i need a second opinion...
 

I wasn't sure whether to put this in the track or road section, but I figured I'd get a little more feedback here. I'm looking into getting a fixie primarily for commuting. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the Bianchi Pista and the Motobecane Messenger. the Pista sells for $550 and the Messenger retails for $795, but goes for $347 new on ebay. I realize the Bianchi has a more aggressive geometry, so thats something I'm thinking about, but it look soooo sweet. Anyway, here are the links.

Messenger- http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem

Pista- http://bianchiusa.com/06_pista.html

I was looking at the Pista the other day. If I had ANY reason to get a track or fixed gear bike, that would be the one. It looks so classic, and probably has that familiar feel all nice Italian steel bikes make.

I'd take a look at IRO as well
http://www.irocycle.com/
head over to the singlespeed forum and you'll learn more than you can imagine

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!



















:eek:

Whats a fixie?

The $795 figure is as good as fake, no one buys them for that. You can buy it on bikesdirrect.com shipped for the ebay price.

The pista is better if you don't mind paying extra, but if all you want to do is commute why not get the cheaper one and upgrade it as parts faill. Just a thought.

Get a recumbant. They're IN right now.

Again I say,



AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!:rolleyes:

dude, do a forum search. before somebody kills you.

Have any of these guys every used the Intarweb before? You would think the idea of a SEARCH would be a new feature or something.

LOL yeah do a search and you'll find commuting on fixies has been real popular lately.

save your 500 dollars for beers

iro

/had to be said

first of alll; why were you considering posting about this in the track forum if you're interested in a bike as a commuter?

you might want to reconsider your allocation of 500 dollars and redirect it to a few sessions of counseling. perhaps then you'll find at least some semblance of an identity.

then again, you could get the bianchi, chop and flop the bars, put a front brake on it, and then ride it to the ******bag early adopter bar where everyone gets their musical advice from spin magazine (because if you're afraid of the not-so-aggresive-at-all geometry of the pista, your ***** will hurt too much to ride the bike anywhere BUT that bar, and on the sidewalk). then, if you're lucky, some of those people will be just trendy enough but just clueless enough to think that your bike is pretty edgy. you will gain points.

I would strongly suggest a Pontiac Trans Am- you know, for commuting:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...QQcmdZViewItem


*****in'.

Ryan Ingersol, you are the center square.

http://www.catbirdseat.org/catbirdseat/bingo.jpg

ok ok, cut the kid some slack, he's only 22 and the poor bastard lives in oklahoma fer chrissakes, he's got it hard enough already without us piling on.

the best bang for your buck is prolly gonna be the iro mark v, found here http://www.irocycle.com/complete_bikes.html

the other two you mentioned come with crappy components which will make your life difficult and cause you to spend lots of money replacing them.

man, that seller should totally say that it used to belong to Da Flame of the Icy Hot Stuntaz

You need a hug, don't you?

didn't oklahoma outlaw fixed gears along with butt sex? (no censor on butt sex?)

yeah a trans am is great for commuting 'cause: the same reason track bikes are great for commuting.

Look to yourself. You'll find the answer within.

I've been riding the Pista since 2004. I think its a great bike. I could tell you all about my experiences with it if you want. PM me. I can't comment on the Motebecane because I've never seen it. I don't know the bike and couldn't make the link work nor could I find it on ebay search. I did go to the motobecane webpage for this bike. http://www.motobecane.com/MBUSAmsg.html

#1 - I noticed that the Messenger has brakes, not one but two brakes. From what I've read, the rear brake is not necessary for a fixed gear bike. I don't know from experience. I run my Bianchi Pista as a track bike on the street. (No brakes.) After reading, it appears that brakes are an extra cost option on the Motobecane. I believe one brake is an extra cost option on the Pista also but it is not stated that way when you read the specs on the Bianchi website. Pista is not drilled for a rear brake.
#2 - Pista has steel bars. Messenger has aluminum. Depends on how you handle your bike whether this will affect your decision. Personally I enjoy not hearing the creaking or feeling the flex of the handlebar and stem everytime I wind up.
#3 - Stem on the Messenger appears to be a conventional threaded headset and stem combination. On the Pista it is a threadless headset. Since most every manufacturer of quality is using threadless these days, I would say the Pista has an advantage when replacing these parts, and service life also. Threadless are supposed to last longer. Although mine is notched already but I think that is due to not having been adjusted properly in the beginning.
#4 - It looks like the Motobecane comes with both fixed cog and freewheel. Depending on how you ride, this may be a factor in your decision.

Based on the geometry alone, the Messenger is a commuter or road/fixed. The Pista is a good entry level track bike. I know this from experience.
Since you know about the quicker handling geometry on the Pista, then I would probably make my decision based on that. If you just ride leisurely and want something that most people don't have then I might go with the Messenger. Again, if you want better performance go with the Pista.

Specs for the Bianchi Pista
Components:
Style: Track Bike Headset: VP AheadSet, 1" threadless
Sizes: 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61cm Handlebar: Bianchi steel track, 26.0mm
Color: Chrome Plated; Gang Green Stem: Bianchi alloy
Frame: Bianchi DB CrMo, rear entry track dropouts Brakes/Levers: Alloy front caliper brake
Fork: CrMo w/ single aero lever
Retail Price: $549.99 Crankset: Truvativ Touro Track, 48T
Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Power Spline cartridge
Chain: KMC
Sprocket: 16T fixed cog
Pedals: Resin, toe-clip compatible
Wheels: Bianchi hi-flange track hubs, Alex AT400 32h
rims
Tires: Continental UltraSport, 700x23C
Saddle: Bianchi Velo
Seatpost: Alloy, 27.2mm

Motebecane Messenger
Specifications:
Full ChromeMolybdenum Steel Custom Frame and TaperBlade Fork.
Wheelset: Precision sealed bearing hubs, Double-Butted Stainless Steel Spokes,
Double-Wall Rims Rear Flip/Flop Hub (dual sided fixed/freewheel)
TruVativ Crankset 48T 16T FreeWheel 16T Fixed Cog
Aluminum Stem/Bar/Post Velo Road Saddle
Front and Rear Aluminum Caliper Brakes Aero Brake Levers (extra cost option)

If you're talking about for the street, there's a fixed gear/single speed forum. It's quite popular.

For the track, however, I would go with the pista, just because of the geometry.

yeah, ive checked those out. nice frames but i'm not really interesting in building it from the frame up- their full bikes dont seem to have the same quality of components for the money.

All 3 bikes come with cheap components. Of the 3, IRO stands out, because the wheelset is much higher quality. Considering the wheels are the second most expensive component on the bike, and things like stems and cranks are unlikely to fail on any of the bikes mentioned, I'd go with the IRO, and upgrade the cheap components if and when you feel like it. With the IRO, you're getting a decent frame and good wheels. with the others you're getting a decent frame, and decent wheels. While the rest of the components are cheap they are all completely adequate for a commuter. For some reason a lot of Pista owners seem to upgrade everything but the frame.

Search the SSFG forum. I'm not saying this to be a Dick, but because you will find TONS of threads discussing the ins and outs of entry level track bikes for commuting.