Total complete noob to fixeis- have questions/need help
10-31-10, 10:31 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Total complete noob to fixies- have questions/need help
Hello. Casual bikerider for 30+ years here... but a complete amateur in regards to bike knowledge. I have some terribly noobish questions as I am interested in getting my first fixed gear bicycle, but need assistance choosing the right bike. Any help would be appreciated.
Basically, I want to get a fixie and ride it on flatland, practicing some balance/control bike tricks. I don't intend to ride great distances or on varied terrain. I simply want a basic fixie, without any fancy accessories, suited for this type of riding/tricking.
1. What is the best bike for my needs? I realize this is an opinion. But there must be a bike or two that is widely regarded as a great entry to fixed gear riding, at an affordable price and most bang-for-the-buck. (preferably less than 500$)
2. I was checking out the Surly Steamroller, as recommended by a friend, and the final statement in the manufacturer's description was, "This bike does it all. What won't it do? Bar spins."
Why not? Isn't a bar spin when the rider spins around the front wheel, balancing on the handlebars? Why won't this bike do that?
3. What should I be targeting for my needs? What kind of seat stay angle is good for controlling wheelies, etc.? What kind of braking will allow for spinning the handlebars? What type of tires would be best? Wider? Smaller?
I realize this is alot of info. And these questions are extremely noobish. But if someone could help me (before I waste hundreds of dollars) I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.
Basically, I want to get a fixie and ride it on flatland, practicing some balance/control bike tricks. I don't intend to ride great distances or on varied terrain. I simply want a basic fixie, without any fancy accessories, suited for this type of riding/tricking.
1. What is the best bike for my needs? I realize this is an opinion. But there must be a bike or two that is widely regarded as a great entry to fixed gear riding, at an affordable price and most bang-for-the-buck. (preferably less than 500$)
2. I was checking out the Surly Steamroller, as recommended by a friend, and the final statement in the manufacturer's description was, "This bike does it all. What won't it do? Bar spins."
Why not? Isn't a bar spin when the rider spins around the front wheel, balancing on the handlebars? Why won't this bike do that?
3. What should I be targeting for my needs? What kind of seat stay angle is good for controlling wheelies, etc.? What kind of braking will allow for spinning the handlebars? What type of tires would be best? Wider? Smaller?
I realize this is alot of info. And these questions are extremely noobish. But if someone could help me (before I waste hundreds of dollars) I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.
Last edited by copperhed; 11-01-10 at 02:08 PM.
10-31-10, 10:35 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,213
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So you basically want a fg for tricks? Get a Mercier Kilo TT + new wheelsets + fu manchu fork.
10-31-10, 10:37 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Basically, yes.
What do you mean by new wheelsets? What kind? Wider? Smaller?
Why change the fork? For wheel clearance on spins?
Is there a bike that comes complete stock that meets these needs better without the need to buy/swap additional accessories?
What do you mean by new wheelsets? What kind? Wider? Smaller?
Why change the fork? For wheel clearance on spins?
Is there a bike that comes complete stock that meets these needs better without the need to buy/swap additional accessories?
Last edited by copperhed; 10-31-10 at 11:10 PM.
10-31-10, 11:19 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,213
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't do tricks so I am not too sure about what complete bike to recommend, but this should do.
https://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-1...lete-bike.aspx
Go to https://tricktrack.org/forum/ for more trick-oriented fixed gear bike tips.
https://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-1...lete-bike.aspx
Go to https://tricktrack.org/forum/ for more trick-oriented fixed gear bike tips.
10-31-10, 11:28 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: im, hungary
Posts: 1,976
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
DO NOT add a fumanchu or thrasher fork to a kilo. the toe overlap will be so immense that when you're in the middle of your barspin your foot will hit your wheel, causing you to fall in the air or destroy your front wheel.
invest once in a volume thrasher/profile hubs/external bearing crankset setup and you will be better off and just a few hundred down than buying a kilo and swapping out parts
invest once in a volume thrasher/profile hubs/external bearing crankset setup and you will be better off and just a few hundred down than buying a kilo and swapping out parts
10-31-10, 11:36 PM
#6
モㄥ工匕モ 爪モ爪乃モ尺
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LA San Gabriel, California
Posts: 2,135
Bikes: Custom frame
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
DO NOT add a fumanchu or thrasher fork to a kilo. the toe overlap will be so immense that when you're in the middle of your barspin your foot will hit your wheel, causing you to fall in the air or destroy your front wheel.
invest once in a volume thrasher/profile hubs/external bearing crankset setup and you will be better off and just a few hundred down than buying a kilo and swapping out parts
invest once in a volume thrasher/profile hubs/external bearing crankset setup and you will be better off and just a few hundred down than buying a kilo and swapping out parts
11-01-10, 05:34 AM
#8
Lost
i have some advice:
-if you've been riding bikes for over 30 years, you're too old to use the word "fixie". fixed gear bicycles are great, simple machines, which can be ridden anywhere from in the velodrome to commuting to work and everywhere in between, but only 21.5 year olds whose lives revolve around "irony" have "fixies"
-investing in a good helmet and upping your health insurance coverage is more important than which bike you buy if your going to get into "tricks" at your age.
good luck
-if you've been riding bikes for over 30 years, you're too old to use the word "fixie". fixed gear bicycles are great, simple machines, which can be ridden anywhere from in the velodrome to commuting to work and everywhere in between, but only 21.5 year olds whose lives revolve around "irony" have "fixies"
-investing in a good helmet and upping your health insurance coverage is more important than which bike you buy if your going to get into "tricks" at your age.
good luck
11-01-10, 05:45 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: East coast
Posts: 2,671
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, Cannondale R700, Specialized Langster, Iron Horse Hollowpoint Team, Schwinn Homegrown
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
-if you've been riding bikes for over 30 years, you're too old to use the word "fixie". fixed gear bicycles are great, simple machines, which can be ridden anywhere from in the velodrome to commuting to work and everywhere in between, but only 21.5 year olds whose lives revolve around "irony" have "fixies"
11-01-10, 02:06 PM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i have some advice:
-if you've been riding bikes for over 30 years, you're too old to use the word "fixie". fixed gear bicycles are great, simple machines, which can be ridden anywhere from in the velodrome to commuting to work and everywhere in between, but only 21.5 year olds whose lives revolve around "irony" have "fixies"
-investing in a good helmet and upping your health insurance coverage is more important than which bike you buy if your going to get into "tricks" at your age.
good luck
-if you've been riding bikes for over 30 years, you're too old to use the word "fixie". fixed gear bicycles are great, simple machines, which can be ridden anywhere from in the velodrome to commuting to work and everywhere in between, but only 21.5 year olds whose lives revolve around "irony" have "fixies"
-investing in a good helmet and upping your health insurance coverage is more important than which bike you buy if your going to get into "tricks" at your age.
good luck
Last edited by copperhed; 11-01-10 at 02:09 PM.
11-01-10, 02:27 PM
#11
Lost
11-01-10, 02:42 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Simple balance tricks aren't going to destroy a bike. trackstands, backwards riding and wheelies aren't any harder on components than hitting the occasional pothole. If you're not jumping stairs or doing other "tricks" that are more BMX oriented, any bike should be fine.
"seat stay angle" is irrelevant for wheelies... Short Chainstays, however, will make the front of the bike easier to pop up... yet twitchier once it's up there. Bar position (height and distance from saddle) will also have a large effect on how "light" the front end of the bike will FEEL.
Another concern is toe overlap, and barspinnabilityness.
Track bikes, especially in smaller sizes, keep the wheelbase short and the fork angle steep. If you have largish feet, you toe is likely to strike the tire while turning the wheel sharply. This isn't an issue at normal riding speeds, but for slow speed "balance tricks" it will be an issue. For trackstands and riding backwards, you can train yourself to avoid it by dipping your toe down and out of the way, or just being mindful of when you turn the wheel based on crank position.
Barspinzzedness: another casualty of short wheelbases and steep fork angles is that when the wheel is turned around, the front tire won't fit under the frame. Most forks are not straight, so when the wheel is turned around, it moves toward the back of the bike and interferes with the downtube. Also, handlebar and stem position may cause the bars (or stem in some cases) to hit the top of the frame before the wheel gets anywhere near 180 degrees.
They get trashed a lot, but this may be a good/cheapish place to start. If you're not doing silly stuff better suited to BMX, it should be fine... for a while.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/se/dc_pkripper.htm (pretty sure this barspins - do some googling to confirm)
Also, maybe this https://www.cyclingcloseouts.com/Prod..._Complete.aspx
(not sure if this barspins...)
Good luck!
"seat stay angle" is irrelevant for wheelies... Short Chainstays, however, will make the front of the bike easier to pop up... yet twitchier once it's up there. Bar position (height and distance from saddle) will also have a large effect on how "light" the front end of the bike will FEEL.
Another concern is toe overlap, and barspinnabilityness.
Track bikes, especially in smaller sizes, keep the wheelbase short and the fork angle steep. If you have largish feet, you toe is likely to strike the tire while turning the wheel sharply. This isn't an issue at normal riding speeds, but for slow speed "balance tricks" it will be an issue. For trackstands and riding backwards, you can train yourself to avoid it by dipping your toe down and out of the way, or just being mindful of when you turn the wheel based on crank position.
Barspinzzedness: another casualty of short wheelbases and steep fork angles is that when the wheel is turned around, the front tire won't fit under the frame. Most forks are not straight, so when the wheel is turned around, it moves toward the back of the bike and interferes with the downtube. Also, handlebar and stem position may cause the bars (or stem in some cases) to hit the top of the frame before the wheel gets anywhere near 180 degrees.
They get trashed a lot, but this may be a good/cheapish place to start. If you're not doing silly stuff better suited to BMX, it should be fine... for a while.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/se/dc_pkripper.htm (pretty sure this barspins - do some googling to confirm)
Also, maybe this https://www.cyclingcloseouts.com/Prod..._Complete.aspx
(not sure if this barspins...)
Good luck!
11-01-10, 05:23 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Burlington, VT
Posts: 174
Bikes: '08 Pista
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-01-10, 05:42 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-01-10, 05:44 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,213
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This isn't 4chan. Get out of here.
11-01-10, 07:24 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Burlington, VT
Posts: 174
Bikes: '08 Pista
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
wants to bar spin in his ~40s, doesn't know what a barspin actually is... i smell it.
squeeq: u so cool
squeeq: u so cool
11-01-10, 07:50 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-01-10, 11:13 PM
#19
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-01-10, 11:18 PM
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Simple balance tricks aren't going to destroy a bike. trackstands, backwards riding and wheelies aren't any harder on components than hitting the occasional pothole. If you're not jumping stairs or doing other "tricks" that are more BMX oriented, any bike should be fine.........................................................
And to the above posters... I'm far from "40's" and never said I wanted to bar spin. Just wanted to know why the ad said the bike couldn't. On second thought... Maybe I'll wheelie up to your girl, while you're inside watching The Jersey Shore reruns, and show her my sweet bar spins.
Last edited by copperhed; 11-01-10 at 11:25 PM.
11-02-10, 05:22 AM
#21
Senior Member
11-10-10, 06:06 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 409
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-11-10, 01:45 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 322
Bikes: old lotus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes...yle/2011-urbis
buy this. IDK about the 2011 but I thought the 2010 was supposed to go for around 550 or so. Will do everything that you want and more. It will work just fine for riding around and basic tricks, and if you decide that you want to try some stuff that's a little harder on the bike you won't have to stress that anything is going to snap under you.
buy this. IDK about the 2011 but I thought the 2010 was supposed to go for around 550 or so. Will do everything that you want and more. It will work just fine for riding around and basic tricks, and if you decide that you want to try some stuff that's a little harder on the bike you won't have to stress that anything is going to snap under you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kevinskim93
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
2
08-19-13 12:59 AM
