pista or steamroller?
 

ready to purchase a new ss fixed, fairly new.

looking to eventually add parts and components.

which is the better initial buy? more bang for your buck.

Surly makes sweet bikes.

surly.

i really love my steamroller, i can't wait to put some larger tires on it...i am curious about how the ride will be with 32s since i have been riding 23s since i have had the bike

Take it from experience, if you are going to start swapping parts, just build your own. Find a guy or gal at your LBS who is cool and helpful, tell them what you want (and if you don't know yet, then try to find out from them and from searching these threads), listen to their advice, be prepared to spend more than you would otherwise, and you'll come out of this process with a better bike and (most likely) having saved some time and money.

P.S. Otherwise Surly and Bianchi each have their virtues. Components on each are pretty good entry level components. But, if you want high quality, you should just build your own.

i'll generally agree with this. but, i bought an iro complete and have basically switched out all the parts at this point, i did spend a good bit of money, but theres no way i would have been able to make a purchase that large all at once. now im looking at new frames. i'm planning on getting one sometime during fall, and then build the iro back to stock, throw a brake and some fenders on and have a foul weather bike. if you do plan on just building up one bike and keeping it for awhile, maybe get one of those bike island frames, then go to you LBS and get parts. or at least buy a kilo or windsor or cheaper complete bike and add to that.

It is easier to learn from riding and thereby finding out about what kind of bike you should get. I suspect that that is what most of us did (I am still doing this with the Steamroller I bought a year ago), who did not already have experience with track bikes before. It costs more money to learn this way. But it may be necessary, given that you may not have access to a really kick-ass bike shop where they can help you out.

pista if you're going to race on a track.
surly otherwise.

Why no iro?

Also don't buy a bike planning to replace stuff. Most of the parts on either of those bikes will be fine for quite a while.

pedals, saddle and maybe tires are all you should be worrying about.

From riding my brother's Pista and my cousin's Steamroller, the Pista felt a little lighter and slightly more nimble, while the Steamroller felt a little more sturdy and a touch heavier. Personally I'd take a Pista over a Steamroller because i don't think i need the wide-tire-friendly qualities the steamroller offers.

what sold me on the steamroller was the lugged fork and the color...i thought it would be a great 1st fixed gear and it is

The difference in ride is due lagely to the angle of the head tube, if my memory serves me correctly.

Also I think that I could beat someone on the track riding either a Pista or my beefed up Steamroller. If you're really going to ride track and that's it, don't buy either of these bikes.

Get a Pista concept or some super stiff carbon-fiber frame

i want to ride my steamroller on a track but alas no tracks where i am

The Pista is sorta heavy- I can't believe the Steamroller is heavier...

I like the responsiveness of the Pista, and if you're new to fixed gear/track, it'll be diving in head first where as the Steamroller is a bit more cruiser friendly.

I agree, do not get either one of those bikes for the track. And the hubs on the Pista are crap, plus the chrome flakes off... I'd probably go Surly. Surly is loved to death by Surly owners, but a lot of Bianchi people aren't really "sold" on the Pista.

The concept would sort of suck for street riding- too stiff.

I have both and they're both the older models, brown Steamroller and flat black Pista. I only ride on the street and I much prefer the Surly. And yes, the Steamroller is heavier.

what size is your steamer? i am just curious, i am 6 foot riding a 56...very comfy

I've got a 53. I am short, 5,6. I had to get a Deda stem that drops more in order to make the bike really a comfortable ride when I'm racing in the streets. (Of course, I don't ride the Steamroller in the track; the rental bikes at the track aren't bad, and I don't have to buy track wheels and tires).

hmmm, racing in the streets something i haven't done
i am thinking about a flat bar or riser soon for commuting...most of my riding is commuting and the rest is just cruising around town and errand runs or tricks, i never use the drops unless it is really windy

We have bike friendly roads around here and large, empty University parking lots for sprint racing etc.

You know what? I don't thnk that careless cares about this thread. He seems to have opened and left.

surly... it has a brake

i need to track down the rest of the fg community in my town and organize some kind of event...i ride alone or with my fiance' most of the time...sprint races would be great, just riding with other fixed gear heads would be great too