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Please Help My Situation, Fixie/SS vs Road Bike

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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)

Please Help My Situation, Fixie/SS vs Road Bike

Old 08-07-11, 02:37 PM
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Please Help My Situation, Fixie/SS vs Road Bike

Hi there im new to the forums and didn't quite know where to post this so if i am in the wrong place please let me know.
-Anyway, i had a few questions regarding the bike i should purchase.
First you might wanna know what i will be using a bike for,
Distance (Max): 20mi
Commute: to school: 2mi (Daily) up hill mostly
Environment: Foothills (very hilly)
Budget: $550
-So my questions are:
Can a Fixie treat me right for the max distance of 20mi?
Would it be Extremely hard on the hilly environment?
Would i need a Road bike for the distance and the hills?
Any suggestions on bikes would help too, thank you.
I am 16 years of age and fit, i think i could hold my own on a fixie but i am just making sure Thanks for all the help.
-Kyle

Last edited by bl4ckmagic34; 08-07-11 at 02:41 PM. Reason: messed up
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Old 08-07-11, 02:46 PM
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If you have hills, it's always nice to have the ability to change to a lower gear.
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Old 08-07-11, 02:55 PM
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Best way to decide would be to borrow a road bike from a friend. Shift into a manageable gear to climb the hills, and see if that gear is one you would want to ride around on all the time. If you don't mind it, then you should have no problem riding fixed. If you think it's too low to be convenient for riding anything but up hills, then buy a gear bike
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Old 08-07-11, 05:22 PM
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thank you guys.
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Old 08-07-11, 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by UCF Eric
If you have hills, it's always nice to have the ability to change to a lower gear.
This. What kind of hills are you encountering? Steep?
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Old 08-07-11, 05:50 PM
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You will be OK on a fixie. At first you will suck but little by little you will learn to climb on it.
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Old 08-07-11, 06:09 PM
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I'd suggest a road bike for your situation
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Old 08-08-11, 05:57 PM
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the hills are usually gradual but every few miles there is usually one pretty steep hill i would probably have to walk a fixie or SS. should i try and get in shape for a single speed or just go straight to a geared road bike?

Last edited by bl4ckmagic34; 08-08-11 at 05:57 PM. Reason: messed up
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Old 08-08-11, 06:00 PM
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Personally I like the fact that a fixed gear bike will force you to power your way up the hills, but if you're not looking to show up to school winded or sweaty or annoyed that you just walked your sweet new bike up those hills instead of riding it, I'd vote for a road bike.

But honestly the best advice in this thread comes from the people telling you to give it a shot. The only way you'll know what's good for you is by getting out there and riding. Fun, after all, is #1.

EDIT: Sam Abst said it best: "Cycling is all about suffering."
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Old 08-08-11, 06:45 PM
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i think i might go for a fixie/SS, the hill up to school is not bad and i like the idea of pushing myself, thanks everyone for helping me out, but after browsing i still dont know what fixie to get, so what thread do i go to for that?
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Old 08-08-11, 06:55 PM
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Kilo TT.

But no, in all reality have a look at these bikes: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/trackbikes.htm

Judging by your earlier post it seems like you have a friend of a father of a friend who has some cycling experience, so buying online isn't 100% out. I'd take a look at that site and discuss some of the bikes you like with the person who has the most cycling experience.

Alternately, take a trip to your local bike shop and browse through the entry-level fixed gear options they have there.
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Old 08-08-11, 07:34 PM
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get a track bike. they're easier to take care of, and the geometry is more fun to zip to school with and around town. you can easily ride 20 miles on a fixed gear and then some. i suggest buying used off of local classifieds and/or craigslist.
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Old 08-08-11, 11:59 PM
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I am mostly browsing craigslist and just waiting for something interesting but i have been looking online and at bike shops for designs i like. thank you guys.
EDIT: after looking at that link, DeusVolt i came upon the Kilo WT5, i like it a lot because the fact it comes with brakes and the five speed internal gear hub, would this be a good first road bike/fixie/SS? thanks again
EDIT 2: Link: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...kilott_wt5.htm

Last edited by bl4ckmagic34; 08-09-11 at 12:11 AM. Reason: cuz im an idiot
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Old 08-09-11, 01:26 AM
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Bro, you 16. Get a car.

Or get sweet fixie and get walk on scholarship for being football kicker.
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Old 08-09-11, 11:38 AM
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I take that back, i am now looking at this bike called the PK Ripper, My father had one when he was a kid so now the want is kinda personal. is it at least a quality entry level bicycle? down the road i may be able to upgrade parts but for a year or so will it hold up well?
PK Ripper Silver: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/se/dc_pkripper.htm
One more question, how do i size this bike based off of the sizing chart and bike geometry? i am 5'11" and still growing so 58cm correct?
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Old 08-09-11, 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by bl4ckmagic34
One more question, how do i size this bike based off of the sizing chart and bike geometry? i am 5'11" and still growing so 58cm correct?
What's your inseam?
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Old 08-09-11, 11:46 AM
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Old 08-09-11, 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by homebrewk
What's your inseam?
My inseam is 32in
So based off of this chart, what size would i get?
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ripper_geo.gif

Last edited by bl4ckmagic34; 08-09-11 at 09:01 PM. Reason: included the pk ripper size chart
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Old 08-10-11, 05:35 AM
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Do not get a PK ripper
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Old 08-10-11, 09:15 AM
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Nothing wrong with the PK ripper, just don't do tricks on it. The only real problem with it IMO is the price, overpriced for what it is. Most of the other bikes on BD will be a better value, Kilo TT, the WT5 u posted, or any other really tbh.
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Old 08-10-11, 09:33 AM
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With the questions you are asking, you are better off getting something from your local shop. You could order on line, but end up with something that isn't really optimum for you, and you might not even realize it until suffering for a few years. There is nothing wrong with buying local. Besides, a local shop will often let you take the bike out for a couple hours, over night, or a week, and see how it fits what you want to do. They are going to do a better job than a bunch of chaps on the internet who think they know what they want.

Buy the way - the proper gearing on a fixie is when going down hill hurts as much as going up hill...
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Old 08-10-11, 09:48 AM
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Do not buy the PK Ripper for nostalgia. It is not the same bike your dad had when he was a kid... the fixed gear PK Ripper is similar in name only.
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Old 08-10-11, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by dsh
Do not buy the PK Ripper for nostalgia. It is not the same bike your dad had when he was a kid... the fixed gear PK Ripper is similar in name only.
And IMHO way uglier than the original PK Ripper.
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Old 08-10-11, 10:41 PM
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okay, no PK ripper, got it. what is an internal hub?
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Old 08-11-11, 07:57 AM
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Instead of the traditional road bike setup with a cassette & derailliers it's basically a hub with a set # of internal gears inside (just like it called lol). Some people like to hate on them but it's a pretty simple and low maintainence option if you want multiple gears. IMO if you're in a hilly area and want a cheap, low maint, easy to use option a IGH would be a good choice.

A better more indepth explanation of IGH hubs https://www.sheldonbrown.com/internal-gears.html
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