did say “claimed”. I know he has a close personal relationship with Van Nicholas so I assumed that it was based on that.
I mean, for instance, not sure how that explains the ones that were made at Lynskey. 🤔
Not what I would buy these days, but they are great when needs must.
Cool story bro 🥰😘
Weird flex*, but ok
*yes that too.
I mean, for instance, not sure how that explains the ones that were made at Lynskey. 🤔
Yeah maybe I'm misrepresenting what he told me and he didn't mean "all", can't remember the exact words and I didn't write it down.
But as I've already said I'm happy to be corrected. The point I was making is that Airborne/Van Nicholas also deserve some credit for making Ti more affordable.
But I don’t work for On-One any more (left in Nov 2019) so I’ll just keep watching.
They seem to be doing ok!
I suppose this is actually another point to be taken on-board that they have been around for a fair old time and perhaps they haven’t ‘lost their charm’ but over time we’ve changed.
I suppose this is actually another point to be taken on-board that they have been around for a fair old time and perhaps they haven’t ‘lost their charm’ but over time we’ve changed.
Salsa stems certainly aren’t what they were.
they have been around for a fair old time and perhaps they haven’t ‘lost their charm’ but over time we’ve changed.
Maybe. They have changed too. They used to do things others didn't, at prices that were reasonable. Now they are doing largely what everyone else is, and getting beaten on price/service. Maybe they have lost their way a bit.
cromolyolly
Free MemberGiven anyone who knows them knows it’s a £200 frame not a £700, why would you even price it there?
The law- you have to actually sell the item at the high price, before you're allowed to say "£500 off".
I mean, they don't always bother, there's products that land on their website discounted from day 1, but you can't do that every time and not get in bother.
The law- you have to actually sell the item at the high price, before you’re allowed to say “£500 off”.
True but that only matters if you care about some theoretical discount. If you sell the frame at £200, does it matter if it's £0 discounted? Sure, some people will only buy if it's on sale. Plenty more will buy it because it's a 'good' price, even if it's not on 'sale'
The law- you have to actually sell the item at the high price, before you’re allowed to say “£500 off”.
You have to offer it for sale at the higher price (for a set period, 90 days I think?) but I don’t think you have to actually sell anything.
So what you meant to say was “literally every one of those frames that went out that people on the internet complained about”
I’ve got two, I never complained about either of them. The paint on the Inbred 853 is still on the frame, or it was last time I looked, but I haven’t ridden it in years.
The 567 is developing an interesting patina, but it barely had any paint on it anyway, just a thin coat of matt clear lacquer over bare metal.
That one looks like it’s built from scaffold poles, but the top and down tubes are the same size, to take a 7” single-crown fork, or dual-crown fork, and it’s got the gussets for it as well. Proper hooligan hardtail, it rides beautifully with a pair of 6” travel Nixons on the front.
That’s one of only two ever made, no idea what happened to the other one.
Thread resurrection for a bit of a moan. I ordered a Planet X Tempest Ti in August and was given a build date of late September. They emailed me beginning of Sept to say there was a delay and I would get the bike late October, and offered me some freebies as compensation, which seems fair enough. So I was delighted to see them advertising these on FB at the weekend with availability in 7 - 10 days. I could cancel my order and start again but that seems like a faff.
So I was delighted to see them advertising these on FB at the weekend with availability in 7 – 10 days. I could cancel my order and start again but that seems like a faff.
Spec probably different, a widget is probably delaying yours
I could cancel my order and start again but that seems like a faff.
Email their customer services - I've (genuinely ) found them very pleasant and helpful.
I got my new On-One Rocky Road a couple of weeks ago after two delays. I can't remember exactly but I think I ended getting it about 3or4 weeks late.
The first delay was because of frame arriving a week late and the second delay was because of the forks, although I could have had it sooner if I had accepted their offer of different forks.
Considering the global situation I was perfectly happy with the outcome. I also found them extremely helpful when contacting them via Live Chat.
On top of that I'm really pleased with the bike! So far.
Cheap bikes for students, they got many friends riding having fun. The old DJ frames were great, although the hardcore frame mis-positioned-bottle-boss-frame-cracking incidents cut a few riders short (everything warrantied).
Personalities aside, the frames they put out got people closer to the sport.
They used to feel like a bike company that designed bikes.
Now they feel a bit like buying from Ali express.
As above, give the live chat on the website a go. It might be something silly that's holding it up like bar tape colour, tyre choice, saddle, seatpost etc that they may be able to swap.
They used to feel like a bike company that designed bikes.
Now they feel a bit like buying from Ali express.
Yea, it used to be that their branded kit was half decent quirky catalogue stuff like the big nose saddle or twelfty seatpost.
The el guapo seatpost though must be the heaviest (thus cheapest?) seatpost I've ever had! And the saddle the bike came with was very good value (RRP something silly) but didn't fit me.
They emailed me beginning of Sept to say there was a delay and I would get the bike late October,
Remarkedly good really. My Orbea was delayed by several months last year!
Can't really remember any poor service from On-one.
Some of their kit has been pretty incredible when I think about it, things like:
- Original Scandal frameset (loved mine, it was light, well made and the matte paint finish was classy).
- Twelfty seatpost (I must have have 4-5 of these over the years and have never had any issues with them, where's I've snapped the head or bolts on plenty of other makes of seatposts).
- 26" rigid singlespeed Inbred in pearlescent white c/w swappable dropouts (it may have been made of gas pipe but this is probably the 'one' bike I regret selling).
- Planet x Team Aluminum road bike (was a great bike especially as this was my first road bike).
- Stainless steel ss chainrings (these were something like half the price of a Surly one but was just as well made)
- Singlespeed sprockets (these things were/are seriously tough and last a long time)
- Various cheap USB lights (had a fair few over the years which have all been great)
- Grips (another fantastic product)
- Handlebars (again, I've had several pairs over the years and all have been great value and very well made. Not scared of doing some wacky designs either).
- My brand new Hello Dave is great value, has been built well and looks the bomb (imo), was delivered when they said it would be to the day.
There's bound to be more that I can't remember but I can only think of positives when dealing with On-one. I do think this is mostly to do with the periods that I've bought bikes from them, this was either circa 2005-2010 and circa 2016-2021. The gap in the middle was when the kids came along and I couldn't afford new bikes or much kit. Maybe it was in the years 2010-2016 that On-one's quality dropped off?
I have had a few frames from them over the last 15 years or so, always decent value and they have never been shy about sorting out an issue. (Except a set of their road wheels that used cheese for the freehub)
At the moment their frame prices seem high Vs complete bikes but that is the market right now if they want to shift bikes due to short supply. They do still have some good deals that come up periodically and overall offer decent value.
I do see the view of some frames are just cookie cutter catalogue rebrands, does not make them a bad bike in some instances if backed up by more domestic service/warranty.
As for their website, I think it's pretty good, better than numerous big online bike shops.
Their bike brands can be confusing at times with multiple bikes that look just like each other but with different brands and sometimes with different prices. Their up and down pricing can also be a bit annoying but at least they have stock (mostly) compared to other makes where you struggle to even buy a bike due to stock shortages or under supplying stock.
Anyone ever do a thread on Alpkits iffy quality and stock shortages? Suppose you can't always have cheap, quality and next day availability.
Cheap bikes for students
You are joking, right? You know that when most most folks think of the cost of a bike, they're thinking hundreds not thousands of pounds. For "most" people On One bikes are way beyond what they'd ever think about paying for a bicycle.
Most students round here are £50 eBay specials, or the "two sizes too small" bikes they had as Xmas presents when they were 11.
Cheap bikes for students
You are joking, right?
Maybe they meant STW undergraduates who will later buy boutique?
Spec probably different, a widget is probably delaying yours
No, identical spec. Customer service reps I've dealt with seemed good so far, which was one reason I was annoyed - if they were that good why hadn't they let me know the bike could be available sooner. Sounds like the 'available in 7 - 10 days' bit was an error, they have changed it now.
I reserve judgement of the bike until it arrives but I ordered one of the Whippets that were discounted and showing in stock on Saturday with free postage, got an email to say it was being built Sunday, then message from DPD saying it would be delivered Monday. I had to put it off until tomorrow but for all the horror stories I've been very impressed so far.
i got my first bike from planet x/on one in feb (ti spitfire road bike).
i have to say i love it and it was at a good price also (that i could afford,always wanted a ti road bike).
i would definitely buy another bike from them if i had the money.
I have their Free Ranger which i have converted to a full road bike - i love it! Well priced, well made and to be fair my experience with Planet X customer service was superb.
You are joking, right? You know that when most most folks think of the cost of a bike, they’re thinking hundreds not thousands of pounds. For “most” people On One bikes are way beyond what they’d ever think about paying for a bicycle.Most students round here are £50 eBay specials, or the “two sizes too small” bikes they had as Xmas presents when they were 11.
Students who actually ride bikes as a hobby was how I read it, i.e. us lot however many years ago. Although most of the MTBers in my uni club had Ragleys and we all rode Ribble winter road bikes.