Hey guys, I have over the last year or so re-developed my interest in bikes, but have been riding geared road bikes pretty much exclusively. After riding my buddy's track bike for a few minutes last week however, I am completely hooked and am looking to get a fixed gear bike myself. Now i know nothing about fixed gears, but am decently bike-savvy otherwise. What should i be looking for in a fixed gear if i am looking to get one for myself?

I am mainly going to be doing town and city riding/commuting, not racing. About $500 would be my spending cap (cheaper the better of course - student here), and i dont mind buying used or doing some minor conversion work, but i want it to be a solid, reliable bike that will last a while.

What are some basic things i should consider when getting my first fixed gear? what cog/chainring sizes should i be looking at? would it be best to get an old single speed/10spd and convert it with track parts for a commuter bike? let me know!! this forum has been an amazing help to me so far since i discovered it today, and i want to learn all i can.

Justin

https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/116128-question-where-start-fixies.html

If your spending cap is a hard $500, I'd say convert. Get an old road/touring/whatever bike from a pawn shop/thrift store/dumpster with horizontal dropouts and decent cranks. Swap out the rear wheel for a track wheel. You can get a cheap rear wheel from IRO, or else build your own wheel with parts from nashbar. For all technical questions of any sort, This Man is your god.

If you're willing to break your limit a little, just get a complete bike from IRO. This place is full of endorsements for them, and they have excellent customer service. Welcome to the fold.

I'd say gearing depends on how you ride/how strong you are, but start off low, it's better on your knees and you develop better spin. I'm a relative newbie and I run 44x18, which I am only now thinking of bumping up. To find your starting gear, look at what you like to use on your road bike, and then maybe drop it down a tooth or two, as you'll have to use it for stopping and starting, in addition to just riding.

Converting can be a PIA if you don't have any tools. I got fed up trying to get everything together to do a conversion and found something cheap on ebay. Now, I'm ready to actually do a conversion, but I'm glad I didn't just keep waiting. Converting's a great learning experience, but riding's waaaaaaay more fun.

Or you might want to keep scouring FOR SALE ads/Craigslist/whatever for a good deal on a used track bike: IRO, Fuji, Bianchi, Surly are all reputable brands.

the one thing people never seem to mention with the converting is...well.... track geometry is so much more fun, especially if youre riding around town and not doing 50 mile rides.. if you liked the track bike.. get a track bike...its a diffferent thing then a converted road bike

That's why I do the basic strip down, find an appropriate front wheel, and figure out the handlebar and brake set up. Then I have a shop build a rear wheel and space the chainline perfectly. Even if I had more tools my mechanical skills are limited.

mr. robot, I was looking at track geometry and it seems that it's a difference of about 1 degree from most road bikes. my fuji track (windsor, 73.5 degrees) is a little on the slack side with a 40mm rake, is the difference in handling that noticable? thank you, when we get to know each other better can I call you sloppy?

Why no Bianchi Pista reccomendations? (I'm not a FG man, so I'm really wondering.)

it does all depend on the track bike and road bike being compared BUT when i get on a tight track bike and the wheels are tucked under me, i feel like im flying.. kinda cheesy but true.. when i hop back on someones conversion.. the disappointment is immediate...that mushy feeling of a chopper-like fork and wide slack wheelbase... it just feels like the fun has been beat out of the bike.. all thats left is the metal.. thats my take.. but i like tighter frames and smaller bikes...

you can call me sloppy whenever youd like

here's a vote for tight geometry, which i appreciate a billion times more after riding my superslack, wide-arse wheelbase conversion. plus, it makes skidding pretty tough if its impossible to put the weight over the front wheel!

my new frame has an 80 degree seat tube. it's the sharpest geometry i've come across.

I'd like to know as well. Also... I don't think I've seen mention the Specialized Langster. The price is about the same as the pista. A friend got one and seems happy with it.

The Pista is a great bike. I work at a shop that deals Bianchi and we've sold a few (being a shop on the cape we don't sell many) and I can honestly say they're the best deal that's out there next to the Specialized Langster perhaps. I'd fully recommend the Bianchi however. Bianchis are a bike line that hold their value for years.

Yeah, find a Bianchi dealer in your area and get last year's model (could be this year's once the 06s come out).