Whatever,
I mean its a track bike, but you could buy something cooler (Fuji, used, KHS) or find a decent road frame and build it up right. But find a good store, (read: not your buddy who worked at a store) and get a formula rear wheel. Oh yeah, use a brake.

So many options, often for style...

The life of fashion is fraught with so many perils.

Cog, chain, chainring, hub are important. But use a front brake and pay a good mechanic (to at least look it over).

The mercier is better, Check out IRO, look for used stuff. More fixie kids means pistas are gonna be showing up used. Also Langsters are better than pistas and are even more common. They just don't look like 1970 Schwinn Paramounts.