Here's the backstory: my wife will be using our car and instead of buying a crappy commuter I am using that money to buy a nice bike to commute with. I'm pretty excited, but with the opportunity comes the pressure/responsibility to not screw it up and make sure I'm happy with this bike for a VERY long time. I'm sure eventually we will buy another car, but if I sell the bike anytime soon I will lose all credibility.


So, I'm looking for a lugged, steel frame fixie. I love to ride fast, but I'm no Lance Armstrong. I'm more looking for a bike that gets me excited to ride it. So far I have been considering three options:


1. Buy an old steelie and spend the budget on components.


2. Buy a Steamroller or,


3. Buy a Wabi Retro


Being that I've only ridden old Japanese bikes, I have no idea what to expect in a completely modern bike; nor can I test one here in SE Alabama. I can probably go up to $2k total cost, but I would prefer $1k total.

Wabi, Steamroller, Big Block, whatever they will all get you there and back just the same buy what YOU like.

The problem is without being able to try the bike how can I tell what I like?? I feel like I'm going to have to rely on reputation a lot more than I'm used to, which is why I'm asking what others would do in this situation (presumably others with more experience with different bikes). Do you like your Pake enough to recommend it?

Steamroller isn't lugged. Get the wabi if you want lugged. The steamroller takes wider tires which is nice for commuting.

No, it's not and I realize that seems like a contradiction but it's really more of a compromise on my part. I've always heard how awesome Surly's are and the lugged preference is just because I think it's aesthetically superior.

Out of those listed and what you're looking for, the wabi retro is your best bet.

Wabi makes good bikes.

Wabi just launched their new bike, which comes with rack + fender mounts, wide tire clearance, and great geometry for commuting. Reynolds 725 is A+ steel tubing as well (although the frame isn't lugged).

If you're going to commit to just one bike and use it for commuting, at least give yourself the option to add fenders and racks. The new Wabi even has front lowrider mounts, which is the first I've seen on a fixed gear/ss frame of good quality. Plus, the new fork is dope.

EDIT: And it's less than $1k

I'd get that thunder over a steamroller. Kinda depends on the commuting conditions whether I'd get that over the retro.

I was about to rip on the new decals that they've been using, but then I read in the description that "decals are optional". So if you want to keep it clean with no branding, that's an option.

Looks too much like fuji which is horrible.

I mostly like where the new owners are going. They are keeping the stuff that was good from before, and adding some new stuff. It does appear to be trending in a bit of a hipster direction, which I don't personally love, but I'm sure it sells bikes. I'd like to see them put some DT shifter bosses on the lightening RE instead of that hideous microshift group they sell it with now. More likely they'll just discontinue it as I'm sure the market for a twelve-hundred dollar steel road frame is pretty small.

why limit self to that small selection when you have the $$$ go nutz....

Forgot to mention, if you're into the "classically styled" give rivendell bicycles a look around if you haven't already.

Colossi make a great lugged steelie track frame at a good price for the quality, that other sellers often relabel and sell for very high...


https://tictail.com/colossiblowout/colossi-mondial-track-frame-gunmetal-grey


or check out some other Colossi stuff...

https://tictail.com/colossiblowout

I'd probably go vintage roadie. New lugged frames are pretty hard to come by, and most of the ones I do see are either way above this price range or just look "meh."

^^^Yeah...lots of ok "vintage roadies" may be available if one knows what to look for, even with the possibility of finding an occasional acorn in the pigs**t - but most are "meh" and due to the rise in popularity of vintage bikes lately every shmoe who latches onto any old bike thinks he's found gold and wants to get paid like it is.

A guy with a budget like this OP has can easily find himself a really nice new bike that he can jump on & easily enjoy riding problem-free to work and everywhere else, and get into bike riding...

Ehh, I see decently priced stuff on eBay pretty often. And if lugs are what you're after, there's way more options at affordable prices if you go vintage. Cooler paint jobs too. I look at something like the Wabi Retro and it just puts me to sleep with its complete lack of personality.

I agree, I just don't know what to look for. Wabi seems to be the most highly spoken of online but I'm open to any ideas.

IAmSam- I love the look of the Colossi, I'll look into that more.


Leukybear- I'll look into Rivendell as well.


seau grateau- The only drawback to getting an old frame is that I will have to wait until I find one I like, whereas new will ship right away.


Thanks for the input everyone. It sounds like if nothing else I won't go wrong buying the Retro which is the assurance I was hoping for. I'm going to keep looking and will post when a final decision is made.

Yeah, if you're looking to get on the road right away, buying new will almost certainly get you there faster.

Yes not sure why. Many things out there.

Soma Stanyan 18 would be my choice... I'm tempted to buy a frame and just keep it around until I need a new commuter. You could definitely build it up for $1k.... really really nice for a little more.

Doubt it. Especially not in the $1k range.

Some solid replies in here though.

If you're willing to spend the money (more so 2k budget) and want steel:

+1 though I guess my Cinelli Work is rather on the more expensive side and if I really had the budget when I built it I would have gone even more expensive and probably gotten more Paul stuff and a few other MUSA bits.