How are the fixed gears from statebicycle.com? I can pick up from their headquarters in Phoenix for around 430 probably. I don't have my tools with me to build a bike from bikesdirect (kilo tt) and I wouldn't be confident in my ability to strip it down and build it from scratch, truing wheels, and other stuff as per suggestions here. I also don't want to try and get lucky on Craigslist.

States bicycle seems to be cheaper than a regular bike store, and I wont have to worry about sizing and building the bike iniially. So how are their bikes? Should I get one there, or am I better off trying my hand at kilott, or go with a more expensive bike store (like surly steamer for ~750?)

I'll be using the bike for commuting 10-15 mi a day, and fun rides for longer occasionally.

Thanks!

Yummygooey, it appears we have some competition here for best friendenemy.

Avoid state bicycle and the likes of all of these "cheap" fixie selling websites except for bikesdirect. The bikes on there are very overpriced for what you're getting, which is not likely to last a very long time.

Would probably be better to order a Kilo TT and take it to your local bike shop to be assembled/looked over. You'd probably end up spending about the same(or less) and you'd get a better bike.

I feel bad about taking bikesdirect to a bike shop. What is subpar quality about bikes from statebicycle? Is there something wrong with the specs? They seem to have vague components listed, at least compared to bikesdirect. Or do they just have a bad rep?

I always wondered why legit bike shops had state bicycle banners on their page. guess they gotta get paid

That's around 300 miles a week and say you avg 7 months of that- that's around 2100 miles of riding.
With that kind of mileage, I don't think you should feel bad about spending a tad more on a bike with more quality parts.

However, I don't see anything particulary bad about State's bikes. Lots of fun styles (love that Montecore), they look great.
cro-mo frame and no-name components but it all looks decent. No name seat post and stem could be comparable quality to bikesdirect, for example.

You do get more for your money from bikesdirect, not stylish but functionally much better parts and frame.
Reynolds double butted cro-mo, sealed bearing hubs (State's look like open ball bearings-not sure though).

I think the bikesdirect choices will have a better chance of giving you trouble free service.
(State could very well too, it's just more likely with higher quality components.)

The great thing about singlespeeds is they are simple. It's not like a geared bike where cheap components can really affect performance and enjoyment.
You can shop more too, there are many options in your price range.

If building up is worrying you, call a few bike shops to check willingness and prices before you decide.
good luck!

How does the quality of a ~$400 Kilo TT compare with those of bike store bikes in the ~$700+ range, like Kona Paddy Wagon, Surly Steamroller, Specialized Langster, etc.? I don't know what to look for when reading spec sheets.

Are the $700+ bike store bikes higher quality with better components than bikesdirect, or is it mostly paying for the name and bike store placement?

I have the Steamroller. Having just assembled Kilo TT for my girlfriend, I would say that the frame quality of Kilo TT is decent, but Steamroller is built way better with worse steel and is heavier. I cannot compare the components of stock Steamroller and Kilo TT, as I have assembled the Steamroller with non-stock parts. I agree with everyone else: the Kilo TT parts are Decent. But for $300 more: you will get a way better bike IMHO ...EDIT: There is a reason why a Steamroller frame alone sells for the price of the complete Kilo TT.

Edit2: After reading TejanoTrackie's below comment, I have revised my post to be more "true" Good Luck!

Untrue and untrue.

Get some.

They're probably fine, you can get a frame/fork for $100 right now. coupon code: damndatscheap

I thought you were joking. That seems like a pretty good deal...

Get what you can afford and don't listen to the haters. You can always upgrade parts as they break.

I just got the cheapest FG bike of BD and I'm loving it. I got it to have fun on, commute a little, beat up, and get exercise. And if it gets stolen(semi-likely, since petty theft is the leading career in baltimore city) I'm only out about $300 bucks. The only upgrade it NEEDED was a cushier saddle. I have a boney ass and the stock seat made me feel like I was Ava Devine after a day of shooting.

I'm not qualified to speak about wrenching on a bike, and I don't want to tell you "you can do it" and then have you not tighten something properly and kill yourself, but that's basically exactly what I'm going to do...

I was intimidated at first by buying from BD and having to assemble it myself. But it was very easy. And yes I took nearly everything apart and made sure it was greased/re-greased. Despite some others experiences - my bike was adequately greased from the factory - Still, I'm glad I checked. The only tools I needed that I didn't have were a chain whip to get the hub off. And a lock ring tool to get the lock ring off. Both of these tools cost me around $40(for both) and now I have them for future projects/maintenance. You can learn how to do it all from a book or Youtube. And once you've done it yourself you feel so confident that you can fix and tune up your bike.

Its a ****ing fixed gear bicycle, not a space station. Take your time, and figure it out. If you feel like your in over your head take it to the LBS, at least you tried.

Sorry for the essay, good luck with your choice.

yummygooeypasta

15mi x 5 days (assuming a full time job), how does that equal 300 miles?

i was in your position at the beginning of the summer. buy cheap, or spend more?

i looked at State and others of it's type.

ended up getting a Jamis Sputnik from a local shop, being very much a "buy local" guy.

then later, on a whim, i picked up a closeout bike with a much higher original price and much better component package.

i really didn't think there would be a discernible difference. there was. quality of fit/finish/ride was very apparent.

now i wish i had spent more initially.

buy the best bike your current budget allows.

but i will say that, knowing what i know now, i'd have trolled yard sales and such to find a classic bike to do a conversion on. kills me to think how many beautiful 70's Italian and Japanese roadies i passed up, that would have made great fixed gears, because i thought it was too difficult. building a bike is dead easy. the only thing i haven't taught myself to do in the last three months is how to lace a wheel.

lol
I meant to say 300 a month

yummy pasta is not gooey. Things that are gooey and yummy are never pasta. I'm really tired.

save money and buy a regular kilo. It isn't completely in pieces so just put it together and have a shop look it over. There's no reason to consider paying almost 200 more for a state that will still need to be looked at by a shop if you can't do the work yourself.

FINE I'll order a kilo tt and figure out how to rebuild it. Any suggestions on a good toolset to order at the same time, that'll have all the tools I'll need?

Thanks for the help and suggestions, .

Oh and I made my name first. Copycat.

Harbor freight, buy a 20 piece allen set (10 english, 10 metric), buy a 6" and 12" cresent wrench, possibly a pair of wire cutters for your brakes, might need a phillips screw driver for toe clips.

Or alternatively walk to a neighbors house and borrow these tools since the majority of middle aged men should own them.

And beyond that basic assembly, take it to a shop to have the wheels tensed/trued, and to have them check the BB. Cheaper than having them do a full build for you.

that explains the guy on my local CL today selling 3x these framesets @ $175 each. I just ordered a silver one with this code @ $109 shipped. Thanks.

Ordinarily this kind of *** calls for a U-Lock flogging, but the frames aren't that bad - at least compared to our local CL "enterpreneur" slinging WalMart x McDonald's collabo fixie for $375.