Noob
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Noob
Hello everyone! What a great place this is! I am new to the forum and singlespeed/Fixed gear bikes in general so am asking for help.
I have a Giant warp ds1 that is about 19 years old, and is still a pretty good bike for my purposes-except it is a bit heavy. Not uncommon to ride 20-30 miles for a fun ride. I only say this so you know what I am used to. Bike was locked to rack which was locked to truck and some sob stole my wheels.
I am thinking about commuting across a city environment, about 12 miles each way and instead of getting new wheels (for now) I thought it would be a great time to get the fixie I always wanted. I don't know which one, and here is where I could use some help. I am looking at spending 200-400ish USD and would hope to get the most I can.
Here are the contenders (you could probably guess them)
BIGSHOT 300
SE Lager on sale 329
Golden Vader 229
state rigby 325
Please share your experience/recc on these bikes, as I am really new to this...any clear winners? losers? The bigshot business model is neat, but I do wonder if they are charging a bit of a premium for the build your own bike business model, which might result in different quality parts?
Thank you very much! Glad I found this place.
QM
I have a Giant warp ds1 that is about 19 years old, and is still a pretty good bike for my purposes-except it is a bit heavy. Not uncommon to ride 20-30 miles for a fun ride. I only say this so you know what I am used to. Bike was locked to rack which was locked to truck and some sob stole my wheels.
I am thinking about commuting across a city environment, about 12 miles each way and instead of getting new wheels (for now) I thought it would be a great time to get the fixie I always wanted. I don't know which one, and here is where I could use some help. I am looking at spending 200-400ish USD and would hope to get the most I can.
Here are the contenders (you could probably guess them)
BIGSHOT 300
SE Lager on sale 329
Golden Vader 229
state rigby 325
Please share your experience/recc on these bikes, as I am really new to this...any clear winners? losers? The bigshot business model is neat, but I do wonder if they are charging a bit of a premium for the build your own bike business model, which might result in different quality parts?
Thank you very much! Glad I found this place.
QM
#2
Senior Member
Consider spending a little more and getting a Kilo TT: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm
#3
Not actually Tmonk
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+1. It's just a little out of your range but much, much better value!
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"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#4
Senior Member
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Consider spending a little more and getting a Kilo TT: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm
Have you looked at your local Craigslist to see if something decent is available there?
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Roads here are terrible. They do have WTs left for sale:at bd
While it is a little more money, I would rather spend it and have a product that works well and will last than get something that has a higher chance of failing/disappointing.
I appreciate your feedback! In short, no one said anything bad about the bikes I mentioned (maybe being polite?) but no one said anything good about them either... lol
If I roughly double my budget I can get in the game with something that should last a long time....
While it is a little more money, I would rather spend it and have a product that works well and will last than get something that has a higher chance of failing/disappointing.
I appreciate your feedback! In short, no one said anything bad about the bikes I mentioned (maybe being polite?) but no one said anything good about them either... lol
If I roughly double my budget I can get in the game with something that should last a long time....
#7
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Roads here are terrible. They do have WTs left for sale:at bd
While it is a little more money, I would rather spend it and have a product that works well and will last than get something that has a higher chance of failing/disappointing.
I appreciate your feedback! In short, no one said anything bad about the bikes I mentioned (maybe being polite?) but no one said anything good about them either... lol
If I roughly double my budget I can get in the game with something that should last a long time....
While it is a little more money, I would rather spend it and have a product that works well and will last than get something that has a higher chance of failing/disappointing.
I appreciate your feedback! In short, no one said anything bad about the bikes I mentioned (maybe being polite?) but no one said anything good about them either... lol
If I roughly double my budget I can get in the game with something that should last a long time....
After a solid frame that fits the biggest improvement is the wheels.
Make sure urge you order the right size too. There are threads here that discuss how Kilos fit.
#8
Senior Member
Reynolds 520 is super durable. I've have both a TT and a WT - my current WT is my favorite and most versatile bike. All of the components are serviceable until you get the itch to do some upgrading.
Check bikeisland.com periodically too, they have blemish models for reduced prices sometimes. Also run by the excellent BD folks. I got my WT for under $400 shipped.
Check bikeisland.com periodically too, they have blemish models for reduced prices sometimes. Also run by the excellent BD folks. I got my WT for under $400 shipped.
Roads here are terrible. They do have WTs left for sale:at bd
While it is a little more money, I would rather spend it and have a product that works well and will last than get something that has a higher chance of failing/disappointing.
I appreciate your feedback! In short, no one said anything bad about the bikes I mentioned (maybe being polite?) but no one said anything good about them either... lol
If I roughly double my budget I can get in the game with something that should last a long time....
While it is a little more money, I would rather spend it and have a product that works well and will last than get something that has a higher chance of failing/disappointing.
I appreciate your feedback! In short, no one said anything bad about the bikes I mentioned (maybe being polite?) but no one said anything good about them either... lol
If I roughly double my budget I can get in the game with something that should last a long time....
Last edited by oouellette; 03-28-20 at 04:13 PM.
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Ok guys. Now we really opened Pandora's box. I ramp up the budget to 500$ and checking out the WT when I realize that a lot more choices than my original budget offered at the new price point. I must say I am a sucker for % off.... for example the motobecane fantom cross uno pro is in that price range as is the CF Record.
So, now that my budget isn't so puny are there other bikes I should be looking at in addition to the WT, or is that (as it seems might be the consensus) still the clear victor?
Thanks again guys, I think you have already helped me a lot!
QM
So, now that my budget isn't so puny are there other bikes I should be looking at in addition to the WT, or is that (as it seems might be the consensus) still the clear victor?
Thanks again guys, I think you have already helped me a lot!
QM
#10
Junior Member
Ok guys. Now we really opened Pandora's box. I ramp up the budget to 500$ and checking out the WT when I realize that a lot more choices than my original budget offered at the new price point. I must say I am a sucker for % off.... for example the motobecane fantom cross uno pro is in that price range as is the CF Record.
So, now that my budget isn't so puny are there other bikes I should be looking at in addition to the WT, or is that (as it seems might be the consensus) still the clear victor?
Thanks again guys, I think you have already helped me a lot!
QM
So, now that my budget isn't so puny are there other bikes I should be looking at in addition to the WT, or is that (as it seems might be the consensus) still the clear victor?
Thanks again guys, I think you have already helped me a lot!
QM
IMHO, you can take all the advice thrown at you, and read all the reviews available, but it's going to come down to personal preference.
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#11
Clark W. Griswold
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Ok guys. Now we really opened Pandora's box. I ramp up the budget to 500$ and checking out the WT when I realize that a lot more choices than my original budget offered at the new price point. I must say I am a sucker for % off.... for example the motobecane fantom cross uno pro is in that price range as is the CF Record.
So, now that my budget isn't so puny are there other bikes I should be looking at in addition to the WT, or is that (as it seems might be the consensus) still the clear victor?
Thanks again guys, I think you have already helped me a lot!
QM
So, now that my budget isn't so puny are there other bikes I should be looking at in addition to the WT, or is that (as it seems might be the consensus) still the clear victor?
Thanks again guys, I think you have already helped me a lot!
QM
The Pound Sign: KiloTT isn't a terrible bike and certainly if you bought what you were originally looking at you would be doing worse but it is not that great of a bike. It is a fine starter bike and while rife with odd sizing would still work fine.
When in doubt always ramp up your budget. Life is too short of cheap bikes. Get something nice that fits you well and is comfortable and in the case of single speed and fixed gear is nice and quiet and smooth. I hate clunky drivetrains and with a fixed gear it is cheap to build a smooth drivetrain compared to doing it with a geared bike.
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Bianchi Pista looks pretty nice. There are a couple of Crew bikes on sale that cost about as much as the Mercier. I will probably go with the 'starter,' then if I consistently commute with it will move up the ladder. It is a bit of a chicken or the egg dilemma, as if you have to climb on a janky hoopdie every morning you may be less enthusiastic about the trip, so won't ride, so won't be able to justify getting the bike that you would actually want to ride every day.
Again, many thanks for your input I really appreciated it.
Again, many thanks for your input I really appreciated it.
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks again guys! Well I bought a starter set up and was riding about 10 miles a day. There are some things that aren't great...and I saw I really good deal on new oldstock so went ahead and bought a Pinarello Lungavita which should last me a while.
Last edited by QPM; 04-12-20 at 07:45 PM.