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Nolobi Singlespeed

7
£270.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Fun ride thanks to decent frame but heavy wheels and poor brakes take the edge off
Weight: 
10,900g
Contact: 

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At its most basic, cycling is simple and fun, something that the Nolobi Singlespeed soon reminded me. After blasting around the local town centre on the 'Yellow Peril' for a few weeks I was grinning like an idiot and embracing my hipster apprenticeship . You can too for just £270, though there are a few compromises.

Who are they?

Not heard of Nolobi before? You're not alone. They're from Hackney and the bikes were previously branded as No Logo. They pitch the Singlespeed as an urban bike. The lack of gears makes it perfect for commuting in the capital and so that's where you'll find Nolobi's biggest customer base.

How does it ride?

It's a hoot. The Singlespeed is very easy to ride thanks to a relaxed head tube angle giving a stable front end helped by the 52cm flat bar. It's very balanced and there shouldn't be any surprises, ideal for the beginner market Nolobi have in mind.

Although not really a bike for taking out into the hills the frame is plenty stiff enough on the way up or down for the modest speeds you're likely to be achieving. When out of the saddle climbing there was some flex at the bottom bracket especially on the steeper sections as you push the 42x18 ratio round dragging 10.9kg of bike upwards.

Once you've finally reached the peak its time to be rewarded with a bit of descending and with the weighty wheels and deep rims you can pick up a fairish old bit of speed. Handling wise it ain't too bad with the stable steering keeping the bike going where you want it. Just pray you don't have to stop: the combination of cheap no brand calipers and flexi levers isn't going to stop you in a hurry from anything north of 30mph.

Back on the flat though, where the Nolobi is supposed to spend most of its life, the Singlespeed is much better mannered with changes in direction being quick and precise. I managed to get through some much smaller gaps in traffic than I was expecting to.

Acceleration takes its toll if you've got a lot of stop/start for traffic lights and the like. Most of this is down to the wheels which while they look the part weigh a massive 4.8kg for the pair with most of that heft coming from the rims. That does include the tubes and Kenda tyres just in case you were worrying. They roll well enough once moving and stayed true after plenty of kerb hopping and pothole crashing. The tyres offer reasonable amounts of grip too considering the hard compound and thanks to the width and a bit of a tread pattern means they are perfectly at home on the canal path.

Impressive frame with cheap & cheerful parts

Made from 6061 aluminium alloy the overall quality of the Nolobi frame is pretty decent. It's manufactured in China and while there is nothing flash about it like butting or hydroforming the welds are tidy and all finished off with a hardwearing coat of paint.

An aluminium fork with a 1 1/8in steerer completes the front end which feels stiff when cornering or braking. Security washers are used to prevent the wheel dropping out should the track nuts work themselves loose and the forks are drilled to accept the tabs.

Being predominately intended as a single speed (the bikes do come with a fixed cog as well) the Nolobi has eyelets for the rear brake cable running along the top tube, something you don't see very often on non-geared bikes. It allows for a full outer cable to travel the length of tube to making it ideal for wet weather.

The components that make up the rest of the bike are all basic but do the job. The alloy bars, stem and seatpost are smart looking and I've seen components of this type on bikes costing double the price. The saddle was comfortable for the short style of rides the Nolobi is likely to be used for with minimal padding for the more upright position.

As with the majority of track chainsets the unbranded one on the Nolobi uses a square taper bottom bracket. These give plenty of options for getting the spot on chainline required for smooth running with the added bonus of being easy to replace and refit with just the minimal amount of tools. Our chainset fitted smoothly onto the tapers and ran pretty true, not something that happens that often with budget track components. It's stiff too: I couldn't feel any flex under acceleration from a standing start.

The rest of it goes a little bit downhill now though. We'll start with the brakes. Both the calipers and levers are very flexible which severely limits their modulation and emergency braking. At 10-12mph it's acceptable but any quicker than that you have to really be on the ball. The hard compound brake blocks and painted rims are also a factor.

The free wheel mechanism is quite sloppy on pick up too. Hard acceleration is met with an initial delay before engaging. It's not massive, you're only talking a fraction of a second but it's unnerving especially since a lack of chain-tugs means the rear wheel is constantly making its way up the dropouts, you never quite know if it's the freewheel or if your chain has gone slack as you make a dart for a gap in the traffic.

I've mentioned the weight of the wheels/tyres combo already but I'll reiterate just so you can get your head round it – 4.8kg. They might look the part but they certainly limit your route options if you live somewhere undulating. They are bombproof though as I said above and I suppose you have to decide what your priorities are.

Options, options!

Size wise you get three options: 53cm, 56cm or 59cm. Nolobi offers suggestions of rider height for each one though it's not an exact science especially for the beginner market they're after.

One thing there is plenty of choice of though is colour. Frame, wheelsets, components and tyres are all changeable. There is an off the peg range for the £270 base price but should want something a little more bespoke you can use the 'build a bike' page to spec it how you want. You can even select your background to see what it would look on your local street corner.

Conclusion

Overall the Noboli is a pretty decent bike. It has a good frameset and while the components are a bit of a mixed bag, value for money is pretty high. With the arrival of road bikes to the market with gears and carbon forks for just thirty quid more things are getting a very competitive though.

The Noboli is a fun bike to ride and is certainly engaging round town. Cutting through traffic or whizzing along cycle paths it handles steadily and apart from the brakes shouldn't give you any nasty surprises.

The components are perfectly up to the job of short commuting use or nipping to the shops I think if you were doing much more than that you're soon going to want to upgrade the brakes and treat yourself to lighter wheels and tyres.

Verdict

Fun ride thanks to decent frame; heavy wheels and poor brakes take the edge off

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Nolobi Singlespeed

Size tested: 56

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

6061 aluminium alloy frame & fork

1 1/8" external headset

alloy bars, stem & seatpost

Unbranded dual pivot brake calipers

Deep section alloy rims with flip flop hub (fixed/free)

Kenda tyres

Unbranded single chainset

Square taper BB

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

The bikes were originally designed and priced for new cyclists as an alternative to BSO's from supermarkets and the like. The plan was to offer an affordable, lightweight fun bike to ride and I think Nolobi have achieved that goal for the new or occasional cyclist.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

The welding looks neat and it's not too bad on the weight front either. The paint finish is thick and hardwearing which is ideal for the urban style of riding its intended for.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

6061 aluminium alloy is used for both the frame and fork

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Nolobi don't have a geometry table but for the 3 sizes available they do offer a fit guide here:

http://www.nolobi.com/shop/white-fork-frame/

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

A reasonably short top tube (in relation to the seat tube) gives an upright ride position which is ideal for riding in traffic.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Comfort was pretty good helped a lot by the large volume Kenda tyres.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The frame felt stiff at the contact points and did show any sign of flex during hard efforts.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Pretty good, the heavy wheels take a lot of effort to get moving though.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

No

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Neutral

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

Really easy to ride in traffic and on the open road thanks to stable handling, ideal for beginners.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

The saddle was comfortable as were the handlebars providing a good position for distributing your weight.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

The chainset showed good levels of stiffness as did the bar and stem combo.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

The wheel weight took its toll after constant start/stop riding through town. Apart from looks they don't really provide any advantages so maybe an option of standard depth 32 spoke wheels would make sense.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
5/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
6/10

to be fair though its not the Nolobi's intended terrain

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
8/10

Very good considering the budget pricing

Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
6/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

The components were fine, the chainset running true and stiffness levels were good. As I mentioned there was some slop in the freehub before engaging but its not a deal breaker.

The brakes though were pretty scary.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels and tyres for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for durability:
 
8/10

They were pretty bulletproof over the test period.

Rate the wheels and tyres for weight:
 
5/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for value:
 
7/10

available for £120 separately (inc tyres, tubes, cogs)

Tell us some more about the wheels and tyres.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels or tyres? If so, what for?

I can understand the deep section for aethetics but I personally think the bike would be more fun and engaing to ride with a more standard lighter wheelset.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

There isn't much to get excited about but its bang on for the money. Most of components performed well and look good to.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? It had its good points & bad points.

Would you consider buying the bike? No

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
8/10

Anything further to say about the bike in conclusion?

The Nolobi is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The price is key for the customer base they're after and for that they've provided a decent quality frame paired with budget components. There is a lot to like about the ride to with plenty of engagement for the rider with stable handling for negotiating traffic. As I've mentioned though if I was commuting in the city with constant stop/start traffic and lights I wouldn't want to be spinning up those wheels over and over again. It gets 3.5 stars as the good points come out on top.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

17 comments

Avatar
Ripper | 9 years ago
0 likes

" the combination of cheap no brand calipers and flexi levers isn't going to stop you in a hurry from anything north of 30mph."

This bike will never reach such speeds even downhill. 30mph being 48kmph can never be achieved with a 42x18 gear ratio.

Also, my personal opinion is that the bike is junk. The frame looks like really bad build quality and they even forgot to add chain-tensioners, which is a basic requirement for a frame with horizontal drop-outs. Otherwise you won't be climbing many hills.

My advice, based on my almost 30 years of biking experience, is to stay well away from such cheap and unknown brands. That bike is more a kin to a toy than a serious bicycle.

Avatar
stuke replied to Ripper | 9 years ago
0 likes
Ripper wrote:

" the combination of cheap no brand calipers and flexi levers isn't going to stop you in a hurry from anything north of 30mph."

This bike will never reach such speeds even downhill. 30mph being 48kmph can never be achieved with a 42x18 gear ratio.

It's a single speed so ratios are kind of irrelevant, gravity on the other hand......

Avatar
Ripper replied to stuke | 9 years ago
0 likes

Why is ratios kind of irrelevant? You do need some sort of gear to travel forward and when the ratio is 42x18 it isn't a very big one. Saying it's hard to stop at anything north of 30mph kind of belies the actual capability of the bike.

Also, you giving that bike a 3 and half stars shows you haven't ridden very many good bikes or the review is just product placement in front of your audience for a fee. That's rude, because it shows no respect for your readership.

Avatar
stuke replied to Ripper | 9 years ago
0 likes
Ripper wrote:

Why is ratios kind of irrelevant? You do need some sort of gear to travel forward and when the ratio is 42x18 it isn't a very big one. Saying it's hard to stop at anything north of 30mph kind of belies the actual capability of the bike.

Also, you giving that bike a 3 and half stars shows you haven't ridden very many good bikes or the review is just product placement in front of your audience for a fee. That's rude, because it shows no respect for your readership.

A gear propels you forward I agree but if the downhill is steep enough to take you past your cadence range ( I regularly do 35+mph on 42/16 fixed) gravity can take you faster as the test hill did. Downhill speed is not the Nolobi's natural playground and the review took that into account but it was still tested.

As far as my integrity as a reviewer goes I achieve nothing by lying and neither am I expected to by road.cc. At the end of the day I'm playing with people's livelihoods and my reviews respect that. The Nolobi is good (hence 3.5 stars) at what it is designed for, getting bums on bikes for short journeys around an urban environment. I gave it a thorough test in all environments just in case thats where the rider finds themselves. Overall though the final score comes from does it do the job it was designed to do.

Avatar
IngloriousLou replied to Ripper | 9 years ago
0 likes
Ripper wrote:

Also, you giving that bike a 3 and half stars shows you haven't ridden very many good bikes

LOL

Avatar
Arno du Galibier | 9 years ago
0 likes

I ride a Viking on my commute. Pretty hefty but solid.
http://www.viking-bikes.com/products/FixedWheel

Avatar
ribena | 9 years ago
0 likes

This also looks good, similar range of sizes (maybe the same frame?)
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-single-malt-single-speed-bike-61807.html

Avatar
rabeynon | 9 years ago
0 likes

use one of these for commuting from Bath city centre up to uni. just about manage the hills!

Avatar
mrfree | 9 years ago
0 likes

I think No Logo have a reputation for being cheap and heavy.

I would rather spend an extra 50 bucks and get a Fuji Classic. Great steel frame and not too heavy either.

Had mine 4 years and it's been great.

Avatar
michophull | 9 years ago
0 likes

This looks very smart for the money but surely it's possible to run QR hubs on singlespeed these days.

For just a little more, they could run to V brakes and mudguards.

And am I the only person left who still uses bar ends with flat bars ?  39

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
0 likes

Won't the price start creeping up once I start buying singlespeed/urban specific cycle clothing?  16

Avatar
farrell | 9 years ago
0 likes

Surely having gears is more modern than singlespeed?

Avatar
bikebot | 9 years ago
0 likes

I'm old fashioned, I like gears.

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chokofingrz | 9 years ago
0 likes

Might have to get one of these to match my reduced ears (no-lobe-y).

Avatar
jaredholdcroft | 9 years ago
0 likes

They look pretty nice actually - thanks!

Avatar
jaredholdcroft | 9 years ago
0 likes

Any other options like this at a similar price? I have a decent road bike, decent cross bike but would love something like this for popping to the shops, gym, whatever.

Avatar
gthornton101 replied to jaredholdcroft | 9 years ago
0 likes

take a look at MBA track bikes - there's normally a few on ebay or Amazon for significantly less than their £450+ RRP.

I've got one and they are great for exactly what you mentioned.

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