Here's my story, I started riding about 2 months ago, I bought a converted SOVEREIGN for $100.... & boy was i excited!! I replaced the crank, pedals, bottom bracket & wheels, good to go!! I learned to skid on my second day riding! I rode every day a minimum of 17 miles up to 40ish miles! i felt unstoppable!! I became a BEAST!! Smashing! my points is i became pretty reckless, any who.. on my nightly ride i was going down the a hill JAMMING in traffic! my front rim froze, the hub just popped! (best way to describe it) i flew & landed like an arrow on my shoulder, completely ripped my ligaments... now im afraid of the convo & im looking at the MERCIER KILO TT thinking it will be good for my paranoia ..... make any sense people?? I want a good strong bike but not deep in the pockets...HELP!!!!

I'm glad that you're still alive.

About the Free Spirit...how did the hub pop or how did the front rim froze...?

If you're a big dude, you will feel the Kilo TT flex...but if you aren't, you'll be fine.

Free Spirit fixie conversion? A Kilo will seem like a Porsche to you.

Are you sure you aren't exaggerating a little?

Yeah I guess. It's more like an upgrade from a Yugo to a Volkswagen, is that better?

Maybe when you get a kilo make sure you have a front brake, don't skid, wear a helmet, and you won't eat ****!

Hub popped and rim froze? gnar!

I think you just need an aerospoke up front, bro. Their rims are freeze proof and all that plastic around the hub keep 'em from popping.

lol!! Trust me i know!! I was going hard on a piece of SH*T!!! but loved the rush!! ok ok, it was my fault (the accident) my front rim became loose after some rides on rough streets so i tried working on it myself, I couldn't get it tight on my fork, but eventually it stuck. IDK as i was riding it just stopped turning & i began to skid with my front tire (no control) & all the nuts,washers around my front hub exploded everywhere, it seemed that a pressure of rolling hard on over tightened front hub to the frame just gave out..... rookie mistake, now im afraid of building up my Convo & riding it. I need a new Ride & the MERCIER caught my eye, but i ride hard. Can it take it? im 5'8/ 170 lbs & the 53' would be good.... How about the SE Lagers?

idk man, sounds like you just ride too hard for most bikes. Might need a custom built Ti bike to keep stuff from popping and locking on you.

why didn't you wheelied it out?

I know I'm an idiot, ha! Wheelie?? I was busy being Thrown!! Ha! But yeah I had no time to react, it was down hill, middle of the lane & with traffic, but besides all that.... Medicatio advise! I been out of commission for 2 months & I'm ready to ride! %m not doing convos any more but I need a GREAT bike for a good price. Pake frame? Mercier (too heavy?)

I think you'll be hard pressed to find anything that's too heavy compared to a Free Spirit.

You are too strong for any of those budget frames.

You need NJS.

Joking aside, the Kilo TT will be a good bike for you, I should remind you that their sizing is a bit different than the other bikes. Take measurements of your old bike and compare it against the Kilo then get the size that's closet to your old bike.

NJS? Not to sound ignorant

NJS means it meets a standard that is higher than all other bikes. If something is NJS, it means it's automatically stronger, lighter, and faster than something that isn't NJS.

Rampant ******baggery... Yes, you'll be fine on a kilo but, as advised above, wear a helmet, use a brake and maybe tone down your gnar dawg rage ripping on the streets. The crash sounds bad, so no doubt it taught you a lesson.

o rly?

does that work for the rider too?

+1, colour red + anything NJS = the fastest parts on the planet.

Alright people, KILO its is... that gold 1 has my name written all over it! I hear the parts on those KILOs arent the greatest, would just getting the frame be kool? for the price i mean...... that Makino NJS is crazy!

The best thing to do would be buy a complete Kilo, then ditch every component and replace them with top of the line stuff. So get a nice carbon reynolds wheelset, Sugino 75, Dura-Ace, or miche advanced crankset, the most expensive track bars you can find, mks rx-1 track pedals/mks steel toe cages/toshi doubles, micheline pro race 3 tires, izumi model v track chain, etc.

Ok Ok!! Keep it going TBRO! Im taking notes!!! Rest in piece Blue Meinie!!

Man, I lol'd to that one, I couldn't resist, I doubt anyone can when there's a free spirit bike causing bodily harm to a unknowing rider; glad you survived.

Yea its standard issue in the military. There's NJS guns, rifles, vests, you name it.