Hi guys. I'm new here. Just signed up because I'm looking for some advice.

I want to get myself a bike sometime soon but I don't really know my stuff so I don't know what to get. I've been reading these forums over the last few days and some other sites as well and I've come to the conclusion that I might want to get a fixed gear. I've been looking at Charge bikes a bit and I think those look awesome.

I am located in The Netherlands so there are no mountains around whatsoever. Just flatlands. I am planning on just getting on my bike and going for rides to get into shape.

I'm looking to spend around 500 to 600 euros. That's $863.57 max. So it'd be great if you guys had some ideas/suggestions etc. on what to look for. There's just so much stuff out there that I kinda get lost looking at all the different options.

The last single-speed I had was a BMX bike when I was a kid, but from what I understand, fixed-gear bikes are a bit tricky to ride on the street. Personally I like the ability to switch gears and freewheel, but admittedly some of the single-speeds look really cool, and I wouldn't argue that on flat lands they don't necessaily have major disadvantages over multi-speed bikes.

What I would personally do is get a bike with a "flip-flop" hub so I could switch between fixed and free-wheeling, and for god's sake run brakes! I don't think anyone on either side of the brakes/no-brakes debate would say a beginner should go brakeless.

I have lots of experience riding bikes. It's just that those were always regular bikes. Nothing special. Still I had no intention of going brakeless. Don't want to myself killed.

Basically what I want to do is go out and just ride. And try to go fast and get some good exercise out of it.

What I like about single speed is that it's much more basic. Lots less stuff that might break. And I figured riding a single speed would be better exercise as well. Don't know if that's true though. Someone please enlighten me here...

Oh and I forgot to ask. How does this flip-flop hub thing work? Are those expensive??

Single speeds are just plain cool. The simplicity is what got me hooked to them. A flip-flop hub is when you can have a fixed gear on one side (the pedals are always moving), and a free-wheel on the other side (you can coast, and of course will need brakes to stop). Most of the single speed/fixed gear bikes these days will already have the flip-flop rear wheel, so you'll already be set. Just be sure to look to see if the model you are wanting has this. In your price range of around $800 you will get a nice bike.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip-flop_hub

I don't think they are particularly expensive. Some bikes come with them stock.

And if you are worried about things breaking, well...with regular care modern derailleurs are not prone to explosion. But you are correct in that the less parts you have, the less parts you can break (and the less for people to steal if that's a problem there), and with no cables and things routed everywhere, there are less things to worry about.

I personally like to vary my rides, but I mostly ride the same routes. It's amazing how much different the same route can be at different cadences using different gear ratios. Some days I like to use the biggest ring up front, the smallest ring out back, and use my strength to haul ass (sometimes even standing up on the flats like I'm riding a ridiculously-geared BMX bike). Most days (especially after those aforementioned days, when my legs are really sore) I like to keep it in the middle ring up front, somewhere around the middle ring in the back, and pump my legs fast for a good cardio workout, and to work all the lactic acid out of my muscles.

But, that's just me. To each their own. You could also get a similar effect by varying your route on a FG/SS I suppose, but I just like the options multiple gears gives me.

I'm excited to get a new road bike too (I've never had one before, it's on order!) but I went the geared route. Like I said, I've never had/wanted a single-speed after my first multi-geared bike.

*BUT*

If you want to be a hipster, you definitely don't want to show up at the party with derailleurs and such all over your bike. And make sure you have a decent messenger bag...Chrome, Timbuk2, etc. Make sure you spend over $100 on it or people will laugh at you. It also helps if you can strike the perfect balance between originality and accepted "fixie" norms for your bike. It should be fashionably ghetto, simple yet quirky, pretty without trying, etc. etc. You'll have to ask a hipster for all the details, because I'm not well-versed in the culture. From what I understand, though, hipsters are judged almost exclusively on their bike, and what they wear while standing next to it, so be very careful in your selection of both.

EDIT: This probably won't fit in with the hipsters, but if I was going to get a FG for $800 I'd get this one (and add brakes to it) for no other reason than it's like the bike I just ordered, and the red on black looks really interesting:

https://www.feltracing.com/09-catalog...es/09-tk3.aspx

You're in Holland where theres tons of pretty nice old road frames to be had. You should just buy a fixed gear wheel set, with a flip flop hub(means you can switch to freewheel) and a decent crankset, altogether this should run you 350 euros or so. For around 20 euros you should be able to find a nice old racing frame with horizontal dropouts. The rest of the parts should be really easy to find too(stem bars seat brakes etc...) If you can find a nice old frame you'd probably end up with a much better quality bike than if you bought a charge. Also, for around 600 euros you hsould be able to get a brand new bianchi pista. I think they were 650 at lohman's in Amsterdam.

Also, in the Netherlands, to get in shape while riding a bike you really gotta ride the piss out of it. Living in the netherlands I was riding my bike more than ever(40km or more every day, just commuting) and I was still in worse shape than when I was doing 15 km a day in Spain. Biking in the Netherlands is almost so easy it stops being fun.

Maybe that's why the OP wants to go fast? Doesn't wind resistance increase at the square of velocity?

I like the idea of putting my own bike together but I don't think I know what to buy so It'd be kinda hard to get everything together. I think I'd be better of buying a bike that's ready to go. If anyone has any more suggestions for bikes that are ready to go that'd be great.

Also, I have no intention of being a 'hipster'. I just want a solid bike to go fast and far and just enjoy. The main reason I want to get a single gear is that I thought I would get more of a workout out of it.

I really appreciate all the advice so far.


@Indiglow, cool picture! Love it!!

So basically, you don't ride ssfg, but you've dropped in here to make fun of the hipsters and recommend a track bike based on its appearance?

At any rate, to the OP, it really depends on your priorities. If I were selecting a new bike in that price range, I'd be all over the Raleigh One Way based on the practical fenders and rack mounts. I like a nice looking bike, but those small, functional features are way up on my priority list. If you want something to bomb around and do tricks on and/or you want a pimped out tarck bike, others can offer input.

This thread has a list of bikes for 2009 (I think there may be a 2010 thread now as well?) if you haven't already checked it out.

Turbo- your post is full of fail. This is not a place to debate whether SS/FG bikes are a good idea or not. If you can't answer the OP's question, don't try. Also, you're not bikesnobnyc, and you're not funny.

OP- There are a lot of good options. I think the Charge Plug is a good place to start. Seems to be the most common FG bike in Europe and Australia. I'm sure its a good bike. If you want something more unique, you can do that too. Your budget should allow you to get a pretty nice rig.

I know that IRO ships bikes to Northern Europe, so you can check them out (doubt many people over there have them) www.irocycle.com. They make some really nice bikes. I recommend the Angus

Masi makes some cool FG bikes, and they have one called the especiale sprint ltd. that is really really pretty. Check it out.

Bianchi Pista is a good entry level track bike. You can probably get your hands on one in Europe, too.

Go to some local bike shops and ask them. There are probably tons of brands over there that we don't even know about. The guys at your local bike shop should be able to point you in the right direction.

I wouldn't recommend the conversion route. It's a lot more work and a lot of things to go wrong. And with your budget, there is no reason to buy a cheap frame. If you do want the experience of building your own bike, buy a track frameset and go from there. But I would probably just buy a complete bike if I were you.

You're right, riding fixed is really fun. Single speed is fun, too, but I personally like fixed gear riding a lot more. It's probably more efficient than a road bike on flat land, too. But definitely run a front brake.

I built my FG myself out of components. It was really rewarding and it feels good to see a nice finished product. I spent $665 and got a really sick set-up imo. Check out the SE bike line, The Lager or Draft are both good bikes for decent.

Go to wiggle.co.uk, order a fixed gear wheelset, preferably one machined for use with a front brake. then get track crank, maybe miche or sugino, wiggle will ship for free to the netherlands. Get a bottom bracket too. now go find a nice old koga miyata frame or a gazelle or something else thats good and dutch. Put it to gether... all the other parts like stem and handlebars and stuff should be obvious enough to figure out and easily available in holland. Seriously, all over the US people are running out of old frames to convert and in holland there are sooooo many, and good ones too!
or for 600 euros just go check out what they have at the bike store... don't go to a little dutch fietswinkel go to a proper bike store that actually deals in high end racing ****. They will maybe be able to help you get bianchi pista or a fuji or something equivalent. Or check out lohmans on the rozengracht in amsterdam, they usually have some pistas and some slightly more expensive fixed gear bikes. I think they started selling surlys recently too.

Nope!

I saw a new post from our new friend in the Netherlands who is *considering* buying a SS/FG, that happened to be in the SS/FG subforum, and gave what I consider a thoughtful response from my personal point of view, and only THEN did I make fun of "hipsters" (are they not to be made fun of?). That last part was just supposed to be an aside/joke because it's obvious the OP is not trying to be a "hipster". I was just throwing out a bit of tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted sarcasm about the whole "fixed gear lifestyle" trend, but I guess it came off wrong. You see, I live near a hippie college, and the whole thing reminds me of when skateboarding experienced a boom in the 80's, and all of the sudden every kid had skater clothes, a skateboard, and thought they could do tricks. Only now, anyone who is anyone needs to convert an old Schwinn to a fixie as soon as possible, and buy the requisite messenger bag. I Didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers, or insult the actual enthusiasts.

And the edit at the end (bringing up an example of a SS/FG for consideration) was based on the fact I did a lot of research before ordering my street bike, and (hopefully) it's really fast and a great value for money as the reviews have led me to believe, and Felt happens to make a similar bike in SS/FG configuration. I honestly think it *may* meet the OP's criteria of a fast FG/SS in his price range should he ultimately choose to go that route, but that's obviously up to him.

And does the bike I brought up not look interesting? I mean, I know I don't have fixie-colored glasses so I can't see it through your collective eyes, but it looks visually striking to me, and I would have loved that color scheme if the F95 were offered as such. And yes it's a track bike, because the OP mentioned nothing about looking cool, but everything about going fast and getting exercise. True enough, a polished steel-framed Bianchi might get him more fixie-cred, and it's certainly an option, and possibly a perfect choice. But why is my option more-or-less valid? It's not as if I represented myself as a SS/FG expert, and said, "Dude, definitely go with this bike, it's RAD!" I just threw it out there for him to look at, with full disclosure of my background/point of view. And from the looks of it, if I didn't post that link, he likely would never have seen that bike. Sure it's unlikely this is *the* bike for him (there are so many choices), but what's the harm in having a look? I mean, SOMEONE buys those bikes, right?

To the OP: I really was trying to help, despite my sarcasm about "hipsters." Good luck with whatever you decide.

Sorry, I thought by the OP saying "I've come to the conclusion that I might want to get a fixed gear" that he was soliciting pros/cons, or in your words, "whether SS/FG bikes are a good idea or not" for him personally in order to achieve his goals. Now, if he said something like "I am definitely looking for a FG/SS, so which one is the best for me?" you would definitely have a valid point.

And I'm sorry you were offended by my attempt at humor. You obviously weren't the only one, so yeah I get it, making fun of "hipsters" is taboo here and I'll stop. I'm still new here.

Thanks for all the help so far. I will go to a bikestore tomorrow and see what they have to offer.

wiggle has probably the best pricing for the charge plug stuff. they run about 700-800 usd it seems.

+1

get your self an old gazelle road bike and convert it they should be easy to come by there

Well with that amount you have more than a few single speed options, and with all flat lands a single speed is your best bet.

So if I were to get something like this:
https://link.marktplaats.nl/270033813
Or this:
https://link.marktplaats.nl/269655773

Would that work?? Would that be easy to convert? I really don't know how this all works so if someone has a link to a DIY conversion site that'd be real helpful.

And why does the frame need horizontal dropouts? What's the problem with vertical ones?

Horizontal dropouts (like the second frame) work better for fixed because it's easy to adjust the chain tension by moving the wheel back and forth in the dropout. The first bike looks like it has vertical dropouts, which require the additional complication of an eccentric hub or bottom bracket to adjust the chain tension, or else a perfect gear + chain length combo. Save yourself the trouble and get the horizontal dropouts or a new frame with track fork ends.

Sheldon Brown's site has info on doing conversions: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html. Look around until you're sure you have a frame that's in good shape and has the features you want (e.g. if you plan to run fenders, find a frame with eyelets). Be aware that conversions often quickly outstrip the cost of buying a new, complete bike. If IRO indeed ships across the pond, I'd give their bikes a close look.

second frame is perfect gazelle also made track frames you may get lucky and find one of them
or you could get really lucky and find an old gazelle fixed gear road trainer (equipped with trackends and brake bosses)