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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

New to fixie , how to start ?

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Old 04-12-09 | 01:22 PM
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New to fixie , how to start ?

I want to start with a decent cool track bike for speed , working out , traffic and as a commuter (no fenders or rack) .
Should I build a bike from scratch or buy a complete bike .
I can spend some cash , I know value and quality cost money .
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Old 04-12-09 | 01:27 PM
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if you're new, you should probably start out buying a bike. you don't really know what you want, and the point of building a bike is to make a bike exactly the way you want it. just go to bikesdirect.com and get a cheap ol kilo tt or something.
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Old 04-12-09 | 01:28 PM
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Budget? Experience?

I was contemplating buying my first fix, saw the OTT prices (imo) and built my own, justifying my time Vs. cost. I've gained alot more experience, having built my own wheels, things like that which I thought I'd never get around to!

Buying a complete bike saves time and money (and stress!), but I don't think you'll be as comfortable with it when something goes wrong! I know every inch of my bike, having been over them all multiple times, and I know when something doesn't sound right.

Not trying to sound all high and mightty or anything, just my personal experience!

Bottom line, if you're not confident you can build it, just buy one ready built! - Depending on budget obviously!
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Old 04-12-09 | 01:28 PM
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I went with buying a complete bike when I got my first fg. If you're down to spend the money you can always get a complete IRO or Mercier, which was the route I took and Im really stoked with my IRO.
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Old 04-13-09 | 12:00 AM
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yea IRO(www.irocycle.com) or mercier(https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm) are great place to start~ get a new complete, get to know what parts are which, upgrade accordingly~ best way to go~
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Old 04-13-09 | 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Mistawes
Budget? Experience?

I was contemplating buying my first fix, saw the OTT prices (imo) and built my own, justifying my time Vs. cost. I've gained alot more experience, having built my own wheels, things like that which I thought I'd never get around to!

Buying a complete bike saves time and money (and stress!), but I don't think you'll be as comfortable with it when something goes wrong! I know every inch of my bike, having been over them all multiple times, and I know when something doesn't sound right.

Not trying to sound all high and mightty or anything, just my personal experience!

Bottom line, if you're not confident you can build it, just buy one ready built! - Depending on budget obviously!
Oh my lordy! You explained it in less than 1 minute of reading! It took me literally an hour on someone else's thread to explain my ****. And I'm not even sure it made sense!
Anyway yeah, I might be too late but +1 on this comment, experience is ALWAYS better than having that animosity between you and your bike, but like dude above said (and like I explained for an hour that I can never get back) if you have no idea what you're doing then gradually learn your bike.

EDIT: BTW mistawes, where'd you learn to do all your shiznit (wheelbuilding specifically)? I've been having this debate in my head, the DIY vs. Buy one made. Thanks
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Old 04-13-09 | 07:40 AM
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No secrets in wheelbuilding. If you're at all mechanically inclined, with a little internet research, you'll be building wheels in no time. Especially if you're building symmetrical track hubs.
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Old 04-13-09 | 10:43 AM
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Excellent Wheel building Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTb3x5VO69Y
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Old 04-13-09 | 11:22 AM
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Go to your local LBS and try out a few different bikes to try and figure out what kind of qualities you're looking for in a bike. Use that to inform your decision. For example, if you're looking to use it as a commuter, you might find that track geo is a bit harsh for your tastes or that you do want a rack and fenders after all.
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Old 04-13-09 | 12:51 PM
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Thank you all for the great enrich info . I start understand much more ...... God bless .
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Old 04-13-09 | 01:35 PM
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I don't mean to sound rude but what part of the globe are you from? You don't have to answer that, I'm just curious.
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Old 04-13-09 | 01:38 PM
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please go away.
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Old 04-20-09 | 12:11 PM
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My location

I'm from Israel .
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