Cyclist0812

Hello everyone, first post on these forums. I'm looking for some advice on buying my first singlespeed road bike which ill be using to commute about 10 miles round trip 4 times a week, possibly more. Ive decided on a singlespeed because the roads around me are relatively flat and i want to keep it simple. Id like to spend around $500 but could increase this if there was a substantial reason to do so. Im 6'4" which rules out some bikes as ill need a larger frame.

I'm looking for something that will be reliable / is smooth on the road and has the option for fenders and racks. I'll be bringing water / food / clothes to work and the idea of putting it on my back is not appealing. I don't want a fixed gear as i want the option to coast while commuting but if it has a flip hub that's fine. The plan is to buy a new bike now so i can stop driving and then i can spend my time building up another singlespeed for fun. So what do you guys think? Ive done research on this and have some bikes in mind, but want a new perspective / other opinions.

Looking for:
- Singlespeed for commuting.
- Around $500 but can go higher if there's a good reason.
- Im 6'4", need a larger frame.
- Fenders / racks / lights capability.

Thanks everyone.

wroomwroomoops

It's pretty obvious that you want the Surly Pugsley:

In fact, that's the default choice for every gentleman or lady who starts interesting threads, such as this one. Look no further, this bike is the prime choice of every discerning cyclist in your situation.

ianjk

https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_wt.htm

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm

https://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/commute/2010--925

shubonker

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...r/timeline.htm

ianjk

doesn't have the extra rack eyelets on fork for rack.

Rex81

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/soho/sohos/

I love my Soho S. It's cheap, smooth, verstatile, and doesn't attract thieves. Also has a more upright position so it's super comfy and keeps your head up in traffic.

somerslam

Salsa Casseroll. I am 6'4'' and this is what I commute on daily. It meets all of your requirements. It is more than $500; not by much and well worth it. I truly love this bike.

buffalo_cody

+ 1 for the Salsa Casseroll.

Cyclist0812

Thanks for all the great replies. I was thinking about the Kilo WT, but wouldn't be able to ride one before purchasing which is unfortunate. How hard are bikes like these to put together once you get them? I'm new to wrenching on bikes other than changing flats and don't have many tools. I like the Salsa Casseroll but not the color it comes in and its a little out of my price range. The trek soho s is an interesting bike. Ill have to think about that one as well.

illdthedj

although i didn't do this myself, i would suggest just going to a local bike store in your area....a google search will help, considering there are usually store reviews (so you can pick one that has good customer service rating) and look at what they have available.

if they are a good LBS, you should be able to just tell them your requirements and price range.

i bought my road bike online, and although at the time i had the same experience you had putting a bike together, i have a brother who has worked in a bike shop for a long period to help me put together. putting a bike together on your own, when your experience in that is limited, although doable, i would not recommend because there are allot of nuances to putting a bike together that arn't necessarily obvious.

another great thing about buying from a LBS: they tend to give you free tune ups for a year or so, which is nice. also, developing a relationship with a LBS is good because if they get to know your face they tend to be much more helpful in educating you about things.

sooprvylyn

Actually most of these bikes come preassembled, except wheels pedals and handlebars need to be put on when you recieve them. You should have no problem putting it together yourself, just have a friend who rides check your work to make sure you did it right.

Bikeisland has good frame/fork prices if you want to build your own bike

https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...Framesets-Road

shubonker

That's what they said about Apollo 11 before it landed on the moon.

cc700

redline 925 is pretty freaking tops at that price point.

it comes with fenders. if you can deal with the bullhorn bars, it's probably set to go.


if it were me? transit weaver. it's a performance bike bike, but it doesn't look like one and it will be way more comfortable. you can be fast on anything, but a little skinny tired punk bike isn't going to handle whatever you can throw at it... and for 500 i'd rather have disc brakes and tires i can murder small animals with and still make it to work afterwards.

wroomwroomoops

The frame doesn't have eyelets for fenders and racks. If you really want to murder little (or even mid-sized) animals and still carry your groceries home, all the while protecting your design t-shirt from the blood splatter, you should go with the Pugsley, as I have recommended.

PedallingATX

he wanted a road bike, though. I agree w/ the Salsa Casserroll recommendation. I really like that bike.

cc700

it says it does have eyelets for racks... not sure about fenders but, i think it's kind of moot to keep suggesting bikes that are going to cost hundreds more than his max just to roll.

the weaver has rack eyelets and you can probably fit fenders on with some ingenuity anyway, with the clearance on that frame it would probably be easy.

wroomwroomoops

The pug was clearly a tongue-in-cheek suggestion; I just picked on your idea for fat tired bikes to revive it.
Though I must say, I don't see the fork on the transit weaver having eyelets for fenders. But of course, clip-on fenders will always get the job somewhat done.

wroomwroomoops

Nothing wrong with fat (yet smooth) tires for urban riding. Ask jim-bob. Or me.

Cyclist0812

The redline 925 does look like a really nice bike. The only problem is im 6'4" so im not sure how their largest frame size would work for me. It looks like they don't make them too large. I guess i am not specifically looking for a roadbike, i just thought that would be optimum for commuting and riding fast. I think my next best option is to go ride some and see what feels the best.

vegipowrd

Can you tell us anything about what sort of conditions you will be riding in? Lots of traffic? You may want something more upright. Lots of bad weather? You may want disc brakes. Live around a ton of snow? Aluminum frame could be nice.
etc.

Cyclist0812

Well i live in northern California. So most of my riding will be sunny days. Ive never commuted before on bike and plan to keep my car, so im not sure what i'll want to do when it starts raining. Ill be riding in some traffic, not very dense city though. Some of the roads are real tight with no bike lane, but most are opened up a little bit. I'm hoping this can be my go to bike for commuting, riding to stores, getting groceries, visiting friends, basically everything. I will be riding back home after dark so ill need lights etc. I have a nice full suspension mountain bike which i will also be enjoying this summer. I think it might be nice to have a fast nimble commuter bike to contrast the mountain bike, but still have it be reliable riding everywhere and capable of slapping on a rack and fenders.

ianjk

I wouldn't say the come preassembled, while you can just slap the bars and pedals on and ride, it is worth it to go over the wheels/spokes/bearings, make sure everything has grease/lube, make sure cog/lockring are tightened down properly (even if you don't use the fixed side, if you forget and then decide to flip it one day, it could be trouble)...

F4UX3/2

the salsa casserole is a pretty sweet getting around bike, that can also be set up as a geared bike should you find yourself wanting to explore some of the awesome climbs we have up here in the future.

I've found bikes direct 4130 steel frames are noodles with a ride quality worse than most of the aluminum I've ridden, ya they're cheap but... they're cheap. Some of these hipstards, for some reason unknown to me, think track geometry = commuter. It doesn't take rocket appliances to figure out that a bike made for a velodrome is probably not you're best bet for commuting, and you were asking for a single speed road bike, not a fashion statement.

An older jamis sputnik however would be my top recommendation, the new ones are heavier and come with a steel fork where as last year and later are around 17 lbs with an Easton carbon fork, it's got more relaxed geometry, and did I mention they are 851 steel- between that and the carbon fork the ride is really really nice. You'll have to do some searching, but at your size you might be able to find a still new older one at a discounted price, or a used one, and that would put it into your price range.

cc700

the cassaroll does EVERYTHING... but to do it you'll spend twice what you want to spend now.

i got the schwinn world street pictured below(without panniers but WITH disc brakes, fenders, and a rack) for 500. it's got gears and it's not very hip looking, but damn is it a good bike for getting around no matter what. 32c tires are fast enough and so much nicer to roll on than the kilo with its 23c's.

if i didn't live in a hilly city i'd love to just have one, awesome bike... like a cross bike or a track bike... but my taste is a little more expensive than yours. and at 6'4" you're going to have to play around with stems and seatposts on anything but a custom frame if you really want comfort and longevity. the bigger your body is the more a slight difference in fit matters.

basically, if you want just one bike under 500 and you want a singlespeed, you're not going to do better than a 9-2-5 or similarly equipped bike in your size. for that price, it really doesn't get any better.

if you were willing to spend more, it would depend. if i was never going to add gears and i never ever needed to add fenders or anything, i think a Felt Breed would be about as good as it gets while keeping the price down. a salsa cassaroll is excellent but by the time you build it up with the parts it deserves, you've dropped a grand.

LupinIII

my trek is the best commuter bike. well, not yet, it's about 80% of the way there. just need to fit the fenders and my front basket when it comes in.

seriously though, crit geo + SA 3 speed = awesome.