Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Inexpensive Fixie

Soup everyone.

I'm in the market for a new bike, and I want something very different from my current bikes, so I figure a track bike is a good option.

I'm posting this here becuase I'm don't intend to race track with it or anything, just fart around town and ride when it's rainy. Call me a poser/posuer/prozeur/poughzeur/prohzeughere whatever, but I want a track bike. As a side note, I also like track geometry.

Anyway, I have a budget of ~$1,200. I'm definitely not into the idea of brakeless, so I'd like a front brake (not rear). I know you guys HATE Langsters, but there's one down at my LBS. It's not a current model (I don't think, at least), maybe last year. Not in the Specialized catolouge (SP?) or on their website. It's little over a grand, and has a front brake, with the lever mounted on where one would normally put a bar plug. I test rode it, and it felt pretty good. Sharp handling, but held it's line well. What says you, SSFG?


Any other suggestions?

If you're riding on the road ... why do you want track geometry again?

If you're riding on the road ... why do you want track geometry again?

Becuase it's different, and in some ways, more comfortable.

Surly Steamroller
IRO anything

You could probably build something of pretty high quality with that budget.

for a $200 more you could get a brand new Felt Tk2 and it comes with good parts and it has a brake hole too.
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/images/felt_tk2_08_hi.jpg

for a $200 more you could get a brand new Felt Tk2 and it comes with good parts and it has a brake hole too.
[IMG]http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/images/felt_tk2_08_hi.jpg[IMG]

Mounts for front brakes?

Y/N


EDIT- I fail at reading.

KAI.

Anyway, I have a budget of ~$1,200.

Any other suggestions?

Don't call $1,200 inexpensive? ;)

This isn't the roadie forum :)

Don't call $1,200 inexpensive? ;)

This isn't the roadie forum :)

It just ocured to me that there's few parts on a track bike.

Let's call it "inexpensive relative to my taste".

Not that I own a bunch of super-expensive bikes.

yeah inexpensive trackbikes tend to run $600 or $700. For $1200 you should be able to get something rather nice, but not exotic.

yeah inexpensive trackbikes tend to run $600 or $700. For $1200 you should be able to get something rather nice, but not exotic.

really? man i must be the cheapest mfer on this forum. inexpensive in my mind is about 2-400. for 6-700, you can find some sweet bikes. for 1200, you can really find some sweet bikes.

really? man i must be the cheapest mfer on this forum. inexpensive in my mind is about 2-400. for 6-700, you can find some sweet bikes. for 1200, you can really find some sweet bikes.

Word to that!
<----Plans on ordering a Mercier kilo tt this week.

$1,200 for "to fart around town when its rainy"

Get something from bikesdirect and give me the rest of the money so I can buy a bike to do more then riding around town when its rainy.

Word to that!
<----Plans on ordering a Mercier kilo tt this week.

let me know how that goes. i think you might have a hard time.

EDIT: i just looked and HOLY SH.IT THERE ARE IN STOCK!!!!!!!

just get a kilo tt

If you're riding on the road ... why do you want track geometry again?

Do you know what forum you are in? Like... do you understand how this works?

Maybe I just refuse to come to terms with the fact that there is something fundamental to riding a fixed gear that means you have to try to **** on everyone else.


anyways


If you are serious about getting a bike for bad weather I encourage you to look for frames that have fender mounts, unfortunately most track frames dont have these. I suggest, if you want a real all weather bike, look at the tricross singlespeed (its flip flop rear) the bianchi san jose, the steam roller, and bikes closer to those in application. These bikes have a lot more features that work for adverse conditions, specifically fender mounts and (excluding the steam roller) cantilever brake mounts for better clearance for fenders.

if your set on a track bike, then find whichever suits your fancy, I like the trek t1 a lot, as well as the felt, and pista concepts. Also the raleigh rush hour pro is an alright bike. All of these are around your price point and real track bikes.

"Rainy" called for fat tires, fenders, and waterproof panniers in my book, but maybe the OP is on to something... I'll try some threadless 23s, a single brake, and some tapeless bars next time it pours. :D

Note to Self: Load up on pintos prior to storm for the "fart around".

If you're riding on the road ... why do you want track geometry again?

do you ride only conversions?

Apparently the OP is very generous with his soup.

build one duder. thrift it up for an old 10 speed.

Becuase it's different, and in some ways, more comfortable.

How do you find track geometry more comfortable than road geometry when riding on the road?

How do you find track geometry more comfortable than road geometry when riding on the road?

Some people are built incredibly awkwardly, like myself. I dont see much difference in comfort from a track to road frame.

If you're up to the choice, you could build a very nice bike for 1200, I would suggest something like this:

Bareknuckle frame/fork
Chris King headset
Sugino 75's w/ bottom bracket and chainring
Formulas to Open-Pros
A nice dura ace cog and lockring
bars of choice, my call would be some nice nitto drops
threadless stem of choice
seatpost and saddle of choice
parts bin front brake and bmx lever
find a nice Izumi or other reliable chain,

and you are gold.
That might total to a little over 1200, though you would be close, especially if you shopped around a bit and/or used some parts you might happen to have.

Edit: If you think the langster is quick, ride something tighter and more track ish and you will realize that langster is a boat. I cant say I could recommend a Langster, especially not for close to a grand. You can do much much better.

No, milk is not $15 a carton.

No, milk is not $15 a carton.

...?

...?

Inexpensive fixed gear @ $1200.
Inexpensive milk @ $15

Inexpensive fixed gear @ $1200.
Inexpensive milk @ $15

ah ok, I thought you were relating that to the cost of the build i posted, and I was thinking "I'm buying parts at the wrong places..."

what kind of soup for everyone?

this guy must be loaded.. i hope its chicken.. or chili! but chili isnt really soup..

"Rainy" called for fat tires, fenders, and waterproof panniers in my book, but maybe the OP is on to something... I'll try some threadless 23s, a single brake, and some tapeless bars next time it pours. :D

Note to Self: Load up on pintos prior to storm for the "fart around".

I've ridden my threadless 25s in plenty of rain and they acually work really nice since they don't suck the water off the road so no skunkstrip or drenched feet.Only wiped out once an steel grate because i wasn't paying attention.

what kind of soup for everyone?

this guy must be loaded.. i hope its chicken.. or chili! but chili isnt really soup..

chili is chili

if this is your first fixie, id say start out low, like kilo tt low, then save that extra money until you know better what you want from a bike (like 6+ months later)


people like different things about different bikes, so you dont want to make a 12 hundred $ purchase then regret it.

you were probably looking at a langster pro or some thing like that. no doubt a decent bike but don't get a langster if you want a part of his dialogue.

for your budget you should probably look into a Bianchi Pista Concept. it is the ultimate fart around town in the rain bike. it is aluminum, often comes in celeste, and has terrific street credibility. You may have to get another fork for a front brake drilling, but maybe you can just trade one off one of your other bikes.
do it.

How do you find track geometry more comfortable than road geometry when riding on the road?

More pressure on my hands, but my back is more comfortable and there's less pressure on my ankles.


By fart around town, I mean "ride a lot".

its all about the raleigh one way!! no joke

chili is chili

yeah, but i was jsut really in the mood for chili and wanted to bring this into thread somehow..

lets discuss soup... or chilli..

More pressure on my hands, but my back is more comfortable and there's less pressure on my ankles.


By fart around town, I mean "ride a lot".

???

???

Hard to explain.

Hard to explain.

I think I understand. Track bikes are cool, and your ankles feel better when they are trendy?

Maybe his ankles are located on his ass.

yeah, but i was jsut really in the mood for chili and wanted to bring this into thread somehow..

lets discuss soup... or chilli..

I'm eating vegetarian chilli right now, and watching CSI. Its CSI sunday, everyone should look into their favorite soup/chilli and CSI. Get back to me.

Edit: Oh, and please please dont buy a langster. Dont perpetuate that god awful geometry/bike any more than too many people already do.

I'm eating vegetarian chilli right now, and watching CSI. Its CSI sunday, everyone should look into their favorite soup/chilli and CSI. Get back to me.

Your sunday sounds awesome. The new CSI episodes start back up April 3rd. I am pumped.

Edit: Oh, and please please dont buy a langster. Dont perpetuate that god awful geometry/bike any more than too many people already do.

hahah god. what is wrong with people?

More pressure on my hands, but my back is more comfortable and there's less pressure on my ankles.


whut