Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Sorry to beat a dead horse but,

To begin, yes I've used the search function . . .

That said, here is my dilemma:

2008 Bianchi Pista 57cm $649 + tax at LBS -- I love the fit and feel of this bike but I question the quality due to everything I've read using the search function! The price for what it is -->sucks.

IRO Angus $649 + shipping -- better bike on paper but I can't test ride. Similar geometry but not the same as Pista. If the Pista is considered "twitchy" and I like that, how would the two compare to anyone who has experienced both? Size -- I assume the 59cm would be the closest in size as I've read they run a little small ( I know call Tony...)

My previous bike was an 07 Raleigh Rush Hour 57cm a good ride (hated the forks) stolen.

So, do I buy an overpriced Pista that fits like a glove and change parts when my budget permits or gamble on the Angus (nothing but good reviews) with better frame and parts out of the box.

I'm in a smaller town so I've test rode very little beside what I've mentioned. My primary use will be commuting/bombing around town but I would like to try the track when I visit friends in Portland!

My previous experience is all mountain biking, riding fixed gear got me excited about bikes again.

Thanks for your time, any and all opinions appreciated.

evanm

get the pista. your comfort is the most important thing.

get the pista. your comfort is the most important thing.

+1000000
comfort is the all important factor
your body will thank you

What makes you say the angus has better parts off the bat?
Tax is probably what? 8%? shipping on a bike is probably 80 dollars. The prices are probably close. I would say fit is the way to judge it.

WOW, that was fast.

I agree with fit coming first. I think I've been reading too much (into this) and in general . . . thanks for the reminder.

enjoi ur new bike!

get the iro so you don't look like a tool on a pista.

but before you do that, make sure you ignore the guy above me.

get a masi speciale fixed. i really really really ****ing love it.

Get a bike that fits and feels right,
Don't worry about the "coolness" of the brand.
A fun bike will get ridden.

get the IRO, mine was $15 to ship to DC, talk to tony about the fit and what he would do if you get a bad fit

Just to double check you guys are saying go with the Pista for comfort because he has test road it and not because the Angus is inherently uncomfortable.

pista = twitchy? how was that conclusion derived?

Just to double check you guys are saying go with the Pista for comfort because he has test road it and not because the Angus is inherently uncomfortable.

yes. i know plenty of people with angus/mark vs, and they all love 'em. but if you feel the pista fits your body, there's no reason why you shouldn't get it. that said, you should test ride some other bikes for comparison.

yeah, definitely test ride a bunch of bikes even if you're not going to buy them, but just to get a feel for things and a better idea of what kind of ride you want.

buy what fits and is easiest to deal with in case something goes wrong with the thing. Who cares what brand name is on the tubes, its how often you're on the saddle that matters.

The IRO sounds like far more bang for the buck.

The Mark V is the same geometry as the Angus, but cheaper, and it's the same frame material as the Pista.

A 59cm IRO will have a 56.5cm top tube, so it should fit you. A 57cm Pista has approx. the same geometry. I seriously doubt you (or I) would notice that much of a difference.

If necessary, you can always try different size/degree stems to get the perfect fit.

+1000000
comfort is the all important factor
your body will thank you

+1

get a masi speciale fixed. i ****ing love it.

I see what you did there ;) quite a hassle just so you can get your expletive read. But props, I took the bait and had to see what you did to get around it.

you just highlight it and press the big A right there.
and it was necessary to express my love for my bike.
i'm sure you understand.

get a masi speciale fixed. i ****ing love it.

watch out dude, a moderator might give you a "profile infraction" for that.

oh. i see people spacing them out and thought they didnt care.

edits will ensue.

Thanks again for all the responses (love reading this forum).

I'm ok with being a tool. My wife likes that about me . . .

Masi sounds good, but like IRO no place to try it. (glad you like yours!)

Angus better parts? Quoted in a lot of IRO threads . . .

Pista "twitchy" quoted from another thread -- not how I feel.

IRO, Pista, (insert other entry level bike in this price range) you're right I'd probably not notice great differences and I consider the IRO because it consistently gets a lot of praise (build and service) whereas the Pista's seem to be either loved or hated -- reading lots of posts praising IRO is why I even consider buying a bike online without ever trying it.

Again, reading a lot of threads about Pista some, not all, raise issue with the quality (frame, hubs, headset) of the bike (don't care about the looks issue) but its those opinions that made me question the bike even though I like the ride.

Test rides -- gonna have to get into a bigger city for more variety, which is doable . . . the only other bike in my area to try is a Langster (not interested)

Again thanks for all the input. I'm going with the Pista for now (fit wins) -- I can always save up for something else later and right now I have no bike.

I'm curious if any here have ever bought a bike untested/tried? How did it work out for you?

i bought my masi untested. i pro-formed it from work and they sent it to us in a box. it's probably the only reason i bought it was because i could get it for cheaper than a kilo tt. (doesn't mean it's not worth the tag price!)

i dont even know anything about geometry. track bikes have a 90 degree tt. that's all i know.

but after a week of riding my masi i love it to death. it's something i got used to, not something i bought because it would fit me. the only thing i chose was the size. anything that sucks i can switch out but so far, as my first bike, i cant say anything bad about it.

in a week i've learned how to ride brakeless (haven't found a proper lever for my flip chops at a shop yet) and do a few of those neat trick skids all the cool kids do. i'm very very comfortable with my bike and i've never sat on one before this.

here's a plan- get a kilo tt

you can get it for 350 and whatever you think sucks on it, switch it out. i'm sure you'll like it for your first fixie, i read alot of people have, but the 300 bucks you save can buy you cool stuff that'll fit you better.

I never rode a steamroller before I ordered one. I rode a pista, sputnik, paddy wagon, and langster. i extrapolated from there based on what i read about the steamroller geometry compared to the others. wasn't too hard for me to predict that the steamroller would be perfect for my purposes... and i was 100% right. maybe i got lucky.

edit: **** **** ***** cock balls <-- it works!

Ha Mod's are gonna have a hay day with this thread! I hate to say it because I think you should choose a bike you want and not be swayed and I also get a bit tired of the all the oogling over the Kilo TT but I agree that if I were in your shoes I'd get a Kilo. If it is your first Fixed Gear you will be plenty happy with the frame and like what others already said you can use the extra money to make it fit well (ie stem bars seat cranks etc.) and end up with some nicer components in the end. But at the same time if you know the Pista fits and you like it then I think that is a perfectly good reason to pick one up. I would not get a steamroller though, if you are willing to get a bike without fit then I'd no doubt go for the Kilo and not risk as much. Good luck and keep it rubber side down!

angus is probably the nicest out of all of those but I love my pista, **** the haters