Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - need bike recommendations

i'm currently living in san francisco with no bike and it sucks without one. i just need something for getting around the city. simple. clean. low maintenance.

anyone have any recommendations on complete bikes (single speed) in the $500-$800 range? i'm 5'7 and rode a 53cm back in boston. i prefer a more upright ride so i'm thinking a short riser bar.

ones i've looked at: giant bowery, surly steamroller, swobo sanchez, mission bicycles (seemed overpriced, though nice lookin')

thanks in advance for any help!

j

bikesdirect.com

bikesdirect.com

yes, i'm familiar with them. but info on specific bikes (and why) was more what i was looking for. recommendations of bikes on that site is also helpful.

mercier kilo TT or KHS flite 100. cause theyre affordable and theeee ****.

thanks! i went ahead and bought the mercier kilo tt stripper (raw) (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_stripper.htm).

first thing i want to upgrade is the headset, the stem, and get short riser bars.

i have heard great things about the thomson elite for the stem and chris king for headsets. but i'm a bike noob and not sure what sizes to purchase and what short riser to get that works with them.

also, other recommendations for upgrades are also helpful. still have some $ in the budget to spend.

I have a Thomson. Good stuff. But I think that Chris King is a bit over-rated.

thanks! i went ahead and bought the mercier kilo tt stripper (raw) (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_stripper.htm).

first thing i want to upgrade is the headset, the stem, and get short riser bars.

i have heard great things about the thomson elite for the stem and chris king for headsets. but i'm a bike noob and not sure what sizes to purchase and what short riser to get that works with them.

also, other recommendations for upgrades are also helpful. still have some $ in the budget to spend.
Wow...your stem and headset combined will cost as much as the bike itself.

http://www.aspirevelotech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=CKNTS10
This is the size you need for headset.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ST707A09-Thomson+Elite+Mtb+Stem.aspx
This is the stem that you need.

http://www.velo-orange.com/stemshim1to118.html
You'll need a shim to use that stem.

http://www.tracksupermarket.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=249
They have the cheapest Nitto B201aa, they are restocking though. You could buy this at Ben for 15 dollars more.
http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7588&zenid=3578cf23398322433236a03257607bdf

i just bought the nitto b201aa bar.

wouldn't i use the thomson elite x2? if so, what size+rise? other headset recommendations if the chris king is overrated and overpriced? hoping for black.

would the standard (what the mercier originally comes with) headset / stem work with the nitto bar?

Thomson Elite X2 has the clamp size of 31.8, you will need to shim it again.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ST707A09-Thomson+Elite+Mtb+Stem.aspx
Length and rise depend on you...what rise and length have you been using?

Cane Creek headset is good enough IMO.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=599&category=104