Hello everyone I'm brand new to the forums and have been reading the fixed gear forums for almost a week now. I've learned a lot but still have many questions.

I started off w/ a fixie from Craigslist. A real beater but it's gotten me on the road and I've put in about 5 miles a day for the last two months.

My wife has taken a liking to my fixie and both of us ride for health.

So now I'm in the market for another fixie so both my wife and I can ride together. She'll take my beater and now im looking for something myself. I'm just riding around the neighborhood and our local paved bike trail. I imagine I'd take it to the beach or downtown LA and cruise sometime.

I'm not looking for some super fixie or looker. But something to just get the time on the road. I'd like to spend anywhere from 300-400 dollars if really necessary i will buckle down and save for 500-600.

I've been browsing bikesdirect and have eyed a Windsor hour or timeline as well as a gravity swift 2. I understand that you get what you pay for but wouldn't mind upgrading components over time.

I've read what I can over different kinds of frames as well as frame material but still really don't understand what would be best for me.

From what I understand an aluminum frame is lighter but can't take a beating like steel. And track frames aren't rally made for long distance or climbing hills. I thought for health reasons a track would be better for my needs but doesn't rise that well on the road.

I ride in the neighbor hood a lot and am going up and down curbs quite a bit as well as some paved road that isn't maintained that well.

I've visited LBS and most fixie start @ 400 and are all color schemes for the trendy buyer. I really just want a work horse that I can put the time in.

Can anyone give this newb a point in some direction of buying something half decent?

Thanks in advance.

"Track frame" doesn't mean anything anymore. Look at the geometry charts, generally road frames have a 73 or 74 degree seat tube and a 72 or 73 degree headtube. This geometry is often found on modern fixed gear frames marketed as track frames and is generally a good geometry for casual road riding.

Any bikesdirect bike is going to be pretty good and probably better than the LBS's $400 "fixie."

Welcome to the forums!

Bikesdirect seems like the way to go for most people on these forums.

Considering your situation, I would go with steel. Steel is real. I HATE going off of curbs with aluminum, but steel? All day.
It also depends how long you are keeping your frame as part of the set-up. I have a Kilo TT (frame), it does well on pretty any city road, but I don't know much about the complete bikes.

"track"/fixed gear bikes are healthy in the fact that they promote a steady cycling cadence, making you push harder up the hills and spin down them.

If you check CL really carefully, you'll usually find a gem. Long story short? The Kilo TT, regular or pro.

2 Windsor hours, don't make your wife ride your old beater

Hey everyone thanks for the initial replies.

@FakeFuji -- I would get the wife a better ride if she wasn't such a penny pincher!!

^^ You keep the beater and buy the new bike for your wife, in a color that she likes. You can hack riding the beater for another year. Make it a game to save for the bike for you. Little competitions to fill the cash jar, out-do one another on chores, whatever makes it fun.

She'll appreciate that you thought of her, despite her thriftiness.

Oh, and no more riding off of curbs. Save your rims.

Phil G. (crumudgeon, married 29 years)

That is some awesome advice. OP should follow it and then a couple of months down the road: Oops, your beater breaks and voila! you get yourself something mean

thanks for the replies everyone. will do with the beater and the wife... work in progress!