Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Grand to throw on an SS

Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Grand to throw on an SS

Old 12-04-07, 09:44 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Grand to throw on an SS

Any ideas? I'm sold on SS, and am looking for something fun and versatile in the $1,000 range. Surly? I dunno. Am I wasting this much money on one? Need to take potholes in my stride, no joke....

sm
sminnes is offline  
Old 12-04-07, 09:49 PM
  #2  
.
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 156
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
A grand? If you're savvy you could build up a single speed for less than that easily. Actually, i would argue that you don't even need to be savvy. Some on here will probably disagree with me though.

surly is pretty legit and the steam roller comes well recommended.
S.Lemon is offline  
Old 12-04-07, 10:00 PM
  #3  
monster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 756
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
You can alot of bike for a grand. If you want to be versatile look into the surly cross check or the new pake c'mute frame.
monsterkidz is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 12:50 AM
  #4  
or tarckeemoon, depending
 
marqueemoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the pesto of cities
Posts: 7,020

Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Are we talking road or MTB singlespeed?
marqueemoon is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 07:11 AM
  #5  
jack of one or two trades
 
Aeroplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Suburbia, CT
Posts: 5,640

Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by marqueemoon
Are we talking road or MTB singlespeed?
This should have been the first reply.
Aeroplane is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 09:44 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 642

Bikes: 2015 Rivendell Clementine, 2019 Rivendell Clem Smith jr, 1988 Mikado DeGasep, Custom Marino SSFGMTB, Marinoni Track, In Progres Clive Stuart

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 5 Posts
I think surly karate monkeys are the most "versatile". You can run them kind of "roadish" or "tourish" or "cyclocrossish" or "mountainbikeish".

If I could only own one bike. I'd definitely keep the KM.
sprintcarblue is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 11:41 AM
  #7  
Lurker for Life
 
yonderboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
A Grand Throw?

yonderboy is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 12:07 PM
  #8  
slot machine
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Richmond, Va
Posts: 482

Bikes: fuji and a Meteor

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Why not SPEND money on a single speed? I just don't see what throwing money on one will acomplish.
icknayvon is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 12:14 PM
  #9  
spin
 
The LT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 1,170

Bikes: raleigh m-60, azonic steelhead, schwinn world sport fixed gear

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
there are a ton of options for prebuilt singlespeeds out there but you have to decide what you want(road, cx, 29er, 26" mtb)

if it were me I would get a redline flight monocog and switch the handlebars for dirtdrops and switch out to the new tektro v brake drop levers
The LT is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 12:28 PM
  #10  
Still a Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 22

Bikes: Univega, converted to fixed. Recently stolen.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Or do you actually want a track bike, but don't want to bother learning the nuances of riding fixed gear?
falsemoniker is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 02:17 PM
  #11  
jack of one or two trades
 
Aeroplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Suburbia, CT
Posts: 5,640

Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by falsemoniker
nuances of riding fixed gear?
lolz (I hope you are joking).
Aeroplane is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 02:30 PM
  #12  
Banned.
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: philly
Posts: 994
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
No way, man! The nuances are the best part!
skinnyland is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 07:15 PM
  #13  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aeroplane
This should have been the first reply.
Fair point. I need something for round town, which means dealing with awful surfaces, large potholes, the odd drop off a curb and some off-road. I've looked at the cross-check, and wondered whether it was robust enough. I guess so. I have struggled with road bikes in the past because of the posture (hand pain, wrist pain, neck pain), but that could well be the fit. Do I lose so much speed and agility on a 29 MTB (say KM) that the comfort isn't worth it?
sminnes is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 07:37 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
yellowjeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 3,271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by sminnes
Do I lose so much speed and agility on a 29 MTB (say KM) that the comfort isn't worth it?
No. Espeacially with the KM. Throw some Big Apple 29er tires on ther and you have slick tread and a big fat comfy tire.
yellowjeep is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 07:38 PM
  #15  
505
 
snafs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 181

Bikes: Felt F80, Jamis Sputnik, S&M Dirkbike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Buy a cheaper bike (or better yet score get a free one) then put glue on the frame and throw the rest of the money on it until it all sticks.

There you go $1000 bike.
snafs is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 09:28 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 642

Bikes: 2015 Rivendell Clementine, 2019 Rivendell Clem Smith jr, 1988 Mikado DeGasep, Custom Marino SSFGMTB, Marinoni Track, In Progres Clive Stuart

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by sminnes
I have struggled with road bikes in the past because of the posture (hand pain, wrist pain, neck pain), but that could well be the fit. Do I lose so much speed and agility on a 29 MTB (say KM) that the comfort isn't worth it?
My karate monkey fits in a nice semi upright position. It definitely does not lack speed or agility. Tires have a lot to do with handling, but even with 2.3 exiwolfs it is plenty nimble. I pop up and down curbs, through grassy off-road areas and through a good 6 inches of snow. I ride it a lot on the road, and I can keep up with almost everyone with a single speed road bike around here. A comfortable bike is a fun bike.

for $1000 you could pick up something really nice. At a local shop in Minneapolis they have https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/bik/482294163.html
sprintcarblue is offline  
Old 12-05-07, 09:51 PM
  #17  
. . .
 
bonelesschicken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: South Korea
Posts: 461
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
A huge +1 on the karate monkey. I've had mine for a month and a half and buying it was a great decision. Mine is geared but it could still be a badass single speed. I ride it on everything from congested urban streets and hilly mountain roads to single track and fire roads. I havent quite found the perfect tire to do all of it but I've yet to try out cyclocross tires. I built it with On One midge drops with road levers and I really love this setup. The only thing that sucks about the bike is taking the rear wheel off. The Karate Monkey has rear facing dropouts and I am running disc brakes so I have to loosen the brake to pull the wheel out. You can run cantis or V's though and you won't have this problem. Hope this is helpfull.
bonelesschicken is offline  
Old 12-06-07, 01:49 PM
  #18  
Perineal Pressurized
 
dobber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: In Ebritated
Posts: 6,555
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
__________________
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
dobber is offline  
Old 12-06-07, 09:50 PM
  #19  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That's all great, particularly the picture of the big fat cat. I'll give the KM a go, particularly as the money won't come round again, and I might need the versatility. Beyond Apple 29ers, any suggestions on parts? I have a tentative relationship with new LBS after Katrina, not wholly sure on them.
Cheers
sm
sminnes is offline  
Old 12-07-07, 02:43 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
yellowjeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 3,271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
$465 KM frameset. In sexy blue

$560 for entire build kit.

Total cost $1025.
yellowjeep is offline  
Old 12-07-07, 02:48 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
yellowjeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 3,271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Have the head set installed at LBS. 20ish bucks
$35 basic tool kit. (i have this and it is pretty decent) Build the rest yourself.
yellowjeep is offline  
Old 12-07-07, 08:05 AM
  #22  
jack of one or two trades
 
Aeroplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Suburbia, CT
Posts: 5,640

Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've really got to vote against the KM. That frameset is heavy as hell, and you can easily get a Kona Unit 29er frame for a similar price, sliding dropouts, and LIGHTER.
Aeroplane is offline  
Old 12-07-07, 08:12 AM
  #23  
spin
 
The LT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 1,170

Bikes: raleigh m-60, azonic steelhead, schwinn world sport fixed gear

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aeroplane
I've really got to vote against the KM. That frameset is heavy as hell, and you can easily get a Kona Unit 29er frame for a similar price, sliding dropouts, and LIGHTER.
+1 if youve decided on a 29er now then look at all of the options redline, raleigh, zion, voodoo, etc....

so many companies now have 29ers out there that you should be able to find something that you really like and that may end up being the KM but at least look into what else is out there
The LT is offline  
Old 12-07-07, 08:15 AM
  #24  
Run What 'Ya Brung
 
bonechilling's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What about that Bikes Direct 29er? Retem got one, and I seem to recall him raving about it. It'd be really hard to go wrong for $400. Spend the remaining $600 of booze and hookers.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...tcast29_08.htm
bonechilling is offline  
Old 12-07-07, 02:09 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
yellowjeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 3,271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
bonechilling has an excellent point
yellowjeep is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.