Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Your suggestions to a newbie for a great quality fixie/ss frame?

I must admit I do love lugs, but basically want a really
wonderful riding ss/fixie bike for long rides that also has
some good clearance for 28'' tires....prefer steel (is real).

I have a 79" standover (stand 5'6")

Cheers

your best bet is to use the search feature, there are a lot of threads that discuss this.

you'll also end up getting a much better feel for WHY folks make the recommendations they do, which is just as important (if not more) than the bike they suggest.

I have a 79" standover (stand 5'6")

WOW! Your crotch is a foot higer than your head!

That's 79cm standover, OK...clear enough for you now?

Seriously though, there are a million threads on this. Somoene will say look at IRO, so I'll just get that out of the way. It's a great inexpensive frame frome a company with an outstanding reputation for customer service

Aside from liking lugs, you don't really say much about what you're looking for in a frame, how you intend to use it, or how much you want to spend. Basically that leaves any track frame that comes in the 50-54cm range fair game.

Do some research, and/or try a more specific question.

If you haven't already checked it out the model G at Kogswell Cycles (http://www.kogswell.com/g.html) they seem pretty nice. Only two sizes though, 54cm and 58cm center to top.

Ok on how I'd use it:
Short rides, long rides, century rides (if I'm up to it!)
...would like some clearance for 28-32" tires and even
fenders (even clip ons are OK). Comfort is key (I'm a big
believer in the Riv upright philosophy)...already have a Riv
but don't want to buy the Riv Quickbeam bike...instead I
just want something different for some variety, that's all.

I know the Gunnar street dog meets that criteria (but haven't found
one in my smaller size for sale, yet HINT HINT HINT) but don't want
to fork out that kind of cash for anything new...I usually always buy
used/slightly used.

Kogswell Model G

Unfortunately, Matt, Kogswell bikes are too big...I need a standover of max 79cm
and top tube length c-c of 52-54 cm.

that is unfortunate. I'm not that Matt, but if I were I think I would bring in a few more sizes.

I'm not sure what the standover is on the 54, but It's measured center to top, and has a lowish bb. So it might be workable. Shame if it's not, because it meets all your ther critera better than anything else I know of. Steam Roller? Not lugged, but suits your other requirements nicely.

Surly Cross-check is another option, if you can give up lugs. CX geo for comfort, horizontal drops for convenience, and clearance galore.

crosscheck 2nded

Sounds like your needs are similar to mine. This is the thread I started:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=167371

(I disagree that search helps. I tried before posting and tying to find recommendations or leads on a new road geometry frame for fixed is terribly burried in the noise here)

Al

no-one seems to have asked this, but why 28" tires specifically?