Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Is this a good first ss/fg?

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mr.patio
07-19-10, 03:38 PM
hey there,

im looking for a ss/fg to ride around town. I have been looking around the internet and it seems like BD is a good place to get a decent cheap bike online. I think I want to buy the Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm

it seems to have everything that i want:
flip flop hub
front and rear brakes
larger tires for riding in the winter

and its in my price range.

i am worried about the gear ratio...it seems like the front gear is smaller than some of the other bikes. will this be an issue for riding around town?

is it a good idea to buy this bike?

thanks for any comments

dsh
07-19-10, 03:47 PM
38/16 is a pretty low gearing, yes.

But it will not stop you from getting around town. My fixed gear city bike is 42/18, which is pretty comparable to what that bike has.

At 38/16 you can expect:

15 MPH = 80 RPM
20 MPH = 105 RPM
adriano
07-19-10, 04:33 PM
the tires are bigger so its not quite as low as it seems.

seau grateau
07-19-10, 06:00 PM
You won't win any sprints on it, but that's a fine gearing for the city. If you decide you don't like it, it's relatively easy to change.
mr.patio
07-19-10, 09:37 PM
ok thanks i think im gonna buy it then