Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Best entry level single speed/fixed gear road bike?

So Im new to the single speed market and Im looking to buy a decent entry level bike in the $500-$600 range. It seems like theres a lot of choices out there and a lot of opinions.

Ive looked at the Giant Bowery, Bianchi Pista, Bianchi San Jose, Schwinn Madison, Specialized Langster, and the Raleigh Rushhour.

A couple dealers have told me that the Giant is a better bike than the Schwinn but I dont know if I buy it.

In any case I need help!! ha
Does anyone have any ideas or recommendations??

I like the idea of having the singlespeed/fixed option too.

Thanks!

If you search for any of those terms using the forum search (up on the left of your screen, under the BikeForums logo) you'll come up with some useful threads.

Yeah, or take a look at the sticky "Discussion of Budget Fixies" or whatever it's called. I do recommend the Bowery, my friend got one and he likes it very much. Then again, I can get it for $250 because I work at a bike store, so I value things differently.

you dont need to spend $500-600 for an entry level bike

yea, just get one of those from ebay for 300. u'll be fine.

Build your own! $200 for wheels and tires etc. $50 or less for a frame.

i can't believe this hasn't been locked yet...

i can't believe this hasn't been locked yet...
Why? This thread actually pertains to bikes, as opposed to some other recent threads that have absolutely nothing to do with cycling.

The search feature is a beautiful thing.

used pista off ebay

I like the idea of having the singlespeed/fixed option too.

i hear a lot of people saying this... but i honestly don't know any one who switches back and forth.

if you've got the tools, convert one for yourself.

You'll love it lots and won't break the bank. Check out the fgg 2006 Conversion contest (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/contest/build/results/results.html) for some awesome motivation and ideas. It's full of under $150 conversions.

i hear a lot of people saying this... but i honestly don't know any one who switches back and forth.

I do. I put on cross tires and flip the flop for light off roading. I could buy another wheelset or take off a cog and spin on a freewheel while I'm changing tires, but this is pretty quick and painless. Of course you don't know me either so, yeah, whatever.

Bianchi San Jose, ftw.

i hear a lot of people saying this... but i honestly don't know any one who switches back and forth.

+1. I ended up getting two bikes so I could have one of each, although now that I'm addicted to fixed, I just keep them both on the cog. It's really a PITA to switch, esp. once your chain gets nice and messy.

BTW, I'll plug the Rush Hour... I've had mine set up stock SS and fixed and then threw on some bullhorns and scrapped the freewheel, and I love it. The thing is a blast to ride, and looks sharp (especially without the decals, which I think might be under the clear now - bummer)

yeah the decals are under the clearcoat now on the rush hours. i got this years model. oh well. i'm gonna do the thing up all white soon anyway.


and yeah, another vote for the rush hour. it's definently not high end but i can mash the **** out of this thing and it's great.

I like my Madison a lot... came with a flip/flop fixed/freewheel, two brakes and best of all I got it on the cheap. I've upgraded a few things - new stem, bullhorns, deep v's. It's a fun bike, even stock. Can't go wrong, especially if you can find one for under $400.

Up your price range to $700, but most bikes will fall at the $650 range. As with any style of bike (don't listen to the e-bay "cheapo-used" people. It sounds like you want a serious quality bike), test ride the bikes. I rode the '06 and '07 Langster before settling on the '07. The flip-flop hub thing is kind of standard right now on these kinds of bikes. Best to get it new out of a shop. These kinds of bikes take a beating, and there's no telling what the history of a used bike is. Best to make a bike's history yours, and best to decide for yourself if you want to ride SS or FG.

...It's really a PITA to switch, esp. once your chain gets nice and messy...

I don't buy this. It's about a five minute process, including washing your hands if you managed to grime 'em up.

I don't buy this. It's about a five minute process, including washing your hands if you managed to grime 'em up.

i think it's more like 5 minutes assuming you wash your hands and then stare at a wall for 3 minutes, that being said i almost never switched with my first two wheel sets and have never even bothered to put a freewheel or even another cog on the other side of my current rear hub(6 months strong on this wheelset)

i think it's more like 5 minutes assuming you wash your hands and then stare at a wall for 3 minutes, that being said i almost never switched with my first two wheel sets and have never even bothered to put a freewheel or even another cog on the other side of my current rear hub(6 months strong on this wheelset)

This is bikeforums. I assume the worst.

i hear a lot of people saying this... but i honestly don't know any one who switches back and forth.
yeah when I had my wheelset built. I made sure I had the flip flop. I have no desire now to put a freewheel on now. if I had it to do over I would have got the fixed/fixed style hub.

I love the "pick up a used pista off of ebay for 350" responses. Has anybody actually looked what they're going for used? More than 350.

http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.com/pista_Complete-Bikes-Frames_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ98084

Well I never knew anyone who had both and consistently switched back-and-forth, Having the option to do so is what got some people I know into riding fixed at all.

only time I ever found my flip flop hub useful was when I stripped the fixed side and had to freewheel to the bike shop.

Bikesdirect Windsor for $300. I've been riding mine on the track for a couple of months and its perfectly serviceable, though certainly not trick. Flip flop hub, the only thing thats really cheasy are the plastic toe clips and cheap straps.

Bikesdirect Windsor for $300. I've been riding mine on the track for a couple of months and its perfectly serviceable, though certainly not trick. Flip flop hub, the only thing thats really cheasy are the plastic toe clips and cheap straps.

Here's the problem with that deal;

Bikesdirect has only itty-bitty bikes left in stock.

I'm 6'3", how the hell am I supposed to ride a 48 or even a 54cm bike?

I'm glad this thread exists because I'm in the same position as the OP.

Right now I'm trying to do a cost-analysis of just buying a new single-speed bike or buying a old (but in good condition) steel-framed bicycle and doing the conversion myself.

So far my comparison looks something like this:

New SS option
Pros
-its a new bike, who doesn't love a new bike
-for those of us who aren't exactly bike mechanics, all the work has already been done
-don't have to spend time hunting down a suitable frame and having wheels made all the other stuff associated with the conversion
Cons
-Price (I want something that can take abuse, like the Bianchi San Jose, and those are $500+)
-Since the bike will be a commuter, I'd kinda feel bad about the abuse I'd be putting the bike through
-Worry about leaving a new bike chained up when I'm at my destination (on campus)

SS Conversion option
Pros
-when all is said and done you'll have a great, rock-solid, non-attention grabbing commuter bike
-potentially cheaper
-you'll become very familiar with the ins-and-outs of the bike during the conversion process, since you'll be building the bike
Cons
-finding a suitable starting platform
-having to actually do the conversion (I'm handy, but I'm no bike mechanic!)
-hidden costs/surprise expenses could make the final price closer to the price of a new bike (what?! that 20 year old bottom bracket gave up the ghost after only 20 commuting miles?)
-can't comfortably say that I know all that is involved in the conversion (do I need to buy new wheels, what hubs do I need to buy? etc etc)

Luckily for me, I have from now until August to build or buy my single-speed rig, so that leaves me with lots of time to fully research my options.

I love the "pick up a used pista off of ebay for 350" responses. Has anybody actually looked what they're going for used? More than 350.

http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.com/pista_Complete-Bikes-Frames_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ98084

You're the first and only person to suggest that a used
Pista can be purchased for $350.

anyone have the link to the Sticky on Budget fixed and single speeds? Im an idiot and cant seem to find it.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=225713&highlight=budget

i bought one off ebay, and i regret it because i wish i would have spent the money on converting one. but it's a good bike to getting used to riding fixed and commuting. Im gonna still build up a nice one bike though.

Get yourself a cheap roadie off ebay and run a suicide hub or get a 2nd hand rear wheel.

Fuji Track

any leads as to where to find a schwinn madison in nyc?