Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Velo Fixe => Topic started by: Sergeant Pluck on 29 October, 2009, 10:39:14 pm
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It seems my employer's Bike to Work scheme does not include purchases from Condor. What alternatives are there to the Tempo?
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It seems my employer's Bike to Work scheme does not include purchases from Condor. What alternatives are there to the Tempo?
Does your employer exclude BikeHut (Halfords) from their scheme?
AIUI BikeHut can source / acquire Condor (and other notable brand) bikes to sell on....
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No Halfords as "they have their own scheme". I did note that on Condor's site they mention M. Steele as a dealer, but nothing more local. Good idea though.
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It's a bit difficult really, there's not actually that many off the peg fixed bikes with the more relaxed geometry like the Tempo - I've gone for a custom Paul Hewitt which is probably very similar (welded steel & carbon fork) but a tad more expensive - other than that I can't think of any nice lightweight steel bikes which come in that compact geometry/long-distance-all-day comfort variety. As Craig mentioned, it's worth checking out the Ridgeback/Genesis models.
How is it that Condor are excluded? Is your company not using Cyclescheme?
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The scheme my employers are using is Bikes for the NHS. They did contact Condor on my behalf - my understanding is that they cannot get a big enough discount to make it work for them ::-)
I was thinking of Pearsons as one possibility.
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I was thinking of Pearsons as one possibility.
Then the Hanzo is definitely worth looking at.
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If I hadn't got my Tempo then the others on the list were the Genesis Skyline (now the Ridgeback Solo) and the Pearsons Hanzo.
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If I hadn't got my Tempo then the others on the list were the Genesis Skyline (now the Ridgeback Solo) and the Pearsons Hanzo.
I'd never have thought of the Ridgeback - certainly gets decent reviews, cheers for that. Might also have the advantage of being a bit less tempting to the scrotes when parked up.
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The Pearson Hanzo is a mighty fine machine.
A Satisfied Hanzo Owner
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My choice would be buoily on a Salsa Casseroll frame. Old fashined dropouts (+ hanger for geared conversion), takes guards and is reviewd as being a sprightly and comfortable ride. Takes decent tyres sizes. Clubmate has one as a witer bike with veritable balloons on the rims. Not so many about either. Like a proper all-rounder bike should be.
Fixed
© Salsa Cycles 2009 (http://www.salsacycles.com/casserollCompSS08.html)
Geared (should be a BR review on this)
© Salsa Cycles 2009 (http://www.salsacycles.com/casserollComp08.html)
Also, take a look at the new Pearson Touche... Almost as sexy as a Tempo!
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Interesting, Fab Foodie, thanks.
The thing about the Tempo that I like is, aside from the reported ride quality, by all accounts the dropout arrangement lends itself well to faff-free rear wheel p* repairs with mudguards in situ.
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The scheme my employers are using is Bikes for the NHS. They did contact Condor on my behalf - my understanding is that they cannot get a big enough discount to make it work for them ::-)
I was thinking of Pearsons as one possibility.
These scheme works by asking a percentage of the bike. Condor and SJS refuse to hand them the full 10% they ask arguing that margins on bespoke built bikes are lower. When I got my fratello I was hesitating between a thorn audax and a condor fratello ::-)
If you buy a Condor on the cyclescheme, they will pass you down half of cyclescheme commission (5%), may be you could try to find a similar arrangement?
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The thing about the Tempo that I like is, aside from the reported ride quality, by all accounts the dropout arrangement lends itself well to faff-free rear wheel p* repairs with mudguards in situ.
This is really not an issue with any sort of dropout - though people seem to imagine that it should be.
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Do you just move the wheel forward, drop the chain off the front and then take out the wheel - for track ends?
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I like the look of the Gary Fisher Triton (http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/triton)
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I'm just sticking secu-clips to rear mudguards (those little plastic safety bits that come on the front of sks guards) to save any faff with pulling the wheel out with track ends. However if you just set it up so that the wheel sits nearer to the rear of the track ends and leave enough clearance to the rear mudguard then it's not a problem anyway.
The comment about Condor/SJS passing on 5% of the cyclescheme cost to the customer is fair enough and is actually more widespread than you think - Hewitt's quoted me an extra 6% for a full custom build. Condor/SJS are charging for custom build i.e. choice of components etc. like they always do, not for a custom frame which I thought was a bit cheeky but then realised that their pricing is very competitive compared to large volume manufacturers buying bulk OEM so they must have their margins down low enough to make a 10% discount very painful indeed (especially as there's very little available for less than £1K!).
The pertinent question is WTF are Cyclescheme doing to justify taking 10% from our local bike shops - they must be making an absolute fortune although as a local bike shop owner mentioned to me, the impact of signing up to Cyclescheme as a shop can be massive with some outlets having 50%+ of turnover on new bikes through the scheme.
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I like the look of the Gary Fisher Triton (http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/triton)
So do I. Thanks!
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Do you just move the wheel forward, drop the chain off the front and then take out the wheel - for track ends?
yes. Or use secu-clips on the guard if it's a fat tyre
In my experience, you can get away with fatter tyres with rear-facing dropouts - big tyres can sometimes stop you moving the wheel far enough forward for the axle to clear the end of a long forward-facing dropout. If so, you have to deflate the tyre to get the wheel out.
I must say that the dropout design has never worried me - most of my bikes have rear-facing ones, but some have forward facing. It really shouldn't be an issue.
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The pertinent question is WTF are Cyclescheme doing to justify taking 10% from our local bike shops - they must be making an absolute fortune although as a local bike shop owner mentioned to me, the impact of signing up to Cyclescheme as a shop can be massive with some outlets having 50%+ of turnover on new bikes through the scheme.
+1
I don't understand why LBS don't set up some kind of organisation to bypass Cyclescheme!
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With forward facing dropouts I've never had any hassle removing the rear wheel, or needing to unclip the mudguards. If you have to with track ends then, compared to my experience, it's more faff. If you don't then it's no extra faff at all anyway.
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With forward facing dropouts I've never had any hassle removing the rear wheel, or needing to unclip the mudguards.
I have, though
If you have to with track ends then, compared to my experience, it's more faff. If you don't then it's no extra faff at all anyway.
Secur-clips take a fraction of a second to unclip and second or two to reclip. If you have skinny tyres you don't need them.
I've also had dropout-splay with forward-facing dropouts...
As i say, i have no real preference - there are pros and cons to both. It's certainly not a given that rear-facing dropouts are inherently more faffy.
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Same scheme my employer, NHS, is using.
I wanted a Brompton and have had to go through Pearsons as my LBS doesnt use BftNHS.
Pearsons have been really good with comunication etc, I am about 9 weeks into a 12 week waiting list.
The scheme my employers are using is Bikes for the NHS. They did contact Condor on my behalf - my understanding is that they cannot get a big enough discount to make it work for them ::-)
I was thinking of Pearsons as one possibility.
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I got a Pearson Hanzo on the C2W scheme through Halfords. I had to do all the ordering over the phone as I am miles away from their shop. Found them very helpful and I am very happy with the Hanzo.
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I noted today that I have until 22nd Nov to take advantage of this. Colleague in work has just ordered a steel Langster - way too trendy for me although I do like it. Too trendy for him as well TBH though I daren't tell him :) He'll have to undergo a full makeover to be able to ride it.
I guess a trip to Pearsons in Sutton might be a reasonable move. I do like that Gary Fisher, but I can't see much in the way of reviews of it. No mudguard eyes on the fork but it would suit the new-fangled Cruds.
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Fairly sure the Triton is more-or-less equivalent to last year's Lemond Filmore, so might be worth looking for reviews of that, too. I thought the Filmore seemed a pretty nice bike and I considered it myself for a while -- but by the time I was looking seriously, the size I wanted was getting thin on the ground.
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Yes, AIUI it's a Fillmore rebranded, basically, after trek fell out with Lemond, apparently, and Fisher wanted to get into road bikes (they also do a range of decent geared road bikes, too).
I liked the Fillmore - nice classic look to it, understated etc - but it was a bit heavy. In OYB, I asked them to get the Triton down, and it was lighter. I noticed (and this may be the reason) that the components seemed to be a bit higher spec. The 2009 Triton is black. The 2010 is a pale blue. None too sure about that, so I wish I had £500 cash now to get one of the last 2009 models.
I see a guy on a Fillmore from time to time on my commute. I've never felt bold enough to quiz him about it. I'm shy.
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Salsa Casseroll
Who sells these in London?
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They have the really useful link to a distributor who then has this:
http://www.ison-distribution.com/ison/english/finddealer.php
Meaning that a stockist is highly unlikely, but a 'can order it inist' is possible.
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Thanks, saw that and have asked Ison for London dealers (if any). Unlikely to be interested if I can't have a spin on one.
Edit, FYI:
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Casseroll Single.
This is a bike that we don't officially bring into the UK and so there are no dealers stocking it, so nowhere to physically go and see one, my apologies.
However the good news is that we can special order them and it only takes approx 5 weeks, it could be quicker depending when in the month the initial order is placed.
FYI, Mosquito Bikes have shown interest in getting this bike from the states before so it would be a good place to start by asking them.
If you do not fancy a trip north of the river then Brixton Cycles are an excellent stockist of Surly and Salsa stuff and they would be able to get hold of one for you in the same way.
I hope this helps and if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact me
best regards
Patrick
Patrick Joscelyne
Western Sales Manager &
Brand Manager for Salsa and Surly
Ison Distribution Ltd
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If they have the same frame built up as geared then that's all you need isn't it? Get a feel for how it rides and how it fits?