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first fixie advice

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first fixie advice

Old 02-06-06, 09:40 PM
  #26  
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my mercier didnt come with a brake

as for golden_graham, you NEED to go back to the e-brake thread with all of that
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Old 02-06-06, 10:30 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by jacobpriest
Alot of old posts talked about how the components were crap and that hubs and cranks were breaking pretty fast. Do they just have ways of screwing people out of the lifetime warrenties that are suppose to be on these frames and components?
If you are referring to the Bianchi Pista, its not popular here, but it got me into fixed riding at a reasonable price---no major probems after 7 months, althogh I am slowling upgrading various parts.
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Old 02-06-06, 10:42 PM
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Golden Graham...I hate you. You cocky, prententous, ass. Take that buy a brake or else crap somewhere else. I'm so tired of every other thread devolving into brake vs no brake issue. Maybe there should be a sticky about this so I don't get pissed off everytime I open up a thread by a newbie who's buying his first bike.
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Old 02-06-06, 10:50 PM
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As with any other bike purchase--test ride, test ride, test ride

everyone here has their own preference--find what works for you.

To clarify my earlier post, all of my upgrades on my pista (except the saddle) have been purely from choice--i dont get all this "dont get a prebuilt entry level fixed cause you'll have to upgrade anything" stuff. The only exception to this (in my experince) is the Langster--my buddy got one and has had various parts crap out on him. Then again, he also uses his ride as an urban assault bike and kinda invites some of it, given the punishment he dishes out to the bike.
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Old 02-07-06, 12:57 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by worker4youth
IMO, out of those 3, I'd get the Mercier. It's the best for the value, out of the three. I have one, and it rides great.
+1. I picked one up slightly used a few weeks ago, and it's been a blast. The finish is surprisingly nice, and the frame feels bombproof. I did pick up a replacement wheelset from benscycle.net (the hubs on the stock wheelset on mine didn't roll too smoothly at all, but I'm sure this varies).

Otherwise everything is stock and the bike is more than ample as an entry-level fixie. If you aren't sure what you want yet, you can't really lose with the Mercier.
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Old 02-07-06, 02:09 AM
  #31  
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How about craigslist for a decent used bike with upgraded parts already on it?
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Old 02-07-06, 02:35 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by skanking biker
If you are referring to the Bianchi Pista, its not popular here, but it got me into fixed riding at a reasonable price---no major probems after 7 months, althogh I am slowling upgrading various parts.

it's a decent frame, you just need some decent parts on it is all. i think it's unpopular because off the shelf bikes aren't set up with great parts, and yes, 550 for a new pista isn't something i'd pay. i would have at one point, but knowing what i do now, i'm glad i didn't.

i still advocate an inexpensive track frame like the pista (cuz it's actually a track frame and not too heavy). then add better parts than you'd get at the store, and for the same or a similar price, you'll be good to go.

that or the mercier, i've heard lots of good about that.
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Old 02-07-06, 02:39 AM
  #33  
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I bought my perfect condition Dave Man Scott for $25!!!! wooooooo i still cant believe i got it for that price.
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Old 02-07-06, 02:54 AM
  #34  
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it's a great deal for a first fixie at $347. it seems others have bought it and had good luck with it. that said, the fact that the seller is able to unload it at less than half of the retail doesn't sit well with me. all of those exclamation points and fonts don't either.

however, i suspect those Joy Tech caged bearing hubs are going to require a decent amount of maintenance to keep them rolling smoothly, nevermind to keep them from disintegrating from street use.

i guess if the probability that you'll have to replace the wheels is high, you should consider that you can get an IRO complete for a little over $500 during the current sale. replacing the wheels on the mercier is going to cost you more than $150.
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Old 02-07-06, 03:11 AM
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sers is probably my fav character on this forum.
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Old 02-07-06, 03:46 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by rvabiker
Golden Graham...I hate you. You cocky, prententous, ass. Take that buy a brake or else crap somewhere else. I'm so tired of every other thread devolving into brake vs no brake issue. Maybe there should be a sticky about this so I don't get pissed off everytime I open up a thread by a newbie who's buying his first bike.
fyi there is a difference between first bike and first fixie. esp when on a tight budget.

thanks for the help guys. i am gonna look around for a mercier to ride and i might get the one thats on ebay from austin right now (not bikes direct) if it stays under 325.
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