Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - suggestions for fixed comuter

i have fallen in love with fixed gears and find myself with a urge for a classy urban commuter. putting it together is the problem though, so help me out. im looking for a black frame, no aluminum/carbon fiber, simple, front and back fender capabilities. i was thinking of throwing on some classy silver suginos, black brooks with silver seat post, not sure on rims either, preferably something around 30mm deep or less and black, non machined, velo orange stem with risers or something relaxed, metal fenders that sit low on the wheel and some other small accesories. i need suggestions but so far the best looking frame ive found is the all city one but i dont know whats neccisary to run fenders.

Check out Surly and Salsa's offerings.

http://cgi.ebay.com/57cm-Track-Bike-Fixed-Gear-Chromoly-Frameset-W-Fork-NEW-/400189401846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2d25aaf6

Tight geometry and fender eyelets.

Redline 925 has commuter written all over it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300511945043&hlp=false&rvr_id=200591904982&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=WXF%3F&GUID=5a9982d812d0a06c1b720ef2ff4f7c20&itemid=300511945043&ff4=263602_304652

$449 sounds like a sweet price in my book.

I know this doesn't quite meet all of your criteria (e.g. it's aluminum), but it's black and fixed, and depending on the length of your commute and the amount of storage space you have, you really might want to check out this bike (http://www.montaguebikes.com/boston-folding-single-speed-bike.html). I have one that I use for commuting and I love it - if it's nice in the morning but turns crappy later, I can take it home on the train with me, and I can store it in my closet (as opposed to my living room).

Buy yourself a complete bike...ride if for a while until you really know what you want/need. If you build a bike now, its going to cost you an arm and a leg and you are going to find out that its not exactly what you wanted.

IROs give you a lot of custom options without additional cost. The Pheonix is pretty close to what you are describing.

http://www.irocycle.com/phoenixsinglespeedbuild-a-bikewstandardwheelset.aspx

surly crosscheck and iro phoenix both meet all of your criteria. but you already knew this.

Pake C'mute if you can like with dark gray (or light blue)

Motobecane Jury frameset also would work. It's basically a Surly Steamroller with worse crank/chainring clearance, fender/rack eyelets, and terrible brake mounts/reach requirements (the front will work okay with a Tektro R556, the rear needs a 556 and a drop-bolt). Beware of the tighter front end geometry with fenders tho, you'll be a lot more likely to have toe overlap with your fenders on the Jury than you would with the surly/iro/pake. This is made worse by running it fixed, as you have to time your pedal stroke accordingly instead of just coasting through turns.

I'd get a Redline 925. A while ago I've seen them go for 300 all day, but now the price seems to have gone up. Another good choice would be the Bianchi San Jose.

If what you want is a "classy urban commuter," I don't think almost any of the bikes listed fit the bill. Maybe the Bianchi San Jose, but those Motobecane and Redline logos don't exactly scream "classy" to me (not that they're not perfectly good bikes). What I'd do is look for an 80's lugged road bike frame with horizontal dropouts and eyelets for fenders on the fork and the dropouts. Shouldn't be hard to find, and cheaper than a new frameset. I'd add a cheap but shiny set of Sun CR-18 wheels (not black, but come on, if everything else is silver then stick with it), Nitto stem, some kind of Velo Orange city bars or mustache bars, a set of VO dandy fenders, and you're set. That's what I'm doing this weekend, but around an Alfine 8 speed wheel, and with a bunch of other shiny silver VO crap too (racks, bells, etc).

Third recommendation for the redline 925. Great bike for the price, doesn't scream "steal me" either :)

Oh, find an older one with the moustache bars and maybe save some $!

threecarjam++

Raleigh Sprite, late '80s Peugeot, Schwinn Continental... Decent examples can be found inexpensively, and even with a new wheelset, crank, and bottom bracket you'll still come in around half the price of a new "commuter". Plus, horizontal dropouts make it so much easier to fix a flat when fenders are installed.

Third recommendation for the redline 925. Great bike for the price, doesn't scream "steal me" either :)

Oh, find an older one with the moustache bars and maybe save some $!

This +1

mihlbach: lol i know what i want. ive been riding for a while now as i said in the first post. i have a alu/carbon frameset and like veriety but also i dont like babying my stuff, id rather have fun and ride than wory about dirt or scratches or anything. what im planning isnt much of a "commuter" as i make it seem to be than an urban bike. my commute is only a couple miles around town and just want to keep it simple, clean, but useful. im looking for more of a simple clean black steel frameset then was going to throw on some classy shimanos, velo orange tall stack with mustach bars. also throwing on a wald 198gb basket and still deciding on some nice silver fenders front and back and ill end up going to my lbs for a wheelset. trying to keep it clean and classy like the old days of black track bikes with silver components but throwing a light commuter twist on to it.

i am liking the iro pheonix but if i can find some fenders that dont need eyelets im probably going to go with the iro angus. i am assuming the angus is the same as the mark v with small geometry changes and the lack of cable guides?

I gotta say I have to disagree with you on a few things about the Motobecane Jury. The frame is actually very good. I had no problem finding a crankset that would work and allowed for plenty of clearance. I will tell you the brake mounts are weird. But the frame does come with a drop bolt and the Tektro R556s aren't the only ones that fit it. Take a look at Dia Compre Bulldogs. Those actually fit it without the dropbolt and work perfectly. I have not had a problem with toe overlap and as long as you don't take corners while physically laying down on the concrete, there are no problems with pedal strokes.

If you haven't ridden one, wait before you badmouth a frame. If you have ridden one with the above mentioned problems, (minus the brakes) then you might want to try to build one with the right parts.

threecarjam++

Raleigh Sprite, late '80s Peugeot, Schwinn Continental... Decent examples can be found inexpensively, and even with a new wheelset, crank, and bottom bracket you'll still come in around half the price of a new "commuter". Plus, horizontal dropouts make it so much easier to fix a flat when fenders are installed.

OP was looking for a commuter, not a boat anchor. :)

OP was looking for a commuter, not a boat anchor. :)

LOL.

I prefer a supple ride to light weight when I'm riding on pothole-ridden streets. I was thinking about relaxed geometry, fender braze-ons, and low price. It's not like I'm doing sprints on it...