Here's the backstory: my wife will be using our car and instead of buying a crappy commuter I am using that money to buy a nice bike to commute with. I'm pretty excited, but with the opportunity comes the pressure/responsibility to not screw it up and make sure I'm happy with this bike for a VERY long time. I'm sure eventually we will buy another car, but if I sell the bike anytime soon I will lose all credibility.


So, I'm looking for a lugged, steel frame fixie. I love to ride fast, but I'm no Lance Armstrong. I'm more looking for a bike that gets me excited to ride it. So far I have been considering three options:


1. Buy an old steelie and spend the budget on components.


2. Buy a Steamroller or,


3. Buy a Wabi Retro


Being that I've only ridden old Japanese bikes, I have no idea what to expect in a completely modern bike; nor can I test one here in SE Alabama. I can probably go up to $2k total cost, but I would prefer $1k total.