Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - $1300 Budget. What Would You Get?

I’ve been riding a comfort bike – giant escape 2 -- for 2 years now and would like to buy my first fixed gear. I live in New Orleans which is very flat but the roads are chopped up. I ride about 60 miles/wk. I’m looking for something extremely light which I’ll be using daily.

I’m ok with spending $ because I know I’ll get lots of use out of it and barely drive as it is.

Thanks.

I would not get an SS/FG, and instead get an entry level road bike.

(this is taking into account a 60mi commute)

edit: get a used CX bike with sram rival. you should be able to score a sweet deal on a used CX bike.

60 miles a week...

You still have the Giant for a geared / backup bike and if it was me would convert a nice used road bike to run as a fg / commuter and put the money I saved in the bank.

Cross Check

Schwinn Stingray.

http://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/a-1967-vintage-schwinn-sting-ray-fastback-the-sting-ray-that-was-your.jpg

Cyclocross bike IMO. I'd dump 4-500 into it (bikesdirect) and put the rest in the bank.

60 miles a week...

You still have the Giant for a geared / backup bike and if it was me would convert a nice used road bike to run as a fg / commuter and put the money I saved in the bank.
Sorry, I thought he meant 60mi to work, not a week. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I would not get an SS/FG, and instead get an entry level road bike.

(this is taking into account a 60mi commute)

go climb some hills, roadie! 60m a weeeek on flat roads, nobody needs a road bike for that :D Plus he has his GIANT if he ever doesn't want track geo


I'd price my wheels, stem, seatpost, saddle, crank that I knew I wanted then see where that left me in terms of frame options probably, or vice versa. You can build a pretty nice bike for $1300

I'd be tempted to grab an EAI frame, wabi wheels, thomson/thomson combo, set aside $100 for a saddle, $100 for a cog/lockring/handlebars and be close to gtg

sell giant and get a raleigh militis

buy a FTP and powdercoat it 5 times :D

Appreciate the varied responses so far.

Yes, its 60 miles/week and where I live is very, very flat. I just have no use for gears.

The problem with pricing out the components separately is I dont know exactly what I want and this just adds the confusion since I'm a neophyte.

Thx

go climb some hills, roadie! 60m a weeeek on flat roads, nobody needs a road bike for that :D Plus he has his GIANT if he ever doesn't want track geo


I'd price my wheels, stem, seatpost, saddle, crank that I knew I wanted then see where that left me in terms of frame options probably, or vice versa. You can build a pretty nice bike for $1300

I'd be tempted to grab an EAI frame, wabi wheels, thomson/thomson combo, set aside $100 for a saddle, $100 for a cog/lockring/handlebars and be close to gtg

Sorry, I thought he meant 60mi to work, not a week. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

^^^ Haha ewps. I cannot readingz.

In that case I would probably just Kilo TT

buy a FTP and powdercoat it 5 times :D
yeah i think 1300 isn't so far off :lol:

I'd convert an old road bike and put the remaining $800 or so in my Roth. :D

kilo tt/windsor hour + some strong deep wheels that'll old up against potholes(i would go for eigthinch julians, my friend has a pair... talk about indestructible) + some fatty tires/gumwalls + risers + rack/fender/pannier

that would be my dream commuting setup, easily under $1300

your dream (commute) setup is a windsor hour on julian rims? dream a little bigger

your dream (commute) setup is a windsor hour on julian rims? dream a little bigger

Seriously! :lol:

http://www.cycle-service.de/specialized-bikes/images-2012/26-langster/900/9027-11_LANG_Pro_Flo-Red-Wht.jpg

msrp$1650

An all city with $600 worth of upgrades sounds sweet to me.

langster pro for commuting on rough roads? good luck man

246424

80% of the roads here are terrible. I cant stress this enough.

First of all, are you able to bring your bike inside at your work or are you locking up on the street? If you can bring it inside I would consider spending the whole 1,300, otherwise go cheap for two reasons:
1-It could get stolen on the street, a nice bike might draws attention.
2-If the road is rough, you will likely chew up components. Buy cheap (but still quality) leaving some of that money to the side for repairs.

If you can bring it inside, a fixed CX bike is basically the ultimate commuter, IMO.

First of all, are you able to bring your bike inside at your work or are you locking up on the street? If you can bring it inside I would consider spending the whole 1,300, otherwise go cheap for two reasons:
1-It could get stolen on the street, a nice bike might draws attention.
2-If the road is rough, you will likely chew up components. Buy cheap (but still quality) leaving some of that money to the side for repairs.

If you can bring it inside, a fixed CX bike is basically the ultimate commuter, IMO.

The bike will not be locked up outside for more than an hour a day, with exceptions.
Yes, the roads are v rough here. Anyone who lives in New Orleans can attest to this, even if they've never rode a bike.

Crime is also very high there. I wouldn't let a $1300 bike out of my sight for five minutes in NOLA.

gocup: I bike in Houston and I'm a Clydesdale on an aluminum frame, I'm sure you'll survive

that said I wouldn't leave it outside in class (our campus is in a high crime neighborhood) for more than an hour or two, and never alone at night there. so I guess set another chunk of change to the side for a good lock and the krypto cable for those wheels

Phantom Cross UNO

80% of the roads here are terrible. I cant stress this enough.

In this case, I wouldn't drop $1300 on a FG/SS bike. You really don't need to spend that much to get a good, solid, nice FG/SS.

If the roads are that bad, I would surely be looking at chromoly frames to take up some of the rough roads and avoid frame cracking (aluminum). Personally, I would be looking at the Wabi Classic: http://wabicycles.com/classic_bike_spec_11.html $695 so you'll hve some dough left over :) The geometry is a bit more relaxed which is closer to a road bike feel. The only thing I would be concened about is the light weight wheelset on the horrid roads that you talk about - but I haven't heard any of the Wabi wheels giving out. Just how bad are the roads?

If you choose to build it up you can choose between a great frame and good parts or a good frame and great parts. Here's a list for great frame and good parts:



Bare Knuckle frameset
695


Deda Zero01 stem
28


Road Dropbar
50


Velomine Mavic wheelset
200


Andel Crankset
120


Tange headset
54


Brooks Saddle
88


FSA Seatpost
24

most framesets come with headsets, does the EAI not?

Not all framesets include a headset. EAI are among those that don't.

The bike will not be locked up outside for more than an hour a day, with exceptions.
Yes, the roads are v rough here. Anyone who lives in New Orleans can attest to this, even if they've never rode a bike.Also depends upon whether you can see it for that hour or whatever it's locked up on the street. Because an hour unseen is about 59 minutes more than a thief needs. I'd probably look into spending about as much for a bikes direct SS/FG. Maybe build up a Pake similar to the one Scrod put together, but that'll get you over $ 500-600.

not sure, I assumed that it doesn't, if it comes, better yet

was just basing it on masi, cinelli (steel and aluminum), and wabi -- but now looking at the big block, surly and bianchi. which don't, it seems like there isn't much of a standard

Personally, I'd probably go along this route.

Surly Steamroller - $369
Kinesis carbon fork - $99
FSA orbit X headset - $48
FSA stem - $22
Fyxation rodeo bars - $28
Mavic open pro/formula wheelset - $189
FSA seatpost - $24
Selle San Marco - $115
Sram Omnium - $230

Total of $1124, using fairly inexpensive parts, not considering shipping, so try to bundle up on buying parts from one vendor as much as possible. You'll just need to finish it off with whatever chain, tires, tubes and pedals you like, which would get close to that $1300 budget.

i'm pretty sure most framesets that use standard press in headsets don't usually include a headset, and ones that use integrated or otherwise weird ones do, generally. the EAI uses a standard headset.

There's a good cat to speak with in NOLA now that I think about it, if he still haunts Bike Forums. Joey Brooks, but I haven't seen anything about him since his marriage last year, so there is no telling.

If it were me I would either get a surly steamroller or an all city big block. I own a steam roller but I also really like all cities bikes.

your dream (commute) setup is a windsor hour on julian rims? dream a little bigger

well i like to dream for possibilities haha, i would like a cheap bike like that with just cheap stuff so i can just dgaf about it having it locked outside/rain/getting it damaged, a windsor hour is a lot easier/cheaper to replace than the more expensive stuff. i would be nice to just have a beater that i can be a little careless with when going around town

$1300 Budget. What Would You Get?

Me? With $1300 I'd buy three, maybe four bikes.

well i like to dream for possibilities haha, i would like a cheap bike like that with just cheap stuff so i can just dgaf about it having it locked outside/rain/getting it damaged, a windsor hour is a lot easier/cheaper to replace than the more expensive stuff. i would be nice to just have a beater that i can be a little careless with when going around townI agree with your thoughts on a bike that is reliable, yet still has that quality of ride that feels like you didn't sacrifice too much. $ 1,300 sunk into a bike is going to be an enviable bike to someone and may not be around long enough to enjoy, depending upon the area it's locked and unattended. He might be interested in putting together something that rides and parks under the radar, just an average ride that can be locked next to some higher end bikes that get stolen before someone takes his. The Vilano I have is reliable enough, $ 300 into it is something I'd hate to have to replace but $ 500, $ 700, $ 1,000 and certainly $ 1,300 is a bike you'd really get an awful feeling about a theft. Besides, the BD bike is something that as parts wear out, the next part you replace isn't going to be top shelf components because the bike will continue to be a daily commuter. In that case other suggestions to get a decent 80's or 90's bike and convert it makes a lot of sense too. Find a nice enough 10-12 speed that still rides solid & reliable, a conversion to SS may even be delayed.

If you are a newbie then a Steamroller complete. It can handle up to 38mm tires IIRC, which should conquer any road you can throw at them. That gives you some extra $$$ to make ergonomic changes like handlebar/stem/pedals/tires as needed. A bike always costs more than the original purchase.

I would get a Wabi.

A volvo 240 with 200,000 on the odometer and 400,000 to go.
http://www.7173mustangs.com/xthreads_attach.php/1353_1323705698_15afd7e7/dce7f5f9c53e4a0a048078e6dc6f0131/VOLVO244TURBOGLE.jpg

I'm from New Orleans. I rode a track frame around the city all last summer because that is all I had. It was pretty miserably. You definitely want something with wider tires, and you don't want it to be flashy. If I had to buy a bike for nola I'd probably get a 29er or cross bike as others have mentioned.

oy vey. not doin' the math but here goes:

dolan track champion frameset w/alpina fork (not crazy about how the welds or some of the paint jobs look, but oh well)
kinlin to dura-ace 7600 (maintenance but pr0n)
omnoms
deda 01 stem + seatpost
fsa compact drops (obligatory lizardskins dsp tape)

pretty sure I've already busted the budget unless there's strategic ebaying, but I'm bored and unproductive tonight.
this is also completely impractical to your needs.

in short, tl; dr

After thinking about this more and reading the responses, I think a cross bike is the way to go given the circumstances but i'm still willing to change my mind.

Now the question becomes, which? :)

if you get bb30 and sram you can use eccentric adapters and a gxp to tension it singlespeed whenever you want. expensive but bike does dual duty. i like the raleigh RX but sram is expensive new.

I vote you get one of these:

http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/macho_man

Don't know what happened over the last few days but I want one tomorrow.