Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Help me choose parts for a singlespeed road bike.

Hey guys, I'm looking to put together (or buy) a singlespeed road bike. I'm not looking for a track bike, really but something with geometry (and handlebars) that are more like a standard geared road bike. I was looking at the specialized Langster, and even though it's marketed as a track bike, the geometry is pretty close to a standard road bike, so I was thinking that this might be a good starting point, or maybe there's another similar bike I could look at. I'd build up from a frame if necessary, too, but that could get expensive.

My concerns/requirments/etc.

I want a freewheel. I like coasting sometimes. However, I'm not opposed to playing with a fixed setup too, so a flip-flop hub might be a good idea.

I want a front brake, definitely. I honestly think I could do without a rear brake at all, even on a freewheeling bike, but I want to have two brake hoods just so I can put my hands there, so I guess I might as well have a rear brake as well, since it seems pointless to have a brake lever that's not attached to anything.

I want quick-release skewers, at least on the front, and on the back too, if they'll hold tight enough. Can the hubs on the Langster (or any other bike that is suggested) have the axles replaced with QR axles?

I may want to mount a rack on the bike to carry stuff. Actually, I don't WANT to, but I think I might have to, so I'd like to have the option to mount a rack on whatever frame I get.

I want standard looking road handlebars, I don't need them to to have drops that go down somewhere around the front axle.

I'm thinknig I might get some mountain-bike style SPD pedals with platforms on one side, and clipless on the other, so I can either wear clipless shoes for better efficiency, or regualr shoes for cruising around town.

I'll probably want to run a 48x16 gear, or maybe 48x15, since my area is pretty flat. Does that seem reasonable?

I don't want to buy a used bike, unless it's in great shape, because I don't have the time or the facilities to be stripping and repainting bikes, and I want to get a new looking bike.

I want to ride this thing to work, 16 miles each way, and I want to have fun doing it. I want to be able to lean my bike up against my cubicle wall, and think "Wow, that bike looks awesome!" every time I walk into my cubicle. I want something fun, fast, low-maintenance, and nice looking.

Would it be wise to start with a factory langster and customize from there, you think?

Sounds like the Langster's the one for you, but I am a little bit unsure about changing the axles for QR. The only hubs that I know will definitely accept the standard (9 mm/10 mm) hollow axles are Surly and Suzue ProMax NJS. I'd wager that Shimano Dura-Ace Track hubs probably also rock the 9 mm front/10 mm rear, but I could be wrong.

Hey guys, I'm looking to put together (or buy) a singlespeed road bike. I'm not looking for a track bike, really but something with geometry (and handlebars) that are more like a standard geared road bike. I was looking at the specialized Langster, and even though it's marketed as a track bike, the geometry is pretty close to a standard road bike, so I was thinking that this might be a good starting point, or maybe there's another similar bike I could look at. I'd build up from a frame if necessary, too, but that could get expensive.

My concerns/requirments/etc.

I want a freewheel. I like coasting sometimes. However, I'm not opposed to playing with a fixed setup too, so a flip-flop hub might be a good idea.

I want a front brake, definitely. I honestly think I could do without a rear brake at all, even on a freewheeling bike, but I want to have two brake hoods just so I can put my hands there, so I guess I might as well have a rear brake as well, since it seems pointless to have a brake lever that's not attached to anything.

I want quick-release skewers, at least on the front, and on the back too, if they'll hold tight enough. Can the hubs on the Langster (or any other bike that is suggested) have the axles replaced with QR axles?

I may want to mount a rack on the bike to carry stuff. Actually, I don't WANT to, but I think I might have to, so I'd like to have the option to mount a rack on whatever frame I get.

I want standard looking road handlebars, I don't need them to to have drops that go down somewhere around the front axle.

I'm thinknig I might get some mountain-bike style SPD pedals with platforms on one side, and clipless on the other, so I can either wear clipless shoes for better efficiency, or regualr shoes for cruising around town.

I'll probably want to run a 48x16 gear, or maybe 48x15, since my area is pretty flat. Does that seem reasonable?

I don't want to buy a used bike, unless it's in great shape, because I don't have the time or the facilities to be stripping and repainting bikes, and I want to get a new looking bike.

I want to ride this thing to work, 16 miles each way, and I want to have fun doing it. I want to be able to lean my bike up against my cubicle wall, and think "Wow, that bike looks awesome!" every time I walk into my cubicle. I want something fun, fast, low-maintenance, and nice looking.



What size frame? Have you looked at the Kogswell G? http://kogswell.com/g.html

So I spent some time building up an old trek 1500 to a SS (verticle dropouts and all) for city riding. Its been treating me really well, even despite the super harsh ride.

Anyways, my conversion consisted of going for a surly flip-flop rear hub (although I should've just kept the original hub and used spacers :-/), singleator tensioner, kept the standard handlebars and shimano 600 brakes, bottom bracket, crankset and front hub. Put on a FSA 48t front, running 18t in the rear and a set of the shimano clipless, which work awesome. I love playing with and building bikes, so it was great for me, but It sounds like you'd be better off just getting a bike off the shelf and going with that.

http://www.halfpricesushi.com/single1.jpg

just FYI -- chain tensioners and fixed gearing don't mix. For the freewheel side, it's cool.

to wit (about 2/3 down the page) http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

Sounds like the Langster's the one for you, but I am a little bit unsure about changing the axles for QR. The only hubs that I know will definitely accept the standard (9 mm/10 mm) hollow axles are Surly and Suzue ProMax NJS. I'd wager that Shimano Dura-Ace Track hubs probably also rock the 9 mm front/10 mm rear, but I could be wrong.

The QR isn't absolutely necessary, though I'd like to have it. I guess I could always get a new front wheel if I end up with a bunch of extra money lying around, or carry a wrench with me.



What size frame? Have you looked at the Kogswell G? http://kogswell.com/g.html

I hadn't even heard of Kogswell before. The frame looks interesting, though it seems to only come in 54 and 58. Either one of those might fit me, dependuing on exactly how thier frames are sized. I was expecting I'd probably get a 56. Are you pretty happy with yours? (I assume you ride one, based on your name)

QR, singlespeed, rack eyelets, etc......hmmm.......maybe a singlespeed road conversion is the way to go on this one. :)

I hadn't even heard of Kogswell before. The frame looks interesting, though it seems to only come in 54 and 58. Either one of those might fit me, dependuing on exactly how thier frames are sized. I was expecting I'd probably get a 56. Are you pretty happy with yours? (I assume you ride one, based on your name)

He's probably ridden a few Kogswell bikes before. He is Kogswell. They are all his until he sells them. I love the looks of the Model G. You could do alot worse than that bike for a ss/fg.