Not the ideal start to the year...
My Langster has died and I want something similar to replace it with. It appears single speed bikes are getting rare as commuters, specilalized seem to have stopped making Langsters....
What alternatives should I be looking at?
Any bike and fit a singlespeed kit.
I use a carbon Ridley xnight cx bike with a wheels manufacturing eccentric BB. Been great for about 4 years. Dones thousands of miles on it. Just nipbup the chain slack every few months.
Genesis Day One
Do they make a Day One anymore?
Do they make a Day One anymore?
They do but it's an aluminum frame and not the same as it used to be.
You should always buy a nice commute bike because it's the most used scoot you own, therefore I would have a Condor Tempo.
You should always buy a nice commute bike because it's the most used scoot you own
There’s a lot to be said for that, I spent years commuting on cheap bikes and then finished off alternating between a steel fixie and a really nice steel colnago - much nicer experience.
Review of the Spa Mono
https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-magazine/bike-test-spa-cycles-audax-mono-fixed-wheel-bike
Thanks all, Condor looks really nice, but the Dolan might help the bank balance better 🙂
Genuinely loved that Langster, during lockdown it was my escape for a few months there...
+1 for singlespeed-ing a regular bike, I've used the first components external eccentric bottom bracket on a couple of singlespeed builds now and it works really well and looks much cleaner than a normal tensioner.
Damn, what made me start Googling
Bombtrack Arise Glossy Coffee black Medium https://share.google/fYjwz42zEPIXljo4p
And then I had a play on ebay and discovered Lynsky have an outlet. Other sizes available...
I'm trying not to make this into a dream build, but a Lynsky frame... if I go do this route I'll end up with a gates Nicolai...
I’m all nostalgic for my Kona Paddy Wagon now. That was a hell of a commuter bike. If you can find one of those 2nd hand…
I'm trying not to make this into a dream build, but a Lynsky frame... if I go do this route I'll end up with a gates Nicolai...
No mudguard or rack mounts, would be a rubbish commuter. I've told myself.
If you’re in the 5’9-6’1 territory, I have a very nice Kona Band Wagon for sale which has had A LOT of money spent on upgrades (Phil Woods, Royce, Chris King, etc)?
Reynolds 531 steel frame. Kinesis carbon fork, tubeless tyres, Surly Tuggnuts, H-Plus Son 42mm depth rims in custom anodiser orange to replace the boat anchors which were on there originally.
Only for sale as I barely use it. I am the original owner.
Specialized tricross. Single speed and fatter tyres. Cheers toi
I have a 2021 Bombtrack Arise singlespeed (42/18 gearing). I use it for commuting and winter road rides. It's dependable and comfortable on the mostly rubbish road surfaces where I ride it. Over time i've swapped most of the components for better quality as it's not light. I've used it for big road rides and even a 5 day bikepacking trip in Spain. Great bike.
Still got my Langster.
Hardly ever use it these days as I don't have a commute that'd work with it but it did over 100,000 miles to and from several workplaces for many years.
It's a complete Trigger's Broom of a bike now, almost everything on it has been replaced (sometimes two or three times over) but it was a great bike.
The limitations on tyre width are a pain now though, so used to everything being much wider!
Mine is a 61cm so if that'd suit you, let me know!
Get on eBay/facebook and find another Langster. When I looked a while back there were loads for sale. I have a Tricross which as someone mentions above I can fit slightly bigger tyres in and as a SS commuter/town bike its perfect. I keep thinking about getting rid and getting something a bit fancier but my dented, battered Tricross probably does more mileage than my other bikes put together, requires zero maintenance and despite it looking like a POS with its "custom" hammerite paintjob, weighs sub 20lbs and absolutely flies. Weirdly one of my favourite bikes.
The only other thing thats really tickled my fancy is a Paddy Wagon (but I think its far too fancy for what I'd use it for) or another old skool Cotic Roadrat (had 2, both nicked). Other than that, my Roadrats felt comparable to old skool 90s steel Konas - maybe one of those with a SS kit but then you're restricted to 26" wheels.
That Kona is an absolute beauty. 👍👍
I've got a Langster and Tricross singlecross. Both well used for year-round commuting, but now sitting idle in the garage.
If you are 5'10 and want one, then I could use the garage space.
Temple Cycles do a lovely steel 'Classic' Singlespeed as a flatbar or dropbar build for £895:
https://templecycles.com/products/classic-singlespeed?variant=49808680681758
I have their Adventure Disc and it's beautiful to look at and ride.
Cinelli Tutto Plus is a nice frameset too, and some dealers knock out some really cheap full builds but on that one it's V-Brakes rather than calipers if that's an issue.
If we're on STW, which we are, and recommending nice bikes, which we seem to be, I'll recommend doing what I did.
I bought a Singular Peregrine in 2010, 2011?, built it up cheap and SS for commuting originally, but it's seen pretty much everything since, plenty of XC, Finnish winter camping and CX races, 100 mile road rides, TdF stage finishes towing two kiddies in a trailer, goodwood circuit,
A bike for life that will end up being about 20 bikes. Commuter in the week, who knows what at the weekend?
Thanks all for the offers of a bike. @Crazy-legs your offer is tempting but that many miles on an Al frame and I think I'll be back here in the Spring :-).
@Daffy, that Kona looks amazing, just not a big enough frame for me....
I think I'm erring towards new and cycle to work scheme. The Nicolai Argon is off the list as my online costing is putting up with my G1! Pinion, gates will have to wait...
Shortlist, probably a geared bike that when the south Manchester grime kills the groupset I'll singlespeed. Gravel for wider tyre clearance, that was my biggest issue with the Langster.
Singular look beautiful, but I need to reign in the spending.
So Sondor look like an option, maybe a Boardman.... the search begins...
Thanks all for the offers of a bike. @Crazy-legs your offer is tempting but that many miles on an Al frame and I think I'll be back here in the Spring :-).
@twistedpencil Fair point! 😉
However I'm also South Manchester / High Peak so if you want to see it (or even borrow it while you get something else sorted), drop me a line.
Some mega cheap precursas out there s/h - good commuting bike for S Manc. Was just looking for a new fork for my one and was surprised what they were going for. Stock fork is tight on a 28 tyre.
I have a Genesis Flyer. Horizontal dropouts so no need for a tensioner. Cable routing is there so could put a hub gear on if I wanted too. But really lke the simplicity for this time of year.
Do they make a Day One anymore?
They do but it's an aluminum frame and not the same as it used to be.
You should always buy a nice commute bike because it's the most used scoot you own, therefore I would have a Condor Tempo.
Agree with this. I have had several pompinos, a paddywagon and a condor tempo. All were great but the Condor is a lovely commuter. Ironically I think Daff’s commuter was part of the inspiration for it many years ago.
I would agree with the comments above about mudguards, rack mounts and bottle cages being important.
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Merlin still have some of those SS hybrid ebikes in stock for ~£450, like the one Poopscoop tried to buy last year.
Very quick update.
North West Mountain Bike Centre and Specialized have been amazing. I have a new base model Allez, under warranty!
First ride in today, feels good so far. As I wear out the drive train it will become a singlespeed :-).
Never expected this result.
Thanks all!
Steve
Mine is an old clunker I bought on eBay. Paid less than the hope brakes on it were worth s/h.
It's a charge cooker, with a weird planetx carbon fork. Pretty frankenbike but comfortable and I've used it off road.
Never expected this result.
Specialized are amazing with warranty. I remember working in a shop when a guy bought in one of the very early lugged carbon frames which had de-bonded. It was years old. Replaced, no questions asked.
I'll keep riding my Langster, see what happens if/when that dies! 🤣