Hi there,

I need a new bike for commuting and I'd like to try to buy british but can't afford a properly expensive (i.e. 4 figures) bike.

Most of the components are made abroad (unavoidable), but there must be some opportunity for UK engineering effort.

In terms of spec, either fixed or alfine hub gear, and ideally disk brakes (cause I haven't had them before), straight handlebars and no suspension. I don't want to get a Brompton because I want proper wheels. I accept I might get a slightly low spec for the money, but I can feel supercilious which will make up for it.

Any thoughts on bikes that have a higher than average UK content or at least UK owned?

Closest I can get is Pace 4216 (which does look very pretty)

Matt

not overly good with bikes,but are the chris boardman range not uk made?

Cotic?

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Originally posted by daniel mason
not overly good with bikes,but are the chris boardman range not uk made?

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Paul Milnes.
On-one.
Charge.
Dawes.
Claud Butler.
Ellis Briggs.
Pashley.
Ridgeback.

Amongst others, although as you say, not many do much in the way of UK production.

quote:

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Originally posted by gazza285
Paul Milnes.
On-one.
Charge.
Dawes.
Claud Butler.
Ellis Briggs.
Pashley.
Ridgeback.

Amongst others, although as you say, not many do much in the way of UK production.

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Pashley?

Woodrup cycles?

Best I could manage, I'm sure you could throw some flat bars on if you wanted to!

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/day-one/day-one-disc

quote:

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Originally posted by jossey
Pashley?

Woodrup cycles?

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quote:

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Originally posted by gazza285
Paul Milnes.
On-one.
Charge.
Dawes.
Claud Butler.
Ellis Briggs.
Pashley.
Ridgeback.

Amongst others, although as you say, not many do much in the way of UK production.

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thanks for your help with this.

Matt

Easiest way would be to get an old bike.

Get yourself a Norman, They even named a street in honour of the Factory.

im sure claud butler are totally made in north linconshire

ive had them for years...

IC

Interesting thread

I've been cycling to work since October, im now thinking of getting a proper bike, mine is a cheap cheap piece of rubbish but hey, it was given to me & has done ok so far but showing signs of imminent failure !

I will be selling my Vespa in the spring & putting some of the money towards a new commuter bike, I have been looking on pauls cycles website at last years models but wouldnt have a clue what ones (if any ?) are made here on british soil ??

My budget is going to be around £450 so not in the big league this year but I too would like disc brakes because this winter, the old school rubber brake pads have had me worried a couple of times

Re: Norman. Can't be bothered with fixing a bike up as it is a commute bike so won't get any love.

Plan is to buy a new one, run it for about 15000miles which is 5 years (replacing tyres, brake pads, chains/rear-sprocket) after which time I can get a new one again. Last time around it was a Specialized Langster (2007), but that is failing (knackered Bottom Bracket, grinding from rear wheel, and I've neglected the tyres, brakes, drivetrain a bit too much) to that needs moving on.

Bikes are like cars, very expensive to build from bits. I save loads over driving to work, so don't mind buying new.

Matt

p.s. Cotic sounds promising, at least they design the frame and put the components together onto it.

p.p.s. From what I can gather Claud Bulter are owned by Falcon who in turn are part of the Tandem Group Plc. according to their investor presentation they ceased production of bicycles in 2006 and manufacturer "Manufacturing outsourced to Far East and Europe".

Hi Matt

I have 2 uk built bikes, an orange mountain bike and a Dawes road bike an i'm very pleased with both.

Both were bought 2nd hand from eBay at good prices , the orange was just the frame (old o2 hardtail) and swapped over the running gear from my old bike and the Dawes was a giro 500 complete bike (changed the bars to triathlon aeros now)

One thing we can still make in the uk is good bikes!

Ash

I had a Dawes hard tail MTB for a few years, and it served me well. I only sold it because I bought a norco (canadian) full suspension bike.

As mentioned above, the Claud butler/falcon cycles factory is in Brigg, in North Lincs

Dave yates brilliant frame builder was involved with joe waugh years ago, now doing his own thoing. I'm no cycle buff but my lad poicked up a waugh and it was a fantastic bike until he out grew it.
Hth
Mike

quote:

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Originally posted by Davey D
I had a Dawes hard tail MTB for a few years, and it served me well. I only sold it because I bought a norco (canadian) full suspension bike.

As mentioned above, the Claud butler/falcon cycles factory is in Brigg, in North Lincs

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Check out state bicycles.

A guy I work with bought a fiixie from them and its absolutely cracking! He's also said the customer service was one of the best companies he's ever dealt with.

Here's a pic of the bike he bought....




[Edited on 20/1/13 by johnny chimpo]

I used to race bikes n kona n orange are my favourite orange for people shorter and kona do longer frames so better for me as I'm 6ft 3.

Shame they ain't British.

I would only now buy kona :-) long frame and I broke one and they took it away n built me a nee one with the old parts n up new parts on the bis they couldn't re use :-)

Pashley are the closest to production in the UK, they make their frames and stuff.
Prices are high, but not mental like the custom built stuff. They are not a slave to fashion.
If you want a small wheel bike the Brompton and probably Moulton.

The test of whether its made here is that if it is then they will show a factory tour on their website. If they don't then most likely the frames are made elsewhere, and maybe the whole bike is made elsewhere.

Sadly, you're pretty much more likely to find a chocolate tea pot than a mass produced british bike.

There's stilla few frame builders (Bob Jackson-Leeds, ChasRoberts-London, BrianRourke-Stoke) that'll build you a bespoke frame but that'll cost. Just about everything else come in from the far east.

For your spec (apart from the UK bit) THIS Kona looks OK. Evans site is pretty good for browsing different models. The current Langster is in there long with other fixed bikes (but all drop bars and no disc brakes apart from the very nice/expensive BMC).

Do the Uni'opereate the "Bike to Work" scheme? Worth looking into, as it basically gets the the bike tax free so saves about 25% (payment made from salary before tax/NI)

Probably not what you want but British designed and made.
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/
http://www.brompton.co.uk/

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Originally posted by iank
Probably not what you want but British designed and made.
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/
http://www.brompton.co.uk/

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quote:

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Originally posted by matt_gsxr
Hi there,

I need a new bike for commuting and I'd like to try to buy british but can't afford a properly expensive (i.e. 4 figures) bike.

Most of the components are made abroad (unavoidable), but there must be some opportunity for UK engineering effort.

In terms of spec, either fixed or alfine hub gear, and ideally disk brakes (cause I haven't had them before), straight handlebars and no suspension. I don't want to get a Brompton because I want proper wheels. I accept I might get a slightly low spec for the money, but I can feel supercilious which will make up for it.

Any thoughts on bikes that have a higher than average UK content or at least UK owned?

Closest I can get is Pace 4216 (which does look very pretty)

Matt

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Do the Uni'opereate the "Bike to Work" scheme? Worth looking into, as it basically gets the the bike tax free so saves about 25% (payment made from salary before tax/NI)

quote:

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Originally posted by swanny
Do the Uni'opereate the "Bike to Work" scheme? Worth looking into, as it basically gets the the bike tax free so saves about 25% (payment made from salary before tax/NI)

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Unfortunately as others have said, all (i'm pretty sure) the mass produced frames are made in the East. The only British built bikes are the specialist frame builder bikes. You could add Dolan to that list above as well.

A it sounds like you just want a commuter bike just go with the flow.

If you want an EU made bike then there are quite a few companies who still make everything in the EU. Orbea for example are Basque based (they prefer that to being called Spanish!) and make their bikes including frames. Of course the groupset will be Japanese or you could choose Italian Campag. Very good bikes they have a team in the tdf.

However I paid as much for my Orbea as I did my car so it might be more than you want to spend.

I don't think orange are UK are they?

quote:

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Originally posted by jps

Wouldn't bother with disc brakes - heavier than rim brakes - and the only people more obsessed with weight saving that sports car builders are cyclists...

For commuting i'd be looking for a frame you can fit proper mudguards to as a priority! Country of origin would have to come after that - no-one likes getting into cold, wet clothes for the ride home at the end of the day...!

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How about this guaranteed made in britain approach....


http://www.framebuilding.com/index.htm


I have a pile of 1" chrome moly tubing and am sorely tempted to make myself a frame - brazed bottom bracket looks a doddle

quote:

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Originally posted by Theshed
How about this guaranteed made in britain approach....


http://www.framebuilding.com/index.htm


I have a pile of 1" chrome moly tubing and am sorely tempted to make myself a frame - brazed bottom bracket looks a doddle

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quote:

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Originally posted by Theshed
How about this guaranteed made in britain approach....


http://www.framebuilding.com/index.htm


I have a pile of 1" chrome moly tubing and am sorely tempted to make myself a frame - brazed bottom bracket looks a doddle

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