gmm213

So I bought my first decent bike, my Fuji Feather. Im not planning on it anytime soon but Im wondering about my frame vs a bike that say costs $1000. Is it more about components or is there a significant difference in frames? Im wondering if I should just ride this into the ground and upgrade the whole bike (like I did last time) or if its worth upgrading bits and pieces here and there and keeping the frame indefinitely

SquidPuppet

1. Ride the bike

2. If any component functions poorly, upgrade it. If not, go back to step 1.

Yan 

Upgrade if you want. You can move the parts to a new frame in the future, and put the old parts back on the Fuji frame before you sell it.

garlic_rice

^^ All of that. Just ride it.
But if you must- typical upgrade path: first replace anything that touches your body. Saddle, pedals, bars. Maybe mess around with gearing until you find something you're comfortable with. Then just ride and ride and don't think about upgrades until something breaks. If you can't shake the upgrade bug just yet, look into decent wheels (and from what i've heard about Feathers, the stem).

gmm213

I have pedals and straps and bars on order. Fixation gates with hold fasts and fixation rodeo pursuit. I'm going to my lbs on payday for a saddle. It's less about upgrading and how good the frame is. What's the real benefits of more expensive frames other than going CF.

FakeFuji

If you don't know, the difference will probably still be negligible to you. The only real reasons I would upgrade the frame is fit, or some other limiting factor like tire clearance if you like the occasional single track or something.

hardboiled718

My first fixed gear bike was a used Fuji Feather and it was a great bike. Everything was stock except a pair of Sylvan road pedals and leather straps. Rode it nearly every day in rain, snow or shine and never had to replace anything. Just take care of it and ride the thing until something wears out or breaks. If it's a new bike it shouldn't give you any problems for a while.

bmontgomery87

As already stated, the points of contact are the best first upgrades.
Figure out the ratio you want.
Then get a decent wheelset.

I'd personally upgrade to clipless if you get remotely serious about riding.

Andersper

I'm kind of in the same place. I'm still waiting for delivery of my 2015 Feather, but in my mind I'm already shopping for upgrades. I'm new to bike culture, but having spent a decade of obsessively swapping parts on electric guitars the upgrade bug catches on fast. I think I'll heed the advice given here and just ride the bike for a while and see if there's something functionally I don't like about it.

TejanoTrackie 

There's nothing wrong with making changes on your bike just for fun if you've got the financial means to do so. You are helping low wage workers in Asia to feed their families.

T13

Really? Yer gonna open that can?

bmontgomery87

My bad.
I didn't know that was a heavily debated topic. I don't know many riders who are fast that aren't using clipless. Maybe it's different in other areas.

TejanoTrackie 

Other topics that can start a riot:

1) Brakes

2) Helmets

3) Lycra Spandex

4) Carbon Fiber

5) Square Taper vs Outboard Bearings vs BB30 / PF30

I'm sure I missed something, feel free to add to this list.

bmontgomery87

Brakes are for posers who can't ride.
Helmets are okay if you wear a sweet cap.
Fully kitted is stupid if you aren't fast.
Carbon makes you look like a rich boy
Omniums suck because they always come in 48t.

Bring on the storm

T13

6) "Craft Beer"
7) Beards
8) Drops vs bullhorns

SquidPuppet

Skidding

sickz

lawl.

i like this guy.

Andersper

gmm213

Boxers vs briefs.

But again idc about component upgrades I'm looking more at what a more expensive frames gets me other than obvious factors I like CF

79pmooney

And for those who like to crawl down steep hills because there's a stop at the bottom. I have to laugh every time I fly past one of the highly skilled crawlers on my braked fixie. I guess I am a loser because I like going fast. (And after nearly 40 years of fix gear riding, I still have knees.)

Ben

bmontgomery87

Glad to see my smart ass answer worked ^^

TejanoTrackie 

Unfortunately, people tend to lose their sense of humor as they age. Except for me, of course.

79pmooney

But seriously, if you like the ride of the Feather, keep it. Upgrade the contact points, seat, pedals/cleats, bars, levers and stem until everything feels comfortable and right. If it feels that way now, leave it until it needs replacing. Stem? If it puts the bars where it feels right to you, the best replacement on the planet will only serve to improve your climbing because your wallet will be lighter. Likewise the handlebars. Fuji seats are usually mediocre and a good place to spend money. See if you can find a shop that will let you rest ride seats for a week or two and return them for another if it's not the best for you.

Pedal/cleat systems are a big deal. Talk to people but take your time and look at how you ride. I use traditional pedals, toeclips and slotted cleats as were used 100 years ago because with the straps pulled tight, my feet do not come off the pedals at high RPMs downhill, even if I do uncleat. I also occasionally fall over at low speeds because I forgot/didn't have time to release the buckle. Not for everyone but I know that if I ride clipless and ride the way I love to, the day will come when I unclip at 40 mph. I don't want that in this lifetime.

Nothing wrong with a steel fix gear frame at all. Gives you steel track ends for your rear wheel, by far the best material there. A sexy fork that looks completely right on a fix gear. A chainstay that will be undamaged except scraped paint after you drop the chain at speed. No, that should never happen, but if you fall in love with fix gear riding and it becomes your go to bike, well things happen. I fell in love 95,000 miles ago. I know.

Ben

gmm213

I went to my lbs today and they're going to help me find the right seat. I've got pursuit bars and pedals with hold fast straps on order.

That'll be it until things break except maybe seat post and stem purely for aesthetics cause I'll probably neve break them