Fixie Noobie
 

Hello everyone! I have recently found interest in fixed gear bicycles, but have not yet purchased one. I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations on some good fixies in the $200-300 range. If you have any tips for beginners as well, I'd love to hear them!

Also, I've stumbled across a bike called "Critical Cycles Harper". I'm wondering if this would be a good option because it's real cheap, and seems to be of good quality, although some reviewers could disagree.
Also, also, I would definitely be willing to build my own fixie, as long as it's cheap. But I don't know if that's really possible with good quality parts.

Thanks,
Fruits

Most FG bikes at that price point are pretty much the same, it seems. Maybe check out State, Pure, 6KU. If you can save up and increase your budget a little, Kilo TT is a solid choice. Building your own bike is pretty much always going to be more expensive unless you have a lot of parts laying around. Number one tip: make sure you get the right size frame.

Read Sheldon: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixedgear.html
Also this guy, not my fav, but has some good beginner informational stuff:

If fixie you seek, critical cycles can’t be beat

Source: rhyme-as-reason

Look on Craigslist and OfferUp. State and the others can be had from $50 ( if you watch like a hawk and jump on)-500 depending on model. I would buy a cheap one to ride while figuring out what you really want. The market is full of fixed gear bikes people because thought they were going to get into riding or they were cool.

I never got this constantly repeated refrain of "Save up to buy a better first bike" to new riders with limited means from some of the more vocal members here...

A new, inexperienced rider can't tell if what they are riding on is a slightly better, or worse bike - why should they spend more money on something they may not even get into and that will end up sitting unused in a corner? If they do happen to catch the bicycling bug - they have plenty of time to blow their money on higher end/better equipment later. I know (and occasionally ride with) lots of people in my area who are riding crappy Pure Fix/Critical Cycles type bikes quite happily, in some cases for quite a few years. My own kid started out on a cheap bike. When he stuck with it - we built him a nicer one.

OP - buy whatever you can afford and get to riding now. Hope you enjoy it and stick with it, and then spend your life "upgrading" your bike ****...

Thanks for all the feedback. I appreciate what you all have said, but I think IAmSam made a great point. I have a very garbage bike mountain bike right now (that I use for the road), but I find it relatively fine, and think really anything would be an upgrade. I've never owned a road bike, and I plan on using it for casual rides.

I'm very interested in State Bikes because they have very nice looking bikes at a reasonable price, with good reviews.

Thanks :)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f022026ad.jpg
I started out with a Moto Fixie Cafe, and still like it to this day!

Starting out low end makes sense to me. As long as you're not considering department store bikes. Seriously, $2-300 SS/FG bikes are not junk, and will not fall apart with normal use and care. Mine didn't. It's a great way to see if you'll like it.

^^ All true. What's also true is that this is a price point in the bike market where an extra 100-200 dollars gets you a lot more bike for your money. Nothing wrong with pointing that out, just like there's nothing wrong with getting a 300 dollar bike if that's what you want.

Okay, always start with Sheldon Brown: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixedgear.html

and for the flip-side of your hub(the freewheel side): https://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

Whatever bike you build/buy; I strongly recommend the flip-flop hub which allows you to go fixed or freewheel.

And I strongly recommend adding brakes to your ride. You don't have to use them but they are invaluable "just in case".

Skipping the $4-500 dollar bike and starting with the $279 Moto, got me to the $1000 Wabi quicker. :D

^^^bingo. ;)

Very cheap bikes can be "complete rubbish" but many years ago I did my longest ever day (200 miles) on the cheapest 5 speed, steel framed, chromed-steel wheeled bike in the shop, and only a few years ago I did my toughest ever off roading (a full day on a mountain bike route in Snowdonia) on a borrowed steel and lead pipe mountain bike that was simply awful — but it was a great day's riding.

I'm a musician and I have long said that "money saved on cheap instruments is money wasted" and the same could be said to some extent about bikes. Buy the cheapest clunky bike from your local department store and either you will not enjoy riding it and give up, or you will not enjoy riding it and spend a lot more on a better one.

However, beyond that basic advice of "don't get the cheapest because it's cheapest" it gets more complicated. A bike is essentially a simple machine, and a single speed or fixed gear especially so. A new rider needs to learn to distinguish between illusory improvements (colour, style, etc.); things that make a real difference to daily riding; and things that are nice but inessential luxuries. The keen rider may be tempted to recommend "just save up another $500" when an extra $100 would be enough.

Whatever you buy, chances are you'll upgrade the seat and pedals and, in due course, the tyres, and you may also tweak the gear ratios. Then, with a few miles under your belt, you'll start dreaming about the exact bike that you want, not the one that someone else says you want.

So, don't get the very cheapest, but get one worth upgrading and develop your own wish list for your next bike. :)