Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Scared but seeking wisdom

Hello everyone,

First thank you for taking the time to view my thread even if you don't respond. I have been seriously thinking about getting into fixed gear cycling but before I invest anymore time into research I thought I would ask those with more wisdom about the issues involved. That is exactly why I am posting now even though I am shy and fear the wrath of elitest messenger/track racer types that occasional show their faces on the net.

My situation is as follows, I have been running three miles a day for the past five years but I have grown tied of it. I am looking for something to fill the void of exercise that would also bloom into an enjoyable experience. While I am sure all kinds of cycling could easily do both of those I think going fixed would be ideal for me for a few reasons. One while I am semi mechanically inclined dealing with derailer and other road bike issues doesn't sound like something I would like to jump right into. Maintenance is an issue I don't want to be overwelmed by but daily checking of bolt tightness and greases I can easily tackle. Second I wan't to enjoy the rides and having to think about gearing is something that would take some of my focus of enjoying the ride and concentrating on my surroundings incase of danger. I wan't to do this right, I want to learn and build my own bike up. A fixed or single speed seems like the ideal bike for me. The only bad issues I can see is as I put it earlier the wrath of the elitest. I don't like confrontations but I don't care what other people think of me. I feel I want to ride for the enjoyment, I don't really care if I crash some persons clique ideals. To me the politics and religion of these bikes has me alittle worried but not enough to dissuade me from something I think could be very enjoyable and addicting.

So I come to at last (is that cheering I hear?) Do you think I am being reasonable or should I just forget about it and look elsewhere? If it helps clear things up I have a budget of $1500 to get everything I would need. Bike parts, safety equipment, tools, the works. The course I would run every day has only three hills, 2% ,8% and and optional short 12% grade. I would like to start with all new parts even if it would be harder to find or more expensive but I do understand the history of some of these frames and parts and wouldn't want to ruin anything of historic value. Thank you for reading this one mans ramblings.
-TJ
After save:
Edited for yucky formatting. sorry.

You're thinking too hard about it. Ride the bike you like.

Don't sweat the ******bags. [tm]

Buy it, master it, and then, even if someone gives you crap about riding a track bike, you'll KNOW that you own it. Its great fun, transportation, and exercise.

To me the politics and religion of these bikes has me alittle worried but not enough to dissuade me from something I think could be very enjoyable and addicting.Ignore those things and just ride.

You can get plenty for your budget and the hills you are looking at are quite doable. Go have fun.

Hey lostin-

Go for it, you'll love a singlespeed/fixie and you'll probably eventually want a geared bike too. As for the elitists, don't even sweat it, they're not as common and entirely, completely harmless. Have fun.

You can buy a brand new quite decent fixed gear/track(ish) ride for $500 or so dollars at most any bike shop (def' if you're near a city, otherwise, you might have to use online retailers or have your shop special order it). Just make sure you throw a front brake on there for a fixed gear. Just get one and ride it.

Screw the jerks! Usually they only show their faces on the net, no one has ever disparaged my bike in person. Its just a crappy conversion, but when you are actually riding it, people respect that, even if its not their first choice for a bike.

Your budget is just fine, there about a gazillion great fixies to be had well under that budget. I'd recommend checking out options like Kogswell, Surly and IRO, which have a range of bikes well under that price, and some character as well. You'll only need a few tools, like a multitool, a few combination wrenches, screwdrivers, tire levers and a pump to do all your basic maintainence, and you can buy other tools as you need them.

For someone used to running, fixed gear would make sense. For me, its more like running than my other bikes, since its just my legs and the pavement, there just happens to be some metal in between now. :)

Have fun!

peace,
sam

I ride a *****@ss conversion with two different sized wheels and two brakes. I have been riding it for almost 2 years now and no one has ever given me a hard time about it. I am sure that people with fancy track bikes have thought mean things about my bike. Who cares? Do what you want.

C

Go for it, you won't regret it.

Where in Nor Cal are you? If you are in the Sacramento PM me. I'll give you a hand.

you'll love it.

i second the notion of going with something like a surly/kogswell/IRO for your frame. Good price, nice design, and some character. You might also buy a pre-built wheelset from IRO or Harris Cyclery. Then you'd basically be set--the rest of the stuff you could do yourself, or with help from your local bike shop.

You could really go to town with your budget. Have fun.

You could really go to town with your budget. Yeah, seriously!

$500 for the bike, and $1000 for beer, hookers, and fixed gear lessons from Cynical... you'll be all set.;)

Yeah, seriously!

$1000 for beer, hookers, and fixed gear lessons from Cynical... you'll be all set.;)

I understand paying for beer.............

since no one else said it, try one out first, cause if you don't like it, you won't ride it. and even if you're budgetting 1500, and only spend 500, that's still 500 that could go towards beer, hookers, and sprayable cheeses. this sh1t's a blast, enjoy.

yeah, here is what i would do, or actually what i did: buy a cheapo off ebay or cl, just make sure it has a fixed hub (i spent 150 on a nishiki conversion with suzue jr rear hub). ride around and get a sense of what you do and dont like, what your ideal frame size and gear ratio is, etc, then, if you like it, either buy a built bike or build something that fits good. i got a sweet marinoni track frame/fork (with headset) and a miche bb/crank on ebay, had an lbs build the wheels, and got the stems, bars, brake levers, seat post, etc on ebay or OBS or LBS as necessary. This way you can play around and get the specific stuff you want. I also got Lennard Zinns Road Bike maintenance book to make sure i didnt screw up the basic stuff, especially the brake installation, and searched and read this forum or Sheldon Brown whenever i had questions (ie, which cog to buy etc.) i had also have the good fortune of living near Bikeworks, a fab LBS that is all about track for the street and helped me with any little question (they also built my wheels).

anyway, all of this was a good deal under 1000 (of course the lock, helmet, h20 bottle, chain oil, tools, etc, are extra), plus i hope to resell the nishiki as it is in fine shape and a good ride, just a little small for me. the basic idea is to start riding fixed without shelling out too much beer/hooker (!) money, and then making your thing.

dont sweat the socio-cultural issues, as it doesn't seem to matter when you are enjoying a nice ride.

Hello again,

Thank you all for the words of encouragement and the suggestions. You were right I am over thinking it but like I mentioned I try to avoid all confrontations. It helps to break fears when others show support so thank you again.

I think I will do as suggest and try one out first if I can. Hopefully I can talk to some of the local shops and see about it. If that doesn't work going the used cheap route and seeing sounds fine. The money I have is saved and totally disposable but I might as well use it on something I know will be enjoyable.

I hadn't thought about the fact that riding a fixed is like running but it makes perfect sense. Can't coast while running have to keep pumping those legs. As for where I am in I have two places, one in Petaluma and one in Santa Rosa. If anyone has any locals shops around those two places to check out for fixie stuff I would appreciate it.

I have already been reading here, http://www.sheldonbrown.com and http://www.parktool.com to get a feel of bike lingo and what keeping and buildingup a bike would entail.

As always thank you all again, just seeing the kind of output you all put into posting has squashed most of my fears.

-TJ

It's a whole lot like running, only you don't have that nasty jarring impact where your feet hit the pavement, and you can be running at 20mph without really breaking a sweat... Just remember you want to lean a little forward and push back when you want to stop quick ;)

I'd suggest that after you've followed the other good advice above, you use some of the money that you have earmarked for safety equipment and 'the works' to get a messenger bag. Maybe part of what has you burnt out on the exercise is having to make time for it. Try commuting, or doing more than just that route on your bike. Do some grocery shopping, go to see a show downtown without having to pay for parking, whatever. As you integrate the bike more into your daily life, you'll find yourself exercising without having to plan for it. It's just part of your routine...

As far as the hipsters, F'em. About the only reason I'd look down on someone's bike is if it either came from X-mart (then I actually usually hold the person in higher regard, knowing how hard they are probably working for the little they make) or if it's a 3-5000 bike ridden by someone over 300lbs in a full team kit (and then I'd still hope they're passing me two or three years from now after putting in a bunch of miles), or if they're riding a suicide hub (sorry kids, not for me). It sounds like you want to make sure you have good, solid, working components - I seriously doubt you'll get any *****.

Hope that helps you some.

i got into riding because i injured myself running too much/incorrectly....i started on a track bike (note: please run a brake...it's silly not to) i got for 300 off of craigslist, decided i loved it and have never looked back. i'd definetely second the recommendation that (if possible) try it before you throw down some cash, like anything else, it's not for everyone (maybe a...dare i say....'geared' bike is?) the point it you'll never know 'til you try.

i love riding fixed, but since getting into riding 2 years ago i now race road, have mesengered, have gone touring....worst case scenario, you get a bike, don't ride it, and go back to running, 'best' case scenario, you turn into 'one of us' :)

'best' case scenario, you turn into 'one of us'

uh oh the zombie's are rallying again...

i know it might not be a popular suggestion but you might want to gear the bike down a little to start.... if you buy a track bike it will come with a gear ratio for riding around a flat track. that might be a little high to start riding especially if you have some hills.

right now i am starting fixie riding with a 46x18 ratio which lets me still climb some hills. but i rode a bit before this so even that gear may seem high to you.

Hellos,

Well I have some, what I believe to be good, news to share. I got the opportunity to try out a fixed and must say it was truely a blast. The story will follow for anyone who is interested and is willing to read some. To add a cherry to the top as well it squashed the last remaining fears and doubts I had of entering this world of sport and fun. I am now really eager to get riding instead of running so I think I will buy a complete fixie first and learn from it. In the sidelines while I have am riding I can build up another more individualized bike.

Well if you are reading down this far must mean you want to read more about my first experience on a fixed and infact first time I have ridden a bike in over a decade. I took my normal run and came to the water spigot riders and runners alike use to freshen up from. To my surprise for the first time I saw a man there and he was riding a fixed gear. I was astonished and I guess he caught my stares because he asked me if I wanted to know how he rode without breaks. I am actually gald he broke the ice so to speak because I would never have approached him. I told him truthfully that wasn't the case at all but I was infact thinking about getting into fixed gears myself. Well this really seemed to light a fire in him and he told me all about it. He was an extremely nice guy nothing like I feared. After about ten minutes he told me he didn't live too far and if I wanted he we could go back to his place and he would let me use one of his others so we could go for a ride. Speed forward and I do mean speed he took me on a two mile ride that was exilarating. I had some of the same feelings I used to have about running. To make a long story shorter , I had a blast not just from the ride but the kindness he should to a total stranger. He gave me his number and told me when I get my bike if I want help with anything or just to ride let give him a ring. Looks like I am on my way , now all I need to do is reseach , more research and more research.

Want to thank you all again, it really has been a wonderful experience and I have just begun to have my eyes opened.

-TJ

you forgot to start with, "Dear Penthouse..." ;)