Thanks to everyone for answering me about brakes and gear ratios. I got my bike in the mail today. Put it together and took it to the LBS to get the lockring tightened. I was really excited to ride my first fixed gear. The guy at the bike shop started telling me it was too big for me, I made a poor choice, the components are crap...etc. He helped me with quite a few things, but I'm kinda bummed. I'm a college kid who doesn't have much money and all I want to do is ride. He made me feel like it was a bad call on my part. I'm sorry that I couldn't build a bike from scratch witht he best components, but it's my first one and I'm poor. I've decided to put a front brake on for the steep hills in my area and buy some platform pedals and run strapless for the first few weeks. Also, my Mercier comes with 48x16 gearing which is pretty difficult to stop. I think I'm going to purchase a used 19t cog from that guy at the LBS. I'll keep all you posted. Thanks again for the help.- Garrett

F* the guy at the shop. They are usually just pissed you didn't buy it there or drop $4000 on a new Carbon frame. We all start somewhere, mine was a red old 80's steel frame with a pink fork and a suzue jr. Oh wait I still have that frame and rear wheel but a new fork. All that really matters is that you ride it and ride the hell out of it.

Yeah, screw that jerk! I rode in the rain today on a Maserati conversion from the early 70s. The damn thing has cottered cranks! Its a piece of crap! I drilled holes in the bars to internally route the front brake cable because I was bored!

But you know what? I loved it, because its a bike, and bikes rock, especially when they work properly. So get on that bike, and ride it! If you want to upgrade in the future, you can, but don't feel pressured by some salesman.

The size issue can be solved through seatposts and stems and bar placement with time, don't worry about it for now, you'll begin to notice if its a problem, and we can help you find solutions.

peace,
sam

I hope you didn't want date Terror_in_pink.

besides, the "standard fit" these days tends to put people on frames that are a little too small.

screw 'em. just go ride.

yeah, f him

my friend bought the mercier as a cheap starter and he loves it, sh|tty components and all. my advice: go outside and ride. and 19 teeth would probably make you happier too.

Sorry to hear that you got some crap from a wrench. If nothing else, it's good motivation for you to learn all you can about your new bike and to start buying tools as funds permit. IMO, don't change the gearing until you've ridden it with a brake.

ah man don't even sweat it. there's something proud about riding hard on less than perfect equipment. he's probably just bent cause he's scared to ride a fixed gear. ride your bike and ride it proud dude.

Man, dissing what somebody just bought is so lame. That's like making fun of somebody's tattoo; what the hell are they going to do, change it? They're just being an ass. Don't pass on the bad attitude.

If it works for you, that's all that matters. I have been fortunate enough to have four fixie friendly shops nearby.

(And I think Pink is hot by the way. )

first order of buisness would be to find a new shop,
maybe i'm spoiled being there are 2 local shops with in a mile of me and a fantastic/favorite shop no farther than 10 miles from my town..

Congrats on your bike. That's really too bad about the shop. You probably haven't met the shop's spending threshold yet, so they will sh1t all over you until you do. Hopefully you won't try.

With the 19t cog stopping and going will be so much easier.

Thanks everyone. It's really encouraging to hear positive responses. I rode for a couple hours this evening and had a blast. My inner thighs are pretty sore though. Front brake goes on tomorrow and I think it'll give me more assurance so I can ride faster and feel confident that I can stop quick enough. I appreciate all your help.
-Garrett

**** 'im! I'd say the most (out of many) beloved bike in my life was an old pale-blue Fuji that looked crappy enough that I didn't even bother to lock it after a while, just leaned it against the stairs in the rooming house where I lived and walked up the stairs and that was that.

We had a "panty bandit" nicking knickers, and a guy across the street got his TV stolen, but no one took my Fuji. That should give you an idea. But I went all over on that bike, it was great! It was a bike!

I'm in agreement with everyone here... any bike shop that sh1ts on your bike that you worked hard to get isn't worth my business. Definitely finding a new shop. Even if your bike wasn't to his liking or if it needed some adjustments, he should have done it in a less derogatory manner. Either way, congrats on the new bike.. Ride it like you stole it and the cops are chasing you

My thoughts exactly. Death to bike elitists. Also, I bought the Mercier and no one has yet told me it has crap components because most friends of mine that ride bikes are on refurbs built with scrap from donations. Yeah, they bought some of their parts, but they sure as hell aren't dropping hundreds on Campy components. Some people are down to earth and some are just jackasses.

Screw 'em Garrett. If you had bought a bike with good componants people would saying that you are a rich trend follower. If you enjoy it, then thats all the matters.

My first 2 frames were too tall for me, so that might not be too big of an issue.

You gotta bring that thing to Philly next time you visit!!

Indeed.

My first fixie (which is sitting outside chained to a parking meter and waiting for me to come out of work) is an ancient schwinn that I had built up for just over $100 bucks. I had recently bought a brand new 21 speed Lemond Road bike for $650 from Back Bay Bikes here in Boston...or rather...their sister store in NH Papa Wheelies. I road it for 4 weeks and kept breaking crap off of it. So I sold it and bought the schwinn. First time I went back to Back Bay to ask about a part the mechanic saw the schwinn and asked where the Lemond was. I told him I sold it and the guy literally flipped out at me. Said he would never service my bike...that if he had it his way he wouldnt let me in the store again.

Bike elitists suck. And on a side note... one year later and nothing has fallen off the schwinn or broken. It got run over by a van and tacoed the rear wheel, but it certainly wasn't the fault of my crappy component ride. Last I heard from the guy who bought my Lemond... he had sold it and now rides an older Bianchi. So much for the $650 sweet ride.

Some LBS guys are ****ing lamers. Who cares I go to the city next to me instead of the one right down the street from my house learn to work on your own gear. By the way do you go to Cal Poly? If so Ill be up there in the winter '06 or fall '06 I'm transfering there. We can ride .

That's because if it was a Chicago Schwinn, it was made by people who took pride in their work, unlike the Taiwanese sweat shop bikes of today...like my Bianchi that's going bye bye.

Stoked, bummed...Happy, sad....BIPOLAR BIPOLAR BIPOLAR

Thats what I say, screw that wrench monkey. Best having a "un-campy-clad-"insert Italian frame here" ride as your first fixie. Consider yourself lucky....you have a ride to ride. I have 3 in my shop that I cant....quite yet because I am building them up. 1 fixie, thats the first one getting built up, then a TT, and the cyclox...well thats ready to ride but I am so stoked to get this fixie out the door that....well its just not a fixie damin it!

Anyways, like was said before, ride hard and have fun! And dont let anyone piss in your wave...

Yeah those bikes aren't exactly high-end, but for the price you pay, they're certainly not a bad deal. Like everyone says, ride the hell out of it for a year and then upgrade the broken bits.

Also, find a new shop to go to. Honestly, you'd be amazed at how little some of those guys know anyway, especially about anything fixed gear or single speed.

dang, garrett, sorry they ripped on you. everybody else here has said everything that i was about to say, so i guess i'll just leave it at that. have fun, though. the only thing that concerns me with your bike (which nobody else has commented on yet) is you're riding it without straps! put some straps on that thing! if you don't feel comfortable TOTALLY strapped in, just put a strap on the foot that is normally in front of you as you're slowing down. it'll cut your stopping distance in half, at the very least. i guess you're putting on a front brake, so stopping won't be AS big of a deal, but i really don't feel safe riding without being strapped in, especially as a beginner.

ps - this is bryan! sarah/crystal's old roommate. hi.

My favorite shop here in Phoenix (Slippery Pig Bike Shop, you can find them in the LBS thread) regularly fixes flats on Magnas and Pacifics and other Wal-Mart bikes, always with the same respect and friendliness they show to the carbon fiber crowd (and the 10-inch travel FS crowd for that matter). They're also very fixed and SS friendly, unlike almost every other shop.

Oh yeah, this is my first post. Please go easy on me, even if I do like pie.