Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Help assembling my motobecane messenger

My bike just came in the mail today and i was working on assembling the basic things. I put in the handlebars, saddle, and front wheel. I haven't screwed with the brakes or anything yet, because I don't really know what I'm doing. Anyways, I kind of just pushed the bike around a bit and I think it in fixed gear right now. I heard these bikes can be easily changed from fixed gear to single speed so it can cruise, which is what I want. I heard someone about a flip flop hub, what the hell is that, and how do I use it?

Also, I thought the bike had a quick release front wheel and saddle, but its not that way either. Is there some part I must add or something? Do I have to buy it?

Sorry for being such a bike newb, but all your answers are greatly appreciated.

Take that ***** to a bike shop right now or you're going to end up dead.

In a less ******* way, I would take that to your local bike shop and have them put the rest of it together and double check what you have done.

Take that ***** to a bike shop right now or you're going to end up dead.

LOL. But seriously, he's right.

If you don't know what you're doing, take that **** to a bike shop right now. Can you even ride a bike?

might want to get these first

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-4911-NCL-SIDE.jpg

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2318240

people on this forum are tooo sarcastic. he just wants some help guys, but yeah that comment asking if op can ride a bike was too funny.

My bike just came in the mail today and i was working on assembling the basic things. I put in the handlebars, saddle, and front wheel. I haven't screwed with the brakes or anything yet, because I don't really know what I'm doing. Anyways, I kind of just pushed the bike around a bit and I think it in fixed gear right now. I heard these bikes can be easily changed from fixed gear to single speed so it can cruise, which is what I want. I heard someone about a flip flop hub, what the hell is that, and how do I use it?

Also, I thought the bike had a quick release front wheel and saddle, but its not that way either. Is there some part I must add or something? Do I have to buy it?

Sorry for being such a bike newb, but all your answers are greatly appreciated.

An easy way to figure out if the bike is on the fixed gear side of the hub, when you roll it around do the pedals move with the rear wheel? If so it's fixed, to change to single speed so you can coast(proper term, not cruise) just turn the wheel around and attach the cog to the other side of the hub, you'll probably have to re-mount the tire so it's rolling in the correct direction.

Quick Release(QR) isn't really the best thing for a commuter or a bike that gets locked up a lot, QR = easier to steal stuff off of. But if you must have it you can buy a QR skewer for the from wheel.

Also it does sound like you may be in over your head with assembling your bike and I do agree that you should bring it to your local bike shop(lbs) and have them finish assembling it and make sure what you did is correct. I assume you probably don't know how to properly torque a hub so that the wheel stays true and all that, which your lbs will do for you.

If you really want to work on your bike yourself I would still recommend having your lbs finish assembling it and then look into reading about basic cycling maintenance. It may not be as cool to have them finish it but it's better than having a bike that falls apart and the risk of injury or death.

If so it's fixed, to change to single speed so you can coast(proper term, not cruise) just turn the wheel around and attach the cog to the other side of the hub, you'll probably have to re-mount the tire so it's rolling in the correct direction.

Wrong. The cog stays on the fixed side of the hub. Moving it to the freewheel side isn't going to magically make it a freewheel. Also, unlike cars, bike tires with directional tread are mostly a gimmick.

yeah, vittoria rubino pro's are directional. prob a gimmick, though

if you can't tell if a bike is set up as a fixed or a free wheel i'd be very careful the first time you hop on

yeah, vittoria rubino pro's are directional. prob a gimmick, though

Are they shipping motobecanes with rubino pros now?

Woah, can we back up here. You just spent decent money on a brand new FG/SS bicycle...and you don't know how to tell the difference between the two when you are pushing the bike around? "I just ordered this new gun...I playing around with it, but I'm not sure how to tell if the safety is on or off. I think it is on..."

You should be able to figure out how to tell the difference MUCH faster than it took you to punch your credit card number into the site you ordered from.

Can the SS/FG subforum Historian-in-Residence mark this down as a particular low point in the evolution of the ol' fixed gear wave, please.

For your safety, please bring to local bike shop to finish assembly. Also, the wheels are needed to true anyway.

Can the SS/FG subforum Historian-in-Residence mark this down as a particular low point in the evolution of the ol' fixed gear wave, please.

No way, this thread is awesome.

Woah, can we back up here. You just spent decent money on a brand new FG/SS bicycle...and you don't know how to tell the difference between the two when you are pushing the bike around? "I just ordered this new gun...I playing around with it, but I'm not sure how to tell if the safety is on or off. I think it is on..."

You should be able to figure out how to tell the difference MUCH faster than it took you to punch your credit card number into the site you ordered from.

Can the SS/FG subforum Historian-in-Residence mark this down as a particular low point in the evolution of the ol' fixed gear wave, please.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z185/DavidFischman/SIMP11ComicBookGuy.jpg