Well I got my first solid ride in with my New York Taxi themed Langster. I am truly enjoying this bike! I did an out and back from downtown to the beach and back up through GG Park with a modest amount of climbing on some of the hills. My legs were still pretty shot from a weekend on Tam so I skipped the Legion of Honor climb.

The Langster come with the option for running in the fixed or freewheel mode. I’ll simplify the explanations’ for those who don’t have the gear head knowledge…Like me. The back wheel can be flipped or turned around so that one side is fixed (keep pedaling) and the other side is freewheel (backpedal/coast). I really like this option, especially on long rides or shooting down hills a plus 35 mph. I’m not at brave as some who like it in the pedal mode. My knees are in disagreement with that setting and I’m not comfortable with it in the city in that mode.

This bike has personality. I feel like the bike and I are very compatible. With a couple of small tweaks it has become the most comfortable bike I’ve ever owned. It is probably due to the compact geometry. My top end size is 60 cm, but this frame is a 61 and it feels perfect. I switched out the 110 mm stem for a shorter stem and flipped it (down). The bike comes with a very compact messenger bar. I switched it for bull horns. I’ve never used bull horns, but man Ramon was right, they are great for climbing! I feel like I’m on one of those goofy cross country ski machines at the gym. It’s giving me a well needed arm and shoulder workout. I have those Olive Oil stick arms and can’t seem to build muscle. I got home feeling like I had been working out on the Nautilus all day.

The no hands tracking on this machine is fantastic. Again probably due to the compact frame, and precise factory tube alignment. The ride is a little bit lively compared to my other bikes and she lets you know what kind of pavement you’re going over. The bars really absorb a lot of shock though. I tend to like peppy, nimble bikes and this is the perfect ride for me. I’m a big fan of aluminum…Call me crazy! I’m very relaxed and have a perfect balance of pressure on my butt and hands. No numbness (on any appendages) after 20 miles.

The 42X16 is a little tough on the city hills, but I’ll stick with. It will build up my strength. I have a naturally very high cadence (100 to 110) so the bike tops out on me at about 23 mph which is a nice pace line speed.

Specialized did a great job on the design and the paint is striking. I get a lot of looks from the local MILF’s! Nice! Bling and Pose factor is 10.
Seat feels great! I run all my bikes with Fizik Alliantes. The stock Specialized saddle is awesome and comparable to mine. Black and Yellow too.

I upgraded the brake levers to Cane Creek TT 200. Calipers are a little messy. The front tends to pick up grit for some reason. Hey…who needs brakes, they only slow you down anyway.

I love this bike, although the London, Vegas were stunning…but New York, with taxi theme? Fugetaboudit!
My goal next year is to ride it for the Davis double, unless I get a chance to stoke a tandem with someone...(hello? anyone?..can I canI?} Also to do the Aids ride to L.A. Seriously!

• Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum frame, fully manipulated tubing, compact design, integrated headset
• Specialized carbon fork, carbon fiber legs, aluminum steerer
• Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum flat bar, 400mm width
• Specialized Sport stem, 3D forged alloy stem and Specialized Comp, 6061 alloy
• Avid FR-5 brake levers
• Shimano 16t freewheel plus 16t fixed gear cog
• 42T CNC Zen Messenger chainring
FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum, fully manipulated tubing, compact design, integrated headset

REAR SHOCK N/A

FORK Specialized carbon fork, carbon fiber legs, aluminum steerer

HEADSET Specialized Mindset, 1 1/8" integrated threadless, sealed bearings, alloy 20mm cone w/ one 10mm and two 5mm alloy spacers

STEM Specialized Sport, 3D forged alloy, 31.8mm split clamp, 7 degree

HANDLEBARS

TAPE/GRIPS Body Geometry Bar Phat, cork ribbon w/ 2.5mm gel padding

FRONT BRAKE Dual pivot, forged alloy w/ cartridge multi-condition pads

REAR BRAKE Dual pivot, forged alloy w/ cartridge multi-condition pads

BRAKE LEVERS Tektro short reach for drop bars

FRONT DERAILLEUR N/A

REAR DERAILLEUR N/A

SHIFT LEVERS N/A

CASSETTE FREEWHEEL Shimano 16t freewheel plus 16t fixed gear cog

CHAIN KMC Z-510HX

CRANKSET Sugino Comp, five arm, polished arms

CHAINRINGS 42T CNC Zen Messenger

BOTTOM BRACKET Sport cartridge, square taper, 68 x 103mm

PEDALS

RIMS Alex R500, 700c, alloy double wall, machined sidewalls

FRONT HUB Specialized forged alloy, 32 hole, double sealed w/ chrome track nuts

REAR HUB Specialized, 32 hole, forged alloy, double sealed w/ chrome track nuts

SPOKES Stainless 14g

FRONT TIRE Specialized Mondo Sport, 700x23c, wire bead, 60TPI

REAR TIRE Specialized Mondo Sport, 700x23c, wire bead, 60TPI

TUBES Specialized standard presta tube

SADDLE Specialized Comp Road, full padding

SEAT POST Specialized carbon fiber wrapped, 27.2mm

SEAT BINDER Specialized CNC, alloy, 31.8mm clamp

NOTES Chain stay protector, clear coat, owners manual

I love the taxi. I want.

Nice review!

Hate to be ignorant, but what's a MILF?

JB

Mom I'd Like to ****.

Mother with whom I wish to make whoopy

Something that becomes important to you when you start to become invisible to 20 something ladies...wink wink

I was at my speacialized concept store getting new bg footbeds for my tired dogs. While I was browsing I checked out the City Langsters. They're all a lot of fun. Boston is the one closest to my personality/ride style, but alas, I'm still wayyyyyyy too boring to get one.

Oh! I've obviously had a sheltered childhood.

JB

I've been commuting on my Langster for over a year. It really is a fun little bike. Mine was before the whole city affiliation versions but has a really nice brushed aluminum look. It's the one bike in my house that I think I'll be holding on to for a VERY long time.

FRONT TIRE Specialized Mondo Sport, 700x23c, wire bead, 60TPI

REAR TIRE Specialized Mondo Sport, 700x23c, wire bead, 60TPI

Can you put fatter tires on it? I was thinking of the Seattle version as a winter commuter.

Picts?

Are you thinking 32's? I'd have to measure. I think you'd like the ride too...You're alumium tuned

AL fo' life

Yeah, 32's. There are a couple places in my commute where it would be convenient to jump off curbs or cut through some gravelly areas and I want that extra cush and traction.

If you have some wheels with 32's mounted, check to see if they'll fit in this bike - the interference would likely be under the brake bridge or maybe between the chain stays.


Unsolicited Klein porn below:

Pete, Pics?

I saw your bike at Kinectics in Elk Grove this past weekend.
Love the yellow chain!

Man...I had to lay back and smoke a cigg after that Pict

You're not in front of GGB... What gives? You're mooning Oakland aren't you?

I am guessing this is when he escorted the rest of the BF'ers from Sunday's ride down to Embarcadero BART.

I wish Kinetic didn't put that big sticker on the top tube :\

Only original parts are:
1) Cranks/Bottom Bracket
2) Handlebars (I switch between bullhorns and drop bars)
3)Stem and seatpost

Specs:
Shimano 6600 brake levers
Ultegra calipers
Deep V wheelset laced to a formula hub (The rear one is my first wheel build)
Toupe saddle
MKS pedals/straps
White Industries freewheel


Even though Single speed/fixed gear bikes are supposed to be cheap, I've put waaaay too much money into it than I had intentionally planned.

That's kind of nuts, but hey, if anyone can do it, it's you, for sure.

Glad you're liking the bike. I see you've learned your lesson about brakes. Even so, you might find yourself using them less and less as you get used to a new style of riding (I find I use my brake about once or twice a month these days). Or maybe not!

So when's the Bikeforums Northern California Fixed Gear Ride Slash Trackstand Competition?

You definitely need this jersey to go with the bike:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Mens-Med-Louis-G...QQcmdZViewItem

Oh yeah!

Sweet. Done a few doubles on my fix, and I did AIDS/Lifecycle on it with my GF in '07. Big time fun.

Strongly advise you to try Solvang DC first on the fix (before Davis). If you do Davis, get a wheel with a fix/fix hub and have a big cog on the flip side for that blasted climb up Cobb Mtn. Srsly. Two posturing fixie riders I saw there this year (Davis) didn't go up Cobb... they snuck away and went the old way up Big Canyon (still a climb, but not nearly one that Cobb is).