Loryn

Hi, I'm new to BikeForums, and about to pick up my first fixed gear. Just tried out a Fuji and Bianchi in 49 cm. I'm not sure which of these two I should lean toward. Please make any recommendations. I'm trying to find a 2009 model on a relative dime. Would love at least a carbon fork for shock absorbency, since I want to go long distances. Thanks.

hairnet

did you also try the Jamis and Specialized? Which Fuji and Bianchi did you try? Your butt will still feel buzzed on a stiff Al frame+carbon fork, I know mine does. Wide tires helped that

dansjustchillin

Although i have other bikes I do like my langster a lot. Mine is not stock at all though. If you get one upgrade the wheels first. The stock hubs are super cheesy, If you don't kill the bearings first you'll strip the threads.

dookie

in my opinion, the steel, relaxed geometry sputnik is by far the better distance bike. yes, i own one...because i wanted a road oriented fg. i have done many 100 milers on it and i find it very well suited, but as has already been said, comfy tires will do far more for you than a carbon fork.

PedallingATX

sputnik is a brilliant frame. I highly recommend it. Way nicer than a Langster...and that's not just opinion.

Loryn

@ Dookie - so fatter tires are the way to go for comfort. Can you recommend some brands/types? Wowow on the many centuries! Can I ask how long they generally take to finish on your Sputnik! Thank you.

Loryn

Thanks everyone for your input! The Fuji and Bianchi weren't my size and don't have the carbon forks like the Sputnik and Langster. I can't find a 2009 Sputnik in my size (49 cm), so going to have to consider another Jamis model. Wondering about the difference between aluminum vs. steel, with carbon forks. Want something light, but as comfortable on my saddle as possible for long distance. Can't wait get my first fixed!

F4UX3/2

I own a special_ed langster, it's so-so on the street and about the same on the velodrome, I only bought it because I came across one used on craigslist at a really good price, and I mean really good because it's one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen (boston edition). I plan on ditching it as soon as I hit cat 4 on the track. and I second that the langster stock wheels are crap- I replaced them right off the bat.

If you are looking for comfortable tires I would recommend michelin pro 3's and the michelin latex inner tubes.

hairnet

ignore that. No one needs latex tubes except for maybe high end racers

F4UX3/2

whoa there guy

I didn't say he needed them, pal. only that they ride nicer. there's a difference friend. Ok buddy

f50fan

"im not your buddy, guy"

bbattle

The geometry of the bike and the tires make the biggest differences in comfort. Then the saddle. Don't worry about whether it's steel or aluminum or whatever. And don't waste time worrying about carbon forks. Seriously.

Test ride the bikes. Since this will be your first fixie and what sounds like your first bike, spend a few hundred miles on the stock saddle before you upgrade it. It'll take that long for your butt to get used to long rides.

Most of us use 700c x 23 tires on the road. If you went to 700c x 25 or 28 tires, you would feel less road buzz and lose very little speed. Buy slick tires, not ones with tread. Quieter, faster, better traction on the road. I use Contintental, Michelin, Pasela tires. Your bike shop can recommend you some good ones. I use Michelin Pro Race 3 tires on my roadie; they are very nice but expensive. I use Continental UltraSports and Duraskins on my San Jose.

I've completed several century rides on my roadie; it's taken me 6.5 to 7.5 hours including rest stops.

dookie

i tend to run race tires, period. i'm not a skidder, roads are generally good here, and i don't find durability to be a major issue...rolling resistance and grip are top of my list. my tire of choice is the vittoria open corsa in 25mm @ ~100psi...with latex tubes. you will not find a more comfortable performance setup, period. the latex tubes really do make a difference in ride quality. they are also far less likely to pinch-flat if you really whack something. they are more costly and leak down much faster than butyl tubes however. dunno what hairnet's beef with them is...

pretty much any 25mm tire at lowish pressure should be plenty cush unless you ride really terrible roads. if you're thinking you might want wider, be sure to check the fit before you buy the bike. i can tell you that for sure the sputnik fork is tight with a 25 and will not allow a 28, though the rear is probably good for a 32mm 'cross tire. also, i find that continental gp4000s ride like bricks...which is to say, extremely durable and extremely stiff. personally, i hate 'em. (yes, the bike is wearing them in the photo. thought i'd want the extra durability on the FG. not true. wore 'em out and it now wears open corsas).

most of my centuries are in rolling hills (3k-6k vertical, over 100mi), over which i can manage an 18-19mph moving average with a group. i have done a couple dead-flat centuries at ~21mph. 46/16 locally, 46/15 flat.

finally, as of this writing ebay seller 'fob11z' claims to have all sizes of the '09 sputnik @ $600. i see a 50cm, but not 49. mine is an '07 53cm with a decidedly non-stock build. see my comments (here) for my excellent experience with jamis customer service.

dookie

PS - get the jamis!

brad3104

I checked out a jamis when i was buying a strap on water cage for my rush hour. i was not impressed with the beatnik at all. The frame looked ugly and cheap to me. Down by the dropouts looked like a mess on the 2010. I love the look of my 2010 rush hour. Looks so much cleaner. no mounts, no braze ons, clean and straight with nothing going on but sexiness. I have no idea about the ride quality of the jamis....i just didnt care for everything that was going on with the frame and the look of it. The 2010 beatnik also comes with an ugly chain guard.

PedallingATX

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At $600 for an '09 Sputnik, I'm going to go ahead and say that it's (arguably) the best deal for a production street FG bike there is right now...

F4UX3/2

d00d way to exemplify why some of us hate the new breed of fashion cyclists that have taken up a fixed gear bike as a fashion accessory. Also the OP was asking about a sputnik.

(the europhile/poseur roadie is a pretty blatant offender of form over function as well, but because a lot more people can afford a kilo tt than a pinarello, the tarck bike ridiculousness is more visible)

anyway Loryn I think most everyone would agree that loving the way a bike rides is a lot better than loving the way it looks, unless you're looking to buy something to make you look more urban and edgy, that is.

I'm not your guy, pal

brad3104

To the guy above me......

Thanks for assuming I ride a fixed gear for fashion. I'm car free and put 600 or 700 miles a month on my 2010 Raleigh Rush Hour since I sold my car. I like a bike that looks good as well as rides good. Why should I ride something that I think is ugly? My Rush Hour rides great and looks geat and is my only bike.

If were gona jump on the assumption train....I bet it would be safe to say that you own a car.....and your bike is more of a toy rather than a tool to get places. But hey, lets not go there right.

spcialzdspksman

make your own

F4UX3/2

you're just throwing out guesses, both of which are wrong, where as I assumed that because you said some really stupid ****, you were an idiot.

I already said what I used my langster for, can you not read? I assume you can because you're able to type.

dookie

cnc'ed wood is way cool, but holy crap does the 'finished' product ever look sketchy.

thegooddoctor

Looks like someone is going to paint decal and photograph that wooden bike. It's no rider! I'm not failling for it.

Loryn

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the great advice. The LBS thought enough to measure me before ordering, and the 2009 Jamis is not a fit. I'm considering the 2010, but only the white and retro aqua colors remain, and the best price I've found is $750 + CA sales tax -- not sure it's worth this many dimes. Also, "due to cost pressures," this year's Sputnik comes equipped with a chromoly, rather than carbon fork. Still, the copperfield color kinda makes my giddy, and should 1 of the 20 or so produced by Jamis magically emerge in the marketplace -- I couldn't resist.

https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...utnik_cop.html

hairnet

forget the carbon fork, that looks killer with the chrome steel fork

Leukybear 

+1 on the Jamis; I own the tokyo edition langster (has carbon fork; I got it because it was a great price on CL) and the super light aluminum ride quality is not nice at all compared to that of my chromo bikes... I suggest that alu langster owners get a carbon seatpost....

That chromoly fork cut back is BS IMO..... but that chrome fork does look dope.

Only if the OP doesn't skid.... pro 3's are expensive crap at skidding. Pavement just gorges on the rubber in skids.... and before you know it your pro 3 is flat spotted and hole'd...