there arnt that many sandersons around i no of 1 shop that stocks 1-2 frames all others in bristol have to order
Turner & Nicolai - not on the high street santa cruz is.
sofaking what are the first two? up against the gate and lying in the leaves
Although Turner are available from CRC & Merlin, technically MTB high-street, non?
As was said above by treemagnet..
Ibis Mojo?It was boutique when I bought it (first one in the country) but seem to be reasonably common now.
the same could be said for all manufacturers of really good bikes that last, are reliable and push the technology envelope and those that make frames that appeal to those who want something other than the norm...
sofaking what are the first two? up against the gate and lying in the leaves
phil wood piss off's
phil wood piss off's
Both fakes.
all my bike are fakes 😛
i get them from the same bloke stu and the tollah use on fleabay
I love Matt's bikes, always tasteful, never overdone, I would struggle with the justification personally, however Matt can probably get away with it 🙂
Does this count?
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Probably a collectors item very soon.
another one of a kind...
My TIXXIX
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WTF is that?
Dual front ring & no mech, dubiuos tensioner & SS on the back, I would say it may qualify as nieche, but boutique... no.
I lime the spoke mounted patio lamp, that's a nice touch!
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ant that's still nicer to look at than that TIXXIX effort 😯
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my solitude, being ridden...
Your Crown Jewels ok?
Would boutique be a bike that the majority of those sold would be frame only (and pretty spendy at that) whist Niche would be made to order, only as a frame (and pretty stupid and pointlesss i.e. a Jones)?
I'd list as Boutique:
Turner
Santa Cruz
Nicolai
Titus
Ibis
Litespeed
Dean
Merlin
That sort of thing
Niche:
Jones
IF
Anything made in some blokes shed etc.....
Mainstream:
Mostly Alloy stuff made pretty well in big factorys like kinesis.
I'm not sure were bikes like One On's fit, but they arn't really niche, or mainstream and not at all boutique'y' IMO 😕
I'm not sure were bikes like One On's fit,
in the LIDL/Aldi section 😀
Yup custom bikes are pointless and Stupid, A little like your post then.
Yup custom bikes are pointless and Stupid, A little like your post then.
And why's that? Just trying to clarify where i think things stand for me anyway. What's your beef?
No beef really, you're just talking out of your backside as most people on here seem to when they talk about something they clearly know nothing about.
I think my hardtail is 'niche'
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Wouldn't think of riding it though. It's art; innit? 😉
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These used to be uncommon
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This is 'boutique'
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would my ventana el capitan 29r be described as boutique??
Not sure if boutique, but I do love it and there are not many out there in the Tweed Valley 😉
A few battle scars since these pics were taken. Stans flows added too.
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🙂
tollah - MemberNo beef really, you're just talking out of your backside as most people on here seem to when they talk about something they clearly know nothing about.
That's a interesting angle! I wrote this based on what i see as stock kept in bike shops that have the reputation as being 'boutique'.
And I'd thank you not to make assumptions about people and what you think that they know. You do not know me. Idiot.
to be fair I think tollah was taking exception to your comment about custom bikes being pointless rather than boutique bikes from slightly less mainstream companies such as ellsworth, sinister, brodie etc...
Niche would be made to order, only as a frame (and pretty stupid and pointlesss i.e. a Jones)?
see in the above quote you are clearly talking bollards as a custom bike is specifically designed to the riders needs and wishes without all the little compromises that have to go on boutique or mainstream frames.
Didn't realise 'boutique' = (generally) fugly
tazzymtb - Membersee in the above quote you are clearly talking bollards as a custom bike is specifically designed to the riders needs and wishes without all the little compromises that have to go on boutique or mainstream frames.
Not really what i meant, if that was the interpretation. What i meant was niche would be like custom frame (which i do own a couple of, and i would class as niche'y') and also the more (i apologise for saying pointless, i'm sure that they are just the ticket for some folk)like the Jones's. And by referring to these i was meaning their production frames, which you could just buy off the shelf, but still seen as a niche i'd say, as they are certainly outside what most would consider mainstream design. Not their customs. I did not state that all custom bikes are pointless, the point is that unless your a mental or your frame builder is then your custom frame would be any thing but pointless.
Niche and boutique are largely interchangeable words when it comes to the bike industry aren't they? Custom is a bit different, it has a much broader spectrum.
I'd guess most people on here have custom bikes in that even the bikes that have been bought off-the-peg have been modified in some way since then, even if it's just a change of tyres - your bike is still customised to your preferences. Doesn't make it niche or boutique though.
crazy-legs - MemberNiche and boutique are largely interchangeable words when it comes to the bike industry aren't they? Custom is a bit different, it has a much broader spectrum.
Grey area I reckon, i still maintain that niche is something a bit different than the mainstream in actual design. For example you could have a custom Nicolai, but is it considered Niche? As you see quite a few Nicolais around, but if you see say a Soulcraft, bought off the rack then would it have more niche value? I say the whole pigeon hole'ing' thing is muddy so say the least. It's very subjective.
meeee! meee!, pick me! my bike is best! I spent so much **** money on it it must be the besssst!? no concur? oh bum, I could've got that patio. 🙁
I'd list as Boutique:
Turner
Santa Cruz
Nicolai
Titus
Ibis
Litespeed
Dean
Merlin
That sort of thing
So is my little Rock Lobster not 'boutique' then?
(Sniff) 😥
meeee! meee!, pick me! my bike is best! I spent so much **** money on it it must be the besssst!? no concur? oh bum, I could've got that patio.
Innit though? 😆 What a load of bolleaux...
This time.
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I did say '[i]that sort of thing[/i]' I could not be bothered to list anymore, and remember it's just an opinion, and only mind at that. And apparently i don't know anything about bikes anyway. 😛
meeee! meee!, pick me! my bike is best! I spent so much **** money on it it must be the besssst!? no concur? oh bum, I could've got that patio.Innit though? What a load of bolleaux...
I must however, agree with that completely.
Is this booteek?
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I neither know nor care. 😉
"So is my little Rock Lobster not 'boutique' then?"
no, just not expensive enough, anyone could buy one of them! you poor bastard, I bet you eat beans, haha! That brand list above though, seems so commonplace!. everyone knows the names. what you want is something reeeeeealllly expensive. Then you will truly be sh!t hot! and indeed, a better person!
I think the ultimate bike, is something you build yourself. Go on a course or something, learn some skilz, weld it together. design it. Love it. That'd be amazing. "what is that bike?" "this, oh I made it, you like?". That's boo fukin teek!
alex, don't worry, it's just stw, opinions are 10 a penny dude:)
you poor bastard, I bet you eat beans, haha!
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Member that bloke we see dahyn Battersea that time, in the petrol station? With the nice hand made bike what he done himself? That was lovely, that.
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Niche, boutique, canadian, bin.
yeah, I remember Elfin, that's really stuck with me. I could win a million pounds tomorrow and buy any bike I want. But I could never have a bike like that. Something truly personal. It'd probably have a few things wrong, rubbish welds, etc. but it'd be MINE.
Well, I'm really upset. 😥
I posted a pic of my dirty lil Inbred and nobody but nobody admired it. Didn't even get flack for those huge bar ends.
Actually, just a thought, it's about enjoying being on the bike regardless of whether the fanbois love it.
Yer right Kev; yer right. Sums it up perfectly I think.
CG; unless yer bike's ridiculously overpriced, has odd sized wheels or looks like an old lady's shopping bike, this lot aren't interested...
We all enjoy being on a bike C-g, that's a given. It's this "boutique" word, it's about exclusivity and expense to gain admiration from your peers, and being better than johnny inbred, and all that crap that they bang on about on those o-so political threads. It's got little to do with having fun on a bike. which is sad really.
Jones Fat or Thin wheel option - Niche - [s]Tick[/s]
Carbon Forked Rigid Niner Air 9 - Boutique - Tick
Gary Fisher Rumblefish - Niche - [s]Tick[/s]
But what's this when it arrives hopefully in 4 weeks time?
Niche or Boutique
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Kevevs - MemberWe all enjoy being on a bike C-g, that's a given. It's this "boutique" word, it's about exclusivity and expense to gain admiration from your peers, and being better than johnny inbred, and all that crap that they bang on about on those o-so political threads. It's got little to do with having fun on a bike. which is sad really.
YMMV...
it's just opinion. and I can be an opinionated git. so hey ho!
YMMV ❓
YMMV?
YMCA?
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@Kevevs - it's all in the eye of the beholder but i do think some ppl try a bit too hard?
Well, I refuse to justify the bikes I have. We all make choices in this world.
But I enjoy my dirty lil Inbred as much as the silly ones - they are all individuals. Bit like me really. 😉
mattp - if riding bikes and having fun, which is what we do right? is about visual aesthetics. Then bring on Penelope Cruz!
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done the mainstream stuff and odd ball boutique niche stuff since the late 80's. I've got the point where now I just have what works for me. which is a mix of common as muck and a few nice bits which suit my priorities/desires for light weight fast and fun bikes. Couldn't give a rats bumhole about the label or brand just the function, hence why my bikes usually get a slating for looking like swamp donkeys by the mainstream trailcentre fat boys and the nichwhores alike.
you lot can have handbags at dawn I'll just leave you to it and go and enjoy myself if that's ok?
Tazzy -that is NOT Penelope Cruz.
no 'cos she is munter IMO and I'd rather shave my eyeballs and then spray mucc-off in them than see her horiffically gurning mush.
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"done the mainstream stuff and odd ball boutique niche stuff since the late 80's. I've got the point where now I just have what works for me. which is a mix of common as muck and a few nice bits which suit my priorities/desires for light weight fast and fun bikes. Couldn't give a rats bumhole about the label or brand just the function, hence why my bikes usually get a slating for looking like swamp donkeys by the mainstream trailcentre fat boys and the nichwhores alike."
Here lies wisdom! good one tazzy.
JohnClimberJones Fat or Thin wheel option - Niche - Tick
Carbon Forked Rigid Niner Air 9 - Boutique - Tick
Gary Fisher Rumblefish - Niche - TickBut what's this when it arrives hopefully in 4 weeks time?
Niche or Boutique
Brat
I have to say that the bikes I ride most are Specializeds and a Mondraker, but then again I designed my supernicheboutique bike for different conditions, so now I only tend to use it on the beach.
Where would we be without Morgan Aeromaxs (my hardtail) and Paganis? Everyone would be driving Golf GT (Stumpjumper) Focus RS (Orange 5) and Audi A4 sportlines (Turner 5Spots).
Ibis Tranny
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Nicolai Helius AM
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