My New Bike from Oxford Bike Works - the ride home

[@CrichieB]

Great Choice I’ve been a Rohloff convert for ten years now. They just get smoother and smoother! You’ll never go back. Happy cycling

[@jeffjsmith]

I’m still getting used to it, but I feel positive already. It is a little noisy in gears 1 to 7, but nothing too annoying. And in gears 8 to 14 ii is SO smooth! 👍

[@CrichieB]

@@jeffjsmith they do quieten down,I now view the noisier gears as my friends , I know when I’m in them and I know I’ll get up the hill! I use mine for mountain biking and for general riding and I used it to cycling from Calais to the Pyrenees and they never ever go wrong ,the most amazing piece of engineering , also the ability to change into the right gear when stationary is superb. I look forward to seeing you on it in future videos when we are able.

[@RolandCats]

Great video Jeff, all the best!

[@jeffjsmith]

Thanks!

[@gingermonkeymark4993]

Thanks Jeff, great video and a great bike. I wish you many happy cycling years

[@jeffjsmith]

Thanks. At least we can still cycle in the UK, so it is a great way to keep active and fit. 🚵‍♀️

[@lannayedurham9867]

Wonderful film can’t wait till the next one all the best

[@jeffjsmith]

You are too kind! Thanks!

[@samanthnair2692]

What a great ride. Hope you are having a great time with your bike

[@jeffjsmith]

Thanks! The bike is great, now we just need a little warmer weather to make the cycling more pleasant!

[@paddypete1]

NICE ONE JEFF,GREAT BIKE,HOPE YOU LOVE IT AS MUCH AS THE THE LAST ONE,KEEP EM COMING

[@jeffjsmith]

Thanks, the bike is going really well, and I wish I could say the same about the weather 😄

[@ExploringHabit]

Nice bike Jeff , i noticed you have the new Karoo 2 , how do you find it compared to the Karoo 1 ? I'm thinking of upgrading mine too.

[@jeffjsmith]

I do like the K2 more than the K1. It is a neater design (smaller) and seems to have similar battery life. I also like to have the phone pairing feature. The screen is less wide, but that doesn’t really detract as far as I am concerned, since generally the road ahead, rather than to the sides is more important. The mount is a little weird and sometimes hard to disengage but nothing too tricky. All in all it is worth it I think.

[@HalfDreamRoom]

Hi Jeff. Great video. Which of the Oxford models is that?

[@jeffjsmith]

Hi, thanks for the comment. The bike is a Rohloff Touring model with some customised details like the Magura brakes. It is a great bike.

[@kevindean9613]

Hi Jeff , How do you find the bike now you've had it a while . Are these 26" wheels ? & would you change anything on it ?

[@jeffjsmith]

The bike is great. We have just returned from Spain and have done some fairly serious off-road riding and hill climbing. The bike and the gears have exceeded my expectations. I actually really love the Rohloff gears now. Being able to skip several gears, changing gears while stopped and having a really useful range if gears is very good indeed. If I could change anything it would be the stand. The central stand is a nuisance since it stops the pedals going round and stops the bike when manoeuvring backwards. Not a very big deal, and it had to be like that due to the gear change cable routing. The 26” wheels are fine, I’m used to that size anyway. All in all it is excellent. And soon I am going to fitting a Swytch bike conversion kit to it.c

[@kevindean9613]

@@jeffjsmith I contacted Oxford bikes but I never got any replies so I had a similar bike made by Thorn the Rohloff seems to be a great system & I'll use this bike to finish off my LEJOG .Have you seen Click-Stand that might be a better solution regarding your stand.

[@colinwellman9480]

Hi Jeff, before all this awful Covid stopped the world I'd been in conversation with Richard about buying a bike or possibly just a frame. I've got a shed load of parts so could easily build a bike. I like the idea of a hub gear but put off by reliability issues on cheaper brands of hub. My budget is limited, hence the idea of a frame and using my stock of parts. This all came to a stop when travel restrictions were imposed. Going to the UK then having to self quarantine just makes a trip impossible. I hope to make my purchase but only when travel restrictions are removed. I'll look out for future videos and see how you like the new bike after a few thousand miles. No chance of getting your wife to change her trusty steed I suspect!! Thanks for sharing. PS have you looked at Cycle Travel as a route planner? I've found it very good and run by a cyclist.

[@jeffjsmith]

Hi Colin, building a bike sounds like a fun project. I was wondering if I could convert the Koga, but I really didn't have the tools or confidence. In the end, when I took it to my bike guy, he discovered that the frame had cracks where the front forks meet the frame. Koga have replaced the frame (12 years old!) under warranty, but they don't make 26" wheel bikes any longer. So it is going to be a different bike altogether. Richard is a good engineer and very honest in my opinion, and really has a passion for the bikes he makes. However, I still don't think that Ally will be changing her trusty and rusty old Raleigh any time soon! Where are you based - and how are things there? And thanks for the tip about Cycle Travel - I'll take a look at it now ... Keep well, Jeff

[@colinwellman9480]

@@jeffjsmith I'm considering a new bike because of the possibility of cracks. It's a 20+ years old, an alluminium frame that I've been warned can crack without much warning. It started life as a Raleigh MTB that I converted to touring. After 60000 miles I think it's time to treat myself to a steel frame. There fewer 26" wheel bikes around today so the Oxford Bike Works were a real find. We're in the west of France, roughly half way between Nantes and La Rochelle. We've been lucky with the number of infections but they are on the rise here. I'm lucky and have had my first jab and due to get the next in 10 days time. I think this year we'll have to stick to holidays in France much as we did last year. My wife is some years younger and doesn't think she'll get the vaccine this year so travel to the UK to see her elderly Mum is out. I think the UK's gamble to order the vaccines worked out well. Although the government is ruling out a vaccination passport I still think it would be a way of getting the travel industry back on it's feet asap. Hope you get to do your tours here again soon. In the meantime stay safe Colin

[@jeffjsmith]

@@colinwellman9480 We have been on holiday with grandkids every year recently near Les Sables which can't be far from you. And of course we have cycled that Atlantic coast a number of times. We love cycling in France! We have no idea about holidays yet, but things might be moving cautiously in the right direction. We have both had our first jabs and are looking forward to a change of scene sometime in the next two months. Best wishes, Jeff p.s. I like the bike mapping site - thanks for that!

[@colinwellman9480]

@@jeffjsmith We often cycle to Les Sables, around 15 miles away. We also have a small apartment we rent out on Air bnb. It faces the sea and if you've cycled up the coast to St Gilles Croix de vie you'll have passed it. Bretignolles sur Mer.

[@jeffjsmith]

@@colinwellman9480 I’ll bear that in mind if/when we next travel that way. 👍

[@daveadriffield7296]

Nice bike, how much?

[@jeffjsmith]

Yes- it is very well made and rides well. And very helpful and honest. Their website has pricing: www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/models/overview

[@daveadriffield7296]

@@jeffjsmith Are you not allowed to say? If I enquired how you were, would you answer, there's a website?

[@jeffjsmith]

I don’t see it is your business, with respect. Nor is my health. I thought that my reply would be the most helpful information for you, especially if you wish to pursue buying a bike from OBW. Keep well, Jeff