ImOnCrank

Took a look at mike's route plan yesterday and it looked awesome. Seems like a great ride. Thanks for the love mike, I owe ya a pint. Now if only the goddamned postal system here didn't suck. Only two more days of being completely hindered.

techone

If you don't bring your bike, I got two. What size are you?

btw...
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...97#post1615597

fixedpip

Anyone recommend a bike shop in London for a wheel build, somewhere central, north or east London? Or better yet, does anyone know of a bike co-op or similar where they have tools for you to use?

Also does anyone know where you can get a Royal Mail Postbag? Seen a lot of folks rocking them as messenger bags and my girlfriend really wants one.

vobopl

Oh, thanks. I am riding 53cm square fixie and 57 square road. Longish legs and arms and short torso at 5'11" so fit is easy provided there is enough of a seatpost. I can bring my own clipless pedals but clips are OK, too. How long would the riding part take? I have some obligations on Saturday evening/afternoon.

trespasser

Londonfields cycles on Mare St will be the closest to you, and they will do a good build. also Condor has good reputations for wheelbuild and they can do some really fancy patterns. thers are also Mosquito on Essex Rd, and Bike Fix on Lambs Conduit St.

techone

BikeFix or Condor, dunno about any others. I don't know of a co-op yet, although I'm supposed to be working on getting one started with some other folks but haven't heard anything in a while.
Those Royal Mail bags suck! they're not waterproof, not very adjustable and ugly in my opinion. The only reason loads of couriers use them is they're super cheap or free, depending on your sources. You might could bribe your postman? But you can get done for if it says 'Royal Mail' on it, notice most of the ones around has had that removed or covered.


Both mine are 56cm track frames, with seatposts extended all the way it measures about 78cm from center of BB to top of saddle. Dunno how long the ride will take but I'm sure we'll be at the pub by 2pm definitely...

2am

hey

im gonna be out there for a few weeks starting tomorrow.

if anyone has a ~50cm fixie they want to loan/rent for a day or two, i'd really love the chance to bike around london. if you want to join along then even better! i can totally return the favor in san fran (i.e get a friend to loan you their bike and then give you a riding tour of the city)

-a

ImOnCrank

Ah yes this dastardly thread is back again. Cept this time I make offers, not requests. Anybody in NYC want any S-M-A-L-L British parts (Goldtec hubs, condor stamped stuff, etc)? I can bring em back with me when I come home on Friday however space is limited and if I get nailed with customs charges (doubtful), they get passed on to you.

Also, more importantly, 1%/London crew. You guys want/need anything from the US that you can't get here. Keirin grips, track stems bars, Romanian baby, whatever? Pips got an order in already but I need the order and bank by thurs at the latest.

ImOnCrank

That went over like a pregnant pole vaulter.

trespasser

I will be back in London in 2weeks, does any of you Londoners need something from Japan?

bigbikerbrian

okay, since this seems to be a london thread, i have a question. my GF and I might move to london in a couple months, and were curious about getting jobs there without a work permit or visa or whatever they may be called. i could be interested in courier jobs, but she would need something else. so, if you guys know anything about working in the UK w/out a visa, i would appreciate it. sorry if this is kind of off-topic.

fixedpip

This is the website you need for visa questions
https://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/

Ok so Imis-read the working without a visa issue question.

Its much tougher to find work without a visa, cause you can't get a National Issurance number (similar to social sec) without one if you're a foreign national. Having no visa would mean, like the US, you have to find an employee who will pay you cash in hand, no questions asked. Thats going to be tough here as London is reet expensive so its going to be hard to make ends meet that way. As you'd expect the good messenger companies don't employ folks on that basis.

The other option is obviously for one of you to get a job where they will sponsor your visa (its a much less demanding process than in the US). Then you can both be here legally AFAIK.

TechOne probably has the best answer to your questions so I'm just filling in, until he shows up

bigbikerbrian

thanks for the reply. i kinda figured thats how it was. weve already done a lot of research, but i havent talked to too many actual people on the street, as it were. she might be getting an internship over there, so maybe that would qualify her for a visa. not quite sure yet.

techone

Finding (close to decent) work without a visa is near impossible. There are a few courier co's that might get you by, if you're interested in that.

Anyways, I cheated and got married!

ImOnCrank

I'm currently working on student visa although that would imply that I am a student, not working full time, and can get such a visa. Why not start applying through the regular channels?

bigbikerbrian

i just dont qualify for anything official. my GF qualifies for that BUNAC program (she just finished school this last quarter). but ive been out of school for years, and there arent any programs that provide work visas to suckas like me. no job=no visa.