Tom, age 52. I've had two fixed gear bikes. I built my first at the age of 20, using a hi-ten Tsunoda frame and flipped-over north road bend handlebars. I geared it at about 65 inches a year later. I rode it around Boston and then moved to New York and commuted on it. The bike got mangled in a car-bike accident. I used a front brake and my legs to slow and stop.

I got a cheap Nashbar bike in about 2008. It was badly assembled, and some of the components were crappy, but it was only $300, and I couldn't complain. It was lightweight and rode very nicely. The original gear ratio was much too high, so I replaced the sprocket to bring the ratio to about 66 inches. It came with front and rear brakes since it came with a freewheel, which some people would use. I carelessly left it outside my house and someone stole it.

I'm now using a 1974 Raleigh International frame and am slowly painting it and have all the components ready for the build. Looking forward to this. This one will be the lightest fixie I've owned. I'll use a single front brake and will also gear it to about 66 inches.