advice for purchasing a fixed gear
#1
n00bilicious
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advice for purchasing a fixed gear
i already have a road bike that i love, but i want a simple fixie strictly for fun, nothing over the top fancy or expensive or something i'm going have to worry about constantly if i leave it locked up outside. something a chick can ride without looking like a wonky fool either. any advice or suggestions about brands, models, etc. would be great!
#4
meh
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Lots of good bikes out there. I got a Cayne Uno and I really like it. If I'd been willing to spend more money, it would have been a Surley Steamroller, or a Masi Speciale, or a Bianchi San Jose. Probably the Steamroller.
#5
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id say be confident that you want a fixed before you actually commit to buy one. make sure youre confident riding one in traffic and also your girl is too if you want her riding it. a front brake perhaps till youre good. A rear hub threaded for a flip flop in case you ever want to run single speed. If you said you dont want to worry about it being locked up or stolen, I wouldnt invest a few hundred in a brand new one either. Convert an old frame
#7
meh
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Front brake until you're good? Front brake AFTER you're good, too. There's nothing cool about getting killed, and that front brake may mean the difference between a wrecked bike and a not-wrecked one even if you ARE good. And if you use a flip-flop hub, get a back break too.
#8
Ths Hipstr Kills Masheenz
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run brakes always on the street for serious riding. i put my brake on if i'm biking in traffic, if not both of them.
#9
Harbinger
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but yeah, on the not too expensive but good quality front.
kilo tt from bikesdirect.com is the cheapest quality option.
IRO irocycle.com is probably 2nd on the list with a slightly higher pricetag and a higher quality option.
otherwise any major manufacturer has a complete entry level bike somewhere in the +/- $600 range
#11
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I've found that it is now fashionable for most major bike companies to have at least one fixed/ss bike in their 2008 lineup. Most have a flip-flop hub so you can decide whether you want run it fixed or ss depending on your mood/confidence/ability. I have seen a Schwinn Madison, Bianchi Pista, Kona Paddy Wagon, and I know there are heaps more by Cannondale, Masi, Trek, Fuji, KHS, Salsa etc.
I toyed with the idea of building from scratch but unless you already have a good frame with horiz. dropouts or lots of spare parts it would be much easier to order a complete bike.
I toyed with the idea of building from scratch but unless you already have a good frame with horiz. dropouts or lots of spare parts it would be much easier to order a complete bike.