Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - What bike to get?

New to bikes, i only know 1/3 of bike parts. haven't been building bikes since 6th grade. Now i'm 3rd year college.

I'm buying a bike today from bikesdirect

Mercier Kilo TT: http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm
Friend recommended!

Windsor The Hour: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm
Friend recommended

Dawes SST AL Single Speed Track Bikes: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst_al_carb_x.htm
Friend recommended
Price: $360, $280, and $370

Which one do you think i should buy?

Want to commute to school really fast, perhaps to job place and to ride around for fun with friends who have fixies.

I want an extremely light bike that just goes faaaassst.

Will make upgrades in the near future. :thumb:


Forum Votes!
----------------------------
Mercier Kilo TT: 2 Points

Windsor The Hour: 0 Points - ELIMINATED

Dawes SST AL Single Speed Track Bikes: 2 Points

In your shoes, I'd go with the Dawes because it comes with brakes. Not having ever ridden fixed, you're going to have an adjustment period that will, in my opinion and experience, require brakes.

Make sure you have tried a fixie before. Friend or LBS test ride.

The Dawes, because of the flip flop hub that has SS and fixe set up, and the brakes. If your new to fixie and SS, make sure you get some brakes!

Actually jpaschall,

The Winsor "The Hour" comes with FREE Rear Brake and Lever

The Mercier Kilo TT comes with +FREE BONUS Front and Rear Brakes

So they all have brakes, just the Winsor only has 1 break.

I haven't ridden bikes in a long time. But i'm sure i can get used to one before school comes around.

Ah, forgive me then. Everyone here is quite fond of the Kilo. That is what you will overwhelmingly be recommended to get.

Ah. Well the Kilo is only cheaper by $10, if the Dawes isn't so fond but is still better, i'll consider buying the Dawes.

I like the whole structure of the Dawes, then again, i know nothing about bikes.

I'll wait for a few more replies until i pull the plug.

There's seriously 5 "first ssfg" bike threads on the first page alone

Edit: You'll definitely want a front brake.

Cinelli Mash.

yes, i hear front brakes are important.

So which one is better? or is there another one to add onto my list?

Kilo TT.

Thanks Yummy.

There's seriously 5 "first ssfg" bike threads on the first page alone

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b116/thedriftking/MISC/srsly-40515.jpg

1 more hour til i buy it.

It's either the 2010 Mercier Kilo TT or 2011 Dawes SST-AL.

RELATED.
(http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here!)

Anyway, I enjoyed my nighttime asiago cheese bagel. I had to eat something substantial because I'm taking penicillin currently, and it upsets my stomach if I don't eat before taking it.

Kilo...do it

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b116/thedriftking/MISC/srsly-40515.jpg

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhgjim2jYx1qbiuveo1_400.gif

i've wondered about the sst aluminum, it looks nice, aluminum with a carbon fork is a popular combo and the wheels are better than those on the kilo, the downside is you have to purchase your own cog, that's not really the end of the world considering you get nicer wheels and a carbon fork, it'd be nice if you could get feedback from someone that owns one in terms of weight or durability but it seems nice

i have ridden my kilo frame for three and two thirds years now and it's a great bike. however, the sst al is well liked too. there are far better bikes around but not for that cheap. spend a little more and you'll get a bike with a lot more character and a lot nicer design.

@ soyboy

thanks man, appreciate it. i liked the carbon fork along with the wheels on the sst too. Though the thing looks kind of heavy, and that's what gets me. btw, what's a cog, how much do they go for?

@ cc700

Well i only can spend up to about $370 max atm. which do you think i should pick? the Kilo or the Dawes?


Edit: from what i found out, the cog is the back wheels metal ring that connects the chain right? So i would need to buy a new cog to make the Dawes SST AL a Fixie/Fixed Gear? How much are they?

You can get a decent cog and lockring setup anywhere between $25-35. You need both parts in order to ride safely.

i checked google and there seems to be many different cogs. should i buy a origin 8 cog? what is a lockring setup?

i checked google and there seems to be many different cogs. should i buy a origin 8 cog? what is a lockring setup?

lockring is a reverse threaded ring that keeps the cog on.

as for cogs, make sure you get a nice cnc'd one and not a stamped one.
I don'[t know much about the origin8, but most of their stuff is relatively high quality, and should be fine.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here!

It's been an hour...

And the winner is?

Dawes SST AL.

i liked the wheels and carbon fork.

So i need lockring and cog. would i be missing anything else?

I don'[t know much about the origin8, but most of their stuff is relatively high quality, and should be fine.

pretty sure the origin 8 cogs are stamped.

This

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

http://www.retro-gression.com/product/stainless-steel-lock-ring

http://www.retro-gression.com/product/track-cog

bro, commuting to school really fast is in the legs, not the bike. my friend crushes it on a beat around steamroller with a basket and risers.

that said i'd go with the sst-al, but i haven't been a fan of the kilo

ib4carlton

extremely helpful links yummy.

16, 17, 18 or 19t for the cogs?

Dura-Ace or Surley for the lockring?