Rather than getting a cheapo new bike such as the Motobecane Messenger, I'd go with a good used conversion. You cannot go wrong with www.grinderbikes.com. They will build you up a conversion (fixed gear or SS, or basically whatever you want) with a quality and versitile steel lugged frame (older frames give you fender and big tire options, not available on may newer frames) for less money than the Messenger, but with better stuff, and set up exactly how you want. Jon Grinder built one up for me in early January of this year. Since January, I've ridden it over 1400 miles in all sorts of weather with no major problems. I did have two minor problems with the bike and he rectified both ASAP, no questions asked. You can't ask for better customer service than that.