Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Prebuilt, choices

Well..

After much analyzing, pricing out, and decision making I've decided that given my economic situation it would be cheaper and more efficient to buy a fixed gear prebuilt than build one myself. So I originally thought about buying an IRO mark v. The only thing is that this would require shipping, and I'm not so fond of shipping something that large, especially given that I'm not sure of my frame size. So I called up my LBS to see what fixed gear/ss selection they had and heres what they told me:

Bianchi San Jose (http://www.bianchiusa.com/08_san_jose.html)
Fuji Track Pro (http://www.fujibikes.com/2007/bikes.asp?id=285)
Specialized Langster (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?a=b&minisite=10029&spid=32712&language=US)

I'm going to rule out the Fuji since it looks like a great bike for a thief to steal, and its a bit high in price. But otherwise, between the Bianchi and the Specialized does anyone have any suggestions/complaints/comments?

thanks,
- legit

(btw, i'll probably be stripping the frame and powder coating it fairly soon after i buy it at any rate, to make it even less steal worthy)

I'm going to rule out the Fuji since it looks like a great bike for a thief to steal, and its a bit high in price. But otherwise, between the Bianchi and the Specialized does anyone have any suggestions/complaints/comments?

(btw, i'll probably be stripping the frame and powder coating it fairly soon after i buy it at any rate, to make it even less steal worthy)

Legit you are making an odd dilemma here--
on the one hand you want a complete, but you are picky enough
you are going to powder coat. Cast a wider net and you will be happier
in the end. If you are picky enough that you want a custom color why
limit yourself to two bikes for choices? IMHO both of those bikes are fine but you could do better.
If you clarify what you want your bike to do peeps will have more ideas about
what a good bike might be.

But between those two I say San Joser.

good, point.

Well, mainly I just want the bike to be a general fun bike. I plan on using it for commuting as well as general messing around, maybe some polo eventually. The main reason I limited it to those two is because they are in stock at the LBS. I suppose there are some other shops around that have fixies as well. One of them stock Giant bikes. Sorry, not sure if this is helpful, I guess in the end, a better explanation might be this: I'm a mountain biker looking at getting into fixie riding in order to have a cheaper way to commute, and another bike for fun stuff. So I'm not really sure, exactly, what I'm looking for.

- legit

Check and see if your LBS can order anything for you. I agree that narrowing your choices to two when you seem to be pretty picky about what you want is a bit silly.

edit: I forgot to say, but I would also go for the san jose.

nothing wrong with a bianchi.

ride some of your friend's bikes--figure out what frame
geometry and materials you like. Then pay an lbs to size
you up and order your complete. You can do better
than either of those bikes. Surly, KHS Flite etc. But yeah
the San Jose is a good bike.

Problem is, I don't have any friends that have fixies, and I don't have many with bikes period. I guess I could just mess around with the bikes at the LBS eh?

That's a tough one. You could compare the geometry of the SJ
in your size if you like it to other bikes with similar geometry--
and then decide based on the frame quality/components etc.

Even if you do want to buy local, which I totally support, you can do better. If you are going to lay down that kind of money on a bike, make sure its something you want. I think I heard that specialized owns Surly(sorry if I am mistaken about that), but if they sell Specialized, they should be able to get those in. also what about the Fuji track? http://fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=418 They can more than likely get one of those in, and since you are buying from them, they will let you test out bikes to figure out what size you need. And why limit yourself to that store? If I was buying locally I would drive up to 4 hours to get the bike I want, so you might check out other places. Maybe some specialized track shops. Have you checked out the Swobo Sanchez or Pake?

I was kind of in the same boat when I got my bike, where i wanted to try to ride a fixed gear but didn't know what i was looking for and just got what my lbs had. I ended up getting the langster, and I liked it a lot. It is a really fun bike and I love riding it around...but after getting a little more into it, i started to realize that I could've gotten more for my money going with a different bike.

Why not just find out your size and do some research on other bikes you can get online to figure out if they'll fit you?

i started to realize that I could've gotten more for my money going with a different bike.

That makes since, I guess I'm just not sure what exactly more for my money looks like. Is it just the included parts? or something else?

thanks for all the help everyone!

i wouldn't go for the san jose. it has those unsightly brake mounts, and the geometry is more like a road-touring-cx bike. if you want something close to track, get a pista. just my opinion.

the san jose is a cross bike with big fat cyclocross tires, incidentally. is that what you want?
ps:

http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=351

Specialized does not own Surly, QBP does.

if the OP wants a commuter and is used to mtb geometry, I say san jose.
or raliegh one way, but that;s not a choice.

I prefer a track frame, not fat tires or a mountain bike'ish frame. I want a track/road/standard fixed gear'ish frame.

i'd stay away from the jose then, it's cyclo x. even has the indented toptube for your shoulder.

what about jamis sputnik?
or just go with the bianchi

and then your going to throw out </> $100 to get it
powder coated so it doesn't look "steal worthy"???wtf

and then your going to throw out </> $100 to get it
powder coated so it doesn't look "steal worthy"???wtf

Why do you care what I do with a bike that I buy?

I just want a custom color.

alright so i think I'm going to go with a Raleigh rush hour 2008 ordered through a local shop. any suggestions complaints about this bike? all the reviews I've read so far seems to be that its good bike for the price, and a little more forgiving on the road than other more track oriented frames.