Road Bike for NY Commuting
 

I am looking for a single speed or fixed gear road bike for NY commuting. I have looked online and at places where I know that I can find used bikes for a good deal. But I havn't been able to find anything. A guy at a bike shop suggested buying a Specialized Langster. This is more than I want to spend on a bike, but he says that it would be worth it and that it will be hard to find anything like what I am looking for for a better price. I am worried about spending that much money and about it getting stolen in a second here in NY. Are there any better deals to be had in this city or am I left with a bike, that looks great, but also is and looks to expensive?

www.irocycle.com

not road, byt can be had with a ss on one side and a fixed on the other. what is your price range?

Ok, to get over they bike theft thing you just need a good lock, id suggest the ny kryptonite u lock for 80 bucks. This is the most bulletproof lock availible. This gives me the needed assurance i desire when i lock up. That said you purchase can now be as safe as possible, wheather its a $50 walmart mountain bike wrapped with electric tape, to some sweet road bikes.

Now for some bike insight, take note the langster is set up single speed off the showroom floor, which would require you to spend another 25 bucks for a fixed cog. Also the langster while being a track bike has geometry closer to that of a road bike, which makes for more comfortable long rides then a true track bike, a plus for comuting. Some similar bikes to consider are the raleigh rush hour, iro and pista which i beleive yield a more track oriented geometry. Some test rides would show what suits you best.

All of these bikes go for about 500 to 600 new, and many people tend to buy these already built up bikes, so it shows they are well worth. If you would rather do something cheaper, id suggest a conversion from a road bike with horizontal dropouts, usally can be done with as little as a hundred bucks.

I actually own a lanster, and it was between building up a gunnar, the expensive alternative, the iro, a great all around alternative or the langster, a budget alternative, for i picked a 05 model on closeout for a hundred bikes less then the iro.

Hope this helps, and have fun shopping and get what YOU want.

One last note, the colors played a fact for me, flat black is the most subdued, and least eyecatching color in the world, a langster would draw the least attention the a gloss black iro, and chrome pista when locked up on the street.

I'd reccomend the Fuji Track... you can usually get one for just a little over $400 brand new. thats what got me started.

+1
I got mine for like 350 complete on ebay about 2 years ago.

RUSHHOUR.



















im mean im not a geeked fan of the bike but its just another alternative that no one talks about. ever. and you can take the decals off.....after that its just dull pewter.

I do believe most of the bikes have all had their prices raised recently and are all priced about the same, with the exception of the Giant Bowery (about 100 bucks less). The Langster went from $440 a few years ago to around 600 now, give or take depending on area and bike shop. The Pista and the Fuji are the same price now also but a good way to save money would be to catch one of these on Craigslist or eBay unless you really want a brand new bike. Bianchi Pistas show up for sale every 15 minutes so if you are interested in commuting on one it shouldnt be hard to find and for fairly cheap.

I recieved a Langster for a gift and I have put a few hundreds miles on it, easily, and I am very happy. I often ride between 25 and 75 miles a day and it treats me well.

Just my two cents, but for good NY messenger/commuter bikes, advice, etc at reasonable prices, try bikeworks on ridge street between stanton and rivington. They usually have decent used bikes in the $150-$3000 range, will provide little extras (like chaining your seatpost to your frame), etc. The 3k 'used' bikes are a couple of fully restored schwinn paramount fixies from the 1940's. It's worth visiting just to see these museum pieces.

The shop is run by mechanics, not salespeople. Expect friendly service if you go on a Monday or Tuesday when it's less busy. They keep odd hours, check the website. The hardest thing about having (a decent) bike in NY seems to be holding on to it. Sidenote, hopefully bikeworks is still selling used bikes... lately they seem to be going more towards new stuff. You could try calling first. To be fair, recycleabicycle also sells used bikes, and george's bike shop on 11th or 12th between 1st and A does too.

Get the redline 925. Great bike for the price .

Stay away from bikes by george, dude is not a good mechanic, and they are overpriced.

Just a few months ago, I was stuck between the Langster and the IRO. I would've gone with the IRO but there was a wait time of like 2 months, and I couldn't wait that long, so I got the Langster at Jeff & Larry's on 87th and 2nd avenue.

No regrets, haven't had a single problem, I've probably put a couple hundred miles on it by now.

do not buy a fixie from bikes by george

maybe good advice...;) i was just trying to be fair and mention them. I've never bought anything there. Recycleabicycle dumbo seems to be overpriced too, look at their web site. $175 for a ross europa with rusty rims? no thanks.

I gotta defend bikeworks though since they've been serving the messenger/fixie community and thousands of other live-to-ride & ride-to-live diehard NY bikers since before I came to this town in 1992.