Your first SS or FG? What got you started?
 

I really enjoy the pictures threads and I have come to realize that many of us started on one SS/FG, but traded it off for another or upgraded to a second bike (or a third) that was a bit nicer.

So what was your first SS/FG?


For me, I'm still on my Kilo TT, but have my eyes on maybe an Aventon later this year.

Mine started with a 1990 Fuji Ace frame that I bought on eBay, which I mated to a fork that I had from a 1989 Fuji Team. Carefully painted the fork black to match the frame, added gold lug outlines, and built it up with black components, but sliver wheels that had been someone's new takeoffs. It was a pretty nice bike and I really enjoyed riding it.

A local friend and BF member had let me borrow a Raleigh conversion that he'd done, which helped me with both sizing and gearing choices.

First fixed gear was about 10 years ago, a $300 BikesDirect Windsor Hour complete. Hadn't ridden bikes actively in a few years, and a bunch of my younger friends were on the first wave of the "fixie" thing, so I snagged one up for cheap, and was immediately in love. Within 6 months, I had stripped it down to bare frame, had it powdercoated pearl white with a carbon fork, and upgraded everything on it but the cranks, and it rode great. Had to sell it about a year later because I was upside-down broke, and I've always regretted it. Had more bikes between then and now, but nothing notable. Love my current bike, though!

You can see it in the link in my sig. I know Leaders aren't the popular choice 'round these parts, but I love them.

I bought a Langster to ride around the ridge I live on and feel OK about leaving it in front of a store or restaurant. Then, once I started riding it, I found out how much fun SS is to ride. So, I made a couple of mods to improve a couple of things. Liked it even more.... Then a few more mods, and now have what might be the worlds most expensive Langster. I have thought about buying another frame for the parts :)

However, the bike rides great with the Langster frame. As a side bonus, it pisses off some people to see those parts on my Langster. So, as for now, I will likely keep this bike until I am too old to ride it. My other SS is my MTB, and that was built on paper, with exception of the fork, before a penny was spent. And, it might be my favorite bike ever (competing with my Epic).

Picked up a Bigshot when they were on sale. Horrible bike, but it got me into the SS mindset. Flipped the rear wheel one day and that was it. Sold that, bought a Felt TK3 which was a huge upgrade. Bought a Jamis Sonik. Ended up cannibalizing that onto a Felt TK2 frame. Sold the TK3. Picked up a SS MTB similar to [MENTION=395421]Kindaslow[/MENTION] but running a rigid fork and it's almost all stock. Looking into a Cinelli Parallax or possibly Histogram maybe next year.

The 1st FG that I rode was my coach's pre-WWII track bike, this was like the bike that I raced back when:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=521771

A good solid machine for it's day.
Had the fork drilled for a brake to use it for winter FG base miles where it rode like a lumber wagon, was nervous in cross winds and decidedly twitchy descending at pace on the road. Oddly enough the environment of the Velodrome is unlike that of the open public roads and a machine designed for one may not be suitable for the other. :eek:

Been riding road bikes converted to FG for the last several decades, works for me.

-Bandera

This is my first single ever :)
maybe you already seen this picture from another tread
http://s32.postimg.org/tyi658qjn/tttt.png

The final iteration of my first bike before I sold it. One hell of a beater
http://www.pedalroom.com/p/bill-22281_4.jpg

My starter bike, a 1967 Peugeot U)-8 I bought as a 13 yo was by 1971 barely working as a 10 speed what with all the times I had stopped the chain into the spokes and mangled the dropout. So some time over the next two years, I took off the derailleur and shortened the chain. 1973 I bought a good bike with sewups. Built sewup wheels for the Peugeot . 1976 I started club racing. The vets in the club said I should convert that bike to fixed to be a better trainer to improve my pedaling style. I did and it did. And I loved riding fixed from that first ride! Had a fix gear, now two ever since.

Ben

First bike I ever built, mostly used parts from a co-op or CL. The frame was an Eighth Inch Scrambler, $125 I think. Started like this:

http://i.imgur.com/I43iOY6.jpg

And ended up like this, sold it to a friend eventually. I think it's a polo bike now.

http://i.imgur.com/q7LVIv5.jpg

Can't find a good picture of the Bigshot that isn't embarrassing, so here is the first "real" SSFG.

http://i.imgur.com/L1uiPSr.png

my first ss/fg was a Peugeot mtb frame that was entirely too small.

I don't have a real pic, but it looked kinda like this. My sister never rode it, so I commandeered it.

Around 1963ish...


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2.../BluePixie.jpg

went to a local flea market. There was a japanese stand selling all sorts of japanese boom era 10 speeds. There were a few shoguns and a few raleighs. Ended up picking up a Raleigh Super Record for $60. repacked the rear hub and redished it. Threw on a fixed cog, stripped off the deraillers, shifters and a chainring. The bike was Hi-Ten and it was like 24 lbs. It was a tank, but it made me intrigued in the Fixed Gear scene.

This rebuild, about 7 years ago. Made from a Sears 3 speed, proudly rebuilt with my first home laced 650a wheel and cheap Chinese suicide hub.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=521824http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=521825

2009 Bikesdirect special - Motobecane track.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5xdrih4w.jpg

2007 Dawes I ordered on EBay for $300 including shipping. :thumb: Nothing fancy but enough to get me the single speed bug.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=521984

Haven't done it yet, but what will drive me to make a SS will be a better winter ride.
Will probably just convert my 7-speed to SS.
And build a new double-ring for warmer months.

Too much salt and slush where I live.

Simplicity = less maintenance = more fun

I've been riding fixed since the mid 1970s for track racing and winter off season low gear spin training. Didn't really get into regular road SSFG until about 7 years ago when I retired. Now I've got 14 SSFG bikes, soon to be 15. They just seem to reproduce like rabbits !

I suppose for completeness, I should mention the children's trike, pedal car that Dad built, and the BMX bike with 16" wheels, but this is the first full-sized SS/FG bike I've possessed. And only, to date. It's coming up on 6000 miles.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...k/db_26lbs.jpg

Not a great pic, but the most recent one.

a super ****ty hipster republic bike that was too big, had a cracked wheel, Horrible, horrible bike. Ditched it after a month but put myself on a much nicer bike.

My 2010 Felt Brougham that I got from my neighbors yardsale for $35

Then:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5687/...80081e8e_h.jpg

Had it stripped and powdercoated, pretty much completely rebuilt it.

Now:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7483/...7fb54ae5_c.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MbUW6nvh.jpg

I've come a long way

an 06 mark v with dura ace and sugino bits. it was like a 59cm frame which was way too small but i didnt know what the hell i was doing. save the top tube pad.
http://midnightridazz.com/images/gal...1207870246.jpg