Thinking of building a fixie.
 

Hey everyone, so I'm totally new here so please excuse my ignorance to anything.
I've been biking for the past 7 years off and on but just last spring/summer I really got into it and got myself a Trek 1.5 (which I love). I've put about 1500kms on it and plan to do tons more next spring/summer.

Although, I've been thinking about biking lately, I know I don't want to take my 1.5 out in this nasty off-season weather. I'd much rather have a fixie for the daily around town bike and for a different style of biking.

I've been looking at the Trek T1, but just recently have been considering maybe building my own fixie so I could really get exactly what I want. What is your opinion, is the Trek T1 hard to beat for the price even if I build my own?

The T1 is a great bike.

If you plan on custom building, however, take your budget and double it. That's about how much you'll probably end up spending.

That's about right, assuming you make no changes to a prebuilt. However, that's rarely the case. Also, you can get exactly what you want with a custom, whereas a prebuilt will always entail some compromises. The big issue is the extent to which you can do the work yourself and not make mistakes in selecting the components.

My custom Devil cost me around $1,500 without getting into carbon or anything heavy. Figure that into your equation.

ok so maybe as just getting started into fixie road bikes the Trek T1 might be good and then I can get into a custom bike later on. That sounds probably better.

Actually, the T1 is a bonfide track racing bike that can be ridden on the road. It is certainly not what I would call entry level, and is in every way as nice as your 1.5. What exactly is the nature of your nasty weather ?

Ya I figured that. I've been looking at cheaper fixies but I'm the type of person who won't use it if it's crap. Just like with the Trek 1.5, I went from a $200 Canadian Tire "road bike" to the 1.5.

Well right now we getting a little bit of snow here and there (not enough to mess with traction). Mostly rain mixed with mud and salt from the roads. It wouldn't be used on salty roads all the time and if I were to I would definitely spray it down after those rides. I'm pretty particular about my bike upkeep.

Not to be flippant, but this does sound like a situation where a Kilo TT, The Hour etc. from BikesDirect would be suitable.

I'd get something you can put fenders on... just sayin

kinda like usin' a Ferrari to go camping...

oh don't get me wrong. I would definitely be using it more in nicer weather than in poor weather. I just would opt for a fixed gear in the nasty weather rather than my 1.5 with gears.

I guess my main reason for wanting a fixie is because I want to get into the different style of biking. The easier upkeep of the bike is just an added bonus.

Wait... I'm not supposta take my Ferrari camping?!?!

not unless its this one:
http://www.wheelsofitaly.com/wiki/im...errariSUVr.jpg

but in all seriousness, you can get a beater, and it'd still be a nice beater...

What would qualify as a "nice beater". I've seen those Kilo TTs and the like and they're definitely not my style (I personally think they're fugly)

well, if you consider your bad weather bike a T1... i dont really know...

whats your style? describe it.

I'm not quite sure. The bikes like the Kilo look like they were made in the early 1990s.

And it's not that I want to destroy the T1 (if that what I were to get), I don't even take my 1.5 out in the rain. Just from the research I've been doing I've found that fixies are easier to maintain and are also a better bike to get around town with.
I've also looked at the Specialized Langster as well....

Maybe you should get something like this very modern fixie

http://i.imgur.com/ZprCZ.jpg

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.
No, that just looks like overkill, and what's with the gold wheels and seatpost?

don't worry, they'd fit on a T1 too, so your still in good shape.

oh, dont get a langster, terrible geometry in my opinion... its like a hybrid on fixed wheels... i dont even get it.

Buy the T1 and a generic bikesdirect bike. Use the generic as the ****ty weather beater.

n+1 never fails. Ever.

+1 with GMJ's idea. Buy a beater for foul weather, and then the T1 for awesomeness.

i don't think the bfssfg bikedirect sales force will appreciate this...

Ya that sounds like the best solution.

lol just my personal opinion. I appreciate that others like that style and can definitely see the attraction to it.

So I just checked out bike direct and I wouldn't be able to order off of them even if I wanted. They don't ship to Canada, so much of that plan.
What other brands/models of bikes would you all recommend as a "beater"?

Since you don't really know what you want, may I suggest this.

Buy an older road bike off craigslist, with horizontal dropouts. Ride that through the crap weather until it starts breaking while doing research on what components you like. Buy a set a wheels, crank, chain, cog, etc. when you want to make the jump to a fixed gear. Ride it like that for awhile, and if you like it enough eventually buy a new frame and swap all the parts over.

cool. Thanks for all the helpful comments!

Now buy the T1 and post pictures of it on here. I love those bikes.