converting to fixie

[Santaria]

Don't convert that bike into anything. Ride it for what it is. I'm going to wager that you ordered something without really doing the research and knew all along that, after you got it, you were riding a woman-specific model. It's cool. Move on.

As far as making a modification that is dangerous and stupid, please don't.

I also encourage you not to purchase online unless your dealing with a smaller shop where you have personally been in contact with a sales representative, owner or builder who can work with you to get you what you want. Do not just wander into a random LBS and tell them "I want a fixie." This mindset and the idea that its better than sending him to bikesdirect is not beneficial to him or the riding community.

Please, OP. Read the newbie threads here for your information. Spend a little time doing some research, ask questions and be prepared to take a little heat for being a newb. We all were there once, everybody has been hazed mildly here and in real life in some form. Not everything is bullying and mollycoddling has already failed.

Good luck.

[Doohickie]

I almost find it derogatory. Racial slurs for bikes man.

It's a bike, it's not a protected class.










EDIT: fixie!

[Santaria]

It's a bike, it's not a protected class.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it would appear if someone said "that's offensive to me" and the number of people that say that is more than 1, it's probably easier to just let it go than create unnecessary drama.

This isn't about bullying Nag honestly. It's about a girlie bike that wants to grow up and be a fixed gear bike because it "looks cool." Stay focused!







EDIT: fixie![/QUOTE]

[broakland]

I just googled "girl fixie" and those chics are not riding step-through frames.

[IvyCap]

Fixie fixie fixie FIXIE

What's the big deal? Lots of people call them fixies and you know exactly what it means, right? So what's the issue?

To each his own. I so happen to shake my head when i hear that word. We might as well call Track Cycling, super expensive fixie racing. and Chris Hoy is the most awesomest fixie racer. Chill and have a brew

[Doohickie]

Chill and have a brew

Full agreement there.

[Santaria]

Full agreement there.

Here here!

[highonpez]

the op clearly does not know anything about bikes & yet you recommend that he buy another mail order bike? from the same parent company that shafted him by sending a female bike that is not shown in the listing? the bike he got is the traffic 5.0 gtw, which is the wsd version of traffic 5.0.

That is true. The ladies version isn't even on that site. It's time to find out if they actually have any customer service representatives.

[k21rr]

i cant return it cus i already took some parts off. That website is bs... imma try to sell it and get a new one..

[Onyxaxe]

Oh ****, i just realized it... i got ripped off then. This is why people've been telling me not to trust ghetto websites... i knew my toptube was too low but didnt know it was lower than the one online. i just complained to the website, but i doubt they'll do anything about it...

You didn't get ripped off. You blindly bought a bike with no research. To blame the site because you bought a girls singlespeed expecting it to be a "cool" fixie is just slander.

[Spoonrobot]

He may have. The bike he linked to does not mention it's a ladies bike and the picture is very obviously a gentleman's model.

Here's the ladies version, note it is visually different than what he linked to on the Bike Shop Warehouse site.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GT-Traffic...-/380402623567

I'd put the parts back on and send it back. You did not get what you paid for.

[Santaria]

I think something is rotten in Denmark.

[k21rr]

He may have. The bike he linked to does not mention it's a ladies bike and the picture is very obviously a gentleman's model.

Here's the ladies version, note it is visually different than what he linked to on the Bike Shop Warehouse site.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GT-Traffic...-/380402623567

I'd put the parts back on and send it back. You did not get what you paid for.

The fact is that I threw away those parts...

[prooftheory]

ouch

[broakland]

The fact is that I threw away those parts...

I don't blame you - everytime I take delivery of a BikesDirect chariot of fire: I throw away tons of parts. Chainguards, reflectors, brakes, cables, instruction manuals, seat, drops and pedals all go straight to the trash. However you did not do you research and thus now you will take a loss on your step-through chariot of fire

[Poguemahone]

I don't blame you - everytime I take delivery of a BikesDirect chariot of fire: I throw away tons of parts. Chainguards, reflectors, brakes, cables, instruction manuals, seat, drops and pedals all go straight to the trash. However you did not do you research and thus now you will take a loss on your step-through chariot of fire

Yep. I would not recommend bikesdirect to someone without either very good bike mechanic skills or access to a very good mechanic. The one I got had no grease anywhere, even in the bearings, and an overtightened headset and front hub, and a ton of craptacular parts, including some truly awful and potentially dangerous brake levers. I tore the thing apart and completely rebuilt it. It could be ridden after a quick assembly out of the box, but disaster would have eventually struck.

On the other hand, I would not recommend most of my LBSs to someone without either very good bike mechanic skills or access to such. I've seen how they put together bikes, and it would make Walmart proud. I think they likely come in the box "assembled" like a bikes direct bike and someone takes an allen wench to them, adjusts the brakes and pumps up the tires, and wheels them out onto the floor.

[Wendell F]

If you do decide to sell it, DO NOT RIDE IT. Take a spill on a quick little ride to the store and there goes your resale value. I won't bore you with details but I know this from experience.

Put it on CL, do your research and accept that you're gonna lose a little ride time until you get your new bike.

[Onyxaxe]

He may have. The bike he linked to does not mention it's a ladies bike and the picture is very obviously a gentleman's model.

Here's the ladies version, note it is visually different than what he linked to on the Bike Shop Warehouse site.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GT-Traffic...-/380402623567

I'd put the parts back on and send it back. You did not get what you paid for.

You know what, you're right. My blunder. They sent him a different model than pictured. The fact they didn't issue a replacement or anything is making me doubt this site's ethics.

[LesterOfPuppets]

I roll a girls bike currently. Used to have a sweet 1977 Schwinn Breeze girls bike too. NBD.


2011-12-17_16-09-38_507.jpg by Lester Of Puppets, on Flickr

[4rcticFlowers]

IMO, if you can't return this bike, you should grab a cheap fixed gear rear wheel, cog, and lockring, get someone qualified to install it for you, and ride this bike as a fixed gear beater. That way you can see if you like riding fixed gear and build up your riding skills. I would also take the opportunity to learn some bike mechanical skills.

As it is, if you sell it on Craigslist, it's going to be largely a write-off, since it's now used and has had some parts changed around.

Then, when you've reached a point where this bike no longer serves your needs and you have some money saved up, you can get a new, better ride and have less chance of messing it up with some kind of newb mistake.

I wouldn't worry too much about it being a women's style frame. I see men on step-through frames pretty often. Your average city commuter or DUI rider (90% of bike traffic, in other words) won't have a clue and won't be judging your frame, and as for the bike elitists, they'll always have something to judge you about. Just own it and have fun.

[Onyxaxe]

IMO, if you can't return this bike, you should grab a cheap fixed gear rear wheel, cog, and lockring, get someone qualified to install it for you, and ride this bike as a fixed gear beater. That way you can see if you like riding fixed gear and build up your riding skills. I would also take the opportunity to learn some bike mechanical skills.

As it is, if you sell it on Craigslist, it's going to be largely a write-off, since it's now used and has had some parts changed around.

Then, when you've reached a point where this bike no longer serves your needs and you have some money saved up, you can get a new, better ride and have less chance of messing it up with some kind of newb mistake.

I wouldn't worry too much about it being a women's style frame. I see men on step-through frames pretty often. Your average city commuter or DUI rider (90% of bike traffic, in other words) won't have a clue and won't be judging your frame, and as for the bike elitists, they'll always have something to judge you about. Just own it and have fun.

This is good advice. The only thing I can say is to check the dropouts on the back to make sure they're horizontal, with it being a singlespeed they could have cruiser style dropouts which some people swear against. They say it makes it hard to adjust chain tension. It might not matter but it's something to look into.

[Spoonrobot]

Pro-tip: Any unused or unwanted bike parts go in the parts bin for potential future use or donation. Not in the trash.

[nuhtowel]

give it to your girlfriend, buy a new bike for yourself.

[IvyCap]

give it to your girlfriend, buy a new bike for yourself.

Maybe he doesn't have one......
kelso-burn-240x180.jpg

[loveandhate]

My neighbor has the mens version of this bike and likes it alot. Looks good on the street too. You should get them to replace the bike with the mens version since it's their mistake.

However, It's not as sleek as the fixed gear road bikes and conversions that you'll see posted on this board or that I see around town so if that's what you're looking for I think you may be shyt out of luck with this one.