Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - first time buyer, any recommendations?

hi guys, i just recently started looking at single speed road bikes for commuting in NYC manhattan. ive been looking at several bikes around the city shops, and i was wondering if you guys have any recommendtions

the ones that i currently like:
globe roll 1, specialized langster, schwinn madison, masi uno drop

thanks in advance!

Kilo TT

Nagrom hit in first!

To the OP, what is your budget? There are alot of bikes out there...

Nagrom hit in first!

To the OP, what is your budget? There are alot of bikes out there...

Around 600. Been looking at globe roll 1 and masi UNO drop

The following are my favorites:

1) The 2012 Schwinn Madison (That's the prettiest)

2) The 2012 Felt Brougham

3) The 2012 Trek Earl

4) The 2012 Raleigh Back Alley

5) The 2012 Masi Uno Riser

Langster rider here ....... lovin it.

If you can handle the purple and white color scheme on the 2011 Madison, Nashbar has them on sale right now for $255 (sizes limited to medium and large). Nothing wrong with saving a bit of money if you can.

OTOH, for $600 you might be able to build up your own Pake Rum Runner with pretty decent parts. Retrogression (Scrod) has a very good price on them - http://www.retro-gression.com/product/pake-rum-runner-track-frame Building your own will be spec'd exactly how you like it :)

I am in the same boat as you OP. I like the Madison 12' and a LBS has the Globe ROll 1 for $550. I have been able to find the Madison shipped online for $480. If I fit the Nashbar sizes I would have already ordered.

THe difficult part is cross comparing all the bikes, and then figuring the pricing costs and which one is worth it or best option.

Kilo TT is always the recommended bike. Personally, at the price of the KIlo, something about the SST AL is drawing me in

The Schwinn Madison of 2011 is certainly no aesthetics match for the Madison of 2012!

Schwinn Madison of 2012 wins hands down! :thumb:

Despite what certain people here think, bikes direct/ kilo tt is not the answer to every new bike question. There are a lot of issues with them. The chief one is the bikes require extra tools and grease to put together, along with a decent knoweldge of how bikes are put together. They are also bought sight unseen. So for a lot of people they are not a very good choice.

With your budget, I would say that going to a shop and finding an entry level bike that you like, and fits wall is your best bet. Nothing you listed in your first post is a terrible choice, and I would say other than maybe the Globe you could be very happy on any of them for a long time.

Just make sure that you like the shop, and they people there know what they are doing.

The 2012 scwhinn madison is one of the ugliest bikes i've ever seen. I would go with a kilo tt or windsor the hour off bikes direct.

The 2012 scwhinn madison is one of the ugliest bikes i've ever seen. I would go with a kilo tt or windsor the hour off bikes direct.

I'll just bet you loved spinach as a kid, too! :lol:


How could you not think this is beautiful! (rhetorical point of exclamation)
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Just to be contrary, my first real bike as an adult was a Masi. My loyalty still goes to them over Schwinn.

Although the UNO is just plan junk and, I gotta say, Masi did a crappy job speccing that bike.

I recommend this ($950) if you're going to buy a Masi:

http://www.bigimagerack.com/cfs/img/2011/a5f5b8fb/webmed.jpg

I'll just bet you loved spinach as a kid, too! :lol:


How could you not think this is beautiful! (rhetorical point of exclamation)
248200
I started on a 09 madison, I have nothing against them but the color schemes since the 09 have been terrible. mismatched tires/rims. It looks like whoever took over in there design department took to many hits of acid. On yeah and you can't forget the red chain....puke.

Kilo tt. Look around CL for a deal as well. The Kilo tt gives enough room for upgrades (especially the saddle, which is FWIR really bad); its frame is great as well for its pricepoint.

Of those I actually like the new langster. Big improvement over the older aluminum langsters imo

whatever you like + a good lock.

I started on a 09 madison, I have nothing against them but the color schemes since the 09 have been terrible. mismatched tires/rims. It looks like whoever took over in there design department took to many hits of acid. On yeah and you can't forget the red chain....puke.

Obviously, you lack the taste of an excellent connoisseur and artiste! :D

I started on a 09 madison and promptly ruined it by spray painting it black.

Oh, fixed.

I have the 2011 Madison with the purple and white (and yellow) color scheme. When I first seen the bike online I thought it was one of the worse things I've ever seen. Then, after time of looking at it on the computer screen again and again, it started to not look as bad. So, I bought one. The bike arrived and when I took it out of the box I think I threw up a little in my mouth. I thought to myself, "what the hell have I done". I contemplated returning it but figured eh, what the hell. Now, that I've had some time with it, that color scheme has grown on me (and no, not like fungus - ha ha :)) Removing the yellow grips was a good start to improve the appearance, and I think if them wheels were'nt yellow it would improve it even more. The saddle is not too bad but I didn't find it that comfy and have since put a black one on there. One thing's for sure, it does have a good, solid ride to it!

you guys are killing me. i have a 1997 giant kronos frame that i was planning on doing a wheel build for using an eccentric hub. it'll be equal or cheaper to just get that 2011 schwinn.