Dave Marsh Track Frame
March 16, 2007
Picked up my new Dave Marsh Track Frame, was my first chance to take some photos today. Roberto kindly collected the bike for me from Manchester. I bought it from Phillip Ingham who works for British Cycling. It came as a complete setup bike with some really cool parts, but I just put my Mavics, Ergostem, Miche seatpost and Icaselle saddle on for the pictures. The Miche Cranks and unbranded headset came with the bike.
I rode it for a few days, but its a touch too big for me at 56cm. Its mint and looks fantastic, although I’m not too sure whether I will keep it or not. Some nice offers please! Anyway I’ve gone back to my Tommy Godwin, which just rides like a dream.
March 24, 2007 at 11:26 am
I like your site and all the great pictures of fixed gear. So get this, I generally ride my mountain bike around because it’s New York City and sometimes the sidewalks or streets have craters or whatnot. I went to my local Bicycle guy and he showed me a single speed, everything set w/o having to actually read all those sites, because I mean, essentially, I just want to ride. The whole fixed gear thing has become so interesting now and I just was wondering if I should invest in one that’s pre-built or should I actually get an old roadbike and just convert it?
March 27, 2007 at 11:34 am
Hello mate, sorry for the late reply. Well it is entirely up to you. I bought a pre-built bike for my first single speed. When you buy a pre-built straight out of a shop it is probably money well spent. However I did end up selling it after just 2 months. Not because it was a bad bike, it is just that I personally like to customize my possessions and my bike was no exception. If I spend GBP400 on a budget single-speed I could ride it straight away, I mean I enjoyed picking it up, riding it for the first time and showing it off to my friends. Although I already had ideas about upgrading each of the components, and in doing this, the total cost would just not be worth it. So I sold it.
With the money I could buy a frame, some wheels etc and build my bike. But the effort, care and sweat that was involved, I can say is priceless. It’s getting closer to what I had envisioned in the first place, but I am making subtle changes all the time, all the while I educate myself more and more about bikes.
In answer to you comment, I would recommend a single-speed pre-built if you just want to ride and keep it for a long long time. A converted road bike may save you some money and may also educate you a little about each of the components and how important they contribute to the “ride” of the bike. Mountain bikes to single-speed is a very good advance in city type riding and is highly recommended.
Which bike to start off with depends entirely upon your character and personal taste. You know yourself best and you know what you like. Therefore it depends if you can justify spending the money on a pre-built. I couldn’t so thats why I built my own. If you are already interested by the single-speed phenomenon, then now is has never been a better time to get involved. There is so much support available from bike shops and the internet. Riding can just be riding, which enjoyable but riding and learning can even be an entirely new and more satisfying experience. It was for me.
I think the best thing for you to do is just start riding as soon as possible and you will soon know what you want.