Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Pake, Surly Steamroller or Soma Rush

Which one should I go with? I'm going to build up my first fixie and have narrowed it down to these 3. The Pake seems to be the best value, but am I missing something? The Rush is sweet with it's higher end steel, but at a price premium. The Steamroller is right in the middle price wise and has a little more relaxed geometry. I'd mainly be using it to commute 8 miles each way to work. What do you think?

Go with the nicer frame, Soma Rush.

Welcome to the forums. All these bikes have been discussed time and time again. If you check the search feature (up at the top) you can read people opinions on each frame. Good luck w/ your search.

That being said, my commuter is a Pake. It's cheap, fun to ride and heavy. If you're just looking for a daily ride skip the Rush, save the bigger bucks for your NEXT fixed gear bike. The Steamroller is also a decent frame ... it might be easier for you to get your hands on since Surly is owned by QBP, a supplier that almost every bike shop deals with.

Search is disabled.
And, for what it's worth, I don't love my Pake.

Go with the nicer frame, Soma Rush.

This coming from a guy with a Pake? Are you regretting not ponying up for the Soma? That's kinda what I'm worried about, but tend to always want more than my wallet can afford...

It's hard to say.
I don't particularly like the ride of the Pake, kinda heavy and clunky.
At the same time, it's stuck behind two other, and nicer, bikes in my rotation.

I was looking at the Rush before I decided on the Pake as a nice "back up" bike.
It's hard to say whether or not the Rush would be ridden very often if I had gone that route.

Sorry about the search thing. I have done some reading here on all three separately, but thought I would get a fresh look from a thread talking about all three together...

**** it, track bikes are bull**** anyway.

IRO MV Frame? :)

...oh and thanks for the quick feedback.

...oh and thanks for the quick feedback.

What are you riding right now? What have you ridden in the past?

I just started riding a new pake 3 weeks ago, I was upgrading from a miyata 210 conversion. My initial impressions on the pake: nearly no wight difference between my conversion and the pake maybe the pake frame is 1/2pound lighter, having a higer bottom bracket is a huge improvement, the frame is suprisingly stiff, that's where i noticed the biggest change from the conversion.
All that said the pake is just a place holder till i can scrape enough cash together for a bareknuckle.

There's a question you don't hear everyday....

Soma.

I would go with the steamroller. The relaxed geometry will make for a more comfortable commute. especially if its 8 miles each way.

I would go with the steamroller. The relaxed geometry will make for a more comfortable commute. especially if its 8 miles each way.
If you're considering the 'roller, you might as well consider the IRO angus. Tubing comparable to the Soma, a bit more relaxed geo, and the price is nice.

The trouble with the Search function is old threads get resurrected and old wounds get fresh salt.

Who wants the Natty Fab thread back?

I'd say go with the Soma. I went from my conversion to a Soma Rush, and I looove it.

My soma is great. If I had two fixed gear bikes, I'd perhaps have an steamroller and a fancy track bike, but a soma is perfect for having only one fixed bike. Geometry good and tight, but not stupid tight. Nice and nimble but not crumply and I don't get scared for it.

I wouldn't get the pake. If you want something heavy, you may as well get something that can take fenders and 32s that can be taken off-road.

Here's another happy soma rider. I ride mine every day. I can't really compare it to the Steam roller or the Pake since I haven't ridden them.

As for the geometry. I think it feels great on the street, responsive, stiff light, it begs to be sprinted at the slightest provocation, and turns teleptthically. I buzz through a tight traffic circle almost every day, and the Rush with 170 cranks is the only bike that I have never struck a pedal in that circle. Conversly it could be considered whippy. If you want a stable ride, you want to be able to load up a rack, or some panniers, the steamroller might be a better choice for commuting.

If the bike will spend the day outside on a rack, get a Pake. There's less worry about putting mongo chains and U-locks on straight gauge CroMo, a few stratches and rust specks won't spoil it, and you won't be devastated if someone nabs it (although I would be devastated if someone took mine). Performance is fine, and then some. My exercise loop is 30 miles, and Pake is more than up to it. OTOH, if you have a safe, sheltered stash at work, wedge out for one of the pretty bikes.

You might also look at the Surly CrossCheck. I had mine since 99 and it's been built as a... Mountain bike, road bike, fixed/ss, cross racing bike, ride to Santa Cruz bike, ride ALL over the city every day bike.

Because of my Surly I'm down to only two built bikes (my other bike is a Bontrager road bike built with retro campy record. It's my "you think your bike is pimp/kick your butt in a crit" bike).

I keep my surly built as a cross bike. Makes switching from road to MTB to cross easy. I can swap the rear wheel and the chain and go fixed/ free in under an hour with prep and beer time.

All that said... you can't go wrong with either bikes. I think I would build the SOMA.