Recently, I fixed up an old Huffy mountain bike that my community association got from the Police. Every year we give police bikes away to neighborhood kids for the holidays. These bikes are typically in extreme disrepair, so I and some other guys volunteer to service them. (BTW, I highly recommend this if you like to tool around and want to do some charity, police departments collect a lot bikes in urban areas, too many end-up in the dump).

Anyways, to test it out, I took it out for a ride instead of my 3000 dollar bike. I enjoyed the bemused WTF looks from the regulars I encounter when riding my usual wheels. One guy asked if my nice bike had been stolen.

It was kind of liberating in a way, even though the bike was too small and too heavy and I could not make the shifting very crisp. It was a zen experience. I almost felt guilty for owning an expensive bike. I thought about all the people that use bikes such as the Huffy as their primary transport-- with proper maintenance, riders of such bikes can have cycling experiences that are as good as ours.

I seriously think that a light, durable, intelligently designed single speed bike could be made for less than the cost of a cheap-frilly walmart bike. Its too bad manufacturers think the market won't take such bikes.

I seriously agree. Around here there's a shop which specializes in fixed/singlespeed conversions of good old bikes (70's and 80's bianchis and the like.) They tend to price above that level, but you are paying some $$$ for the boutique frame.

I'd also like to see bikes like the surly long haul trucker built out with good parts for around $600. A really good, high quality build, a nice sensible ride that is practical, durable, comfortable and reasonably fast.

When I was out shopping for a commuter, the shops were all pushing me towards skinny-tired aluminum bone shakers with low end components and no braze-ons and no clearance for fenders. It made no sense. None.

But I would have looked like Lance, I suppose. Well, in the riding position, anyway...

Whatever works for Grant Peterson might work for me, then again, it might just work for Grant Peterson. It's always worth listening to others' suggestions, though. I might learn something.