Specialized 04 Langster ??
 

Thinking I might like to try one of these for a first bike after a 30 + year gap in riding. I am now 47. Any thoughts on this ss bike ?

i think it freewheels, doesn't it? i was thinking along those lines as a next bicycle. Maybe go fixed as my skills improve

Good price. I didn't consider it because it has a compact frame geometry.

Langster
 

Probably will get you up and running for a good price, if you want Aluminum for the frame material and that Style of frame is what you are looking for. Not sure about the quality of the componentry at that price level. You will probably upgrade what you don't like soon enough, and keep what works. Fixed gear riding seems to be a constant changing of components for whatever reason. Part of the fun, I guess.


Fixedgearhead

I just bought one of those a few weeks ago and I like it. At the smae time I would recomend the IRO mark v.

Not sure what to look for in a ss, frame,wheels, etc. etc. etc. What is a IOR mark v. ?

Decide if you want a fixed gear or a ss. I believe the Langster comes stock as fixed. Could probably be set up either way with no problems, but it's nice not be be surprised when you get in your hands, especially if you were really expecting one way or the other.

I was looking at it's spec on a bike shops website ( www.eddys.com ) and it said the rear cog is a 16t freewheel...could be a typo, but then i looked at another shops website and it said the same thing...i guess a test ride would tell the truth

I just set up a friend of mine with one, it has a freewheel and yes it is a 16tooth cog. It also comes standard with both front and rear brakes.

So far she is loving the thing, she's had it for about two weeks. No complaints or worries about it so far.

the thing about the specialized is that it's kind of hard to come by. It's a good bike and all and I really don't have much in the way of complaints. I just kind of wish now that I had a little patience and just ordered the IRO. I like the small companies more then the larger established ones.

I obught one about two weeks ago, just tossed the track cog yesterday. I got about 3 miles from my house when i blew out the back tire, so i barely even got to ride it fixed. I gotta say i love the bike though. For a tallish fattish man, it fits me really well, and i'm on a 56.

I'm a little worried about losing "street cred" cause i kept the back brake and freewheel on when i switched over to fixed. Am I totally lame?

and on a related note, is it stupid to put a brooks saddle on a fixie?

no
and
NO!
If everything I hear about the brooks is truth, it's the perfect saddle for a fixie/ss if for no other reason than the comfort. (I hope it is because I'm searching for one)
I can't say you're lame or not. I can't say I'm lame or not. A lot of people here will probably tell you I'm lame and therefore not a good judge of another's lameness. I can only say that I see myself as a ray of hope in a sea of mulletude. but I could just be seeing things.

11 fixed gear bikes
11 brooks saddles
'nuff said

fixedgearhead

Street cred? Nobody cares, it's YOUR bike, screw em all.

I do like riding without using my brake on my fixed but I'm not going to take it off just in case i need to stop right away. Two brakes, same thing, who cares?

at every emergency stop, my wretchedly thrown together right knee will be thanking all of you who said "two brakes...who cares"

i only worry about street cred so i can fit in when the fixies/ss attack some city in OH, if that ever gets planned.

My SS has two brakes, F*** it! as long as your only pumping one gear, its all good. AS for the Ohio city we'll be attacking, im tryin here man. help me out a little?

Brooks saddle ?
 

Why do you think brooks saddles and fixed gear don't mix ?

I think the spacing is 120. as far as the components are concerned, I don't think they are anything great. I switched the wheels to some that I had laying around and I got rid of the bars and brakes and used an old set of tandem stoker bars that I like. Clipless pedals are next.

hammye, what did you do to get rid of the decals? It looks pretty nice in just that flat carbon color. Mine's all specialized up on every tube

oh that, well thats all photoshop. it's kinda what I want it to look like.

I picked up the 04 langster this friday to make my commute more interesting. So far this weekend I have about 70 miles on it and am loving it. This is my first SS and I think it will add a bit of variety into my training.

The only thing I dont like is the saddle. Easy enough to switch out.

that seat is awful. I put my old body geometry seat on and have been happy since

Swapped out the seat and it made a world of difference.

http://www.austin.orbilius.org/seat.JPG
http://www.austin.orbilius.org/seat2.JPG

That saddle is just like mine, but mines Yellow and an older model. Still got the genuine gel though! I love that saddle, but can be a bit rough on the balls...