Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Beginner Fixed Gear?

I want a fixed gear bike really bad now just to cruise around town ect. I want some neon colors and ect ect. However being a broke college student I need something super cheap. Anybody ever bought those $250 dollar ebay fixies that the dealer person sells.

you can always get a cheap road bike and do a suicide hub conversion. Lots of people have gotten bikesdirect.com bikes and seem to love them (kilo tt and windsor clockwork get my votes) Or you could look for an entry level fixed gear at your lbs, but dont expect to pay less than 300 for a new one.
edit: schwinn cutter is pretty cheap, but after getting decent pedals with foot retention and a fixed cog, its probably going to be about the same cost as the madison for a worse frame and components

bikesdirect.com

alright, the entry level $299 bike looks kinda weird lol. Should I just go for a used cheaper fixed gear bike?

If you're looking for something to tarck-up on the cheap I would save up another $100 and go for the Kilo TT.

Orange crush is hell of tarck.

alright. 300 is fine. Just thinking of going with white frame, green wheels, orange tires; something bright to make sure people dont wack me driving by.

Anybody ever bought those $250 dollar ebay fixies that the dealer person sells.

Yeah, this dealer person is a real good guy. You should buy from him. :thumb:

Yeah, this dealer person is a real good guy. You should buy from him. :thumb:

sarcasm?

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm

that, with upgraded wheels+tires,seat,stem + handle bars? Maybe even powdercoat it some crazy color and upgrade crank,cog,ect

sarcasm?

get used to it.

gotcha. Any comments on bike above?

gotcha. Any comments on bike above?

The search or looking on the front page of the fixed/SS section will go such a long way :thumb:

gotcha. Any comments on bike above?

Check out the other colors to see if you find anything you like/won't need to repaint.

the 250 ebay bikes don't look that good to me.

buy the Kilo TT.

this is a pathetic attempt at trolling.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm

that, with upgraded wheels+tires,seat,stem + handle bars? Maybe even powdercoat it some crazy color and upgrade crank,cog,ect

Uh... get the frame of bikeisland (if it's still available...) if you're just gonna switch everything out anyway :p

Fixed gear conversion on the cheap (http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html) by Tom Deakins will get you rolling.

Christmas is coming up. How about hitting the folks up for a new bike?

The eBay bikes have been discussed forever already; that's why "use the search function" is being hurled at you. They'll ride okay for a while but when stuff starts to break or refuse to stay the way it is supposed to; you are faced with either dumping the bike (best move) or dumping a lot of money into it(bad move since frame is nothing special).

Go garage sailing on Saturdays or lurk at the thrift stores to get a bike for conversion real cheap. Then follow the link's instructions on converting to ss/fg.

I have the Kilo TT Pro and I love it. It is a good entry level bike that doesn't feel entry level. It is also a lot more affordable than a Pista or something similar. Weird that the whole entry level thing spans anywhere from a $300 bike to a $800 bike.

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1084
That the kilo tt pro frame? How much more $$ am I looking at putting it together, I love white + purple, any purple wheels?

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1084
That the kilo tt pro frame? How much more $$ am I looking at putting it together, I love white + purple, any purple wheels?

velocity deep v wheelset, but that will cost you about as much as the frame or more depending upon the hubs

I would say get yourself an older road bike on the cheap and convert it. Make sure you like the fixed feeling first. It's waaaaayyy cheaper to convert an old beater than to buy a ****ty entry level and end up having to baby it and replace parts.

found old road bike for 85, so i just strip all the crap off, then just get a fixed hub?

I have a Schwinn Le Tour conversion ... it's nice, but not as nice as an actual track bike.

Just make sure you can tension your chain on your conversion frame.

found old road bike for 85, so i just strip all the crap off, then just get a fixed hub?

Does it have horizontal or vertical drops?
You may want to leave the rear derailleur for chain tensioning.
$85 is still pretty cheap. You can probably do better at a thrift store or something.
Remember, winter is for building.

But he wants a fixed wheel, so he won't be able to use a derailleur.

But he wants a fixed wheel, so he won't be able to use a derailleur.

Excellent point. I feel stupid now.

Anyone know what kind of older bikes are good..to turn into a fixed gear with aerospokes

Anyone know what kind of older bikes are good..to turn into a fixed gear with aerospokes

Assuming this isn't a joke, I would say, gird your loins for making such a comment.

That having been said, there are any number of road bikes you can get on CL and convert. I rode an 80s Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed for 1 year before I converted it, and it has made a great conversion. You can convert just about anything you find on CL. It is just a matter of finding something you like.

There are also plenty of framesets advertised here you can get for cheap and build those up, if you were looking to upgrade your bike or just want to build a bike for your own personal experience.

Anyone know what kind of older bikes are good..to turn into a fixed gear with aerospokes
Thought you had a $200-$300 budget. You'll spend about that much on a single aerospoke wheel new, and probably the same or more on a used pair. If you are indeed dreaming of that very specific purple bike with aerospokes, then building up from a frameset does make sense, but be forewarrned that this is not going to be a $300 bike. Once you buy crankset, cog, bars, etc you're looking at an $800 bike. Even with a road bike conversion I doubt you'll be doing much under $500 when you put in the cost of the wheelset.

If you have that kind of money to burn, go for it, but I'd say most of the people recommending you go with either a BD bike or doing a very baseline conversion are talking sense; this will let you get the feel of fixed gear without the hole in the pocket.

Thought you had a $200-$300 budget. You'll spend about that much on a single aerospoke wheel new, and probably the same or more on a used pair. If you are indeed dreaming of that very specific purple bike with aerospokes, then building up from a frameset does make sense, but be forewarrned that this is not going to be a $300 bike. Once you buy crankset, cog, bars, etc you're looking at an $800 bike. Even with a road bike conversion I doubt you'll be doing much under $500 when you put in the cost of the wheelset.

If you have that kind of money to burn, go for it, but I'd say most of the people recommending you go with either a BD bike or doing a very baseline conversion are talking sense; this will let you get the feel of fixed gear without the hole in the pocket.

I bought my Aerospoke for $300 but the going price on eBay is now currently scraping $400.

If you wanna spend $200 - 300, imo, get a BikesDirect bike ...

any sort of customization in the way of neon colors like you want is going to put you way over the top with money. if you're limited by money, you can pretty much forget looking all tricked out.

I hate to be a downer, but I've only heard bad things about the bikes from bikes direct. My friend got a kilo TT and everything went wrong, hubs stripped, tires were crap, The frame dented really easily. He hit a curb and the fork was bent beyond usage, although the wheel was fine (just needed to be trued). It wasn't that bad of a fall, the fork shouldn't of bent like that. Basically, he spent well over $100 fixing everything that went wrong with it. In the long run you may want to spend a little extra to get a bike with better components, it might actually save you money. I went through the same thing being new to this and I spent 550 on a Raleigh rush hour instead and I've been hard on it and things are fine, other than the lock ring but I think thats the fault of my LBS not quality.

I hate to be a downer, but I've only heard bad things about the bikes from bikes direct. My friend got a kilo TT and everything went wrong, hubs stripped, tires were crap, The frame dented really easily. He hit a curb and the fork was bent beyond usage, although the wheel was fine (just needed to be trued). It wasn't that bad of a fall, the fork shouldn't of bent like that. Basically, he spent well over $100 fixing everything that went wrong with it. In the long run you may want to spend a little extra to get a bike with better components, it might actually save you money. I went through the same thing being new to this and I spent 550 on a Raleigh rush hour instead and I've been hard on it and things are fine, other than the lock ring but I think thats the fault of my LBS not quality.

My Kilo TT Pro arrived in perfect condition.

I hate to be a downer, but I've only heard bad things about the bikes from bikes direct. My friend got a kilo TT and everything went wrong, hubs stripped, tires were crap, The frame dented really easily. He hit a curb and the fork was bent beyond usage, although the wheel was fine (just needed to be trued). It wasn't that bad of a fall, the fork shouldn't of bent like that. Basically, he spent well over $100 fixing everything that went wrong with it. In the long run you may want to spend a little extra to get a bike with better components, it might actually save you money. I went through the same thing being new to this and I spent 550 on a Raleigh rush hour instead and I've been hard on it and things are fine, other than the lock ring but I think thats the fault of my LBS not quality.

I never had a single problem with mine after switching out the wheelset for something other than the junk you get with it. The bike rode fantastic and I was quite surprised.

I hate to be a downer, but I've only heard bad things about the bikes from bikes direct. My friend got a kilo TT and everything went wrong, hubs stripped, tires were crap, The frame dented really easily. He hit a curb and the fork was bent beyond usage, although the wheel was fine (just needed to be trued). It wasn't that bad of a fall, the fork shouldn't of bent like that. Basically, he spent well over $100 fixing everything that went wrong with it.

Tires are usually ****ty on those bikes, but besides that, it sounds like the damages were all his fault.

Anyone know what kind of older bikes are good..to turn into a fixed gear with aerospokes

You don't want to spend much money and now you are talking aerospokes.
I call major BS.

im talking down the road..

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/926189909.html

that a good base to turn into fixie?

im talking down the road..

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/926189909.html

that a good base to turn into fixie?

Buy what you like. My 2 cents: Free Spirits are nice looking bikes but fyi they are a department store brand manufactured by Sears. I actually own one. It was my father's old bike. I keep it for nostalgic reasons and because it's also my the smallest bike I own. They are as heavy as a panzer tank and can take a beating too. IMO, that bike is not worth $85 bucks. If you need something NOW, $85 is fine, but if you wait around for a deal, or cruise a few garage sales (not that you can because it is winter now), I have heard of people buying these bikes in the $20 range.

It's a good looking bike though.

yeah thats what i was thinking. Bike looks kinda small and the wheels are just eh. Guess ill keep my eyes open if not ill buy the kilo tt pro.

yeah thats what i was thinking. Bike looks kinda small and the wheels are just eh. Guess ill keep my eyes open if not ill buy the kilo tt pro.

Actually if you are planning to do all the upgrades, I would just go for the regular Kilo TT (or if you prefer the Pro colors, go for the Pro).

The wheels and the cranks are the nicest parts of my Pro, and I would think, based on what you stated earlier in the thread, that you plan on upgrading those pieces anyhow.

you are dumb.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm

that, with upgraded wheels+tires,seat,stem + handle bars? Maybe even powdercoat it some crazy color and upgrade crank,cog,ect

I have the Dawes SST and I'm doing all that. Keeping the handle bars but put white tape on, replacing wheelsets (weinmann deep v's blacked out), crank set, chain wheel, stem, and I'm powder coating the frame grey. Prob gonna put blue tires on it too. Cheap fully assembled bike, but totally customizable. That's the fun part. And oh, take the damn breaks off and put a fixed cog on there asap.

I never had a single problem with mine after switching out the wheelset for something other than the junk you get with it. The bike rode fantastic and I was quite surprised.

Love my Dawes. I'm replacing a bunch of stuff on it, but I ride every day and have never had any problems at all.

If you are gonna upgrade that much, why not just buy the frameset from Bikes Island? Save you the trouble of powder coating.

think 57 cm is straight for me, im around 5'10"ish

you are dumb.

? Asking noob questions not wanting opinions.

about to order it next week, word. post some pics.

57cm good for 5'10"?

take a pic of how its crammed in the box if ya dont mind.

get the bike?