Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - what is the best track/fixed gear bike on the market

I want to know what you think is the best track/fixed gear bike out there on the market. Not home made. I also want to know why you think it's the best.

true track, or street?

street

IRO really suck. Avoid them like the clap.
Get a Fuji Pista or Mercier TT.

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The Bianchi Pista has a nice frame and the quickest handling of the ready mades.
The combination of a steep head tube (75 degrees) and minimal rake (28mm) makes for a bike that goes where you think before you think it.

The Pista has very cheap but well selected components.
Ride it for six months; discover what you like; start upgrading components, starting with the headset, the perhaps the wheels, then the bottom bracket, etc.

http://www.bianchiusa.com/06_pista.html

mine ;)

Oh, but you said not home made.

I feel your pain. You get your first fixed gear, get a little taste, and now you got an itch that can only be scratched with a better bike. Well there are tons out there, and f course it's much a matter of taste, and riding style which one is the best, so I recommend you take your time, check out as many different types of bikes as possible soak up the knowledge, and really savor the experience of seeking that dream bike.

In the mean time, ride the hell out of your Mercier, and savor that too. It's win win.

The goal of my Soma Rush project was a good quality bike without spending a ton, and I feel I achieved that. I spent a little extra in the places I felt would make for a better or more durable bike, and splurged on the saddle, because well it was green, and looked so badass with the frame. In the end I built a very pretty very durable, and very utilitarian bike (all by my own standards) not quite my ultimate dream bike, but I also didn't feel like I sacrificed too much. You can do the same, but first you have to work out what you want, and decide what's important to you.

why is the headset so important. everyone has been telling me to upgrade that first.

Do you know what sort of geometry you want? 531 conversions are better for many. That said, I ride a rush too. It is word.

I love my Pista, but I don't see the need to upgrade anything on it until it breaks.
I JUST replaced my headset and BB after almost 2 years.

IRO really suck. Avoid them like the clap.
Get a Fuji Pista or Mercier TT.


the fuji track is aluminum with a track geometry, which means it's going to be a bone jarring ride on the street, which might be alleviated by wide ass tires or a carbon component set. the mercier tt, while inexpensive, has crap rims laced to crap hubs - nothing's spectacular - it will do an alright job until parts start failing. iro's, aside from being a tried and true street frameset, come with excellent wheels and an even better 1/2 price replacement warrantee. you can arrange with tony to have better-than-iro components put on it as well, for a fair price.

what it comes down to is that an IRO is superior to either the Fuji Track and the Mercier TT in terms of street use. the bianchi pista and soma rush are as well. as far as geometry's concerned, I'm on the street every day, and I never feel like the IRO is holding me back from whipping around cars as needs dictate.

the fuji track is steel

why is the headset so important. everyone has been telling me to upgrade that first.

Headset? important? I mean... everytginh its important but a headset isnt critical at all... it is one of the parts of the bike that would last centuries.. the man was giving an example about what to change OK?? besides.. change the headseat wont make u go faster... the bike it will look a lot better with a descent Headset but isnt a critical situation that will makes u be the best in the world because u changed it from one brand to another.. I think u got the idea.

The best bike in the market for street??? Get anything!!... I mean all the brands are respectable so far my concern, but u want the bike for the street too so, stick with anything your pocket can afford.. if u can afford a 2000 bucks bike for going sightseen go ahead.. Bianch pista, fuji pista are ok for the street... khs from canada too... U can get those 3 brands like for 500 or 600 bucks in your lbs. Iro's are fine and mercier's aswell.. the question u r doing it is too wide to get a super right answer...

I didtn want to get a bianchi or any of those street track frames because I was looking for something special, and i found it and that makes it maybe one of the best bikes I have ever riden but isnt in the market. The other thing is that U'll find zillions of different answers here in the forums... but it will be nice to know what do u want the bike for... OK street... street working as a messenger? to sightseen? for racing? each manufacturer have something in mind when building this bikes... but as as I see... anything u get will be fine even a road convertion, the objective its riding in the street right?

And again... u want the bike for riding in the street, we dont even know how much money u want to spend, I would say... get an 80's road bike (colnago, massi, any famous european between 80's - 90's or something like that) and do a fixed gear with it. It will work maybe even better than the recomended a few postings ago, besides isnt the same to say.. I have a colnago master than I have a bianchi pista... If that is what r u looking for.

Any questions... PM me ...

UM

Headset? important? I mean... everytginh its important but a headset isnt critical at all... it is one of the parts of the bike that would last centuries.. the man was giving an example about what to change OK?? besides.. change the headseat wont make u go faster... the bike it will look a lot better with a descent Headset but isnt a critical situation that will makes u be the best in the world because u changed it from one brand to another.. I think u got the idea.

Word double word on the headset. Upgrading assuming you like the frame and fit? Get nice pedals and the best tires you can afford. Those two items will impact you far more and immediately.

Ken Cox said to "start with the headset" which also made me go "huh?"
Ken Cox, can you enlighten us as to why you think the headset should be the first upgrade?

the fuji track is aluminum with a track geometry, which means it's going to be a bone jarring ride on the street, which might be alleviated by wide ass tires or a carbon component set. the mercier tt, while inexpensive, has crap rims laced to crap hubs - nothing's spectacular - it will do an alright job until parts start failing. iro's, aside from being a tried and true street frameset, come with excellent wheels and an even better 1/2 price replacement warrantee. you can arrange with tony to have better-than-iro components put on it as well, for a fair price.

what it comes down to is that an IRO is superior to either the Fuji Track and the Mercier TT in terms of street use. the bianchi pista and soma rush are as well. as far as geometry's concerned, I'm on the street every day, and I never feel like the IRO is holding me back from whipping around cars as needs dictate.


I appreciate the detailed response but I was just sort of being a dick to a
question thats sort of unanswerable. Everybody is generally gonna say whatever
they rock is the best or close to it :D. I love IRO's and would buy one inna
second. Im glad I built the cheepo Mercier TT up instead of buying a nice
bike first cuz after the building and riding I would do some stuff very differently
so Im glad I didnt drop a lot inna a 'serious' bike and then find out I got it wrong :eek:

iro angus hands down!

Jeez... everyone's going to the $300 framesets as the 'best on the market'? No one is going to say the Jamis Sputnik or Lemond Fillmore?

i love my eai bareknuckle

Timbuk2 Pista, hands down.

I love my Pista but if I could have any frame on the market, I'd go Bareknuckle or DeBernardi, excluding, of course, all Keirin frames.

i'am not trying to be a hater but i want to share some things with the forum, in
regards to the orginator of this post (dianag4) who i met albeit briefly yesterday.
before starting to worry about what headset is what and what bike is what there
are some things i recommended to her and her friend that she seemed not
too interested in the importance of.
to begin neither her or her friend had their pants leg rolled up
on the drivetrain side and when i mentioned that this
was a really really bad idea, they seemd to brush me off with
"oh its not important". she also went on to say " oh ive fell over before
and its no big deal". however this sort of thing in a nyc traffic situation can kill
or seriously injure you or a motorist and is not something to blow off. next, niether her
or her friend were wearing helemts, and mentioned to me that this
was their first time riding down 2nd ave ever, again this is not a good idea IMO.
her friend was taking this all one step further, because not only
was he rocking the pants unrolled, and no helmet, but was also on his
first day of riding fixed. the brother was going brakeless, with no pedal straps, or cages,
no lights of any kind (front or rear) , and laughed it off as not being a big deal.
i was afraid to ride with them out of fear of by me worrying about them
i would get into a acccident. this was seriously the most irresponsible
riding i have come across in a long time. i am posting this not to hate on
these people, but more to encourage them to see that the things they
were doing are A REALLY BAD IDEA.
i hope this helps because safety is a very important ascpect of staying alive when
riding, in any situation but espcially riding fixed.

Timbuk2 Pista, hands down.

you moron, Chrome makes the Pista. duh.

damn crayon sounds like they were just asking for a hospital trip.... pants leg gets caught throws you on your no helmet covered head, and hello hospital...

you moron, Chrome makes the Pista. duh.


you sure it aint reload? lol

+1 on most of that.

Brakeless without straps/cages is a HORRIBLE idea.

I find it funny that so many people "hate" on having one pant leg rolled up when it serves a very specific purpose: pant leg caught in drive train = big trouble

thats what i'am saying i think they need some encouragement from other people
besides me.

you moron, Chrome makes the Pista. duh.

They totally ripped it off.

I find it funny that so many people "hate" on having one pant leg rolled up when it serves a very specific purpose: pant leg caught in drive train = big trouble

**** yeah.

despite what this forum may lead you to believe, this ain't a ****ing fashion contest.

i like seeing bike folks all decked out in the utilitarian gear:
pant legs rolled up, even when nowhere near their bike.
patches on their ass where their saddle wore their pants out.
velcro shoes.
carrying beer/pie around in their bag.

roll the leg up, you can roll it back down when you get where you're going. but people are still going to know you ride a bike because of that giant stupid grin on your face.

hmmm....

looks like DianaG4 is taking a hiatus on this one after being exposed. sounds similar to the undercover cops you guys had at the CMs over there, i.e. weird set-ups and all the wrong gear asking suspicious questions ;)

i'am not trying to be a hater but i want to share some things with the forum, in
regards to the orginator of this post (dianag4) who i met albeit briefly yesterday.
before starting to worry about what headset is what and what bike is what there
are some things i recommended to her and her friend that she seemed not
too interested in the importance of.
to begin neither her or her friend had their pants leg rolled up
on the drivetrain side and when i mentioned that this
was a really really bad idea, they seemd to brush me off with
"oh its not important". she also went on to say " oh ive fell over before
and its no big deal". however this sort of thing in a nyc traffic situation can kill
or seriously injure you or a motorist and is not something to blow off. next, niether her
or her friend were wearing helemts, and mentioned to me that this
was their first time riding down 2nd ave ever, again this is not a good idea IMO.
her friend was taking this all one step further, because not only
was he rocking the pants unrolled, and no helmet, but was also on his
first day of riding fixed. the brother was going brakeless, with no pedal straps, or cages,
no lights of any kind (front or rear) , and laughed it off as not being a big deal.
i was afraid to ride with them out of fear of by me worrying about them
i would get into a acccident. this was seriously the most irresponsible
riding i have come across in a long time. i am posting this not to hate on
these people, but more to encourage them to see that the things they
were doing are A REALLY BAD IDEA.
i hope this helps because safety is a very important ascpect of staying alive when
riding, in any situation but espcially riding fixed.

were they wearing headphones?

or day-glo fingerless mesh gloves, nylon parachute pants and hair scrunchies??

the diana g4 thing is a weird phenomenon. I remain skeptical.

were they wearing headphones?

yes, yes, yes. Someone mod this guy up.

I just got a Langster, it's pretty decent.

If you refuse to roll up your pant leg, at least tuck it into your sock. Please people!

Listen to crayonsemble, roll your stupid pants leg up, and buy some lights, they're only 20 dollars and will save your ass more times than you'll ever realize (it not so you can see, it so the car can see you). Also, for ****s sake, if you are going to be playing in busy traffic, wear a helmet.

As for bikes, if you are new to fixed, something with lax geometry is good, then when you get better, trade up for something tighter. And run a brake until your legs get strong.

the diana g4 thing is a weird phenomenon. I remain skeptical.

+1

Ken Cox, can you enlighten us as to why you think the headset should be the first upgrade?

Well, maybe not the headset.

I actually upgraded my pedals, first, to a better functioning Shimano Double-sided clipless pedal.

Some time after, though, I did a Chris King headset because the original headset started getting gritty and notchy, and it would clunk sometimes.
Someone else on this forum said I would see a much bigger difference than I expected, once I installed the new headset, and I did.
In fact, I regularly reflect on how solid the bike feels now, and much more so than I would have expected from something as mundane as a headset.

As for my original headset, I weigh 215, maybe 235 with bag, and I ride, typically, 30 miles a day.
So, my original headset, undoubtedly the cheapest headset Bianchi could find, started to quit within a year.
Lighter riders may get by indefinitely.

The biggest differences for me came from finding the right stem for my bullhorns.
I went through about six cheap stems before I found the right length and angle.
I also tried several brands of tires, and mixtures of front and back tires, finally settling, for the time, on an Armadillo in back and a Conti 4 Season in front.

It also took me a month or two to dial in my chain line.
I put an EAI cog in back, with the flange against the hub, and moved the chainring to the outer position on the SuginoRD crank; and my chain got totally silent.

I recently got a Stronglight crank from John Dace of Businesscycles.
I hope I don't lose my chainline.
I shouldn't, because I also ordered an American Classic Bottom Bracket, which has adjustable cups.

I can spend this kind of money on my Bianchi because I got it so cheap in the first place.
My son suggested this.
He told me to buy a bike with a frame that gave me the handling I wanted, and then replace all the cheap components over the next few years.
I really like this frame, independently of its looks (chrome).
I may get it repainted in a year or so; and then again, I might buy a custom frame and move all my good parts to the new frame.

All in all, a very cost-effective way to learn about fixed gear bikes.

I want to know what you think is the best track/fixed gear bike out there on the market. Not home made. I also want to know why you think it's the best.

you're a ****ing **** head

also, anyone that responded to such a question in a literal manner is a ****ing ****head

the diana g4 thing is a weird phenomenon. I remain skeptical.
me too. or she's a ****head.

true track, or street?

shutup!!!!

the best track bike ever made is the Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Orange One

http://www.benscycle.net/store/images/custom/milwaukee_showcase_web.jpg
its orange

Well, maybe not the headset.

I actually upgraded my pedals, first, to a better functioning Shimano Double-sided clipless pedal.

Some time after, though, I did a Chris King headset because the original headset started getting gritty and notchy, and it would clunk sometimes.
Someone else on this forum said I would see a much bigger difference than I expected, once I installed the new headset, and I did.
In fact, I regularly reflect on how solid the bike feels now, and much more so than I would have expected from something as mundane as a headset.

As for my original headset, I weigh 215, maybe 235 with bag, and I ride, typically, 30 miles a day.
So, my original headset, undoubtedly the cheapest headset Bianchi could find, started to quit within a year.
Lighter riders may get by indefinitely.

The biggest differences for me came from finding the right stem for my bullhorns.
I went through about six cheap stems before I found the right length and angle.
I also tried several brands of tires, and mixtures of front and back tires, finally settling, for the time, on an Armadillo in back and a Conti 4 Season in front.

It also took me a month or two to dial in my chain line.
I put an EAI cog in back, with the flange against the hub, and moved the chainring to the outer position on the SuginoRD crank; and my chain got totally silent.

I recently got a Stronglight crank from John Dace of Businesscycles.
I hope I don't lose my chainline.
I shouldn't, because I also ordered an American Classic Bottom Bracket, which has adjustable cups.

I can spend this kind of money on my Bianchi because I got it so cheap in the first place.
My son suggested this.
He told me to buy a bike with a frame that gave me the handling I wanted, and then replace all the cheap components over the next few years.
I really like this frame, independently of its looks (chrome).
I may get it repainted in a year or so; and then again, I might buy a custom frame and move all my good parts to the new frame.

All in all, a very cost-effective way to learn about fixed gear bikes.

huh? you ride with 20 pounds in your bag, daily? I've backpacked for a week with less than that in my pack. . . .

huh? you ride with 20 pounds in your bag, daily? I've backpacked for a week with less than that in my pack. . . .

KILL 'EM ALL!! you're on a rampage this evening!

ChicagoxBoston? wow, that's a ****ing insane gearing.

the best track bike ever made is the Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Orange One

http://www.benscycle.net/store/images/custom/milwaukee_showcase_web.jpg
its orange


that is the best bike presentation i've see in a bike shop, minimal! i love it!

i'am not trying to be a hater but i want to share some things with the forum, in
regards to the orginator of this post (dianag4) who i met albeit briefly yesterday.
before starting to worry about what headset is what and what bike is what there
are some things i recommended to her and her friend that she seemed not
too interested in the importance of.
to begin neither her or her friend had their pants leg rolled up
on the drivetrain side and when i mentioned that this
was a really really bad idea, they seemd to brush me off with
"oh its not important". she also went on to say " oh ive fell over before
and its no big deal". however this sort of thing in a nyc traffic situation can kill
or seriously injure you or a motorist and is not something to blow off. next, niether her
or her friend were wearing helemts, and mentioned to me that this
was their first time riding down 2nd ave ever, again this is not a good idea IMO.
her friend was taking this all one step further, because not only
was he rocking the pants unrolled, and no helmet, but was also on his
first day of riding fixed. the brother was going brakeless, with no pedal straps, or cages,
no lights of any kind (front or rear) , and laughed it off as not being a big deal.
i was afraid to ride with them out of fear of by me worrying about them
i would get into a acccident. this was seriously the most irresponsible
riding i have come across in a long time. i am posting this not to hate on
these people, but more to encourage them to see that the things they
were doing are A REALLY BAD IDEA.
i hope this helps because safety is a very important ascpect of staying alive when
riding, in any situation but espcially riding fixed.

this makes me sad to hear this. safety is always first.

**** yeah.

despite what this forum may lead you to believe, this ain't a ****ing fashion contest.

i like seeing bike folks all decked out in the utilitarian gear:
pant legs rolled up, even when nowhere near their bike.
patches on their ass where their saddle wore their pants out.
velcro shoes.
carrying beer/pie around in their bag.

roll the leg up, you can roll it back down when you get where you're going. but people are still going to know you ride a bike because of that giant stupid grin on your face.

+1 to da nth! if i leave my crib in the mornin' on a bike, i shant the right leg ALL day. stand tall. be proud. (but i mostly carry wine in my bag).