Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Is my pista junk?

This is the story, I purchased my 03 Pista new in Feb. 03. I added bull horns and a brake and I rode the bike exclusivley for a year. My riding consisted of commuting and sunday club rides. The following spring the b.b got noisey so i had my lbs replace it, within a month the cup backed out of the frame locking the cranks. I replaced the b.b.a second time, and it's noisey again. In addition the head set feels notchy and the front hub is so worn that the bike tends to wander. I swaped the front wheel with a spare roadie wheel (Mavic Hellium) and it tracks straight. My question is do i uprade this bike? or fix it and sell it? I've read that this frame is poor quality, as are the components. I'm ready to have a quality set of wheels built, replace the bb and cranks (to get rid of the truvativ set up) and install a new headset. I love the way it rides, but i have never experienced another fixed gear bike. Any input would be great!

Sorry to read about your experience and I'll be interested to hear what the more mechanically adept have to say about salvaging this bike. I have been riding an '02 for a year and a half with good results. I probably average about 60 miles a week and the only problem I've had is the headset needing to be tightened up once in awhile. I am hoping to upgrade the headset and, eventually, the bottom bracket.

I am in Vermont and would be interested in buying your frame if you decide to abandon it. I'd like to build up a backup bike. Here's a mailing address if you decide to go that route: 1383 Rt. 44 05037. Good luck either way. Sorry I don't know enough to answer your question.

My pista is my 3rd fixie; the other two were road conversions. The consensus seems to be that some of the components are not the highest quality, but many would say the frame is quite decent and worth putting new stuff on; if you upgrade your components and find the frame isn't to your liking, you can sell it and keep the good stuff for a new frame. I've been very happy after replacing the chainring and sprockets with better quality track-pitch stuff, and replacing the front wheel; I like the geometry and the feel of the frame, and it sounds like you do too -- try some other bikes out and see though, it never hurts. :)

Try going to a different bike shop and have them service the BB. Maybe your LBS is putting in a used BB and just charging you money for nothing.