Who is the U.K equivilent of FAT City Cycles?

[sinnerman]

Not sure I would consider Orange as the same quality, but they shared the same hype, just an Ocean apart.

I never mentioned Orange in the 'same quality' list, I said on the 'hype/cool' score they were equivalent.

Fair play mate, I wasn't really quoting you, I was more thinking of the fact that the Orange Brand were simply Far east framesets bought in and painted, unlike the Majority of Fat chance, that was all.

 

[Paul Eggleton]

Be good to get someone from the other side of the pond to take a view......sometimes the fact that it's an export (in low numbers and rare) adds to the mystique and cult.......I don't know if a RC100 would invoke similar status over in the USA for example???

 

[Hotwheels.]

Not sure I would consider Orange as the same quality, but they shared the same hype, just an Ocean apart.

I never mentioned Orange in the 'same quality' list, I said on the 'hype/cool' score they were equivalent.

Fair play mate, I wasn't really quoting you, I was more thinking of the fact that the Orange Brand were simply Far east framesets bought in and painted, unlike the Majority of Fat chance, that was all.

Sorry old boy, just reread my first post and it does come across a trifle misleading. Although made of the 'wrong' material, Pace and Whyte were more than on a par, purely on the innovative front...FATs, although well made and revered, are all a bit samey in design.

 

[sinnerman]

The small differences for me with "Zinn" that stopped me in my tracks bitd were things like...... the segmented fork, the use of rollers, the use of gussets etc etc, none of which I had seen being used on other british frames of the same year. (89/90). Obviously becoming widespread but for me Zinn was one of the first in the UK. And to use the new dedicated Reynolds 753 A.T.B tubeset was also a big plus for me. Not forgetting the lovely Reynolds bar and stem combo. I guess for the most part it doesn't amount to much these days, but at the time it seemed like a Giant step forward in British mtbs.

 

[mr_ship]

I think for me it would be Pace. When I first saw the RC100 in the Freewheel catalogue my bloody eyes popped out of my head. Square tubing, WTF :shock: As a concept it was so different to anything else I'd seen, it looked frankly awesome....and I still think they do. They also had some great racing talent which raised the company profile no end. I'd sell my Yo Eddy before my RC100 for sure.

 

[sinnerman]

Honestly never considered Pace cycles in the "equivalent equation" purely because it produced only Aluminium.

From a fresh design/solutions standpoint, and shear shock and awe standpoint, I have to say I think it really was a Definitive moment in the Uk Mountain bike scene and still is the Stand alone Aluminium Icon.

Another UK cornerstone in my book.

 

[M-Power]

Massive respect to PACE for innovative design, specs and uber cool looks I borrowed one of the early ones for a day pounding around Epping Forest bitd. As an uncompromising max energy transfer race bike they work but it felt just too harsh and uncomfortable for me on a long ride without front sus, which mine didn't have.

All the Fats from bitd had different ride characteristics, sometimes different geometry and price points. Its horses for courses and we all have our preferences. In my case I love the 'feel' of light yet quite rigid steel and top end Ti frames

 

[NeilM]

I am both saddened and heartened by this thread.

Saddened that the question was even asked.

Heartened by the replies.

It still strikes me as odd that with the exception of Zinn, hand made fillet brazed frames sell for next to nothing, while FATS and other 'hand made' production bikes grab big money and sell almost before they are advertised.

As an aside, my Fuquay is welded, where as my DOGS is brazed. I really can't feel that extra 7 oz.

 

[highlandsflyer]

The great thing is that you can pick up beautifully made British bikes from a lot of small makers for next to nothing now.

I agree Pace occupy a very special slot in the history of British bicycle manufacture. I guess we don't really have a comparative brand to FAT, but the beauty of bicycles is they are cheap to ship.

 

[M-Power]

For me its more than 200g, it's the signature welds on the best Fats. The first time I inspected one up close, it looked like the tubes had fused together organically like bone, the welds were imperceptibly delicate and smooth but NOT filed. Most mass produced frames of the era had Tig welds that looked like a 4 yr old playing with a lit candle. Then the ride just totally blew me away, so lively yet comfortable, with incredible predictable tight handling due to the right geometry.

Bikes are such personal things and we all get emotional and sensitive talking about out P & Js. That's why this site is so great. My urge has been rekindled from reviews here to try a Mountain Goat, a Zinn 753, Manitou FS and a Merlin XLM as well as others. Who's to say they will be better ? maybe equally as good but different