I've been thinking about getting a new bike now for a while- I've only got two- one my old Holdsworth (my first bike given to me at age 16 as my cousins hand me down -it's a very small Equipe, Holdsworth's 70's budget frame) which has become a singlespeed by default as it needed a new back wheel and the only 26x 1 1/4 size I could get wouldn't fit anything else. This is now my commute and round London bike. My second bike is a a Roberts Roughstuff which I love and can haul any amount of gear up practically anything and over almost anything on long tours. However, I also enjoy spending a day most weekends riding around (usually,) the Kentish hills with friends. I ride the Roberts on these occasions. However, it's a bit too much bike for this and I'm yearning for something a bit lighter, (and drooling over the amazingly light bikes everyone else seems to be riding) I've been looking for an old frame like my little Holdsworth (although it's steel, it's really light now it's stripped down to the basics) however, very small old steel frames are seemingly impossible to get so it looks like I'll have to go custom build again.
I was going to go back to roberts but a friend recommended Justin Burls - anyone else know anything about him- I've checked out the website and it all looks very good. But if there are any other opinions out there I'd be interested.
Jane
