Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Looking for a STRONG frame.

Hey there everyone, long time lurker, first time poster. I've been cycling for years but due to a leg injury I have sold off my geared race bike and looking to pick up a fixie for myself.

Being a bigger guy at 230 pounds I am looking for input on frames that would be strong as heck. I'm pretty brutal on bike frames. This won't be for tricking, only street riding. But with my history with busting up frames I'm just not sure what to look for.

Is there a frame out there for me? Other then custom? Figured this would be the place to ask for input on what's a strong and sturdy frame for a fist time fixed gear rider!

Thanks in advance!

i believe surlys are strong? could be wrong. just thought i remember hearing that somewhere....

Volume Thrasher/Cutter.

What type of frames were your previous frames? Aluminum, carbon, steel? I feel like most steel frames would be just fine. But if you've been breaking steel frames I don't know what to tell you.

Well, you could find an old Varsity or Continental, but it's going to weigh 40 lbs.

I've been riding aluminum and carbon. Both of which I've managed to snap...O.o I imagine a steel frame would be quite strong enough to handle me.

I did notice the thrasher and cutter frame while browsing around. I'm looking for something I'd be able to put drop bars on. Would the thrasher or cutter work with that type of setup? With the geometry and all I mean. The thrasher seems like it's the stronger of the two, maybe I'll look into that some more...

If you want a more road oriented frame I think both of those are more trick oriented (I could be wrong), and the cutter is Hi-ten (heavy gas pipe). Honestly though, I feel like most steel frames would be fine, I've never really heard of anyone snapping a steel frame from road riding, but who knows?

I agree. They both did see more so, trick oriented like you mentioned. I'll look around some more and see what other steel frames I can come up with. I imagine it'd be rather hard to break a steel frame o.o

Thanks for the input so far everyone!

skinny benny...??? it's hi ten...

I'm 240+lbs and I ride a Mercier Kilo TT. So far, so good.

It's Reynolds 520. (4130 chromoly)

I've been riding aluminum and carbon. Both of which I've managed to snap...O.o I imagine a steel frame would be quite strong enough to handle me.

I did notice the thrasher and cutter frame while browsing around. I'm looking for something I'd be able to put drop bars on. Would the thrasher or cutter work with that type of setup? With the geometry and all I mean. The thrasher seems like it's the stronger of the two, maybe I'll look into that some more...

In all seriousness, how did you break them?

It might not be the frame. I'm between 230 and 250 and I've yet to break a frame, steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber.

If you can flip for it I hear the Bare Knuckle frames are pretty tough... though at 700 might be a bit high... I weigh around 250 and certainly test frames' limits... I recently got an aluminum frame with carbon fork (something I never thought Id do) and I have to say it feels more solid then any steel I have ridden to date. As Carleton and many others pointed out to me, and some on the Clydes forum too, that its not the material its the design of the frame and aluminum track frames are built with be powerful dudes like us in mind. I can say I dont know if I would trust an AL road frame under me though LOL! I will also say this, I have 2 friends who have snapped/wrecked their steel frames. So its not invulnerable...

It might not be the frame. I'm between 230 and 250 and I've yet to break a frame, steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber.Maybe you're just fat and weak?

Joking aside, aluminum frames can be made to be very tough. It's all about the tubing design. But the rule of thumb is, generally, the more material, the sturdier the frame.

If you want a more road oriented frame I think both of those are more trick oriented (I could be wrong), and the cutter is Hi-ten (heavy gas pipe).
Actually, the Cutter uses double-butted tubing, so it's not a simple "pipe".

pake frames are supposed to be pretty bombproof. straight gauge 4130. and cheap to boot.

The aluminum frame broke at the BB. Was cranking up a hill when I heard a snap and bam, huge crack along the BB shell. I brought it to my LBS and they believed it was because of me just being brutal on the frame. There was aslo another case in which I busted up an aluminum frame. As for the steel, it snapped about mid way along the chain stay. Again, it was suggested it was due to me being too big or brutal on the frame.

I'll definitely check out the other frames everyone mentioned as well as look into the cutter/thrasher again...

was just talking with a friend about this same subject, he seems to think the surly steamroller is pretty solid.

also, they accept the bigger sized tires (28c and 32c) which are a bit better for us big guys (im 6'3, 215)

My friend Gus snapped a PK Ripper in half at the head tube. So not really half but you know what I mean.

Do they make them out of depleted uranium?

I know there's an unobtainium frame somewhere.

I suggest you buy el-cheapo Wal-mart bikes if you wish to continue to be "brutal on the frame".

If you check out the Clydesdale forum, you'll find lots and lots of big guys that ride many, many miles and have yet to break a frame.

Schwinn Madison. I'm 200 lbs and my Kilo felt like a wet noodle compared to my Maddy.

I suppose here's another opportunity to show it off:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/scrodzilla/madison5.jpg

:love:

I suggest you buy el-cheapo Wal-mart bikes if you wish to continue to be "brutal on the frame".

If you check out the Clydesdale forum, you'll find lots and lots of big guys that ride many, many miles and have yet to break a frame.

They're bigger guys too. But I can't see how it could be user error.

They're bigger guys too. But I can't see how it could be user error.

You are right; now that I think about it, I can't think of any way a person could break a bike frame.

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp106/NewMidMike/MikeJump.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s275/tommydone/HYPER%20TRACK%201-25-09/DSC_0366_156.jpg

So after poking around a bit more and talking to some friends. I am thinking about getting the Volume Thrasher. Seems like it's built like a rock and the tricking ability (after thinking about it) seems like it'll be best for me.

Thanks for the help everyone! Much appreciated. Nice to know there is a nice group of folks around.

Schwinn Madison. I'm 200 lbs and my Kilo felt like a wet noodle compared to my Maddy.

I suppose here's another opportunity to show it off:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/scrodzilla/madison5.jpg

:love:

Whoa, you finally got one. When/how did you come across this? It looks fantastic. Why don't the Madison's get talked about more?

Why don't the Madison's get talked about more?

Because it's a 'Schwinn'.

I happened to find the frame & fork on eBay for a really good 'buy it now' price w/ free shipping (at 3AM after a night of drinking). As you may know, I was really after an '07 (and still hope to buy Ska!'s one day :D) but I'm stoked about my '08 Maddy.

The Madison probably should be talked about more, as it's a damn good bike. Maybe an official Madison thread is in order?

Get a Mercier Kilo WT. You can fit big tires on it which will cushion your big ass :D I like mine a lot. It's a nice bike for what you pay out

I suggest you buy el-cheapo Wal-mart bikes if you wish to continue to be "brutal on the frame".

If you check out the Clydesdale forum, you'll find lots and lots of big guys that ride many, many miles and have yet to break a frame.
+1 Most quality road frames are plenty strong for a 200+lb rider..providing you don't do things they aren't supposed to. If you wanna ride off curbs, hit potholes, or do other weird things, they are going to fail.

Because it's a 'Schwinn'.

I happened to find the frame & fork on eBay for a really good 'buy it now' price w/ free shipping (at 3AM after a night of drinking). As you may know, I was really after an '07 (and still hope to buy Ska!'s one day :D) but I'm stoked about my '08 Maddy.

The Madison probably should be talked about more, as it's a damn good bike. Maybe an official Madison thread is in order?
:D

start that thread! i never understood why there isnt much info on it online and only like 4 reviews... my maddy is fantastic.

Because it's a 'Schwinn'.

I happened to find the frame & fork on eBay for a really good 'buy it now' price w/ free shipping (at 3AM after a night of drinking). As you may know, I was really after an '07 (and still hope to buy Ska!'s one day :D) but I'm stoked about my '08 Maddy.

The Madison probably should be talked about more, as it's a damn good bike. Maybe an official Madison thread is in order?

Are you going to build your Kilo back up or sell it?

As much as it bums me out to think about, I'm going to sell it. I like the Madison much better.

As much as it bums me out to think about, I'm going to sell it.

Back to the ice cream man?

Are you going to build your Kilo back up or sell it?

You don't HAVE to sell it. You could ship it to me as a gift. win/win?

EDIT: hah nvm, I just saw that it's a 53, I was thinking it was a 56. So don't bother packing it up lol.

oh...i though you meant carl strong.

http://www.strongframes.com/

killer stuff.

So after poking around a bit more and talking to some friends. I am thinking about getting the Volume Thrasher. Seems like it's built like a rock and the tricking ability (after thinking about it) seems like it'll be best for me.

Thanks for the help everyone! Much appreciated. Nice to know there is a nice group of folks around.

Looks like a very nice frame, but are they available yet? Others to consider that I haven't seen mentioned yet include the All-City Dropout (http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/dropout_framesets/) and Milwaukee Bruiser (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=612_1544) framesets (the Bruiser is available as a complete as well), or, to save some cash, the Subrosa Malum (http://www.subrosabrand.com/malum-fixed/) (about $650) or Redline Urbis (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/commute/2010-urbis) (supposedly on sale May 1 at $550) as completes. If you are worried about breaking frames, a freestyle-specific setup should be your burliest option. Unlike a BMX or dirt jump bike, however, they are still completely rideable for non-freestyle uses.