Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Looking for a best cheap fixed gear

I just recently had my bike stolen, but it wasn't a big deal because it was fairly cheap (walmart). Now I am looking to get a good college fixie road bike, but I am trying to limit my price range to $300 or less. Does anyone know any good fixie bikes in that price range? I'm just trying to find the BEST in only that price range. Maybe some pros and cons of some good ones too.

How tall are you?

If you're short: http://charleston.craigslist.org/bik/3167499692.html

If you're tall: http://charleston.craigslist.org/bik/3222513394.html

If you're tall but not quite as tall, have some patience, time, and money: http://charleston.craigslist.org/bik/3103724497.html

And then get a sturdy U-lock.

The best one has no cons. Just pros. All of the pros add up to make it the best. Kilo TT.

The best one has no cons. ... Kilo TT.

Cons include 1" threadless headset and odd seatpost size

Cons include 1" threadless headset and odd seatpost size

Don't forget the inconsistent tire clearance.

Another con is that it is not in stock in very many sizes and is not in the OPs price range...

This: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/track.htm

Or this:http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm

Or this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm

You get the idea. A con to any of those bikes is that there is assembly required, and if you are not familiar with any of it you have to include the potential cost of assembly at an LBS.

Fellas, come on, how about you suggest a best cheap fixed gear. College fixie road bike.

Dawes SST. It's the best. No doubt.

Thruster Fi--oh wait.

Cons include 1" threadless headset and odd seatpost size
+1

Cons include 1" threadless headset and odd seatpost size

Does it matter? shims are sold for the stem, and Thomson makes a 26.8.

done and done.

Fewer options.

Fewer options.

wait..... who else makes seatposts?

I am relatively new to single speed riding and wanted something inexpensive to try out. I got me an SE Draft. Its certainly not the lightest thing on the market, but it has a strong steel frame to withstand the beatings it might take around town. With a little thought and even little-er money, I chopped an old set of flat MTB bars to give me a more slender profile while zipping through cars and people on campus. I also added some toe clips and I have a fun little ride.

Now that I know I love SS, I am going to build me a Leader 735, or a Bianchi Pista. But for the money, the SE Draft does what I need.

wait..... who else makes seatposts?

Ha?

Ha?

Phil Schwartz

I am about 5' 10'' and my new price range is about $250. I am not too demanding since my last bike was a $100 Wal-Mart bike and I had so much fun on it. I am just looking for the absolute best fixie in that price range. Sorry for dropping the range, the bikes you all suggested me looked and sounded amazing.
I think I might have found one that will suit me, but I would like everyone's opinion on it. http://www.roadbikeoutlet.com/fixed-gear-single-speed-track-bike.html It got good reviews, and i'm not too pushy in the quality, so does this one look good? It's just generic, it's a pretty good seller, and like i said, i'm not too demanding. Will the fact that it's not Chromoly really effect this bike? Does the weight seem reasonable for a fixie (if you can find the weight on that site)? I am aware that I will have to do some customizing and repairing for any fixie I buy in this price range, so tell me what you know.

Phil Schwartz

Yes!

First, $250 is not a range, it's a max.

That bike has all the parts that's for sure.

Sorry, I meant to say max. I was in a rush to type that response because i had class a few minutes later.

Anyway, I am a regular college kid on a budget so that is about the most I can spend. I just need to know if that bike is at least decent, or has potential.

The Dawes SST Steel is $249 on BD. That's about the only "new" bike I know of that fits the bill.

Has anyone in this thread seen Premium Rush?

Cons include 1" threadless headset and odd seatpost size

Don't forget the inconsistent tire clearance.

what about hubs that readily strip?

what about hubs that readily strip?

"Problems" that typically occur due to user error don't really count.

:p weren't there a few threads recently of people stripping hubs because they werent properly tightening their lock ring and going on a skidfest?

"Problems" that typically occur due to user error don't really count.
Afaik merrier rims come from bike direct with the fixed cogs already applied, do they not?

I always feel so dour riding my bike. A merrier bike is just what I need!

Afaik merrier rims come from bike direct with the fixed cogs already applied, do they not?

Am I wrong to assume you can read?


NOTE: PLEASE TIGHTEN YOUR LOCKRINGS, CRANKS, PEDALS ETC BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY RIDE. Stripped threads, cranks, pedals etc are due to those parts not being tightened enough by the rider and are not covered by warranty

It's not exactly necessary to check these things after every single time you ride your bike but if you don't properly tighten your cog and lockring before riding any bike fresh out of the box, that's your problem.

Am I wrong to assume you can read?



It's not exactly necessary to check these things after every single time you ride your bike but if you don't properly tighten your cog and lockring before riding any bike fresh out of the box, that's your problem.

Dont own a mercier, so it's not my problem. Just a gripe I hear rather often.

Am I wrong to assume you can read?


http://i.imgur.com/foYqF.gif

Dont own a mercier, so it's not my problem. Just a gripe I hear rather often.

Thanks for sharing.

Dont know what i'm talking about, i'm just talking.

fixed.

fixed.
LOL! I understand that you consider yourself to be the supreme authority on everything. I know that you're a mod, and I know that you work for a bike shop. That's cool man. Does it make you feel good to be overbearing and continually have to be right? Your e-peen must be huge, about 17,445inches, I guess. ;)

LOL! I understand that you consider yourself to be the supreme authority on everything. I know that you're a mod, and I know that you work for a bike shop. That's cool man. Does it make you feel good to be overbearing and continually have to be right? Your e-peen must be huge, about 17,445inches, I guess. ;)
I'll try to save you a little grief, Scrod does indeed know wtf he is talking about, and he is indeed snarky from having to deal with all the sw8 fixay and other stupidity all the time.. so lighten up man.

Why do you say that - because I called you out for talking about something you have absolutely no experience with like you know all about it?

I'm not trying to be an "authority" on anything, I just don't particularly like bull****.

What are you talking about? Are you seriously saying that "quote often" people are griping to you that


merrier rims come from bike direct with the fixed cogs already applied?

Who are all these people who are griping to you quite often?

(BTW, AFAIK rims do not have cogs, which might influence our opinion of the gripers. Or of you.)

What are you talking about? Are you seriously saying that "quote often" people are griping to you that

?

Who are all these people who are griping to you quite often?

(BTW, AFAIK rims do not have cogs, which might influence our opinion of the gripers. Or of you.)
This rim is a cog. :P

http://weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/spokeless-bicycle-1.jpg

Why do you say that - because I called you out for talking about something you have absolutely no experience with like you know all about it?

I'm not trying to be an "authority" on anything, I just don't particularly like bull****.

Personal experience, no. 3 friends having the same issue though should be good enough.

As I said, user error. It's certainly not my fault your friends don't know how to tighten a cog and lockring before riding.

Personal experience, no. 3 friends having the same issue though should be good enough.

Ahem.


"Problems" that typically occur due to user error don't really count.

I'll try to save you a little grief, Scrod does indeed know wtf he is talking about, and he is indeed snarky from having to deal with all the sw8 fixay and other stupidity all the time.. so lighten up man.

Understood. I live in LA where the "fixie" craze is alive and well. It continues to be a surging community. Lots of knuckleheads and idiots, lots of people genuinely interested. It's a mixed bag. Rides here like critical mass have swelled to 2000 people, sometimes more over the course of a few months. CRANKMOB has been infiltrated by people who have no business on the ride.

The "scene," if you want to call it that, is what it is. There's people doing it to be cool, people doing it because they think its what cool is, poseurs, people who live for the ride, the diehard fanatics, and everyone in between. Can I understand him getting snarky sometimes? Sure. I think everyone does. A lot of it likely stems from stupid questions and people not searching. I get it, I do. I've read his threads, I've seen his posts, I know he knows what he's talking about. I'd wager to say that 85-90% of the people on here know what they're talking about.

As I said, user error. It's certainly not my fault your friends don't know how to tighten a cog and lockring before riding.
In all fairness, how many people buying bikes from bikesdirect are tightening, lubing, and making sure components are installed correctly? The bikes come 90% assembled. I doubt many people are truing their wheels, or lubing their cogs or anything like that. How many of these "fixie" kids do you expect to own a lockring tool or a chain whip? Are they taking their bikes to a co-op or a lbs to get it all inspected before they ride? Unlikely. Let's be real here.

Ahem.

Yes. It looks like I glazed over that and missed it.

EDIT: Nope. I read it and responded. But I didn't really stop to consider what he wrote.

In all fairness, how many people buying bikes from bikesdirect are tightening, lubing, and making sure components are installed correctly? The bikes come 90% assembled. I doubt many people are truing their wheels, or lubing their cogs or anything like that. How many of these "fixie" kids do you expect to own a lockring tool or a chain whip? Are they taking their bikes to a co-op or a lbs to get it all inspected before they ride? Unlikely. Let's be real here.

That's the problem with these bikes and partly why they are so cheap.

That's the problem with these bikes and partly why they are so cheap.

I'm confident I've seen you at Bikerowave.
In all of my Bikerowave time, do you know how many merciers or bikesdirect bikes come in for a build or a look over? 0. But I've seen plenty of kids bring in their back wheel with a stripped hub.

I'm confident I've seen you at Bikerowave.
In all of my Bikerowave time, do you know how many merciers or bikesdirect bikes come in for a build or a look over? 0. But I've seen plenty of kids bring in their back wheel with a stripped hub.

So, as Scrod said,and you just said, this stems from user error, and not a ****ty hub.

I need to take your shovel away.

I am there all the time. Do I know you?


Yes, very few come in with the boxed bike while many come in to fix all the issues that sprang up after their home assembly. User error

edit because I have reading problems.

...plenty of kids bring in their back wheel with a stripped hub.

Because, as you say, the "hubs... readily strip?"

I am there all the time. Do I know you?


Yes, very few come in with the boxed bike while many come in to fix all the issues that sprang up after their home assembly. User error
You might know me. Not sure.

In all fairness, how many people buying bikes from bikesdirect are tightening, lubing, and making sure components are installed correctly? The bikes come 90% assembled. I doubt many people are truing their wheels, or lubing their cogs or anything like that. How many of these "fixie" kids do you expect to own a lockring tool or a chain whip? Are they taking their bikes to a co-op or a lbs to get it all inspected before they ride? Unlikely. Let's be real here.

So... illiteracy is a problem with BD bikes?