Charge Plug 2010

Review from Cycling Active

Hip UK manufacturer Charge produces a select range of cool bikes, mostly in steel, with no fewer than five singlespeeds in its gradually expanding portfolio.

We plumped for the Plug, a non-nonsense, road-going fixed, at the lower end of the Charge price range that has been selling well, if the streets of London are anything to go by.

There is something undeniably british about the Plug. Maybe it's the handsome brown colour of the Spoon saddle and matching padded bar tape. Perhaps it's the English Eccentric upward seep of the Slice bars. Or the gently tilting top tube that slopes down towards the head tube - not a direction many bike makers take these days.

The frame's clean lines, with a plain paint job and minimal graphics, are helped by the lack of brake cable guides and mudguard eyes - worth bearing in mind if fitting something to keep your backside dry is high on your list of priorities.

A slack headtube angle of 73deg on the large size we tested makes for predictable handling in traffic and no toe overlap, which is a bonus in tight, slow-moving situations...changes over last years model include a Sugino cut out chainring and trim and efficient Promax brake leversm so it's all good news...it's big on comfort...

In conclusion...

The Plug is first and foremost a street machine that will cope with any amount of punishment you care to throw its way. Who cares about arriving first, when you can arrive in style?

Rating: 88%

Review from The Bicycle Buyer

In terms of sheer volume of sales, the Charge Plug is the clear frontrunner in the battle of the singlespeeds. It's not only one of the best selling singlespeeds on the market, but also one of the biggest selling bikes of recent years. It's no frills, minimal graphics appeal to the urban commuter and the east London hipster contingent alike, but does it really deserve the adulation?

What's it like to ride?

The Plug's Tange frameset is frankly a beast, ideal for daily use tearing around the city, even if it's a little on the heavy side. And when accelerating, the bullhorn style bars work well, allowing the rider to get out of the saddle and leverage the bike, getting those Sugino cranks turning.

What we liked...

Styled discreetly with minimal brand logos the Plug appeals to those of us who don't want to ride a rolling billboard and Charge nailed this appealing aesthetic ideal from the word go. The components are quality in all the most important places, the Sugino RD2 Messenger chainring, the Alex rims, the Tektro brakes, and even Charge's own branded saddle and chain are built to last. The defining characteristic of a singlespeed is, well, one single gear. It's great once the gear is moving, but when getting the bike up to speed and away from traffic lights, these bikes can be a bit of a slouch. But the addition of bullhorn handlebars on the Charge really help, bu giving the rider something to grab hold of to lever the bike into action.

What could make it better

Charge knows exactly where this bike sits in the market. It offers the option for fixed or freewheel riding and its chainset, the Sugino Messenger, is one of the market leaders. So it's not easy to fault the Plug, offering a wider range of colour options would be nice though.

In conclusion...

Would we buy it?

Yes, granted it's not going to set you apart from the crowd, but the bike is solid enough to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use and can be yours at a distinctly utilitarian price point.

Rating: Review