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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)

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Old 01-10-10 | 12:27 PM
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Hey, I'm new here and haven't become very knowledgeable with the site yet, so forgive me if I've posted this in the incorrect place.

I've been wanting to get a new bike for months and really want to break into the world of fixed gear. I've been checking on my local craigslist constantly, but haven't found anything (I'm 5'2" with a 30" inseam). I've found the infamous bikesdirect.com and am between the Windsor Clockwork, Mercier Kilo TT, and just started looking at the Motobecane Messenger.
Could anyone give me some pros/cons of each, or just tell me which they prefer and why? I don't want to drop that amount of money without getting some advice.

Last edited by crulien; 01-10-10 at 12:40 PM.
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Old 01-10-10 | 12:33 PM
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I say go for the mercier kilo TT; it's specs are nicer and it's colorways/ models go the farthest out of the entire bikesdirect.com lineup....
Never owned one but ridden/ helped upgrade many of my friends; it has a very solid ride and the kilo tt is very versatile..... although there have been recent threads about tire clearance & the kilo TT.....
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Old 01-10-10 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by happypills
the kilo tt is very versatile.
A surly steamroller, crosscheck, a bianchi san jose or that Kona fixed gear is versatile. A kilo is just another track bike with no fender mounts, no rack attachments, no tire clearance and geometry built for performance rather than comfort. There isn't a lot you can do with a kilo that would count as versatile
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Old 01-10-10 | 01:11 PM
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While a bianchi would be very nice, this is going to be a starter bike for me. Even the price of the kilo tt on bikesdirect is pushing it a bit, price-wise, for me.
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Old 01-10-10 | 01:15 PM
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Get the Kilo TT and put on a front brake. It's the best value for money.
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Old 01-10-10 | 01:22 PM
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What do you plan on doing with the bike? That would be the best place to start. Riding for fun, commuting, posing, tricks, getting some TP...
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Old 01-10-10 | 01:27 PM
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Not to sound completely out of it, but what is TP? Mostly I'll be using this bike for just riding for fun and small amounts of commuting.
I have quite a few friends who swear by fixed gear bikes and it has always been something that I've wanted to get into. I think, after I get used to riding fixed, I'd enjoy learning tricks, etc.

Last edited by crulien; 01-10-10 at 02:19 PM.
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Old 01-10-10 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by elTwitcho
A surly steamroller, crosscheck, a bianchi san jose or that Kona fixed gear is versatile. A kilo is just another track bike with no fender mounts, no rack attachments, no tire clearance and geometry built for performance rather than comfort. There isn't a lot you can do with a kilo that would count as versatile
kilo has rack/fender mounts.
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Old 01-10-10 | 01:55 PM
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Bikes: 82 Bianchi ECO Pista, Pake, Kilo TT, some *** bmx i found underneath an old house

Originally Posted by Brian
What do you plan on doing with the bike? That would be the best place to start. Riding for fun, commuting, posing, tricks, getting some TP...
Originally Posted by crulien
Not to sound completely out of it, but what is TP?
lulz
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Old 01-10-10 | 02:15 PM
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Also, I've been looking at a fixed chromoly road bike from Crosslake on ebay. Are they at all worth it comparatively?
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Old 01-10-10 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by erichsia
lulz
You guys are a bad influence on me.
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Old 01-10-10 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by elTwitcho
A surly steamroller, crosscheck, a bianchi san jose or that Kona fixed gear is versatile. A kilo is just another track bike with no fender mounts, no rack attachments, no tire clearance and geometry built for performance rather than comfort. There isn't a lot you can do with a kilo that would count as versatile
There's always easy work arounds.... and those bikes are almost double if not more than the kilo TT......
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