Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - entry level recommends

Sorry if this is a common question, but: I'm looking for a track/fixie for street riding/training.

I've tried the fixie conversion with 70s bikes, but the wheel base is too long/I'm too stretched out. I've @ 30"-31" inseam, longs legs, short torso, typical female fit problem.

The most common/accessible track options for me would be KHS Flite 100 or the Bianchi Pista. It is difficult finding bike to test ride because I want a 48, 50 size.
Anybody have any recommendations within this price range. Any opinion of KHS vs Pista?

Alternatives, websites, etc? thx!

check out Iro cycles. very cool looking bikes. cheap and steal as well.

Thanks for the Iro tip.

I just found this frameset:

Description Tsunami Track Frame and Carbon fork
Ext Desc 7005 aluminum alloy, 120mm rear spacing, carbon fork with 1 1/8" steer. Headset is included.
Price $295.00

any opinions

http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/fr021.htm

the fork is kinda yuck, tho

I prefer steel. Aluminium can fatigue quicker in the rear forks (seen it on the Spicers). A matter of riding style though, from what I have heard

I prefer steel. Aluminium can fatigue quicker in the rear forks (seen it on the Spicers). A matter of riding style though, from what I have heard


Steel is the real deal. Me road bikes are steel, true.

guess what: Iro doesn't sell a small enough frameset/bike. :(

the tsunami looks cool, but i can't find any info on it.

1. check ebay.
2. check out surly.
3. check ebay again.
4. uuuuhh......?
5. profit!

1. check ebay.
2. check out surly.
3. check ebay again.
4. uuuuhh......?
5. profit!


every thing on ebay seems to be 56-60 cm

patience, i know. erg.

there are a few 50-52cm frames out there...you just gotta be patient.

i have a 49cm frame that i'm not using at the moment...but it has a 58cm top tube...even with that, the wheelbase is still pretty tight on it. dura ace headset, suntour track bottom bracket, campy dropouts, full-on track geometry everywhere except the top tube, no brake holes, but a new fork could fix that...i could cut you a sweet deal on it.

there are a few 50-52cm frames out there...you just gotta be patient.

i have a 49cm frame that i'm not using at the moment...but it has a 58cm top tube...even with that, the wheelbase is still pretty tight on it. dura ace headset, suntour track bottom bracket, campy dropouts, full-on track geometry everywhere except the top tube, no brake holes, but a new fork could fix that...i could cut you a sweet deal on it.


tell me more, feel free to PM

I corrected the chuck's link, if anyone is interested:
http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/fr021.htm

tell me more, feel free to PM

I don't even know what Tremont is like. But have you tried your LBS?

I don't even know what Tremont is like. But have you tried your LBS?


yup, so far they just have the too big bianchi pista stocked

which isn't a bad deal and i may resort to, in the end.

the faux chrome is rather flashy (plus bad seat) :)

OMG BUY MY BIKE!!!!

(no pressure).

I own that frame from Chucksbikes, it is a nice frame. If you want to use a front brake be sure to tell them and they will swap out the fork for one that supports a brake. They also sell the Miche pista kit for around $285 if. You might want to find out the length of the top tube to make sure it would fit you properly. The guy at chucks bikes is very helpful.

Specialized Langster comes in 50cm MSRP $440.

I'm with 165 on the steel. I think steel rides and feels better than anything else. Especially in a smaller size. I don't know what OneTinSloth's bike is made from so I hope I'm not messing up a possible deal. I'm guessing it's steel from the drop out description.

I'm with 165 on the steel. I think steel rides and feels better than anything else. Especially in a smaller size. I don't know what OneTinSloth's bike is made from so I hope I'm not messing up a possible deal. I'm guessing it's steel from the drop out description.

haha...it's reynolds 531, and don't worry about messing up the deal, i was just joking anyway. there's no chance in hell that lala is going to buy that frame, with a 58cm top tube? oh hell no. i was dumb to buy it in the first place, and i deserve to just keep it...hang it on the wall to remind me of how stupid i am. i have a couple other bikes that would probably fit lala, but i aim to keep them...unless an offer i can't refuse comes along...

Check out the SOMA Rush too... they just started making a 49cm size.
http://www.somafab.com/rush.html

I have been looking for a shop that has a langster to check out, but none in the area seem to want to carry one. Anyone seen one for real?

Greg

It is difficult finding bike to test ride because I want a 48, 50 size.
Anybody have any recommendations within this price range. Any opinion of KHS vs Pista?



Where is Tremont ?

I was talking to the owner of an LBS here about getting a 2004 Chrome Pista and he was saying that he has a 49cm 2001 Pista (quill stem, matte black) that he just can't get rid of. I'm sure he would love to sell it to you. Probably at a discount.

Dan

PS: I have a 32" inseam and I will be getting 53cm or 55cm. Are you sure a 49cm is for you? If so you must really have long legs and short arms.

Tremont is a neighborhood of Cleveland, OH.
Maybe I need to re-evaluate/re-measure.

Perhaps I'm overreacting: it's the long top tubes that really ruin bike sfor me. :)

Keep up the good tips, where's this pista?



Where is Tremont ?

I was talking to the owner of an LBS here about getting a 2004 Chrome Pista and he was saying that he has a 49cm 2001 Pista (quill stem, matte black) that he just can't get rid of. I'm sure he would love to sell it to you. Probably at a discount.

Dan

PS: I have a 32" inseam and I will be getting 53cm or 55cm. Are you sure a 49cm is for you? If so you must really have long legs and short arms.

I don't even know what Tremont is like. But have you tried your LBS?


A friend of mine has one. He seems very happy with it. Plus, the seat is P*I*M*P.

Shop Name: CONTINENTAL BIKE SHOP Show Map
Address: 24436 JOHN R.
City: HAZEL PARK
State: MI
Zip: 48030
Phone: 248-545-1225
Fax:
E-mail:
URL:

Continental Bike Shop (http://www.smartpages.com/home/continenta24098773)

Talk to John. This bike shop is about 1.5 miles outside the Detroit city limits (9 and half mile and John R).

Dan

The Soma Rush tops out my $ and maybe 53 is the smallest they go?

I'll look into the specialized some more, but i'd have to get a wheel (they sell it with a freewheel.)

i'll probably end up with a biachi pista, but I am not yet certain, as I do need to buy a flower child volvo station wagon, yet...


Cool, thanks Danfromdetroit!
(I do need to do some record shopping, seriously!)

Oh, i see the new smaller sizes. :)

Where is Tremont ?

PS: I have a 32" inseam and I will be getting 53cm or 55cm. Are you sure a 49cm is for you? If so you must really have long legs and short arms.

Dan: 5 cm= 2 inches approx.

so say i have an 30" inseam and you have a 32", then in the mathematical world, if you went for a 55cm, i'd go 50cm. what's a cm or two any ways, right? :)

i think a 49cm would be good, but i'll remeasure/test ride before buying, as i may be overreacting from all the too big rigs i end up on. (the 70s! + male+centrism=laura not having a good fit.)

course if i do have a 31" inseam, i might get screwed.

measure to the floor, or to the ankle? i might be confusing clothes with bikes :p

My situation is the opposite of yours in that I carry most of my height in my torso. But last summer I went to a bike shop in Vancouver BC and the guy made a few quick measurements and told me the frame dimensions I needed. Honestly, I really didn't trust the numbers. When I returned home, I had two different full-on 'size cycle' sessions at two different places and all 3 sets of numbers were within a few mm of each other. So that guy in Canada was spot on.

I searched the web looking for the method he used and think I found it at:

http://www.kvanproductions.com/cycling/frame_sizing.htm

I've since used this to size 3 friends and all are really happy with the results.

Maybe this will help in finding the right frame for you....it's definitely more than just a standover height issue.

Jim

Maybe this will help in finding the right frame for you....it's definitely more than just a standover height issue.

Jim


Thanks, Jim! This will help alot.