little help here
 

im new to the fixed gear/single speed bike world. ive been looking at a bunch of different bikes a few pop out as similar rides just want some more info. i was looking at the specialized langster, the felt curbside, and the kona paddy wagon. so which do you like, why???

binachi pista

none of them.......IRO/KILO TT/PISTA/SOMA/ FTW

What's more important is which one you like. Nothing wrong with any of them, pick one and roll.

Soon enough, you'll be infected with N + 1 and it won't matter.

My first fixed gear bike was the Bianchi San Jose. I felt the Pista was too aggressive(plus the one I rode was a bit small). San Jose is more versatile and came with brakes. Brakes are good things to have.

What type of riding do you do or hope to do?

around the city not too long of rides (to start anyways) commuting that kind of thing i like the idea of a front brake for emergencies, and something light and upgradable are important. plus i dont want to spend a fortune to start out.

Anything other than a Curbside. If you buy a curbside I will make it my lifes work to find and destroy you.

Ugliest. Bike. Evar.

I know the argyle shocks your brain into instant aversion, but I think the curbside is OK once you change out the seat and pull off the pad.
See:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/...0b601c.jpg?v=0


I've seen much worse, including the langster. Those bikes need a good scrubbing.

This "bike" is much uglier than my felt.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/...a0257c.jpg?v=0

Just forget about what people think about your bike and ride what is most fun.

the curbside sucks.
the langster is eh..
paddywagon is the most decent of the bunch.

You can always go to a second-hand store, try the rides and take a good fit to your LBS and get yourself a SS/FG wheel. You can even have them help you convert it. You'll make new friends. You'll have a good fit and you'll have a one of a kind. Just sayin'

The Langster's design is the least inspired, but its parts loadout and its build quality are probably the best.

The Curbside is just pandering.

i like my steamroller...i would like to build a bike from the frame up and i would probably go with a bareknuckle

swobo sanchez is better stock than bianchi pista and the same thing

and swobo is a cool acronym

surly or iro or eai brassknuckle/bareknuckle are ok

soma meh
kilo crap
pake trash
that felt thing is just stupid, a complimentary top tube pad and matching seat with obnoxious green

wait, what do you ride anyway?

Is this a rumor floating around Richmond VA?

Or is it just how y'all talk, that you say something is the 'same thing' as something else, when they're not?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...3&postcount=28

somas are nice as well as surlys and bareknuckles...all quality steel
a lot of people rock the kilo tt and i like em pretty well too especially the green...

actually that bike is much cooler

Short rides around town can take any geometry you want; from real aggressive track to laid-back cruiser. So you can get riser bars, bullhorns, moustache bars, drops, whatever you like. For longer rides, you'll need more hand positions so I'd go with drops or bullhorns. Aggressive geometry is best for slow moving tricks, weaving around pedestrians, traffic. Road bike geometry will feel better for the longer haul; depends on your fitness, size, weight, etc. A track bike screaming down a mountain at 45 mph would be quite scary(more likely to shimmy); scary enough on a road bike but thrilling.

Deep drop track stems look cool but for long rides you've got too much weight on your arms, shoulders, and it'll make your back hurt. Zero degree drop or even a slight rise is better.

I prefer mountain bike pedals/cleats but for riding around town most go with clips and straps so they can stay in their walking shoes. On longer rides, this isn't as important so I'd go with spd(mtb.) or spd-sl(road) type pedals and shoes.

Glad you like it. Right now it is brakeless, but I've got to put some sort of way to activate the coaster brake or my five year old is going to need new shoes every week.

your probably better off welding some canti studs on the front fork and putting a front brake on.