Which direction should I go next - bike purchase
Discussion
Wow...niche... I tend to stick to the path well trodden though...so whilst intirguiing I don't think I'll be sinking any cash into 'fat'...
I think it basically boils down to:
Recumbent (budget restricted unless I go 2nd hand)
single speed
hub-gear
carbon belt
Full suspension (budget restricted unless I go 2nd hand)
Steel
Titanium (budget restricted.....)
Appreciate the left field thinking though! keep them coming please
I think it basically boils down to:
Recumbent (budget restricted unless I go 2nd hand)
single speed
hub-gear
carbon belt
Full suspension (budget restricted unless I go 2nd hand)
Steel
Titanium (budget restricted.....)
Appreciate the left field thinking though! keep them coming please

OP, sounds to me like you are looking for someghing like this, see link
United Speedster 8i
http://www.unitedcruiser.co.uk/modeles.php?model=s...
United Speedster 8i
http://www.unitedcruiser.co.uk/modeles.php?model=s...
am a bit of a Cruiser fan but this bike is a mixture of Cruiser and Hybrid plus you won’t see many in the UK. It’s not cheap but around your budget. They were advertised on the Ridelow website but didn’t see when I looked earlier. Might be worth giving them a ring if you are interested. Thought it might be worth a mention as seemed to tick most of your boxes.
I'd like a "Niner" carbon F&F with a hub gear and belt drive however I've come to realise you don't get "breakable" carbon frames to allow a belt drive.
I think I want a very lightweight carbon frame more than I want a belt drive, so I'll probably stick with a chain for now.
But hub - yes. Rolhoff for me though I think.
I think I want a very lightweight carbon frame more than I want a belt drive, so I'll probably stick with a chain for now.
But hub - yes. Rolhoff for me though I think.
A guy at the top of Box Hill yesterday had a bamboo road bike that he built himself. Dura-Ace Di2, carbon bits all over and internal cable routing, it was a thing of beauty and rides like a dream, apparently. Bamboo has a higher tensile strength to weight ratio, longer fatigue life and absorbs more vibration than steel, titanium, aluminium or carbon fibre reinforced plastic, whilst also having a higher crack resistance. It also fails much less catastrophically and you can replace individual tubes if damaged. Of course it's also completely sustainable, if you care about that stuff. You can also use it to make a fire and a set of spears if you're suddenly caught in the wilderness as night draws in and you're being hunted by a pack of wolves.
That's about as left field as it gets for something you can win races on.
Found it! He built it at Bamboo Bicycle Club, this is his:

That's about as left field as it gets for something you can win races on.
Found it! He built it at Bamboo Bicycle Club, this is his:

Edited by MiseryStreak on Monday 15th July 12:34
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I'd love a go on one of those. A colleague in Canada described hers as "like riding on a cloud full of giggles".