This post is really about all that funny knowledge you pick up when building bikes in London, trying to source the stuff that would really look cool, finding the more eccentric stuff that would make a difference. It’s a jungle out there, but best of all, most of it can be safely accessed online so yes, you can get your hands dirty, but most of it is pretty manageable and not too scary, really.
So here goes a general list of places to find stuff (in no particular order)
Hub Jub have got Nitto nailed and anything else Japanese, fixie related and cool. A great collection of bits like anodised handlebars and useful source of stupid things like 15mm Dura Ace track bolts for your wheels, which for some reason seem rarer than gold at the moment. And they really do have some very eccentric stuff too like MKS chaintugs and front brakes that mount on your undrilled track fork legs etc.. worth their weight in gold these guys..
Fresh Tripe have got a lot of cool accessories, from elk hide bar protectors to Yancopads (only UK importers of these cool fabric thingies for keeping your frame looking nice), hats, brake levers, grips and whatever your fixie fetish desires. Friendly bunch too.
These guys are your swiss army knife to fixie building – they do things like CNC machined spacers to perfect your chainline, if your hub thread is knackered and that cog won’t stay put – not to worry, these guys have a solution for that problem too.. They even show you how to convert a Shimano M756 hub (normally for taking disc breaks) into a rear fixie hub.. So thinking about building your own fixie? – look here first!
Billy’s BMX, skate and bike shop
They’re your back-up source of fixie bits, sometimes I struggle to find stuff on their website and have to google it to find it, but it’s there and reasonably priced too and is delivered pretty sharpish as well.
This is the veritable magpie’s nest of fixie related goodies and hard-to-find items – anywhere where you can just turn up and buy a rare Japanese-made bell or MKS pedals is a find in these days of homogenised shop inventory – in fact the shop is where you should make an excursion, it is truly an experience and super inspiring to see all those gorgeous old frames hanging in the ceiling that Brick Lane cycles source from all over Europe.. vintage Colnagos, Pinarellos.. you name it!
Pearson are far too underrated as a bike dealership and maker. They produce the fabulous Pearson Touché, whose frame is finished to such a great degree (no weld lines or marks anywhere) that you’d be forgiven for thinking the frame cost twice the price. Lovely geometry, dead comfy whether in its existing off the peg mile muncher set up or even if you pimp it like I’ve done with mine. If their other bikes are anything like the standard they’ve set on the cheapest frame they sell you are on to an absolute winner whatever your budget!
Planet X are another under-rated source of cool kit and some lovely frames. Their brand new Stealth Pro Carbon track frame is a certified head-turner and they have also recently added a track section to their site sporting a good selection of Nitto bars and other fixie paraphenalia. Planet X are the stealthy, racy big brother of On-one and also do some lovely race and TT bikes and their man Ian Cammish is the TT expert and a great source of advice, ideas and help.
Someone explain to me this – On-one and Planet X are two separate brands that maybe live in two different places in the UK, but they share the same webshop and site (check the tabs on the top)? Anyway – On-one is the home of the Pompino, a lovely fixie frame and other super-keenly priced, yet excellent stuff like beautiful alloy track sprockets, recently they were even offering 12T ones for the true power-houses out there. They also do the lightest pair of alloy track wheels you can buy at just £99!
Condor are like your posh fixie tailor – the shop is filled to the brim with kit, the staff friendly – problem is you invariably have to go there in person to get it. I like them and their bikes are gorgeous, granted – but sometimes I send a little prayer to them that they would get their weird and wonderful collection of stuff online so lazy sods like me could buy more of it without having to first travel to get it..
Ben’s Cycle all the way from Milwaukee, yeehaa!
OK he is far away I grant you that, but when nobody on this side of the Atlantic is stocking Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres in all white which would look just the business on your new fixie, this is the man to call.. He also has a very nice collection of anodised parts, sugino crank sets, EAI Brass Knuckles and so on and so forth.. you can tell I’m trying actively not to go on the site too often!
This is beautiful in its simplicity – Gabriel gets his mitts on beautiful ex-Keirin track frames and sells them, straight from Japan. So the real deal, straight from Japan, over to you int he post. Mind you, the prices are not that bad since Keirin frames seem to cost a fortune wherever you look, I kinda like the fact that they have been used.. somehow makes them more ‘real’ than something straight out of the factory..
King Kog are your anti-establishment rebel bike shop – the Ramones of fixed-gear cycling. Expect some super-cool T-shirts, select bits and pieces -
Ok all of us need basics and at a good price and most basic and even not so basic things, Wiggle will stock. OK more eccentric stuff? Look away now, but you can get many useful components here at not too a heartstopping price oh and things like energy bars and drinks too if you are seriously into your exercise. Always a good place to use as a benchmark. The best thing about Wiggle is their delivery – it is honed to surgical precision and predictability – order something that is in stock before 12 and you will have it next day, always and forever. Gotta love them for it!
Great collection of bits, more eccentric stuff too and also a good collection of gubbins, shims and whatnot that can come in handy when you are trying to convert a beloved steed into a a fixie monster. It seems that Wiggle and Chainreaction are locked in a duel about prices, some things you will find are cheaper on Wiggle, some on Chain reaction so the jury is out, I use both.
And then there is Ribble – Ribble are really mostly for the roadies out there and they even do their own custom bike builder. Another great collection of components and often not quite the same that you would find on Wiggle or Chainreaction and sometimes when those two have run out of stuff, who you gonna call? Ribble!
Almost forgot these guys – they have a great collection of really racy stuff, I use them mainly for clothing actually, but have bought odds and sods component-wise from them too as invariably they will have stuff that no one else has. My favourite of this summer: Descente windproof sleeveless baselayers! They rock! Means you can wear a T-shirt or jersey out on a ride and not freeze to death as soon as the sun goes into a cloud (which it does a lot in the UK at the moment!).
Parker are in a league of their own really, again some brands that none of the others stock and more extensive stock on brands than many of the others – they also have an exhaustive collection of Assos gear – slightly slower on deliveries, but it is worth the wait.
For all your retro desires – Prendas has you sorted – jerseys, caps anything of yesteryear and cool cycling related – you’ll find it here and often at bargain prices too. Great place for pressies too!
So there we are – my run-down of useful places to find stuff. I reckon that between those you will be hard pushed not to find whatever it is you need, whether to make your bike work, perfect that chain line, make sure the wheel doesn’t slip (check out Hub Jub’s Chain tugs!) or simply make that frame look cool or what the hell, make yourself look cool in the process! It’s all here and any more places you know of and think I should know of too – you know what the comments section is for!
would also recommend Cavendish Cycles (under the BT tower) Cavendish St (for those of you in W1)