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All the youngsters think single speed is the "new thing" when its actually an "old school thing" :D just like when Carlos Santana started making music with the modern bands and they thought he was "a great guitarist for a new guy" :rolleyes:

haha, for sure.
That said, as a girl you might have trouble finding a bike in a size that fits you as often track frames have high standovers and are made for gorilla men, I have no idea how tall you are. For 600 or less IRO makes nice fixed gear bikes and you can have them fit a brake for you, pistas will also be around that much, Kilo TT's as well. I know pistas go down to 49cm, with 29inch standover, IRO makes bikes that will fit people down to below 5 foot with the HD if I remember correctly, and I dont know how the size range on a kilo tt is. They make fuji tracks down to some low 40 cm size...

pick up either a motobecane messenger or a windsor the hour for a good budget bike. if you wanna spend more, and get what you pay for go with the schwinn madison. it comes with two brakes, and a freewheel.

i actually just wrote a nice thread about this. search in the first 3 pages, titled "so you want a new bike"

i was actually thinking about a motobecane messenger for a while

thanks for all the replies.
i bought a raleigh rush hour, which i LOVE.
i don't care about single-speed bikes being "hip" at all. i wanted a single-speed because i ride on flat ground for the most part.. that is all. i'm not into the "hipster" side of single-speeds and fixed gears at all.
thanks to those of you who were actually helpful and non-judgmental.

good. glad you got a bike that you are happy with. ride safe!

I would suggest a Giant Bowery. It has aluminum frame if you like that or don't mind it and the 2008 model come is black and has brakes. Also it comes with both a fixed cog and a freewheel mounted on the rear hub. According to the Giant website, the MSRP is $575. I just got a 2007 two weeks ago (I wanted the green) and am quite happy with it so far. Check with your local bike shops as most manufacturers now have some type of single speed or fixed gear bike in their line up. Since you are "totally new to road bikes" take the shop into consideration and buy someplace that makes you comfortable.

thank you kindly for the information, but i already bought a raleigh rush hour! i love it. i sort of fell off of it today and it was absolutely hilarious! i love my new bike.

Congratulations! Enjoy your new bike.

advice
 

hi jessika,

i bought a single speed bike in december 2007, the genesis flyer. if you are getting a single speed, then go for one with a flip flop hub that will allow you to have the option of riding fixed gear or free wheel.

best is to get measured up to find your exact size as fit is everything. i test rode the genesis flyer, the charge plug, the bianchi pista, the le mond fillamore and the kona paddy wagon. my budget was £500 sterling and went for the genesis as they made my frame size of 52.

any questions then just drop us a line.

hope this helps.

sebastian

Glad to hear you found a ride you like,
good luck, ride it into the ground :D

thanks for the info! i actually bought a raleigh rush hour, which does indeed have a flip-flop hub. i love it! i'm riding it a single-speed right now, but i like that i have the option to ride it as a fixed gear. it would be a good way to stop myself from coasting so much : )

Nothing wrong with coasting. Saves your energy, your chain and your chainring.