Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - First fixed...stoked, but bummed.

Thanks to everyone for answering me about brakes and gear ratios. I got my bike in the mail today. Put it together and took it to the LBS to get the lockring tightened. I was really excited to ride my first fixed gear. The guy at the bike shop started telling me it was too big for me, I made a poor choice, the components are crap...etc. He helped me with quite a few things, but I'm kinda bummed. I'm a college kid who doesn't have much money and all I want to do is ride. He made me feel like it was a bad call on my part. I'm sorry that I couldn't build a bike from scratch witht he best components, but it's my first one and I'm poor. I've decided to put a front brake on for the steep hills in my area and buy some platform pedals and run strapless for the first few weeks. Also, my Mercier comes with 48x16 gearing which is pretty difficult to stop. I think I'm going to purchase a used 19t cog from that guy at the LBS. I'll keep all you posted. Thanks again for the help.- Garrett

F* the guy at the shop. They are usually just pissed you didn't buy it there or drop $4000 on a new Carbon frame. We all start somewhere, mine was a red old 80's steel frame with a pink fork and a suzue jr. Oh wait I still have that frame and rear wheel but a new fork. All that really matters is that you ride it and ride the hell out of it.

Yeah, screw that jerk! I rode in the rain today on a Maserati conversion from the early 70s. The damn thing has cottered cranks! Its a piece of crap! I drilled holes in the bars to internally route the front brake cable because I was bored!

But you know what? I loved it, because its a bike, and bikes rock, especially when they work properly. So get on that bike, and ride it! If you want to upgrade in the future, you can, but don't feel pressured by some salesman.

The size issue can be solved through seatposts and stems and bar placement with time, don't worry about it for now, you'll begin to notice if its a problem, and we can help you find solutions.

peace,
sam

I hope you didn't want date Terror_in_pink.

besides, the "standard fit" these days tends to put people on frames that are a little too small.

screw 'em. just go ride.

yeah, f him

my friend bought the mercier as a cheap starter and he loves it, sh|tty components and all. my advice: go outside and ride. and 19 teeth would probably make you happier too.

Sorry to hear that you got some crap from a wrench. If nothing else, it's good motivation for you to learn all you can about your new bike and to start buying tools as funds permit. IMO, don't change the gearing until you've ridden it with a brake.

ah man don't even sweat it. there's something proud about riding hard on less than perfect equipment. he's probably just bent cause he's scared to ride a fixed gear. ride your bike and ride it proud dude.

Man, dissing what somebody just bought is so lame. That's like making fun of somebody's tattoo; what the hell are they going to do, change it? They're just being an ass. Don't pass on the bad attitude.

If it works for you, that's all that matters. I have been fortunate enough to have four fixie friendly shops nearby.

(And I think Pink is hot by the way. :D )

first order of buisness would be to find a new shop,
maybe i'm spoiled being there are 2 local shops with in a mile of me and a fantastic/favorite shop no farther than 10 miles from my town..

Congrats on your bike. That's really too bad about the shop. You probably haven't met the shop's spending threshold yet, so they will sh1t all over you until you do. Hopefully you won't try.

With the 19t cog stopping and going will be so much easier.

Thanks everyone. It's really encouraging to hear positive responses. I rode for a couple hours this evening and had a blast. My inner thighs are pretty sore though. Front brake goes on tomorrow and I think it'll give me more assurance so I can ride faster and feel confident that I can stop quick enough. I appreciate all your help.
-Garrett

**** 'im! I'd say the most (out of many) beloved bike in my life was an old pale-blue Fuji that looked crappy enough that I didn't even bother to lock it after a while, just leaned it against the stairs in the rooming house where I lived and walked up the stairs and that was that.

We had a "panty bandit" nicking knickers, and a guy across the street got his TV stolen, but no one took my Fuji. That should give you an idea. But I went all over on that bike, it was great! It was a bike!

I'm in agreement with everyone here... any bike shop that sh1ts on your bike that you worked hard to get isn't worth my business. Definitely finding a new shop. Even if your bike wasn't to his liking or if it needed some adjustments, he should have done it in a less derogatory manner. Either way, congrats on the new bike.. Ride it like you stole it and the cops are chasing you ;)

I hope you didn't want date Terror_in_pink.

My thoughts exactly. Death to bike elitists. Also, I bought the Mercier and no one has yet told me it has crap components because most friends of mine that ride bikes are on refurbs built with scrap from donations. Yeah, they bought some of their parts, but they sure as hell aren't dropping hundreds on Campy components. Some people are down to earth and some are just jackasses.

Screw 'em Garrett. If you had bought a bike with good componants people would saying that you are a rich trend follower. If you enjoy it, then thats all the matters.

My first 2 frames were too tall for me, so that might not be too big of an issue.

You gotta bring that thing to Philly next time you visit!!

Indeed.

My first fixie (which is sitting outside chained to a parking meter and waiting for me to come out of work) is an ancient schwinn that I had built up for just over $100 bucks. I had recently bought a brand new 21 speed Lemond Road bike for $650 from Back Bay Bikes here in Boston...or rather...their sister store in NH Papa Wheelies. I road it for 4 weeks and kept breaking crap off of it. So I sold it and bought the schwinn. First time I went back to Back Bay to ask about a part the mechanic saw the schwinn and asked where the Lemond was. I told him I sold it and the guy literally flipped out at me. Said he would never service my bike...that if he had it his way he wouldnt let me in the store again.

Bike elitists suck. And on a side note... one year later and nothing has fallen off the schwinn or broken. It got run over by a van and tacoed the rear wheel, but it certainly wasn't the fault of my crappy component ride. Last I heard from the guy who bought my Lemond... he had sold it and now rides an older Bianchi. So much for the $650 sweet ride.

Some LBS guys are ****ing lamers. Who cares I go to the city next to me instead of the one right down the street from my house learn to work on your own gear. By the way do you go to Cal Poly? If so Ill be up there in the winter '06 or fall '06 I'm transfering there. We can ride :D.

"one year later and nothing has fallen off the schwinn or broken"
That's because if it was a Chicago Schwinn, it was made by people who took pride in their work, unlike the Taiwanese sweat shop bikes of today...like my Bianchi that's going bye bye.

Stoked, bummed...Happy, sad....BIPOLAR BIPOLAR BIPOLAR

Thats what I say, screw that wrench monkey. Best having a "un-campy-clad-"insert Italian frame here" ride as your first fixie. Consider yourself lucky....you have a ride to ride. I have 3 in my shop that I cant....quite yet because I am building them up. 1 fixie, thats the first one getting built up, then a TT, and the cyclox...well thats ready to ride but I am so stoked to get this fixie out the door that....well its just not a fixie damin it!

Anyways, like was said before, ride hard and have fun! And dont let anyone piss in your wave...

Yeah those bikes aren't exactly high-end, but for the price you pay, they're certainly not a bad deal. Like everyone says, ride the hell out of it for a year and then upgrade the broken bits.

Also, find a new shop to go to. Honestly, you'd be amazed at how little some of those guys know anyway, especially about anything fixed gear or single speed.

dang, garrett, sorry they ripped on you. everybody else here has said everything that i was about to say, so i guess i'll just leave it at that. have fun, though. the only thing that concerns me with your bike (which nobody else has commented on yet) is you're riding it without straps! put some straps on that thing! if you don't feel comfortable TOTALLY strapped in, just put a strap on the foot that is normally in front of you as you're slowing down. it'll cut your stopping distance in half, at the very least. i guess you're putting on a front brake, so stopping won't be AS big of a deal, but i really don't feel safe riding without being strapped in, especially as a beginner.

ps - this is bryan! sarah/crystal's old roommate. hi.

My favorite shop here in Phoenix (Slippery Pig Bike Shop, you can find them in the LBS thread) regularly fixes flats on Magnas and Pacifics and other Wal-Mart bikes, always with the same respect and friendliness they show to the carbon fiber crowd (and the 10-inch travel FS crowd for that matter). They're also very fixed and SS friendly, unlike almost every other shop.

Oh yeah, this is my first post. Please go easy on me, even if I do like pie.

That's because if it was a Chicago Schwinn, it was made by people who took pride in their work, unlike the Taiwanese sweat shop bikes of today...like my Bianchi that's going bye bye. too true ive got a 73 varsity that is nuke proof it wieghs about 35 lbs but rock solid,
points to you for riding period no matter what it is at least you enjoy it that is what matters how some people treat noobs makes me sad i feel it makes them less likely to ride for fun and worry more about the bull-

garrett, you and me are in the same boat. i just finished college, i'm purty strapped for cash too considering student loans. i bought my first fixie in march from a friend of mine for $70 and a spanish textbook (crap, i still have to mail him that book)--i bought it sans-saddle and it's the longest dern touring frame you or i have ever seen, let me tell you. and three weeks later, when the sovos hub failed, a bought a suzue basic--the elitists would tell me that you're going from arse to barely less arse, that i should have had a wheelbuilder build my wheel instead of trying to build it myself, that i shouldn't reuse spokes and nipples... blah blah blah. but I have arseloads of fun riding it, throwing different brakes and bars and levers and whatnot on it...

basically, ride hard and ride safe and don't let people talk s.h.i.t about yr bike, cause that's the thing that's the reason it's fun to ride.

That's because if it was a Chicago Schwinn, it was made by people who took pride in their work, unlike the Taiwanese sweat shop bikes of today...like my Bianchi that's going bye bye.

Nope. Japanese Schwinn. Made by the good people of the Bridgestone tire company for Schwinn. Damn good bikes if a little heavy.

I hope you didn't want date Terror_in_pink.

that's a thread just waiting to happen...

My first impressions of the road bike world is that you must spend mucho money. I bought a nice bike frame last week, and I wanted to put some relatively inexpensive parts on it. for starters. The guy at the bike shop told me my frame DEMANDED better parts. For openers, he wanted $1,300, and more money would be needed. I didn't hear my bike frame demand anything. I need to know that I am going to ride my bike often before I spend $4,000 to $5,000 outfitting a bike. Right now, I can barely make it to the coffee shop which is 2.5 miles away--though it is uphill all the way--at the base of a mountain trail. But, I was really put off by this guy's claim that my bike frame was talking and demanding things.
The guy also told me if I was going rock bottom, I had to buy campy centaur parts, though he indicated with his voice, rolling his eyes, and making various gesture that I would be embarrassing my bike frame and revolting the entire biking world. And he is saying all this at the top of his lungs within range of everybody in the bike shop. I almost, foolishly, spent a lot more money that I wanted to. I didn't go back to that bike shop, and I never want to again. If you buy a Ford F150 with a six cylinder engine, people don't scream that your are embarrassing the road and the Ford Motor Co. I am beginning to think some people in the road bike world, at least the road bike shops, have a few screws loose. I bought a $10 magazine at another bike shop only to find later that it was last year's issue. Pleaseeeeeee!

garrett -

good to see a fixie rider from slo here! i lived in pismo about 6 or 7 years ago when i thought i wanted to attend calpoly. my mom and her husband live in santa maria now, and i've been meaning to take my bike with me on one of my next visits.

pm me with your email. next time i'm down, my surly and i will be happy to go on a ride with you and your mercier.

Hey Trayer, you should tell that wrench monkey that your bike demands to see what he has on his ride... more than likely it isnt Campy. Get what you can afford and upgrade later. No biggie, no worries, just enjoy!

Thanks, TLN. I bought Ultrega 10. I'll buy Campy Record when I enter the Tour de France, which is never going to happen, or when my bike actually DOES START TALKING, which I hope never happens. :eek:

Like many others, I loved and still love my first cheap bike. Old long heavy touring frame, a little too big, but like my first kiss, I'll never forget it will always love it.

BUT concerning the gear ratio change. Don't do it. If you are riding platform pedals, then its going to be harder to stop. once you get straps or go clip-less, you'll find it much easier to stop. Not to mention, then you can learn to skid/skip. I think that going to 19t will cause you to spin too much and its best to avoid taking cogs and lockrings on and off so much, especially if you have cheaper hubs prone to getting their threads stripped.

I say buy some straps and have fun.

Pink is a hottie.

Yup. The only concern I'd have regarding size would be if the top tube is up your crack when you straddle the bike. ; )
The front brake is going to make Fixie life much more fun.

Yup there are probably 8 bike shops within 15-20 miles of me and only the smallest/least heard of one gets my business because theyre super nice guys who like to give me stuff for free because im a nice guy too. I figure if I cant be friendly with my lbs why even bother stopping in? Also what do you mean the 48x16 is hard to stop? Skid stop or just slow down? If its skidding you will pick it up in time, ive only been riding my windsor for two months now and im skidding like a pro. If its slowing down you may just not have the leg strength yet.

The only time I have ever gotten attitude with a customer about the quality of their bike is when they come in look at our cruisers (base model is 169.99) complain and yell at me about the price and leave. Then they return three days later with the huffy they purchased for 99.99 and the back hub is in pieces, the fenders are rubbing the tires, and both tires are flat and the chain keeps falling off. That is when they get an attitude from me because by the time they pay their repair bill they could have purchased the bike from me, and I know they will be back next week with more problems.

Isn't the mercier or is that the WIndsor the same as the Fuji or the KHS. Either way I would buy a Fuji Track or KHS if I didn't already have a lot of parts I like on my road conversion. I really just want the frame.

Trayer, good move on the Ultegra 10 vs. Centaur. I just replaced a wheelset and cassete for a girl who had hers stolen off her centaur equipped bike and that stuff was way overpriced. Ultegra 10 is good stuff.

Yeah, just to echo what everyone else here has said: "Be an actor, not a critic.". That clown can say whatever he wants, but you are out there having fun on a bike that suits your present needs. Trust me on this, but one day, when you are riding around on your brand-new Bianchi Pista or Ciocc Enemy, you will laugh and tell your friends how much fun you had back in the day on your old ****ty track bike. You'll laugh even harder at the memory of some bikes shop goon having the foolish audacity to tell you how to have fun.

Man, dissing what somebody just bought is so lame. That's like making fun of somebody's tattoo..
Yeah, or someone's kid. (There are some funny looking kids out there, though.)

My advice to you dances in traffic is to never go back to Back Bay Bikes. I have never had a good experince with those guys and they are over priced as well. Go spend your money at Community, Cambridge, Broadway or De Velo(if they are still around)

My advice to you dances in traffic is to never go back to Back Bay Bikes. I have never had a good experince with those guys and they are over priced as well. Go spend your money at Community, Cambridge, Broadway or De Velo(if they are still around)


Oh...I am well aware. I haven't been to Back Bay in about a year now. Its a real shame though. Papa Wheelie's (their other store in Portsmouth, NH) is run by great guys. Back Bay gives the company a pretty bad name IMO.

And unfortunatly we have lost de Velo. **sigh** It will be missed. Community is nice. Cambridge...the guy seemed a little distant but he helped me out just fine. I haven't been to Broadway yet.

To turn this into another boston shop thread, I heard that revolution bike repair in JP that is moving to the GDV location.
Cambridge bike, not so good.
My favorite is broadway, in camb. They're always nice in there, and have tool rental for cheap, and TONS of used parts for cheaps. It can't get any better.

Indeed. Revolution is moving at the beginning of next month. Bad for me because Im looking at apartments on Green street. But probably good for him. He'll do good business down there.

F* the guy at the shop. They are usually just pissed you didn't buy it there or drop $4000 on a new Carbon frame.

that is such crap. ill fitting bikes are a plague among clueless people who'll do anything to ride fixed. a few fitting guidelines will save you a whole lotta trouble (and pain) in the future.

hey Garrett what shop was that guy at?

im really not too fond of Art's Cyclery right now.
they arent very nice over there.

one time i went to an all running shoes shop to buy some new running shoes and he asked me what i had been rnning in and what i needed them for. i told him marathons and he advised me that i would never be able to finish a marathon because of my feet and the shoes i had were not good for a marathon and i would never make it thru. i never bothered telling him i had finished my first marathon the day before. "experts" have a tendency to power trip on **** like that.

Don't feel bad, everyone can't be dope like me and rock an NJS headset.

dont worry about it man my first fixed was a ****ty cannondale conversion with verticle drops. and i was to broke to screw around with gears so it had alot of slack in the chain. every hard bump i hit it would fly off. it just takes time soon you will be riding a bike that will make bike elitist shut up cause they'll see you ride it savage instead of like the conservative *****'s. rep it hard man

Definitely gear it down, that'll make riding it much more enjoyable.