Pick one please
 

If you were to get a cheap starter bike, would it be Langster, Pista, or Fuji Track? I know, they are cheaper than my last road wheel set, but I figured of the three one must be better. thanks.

I vote for the pista.

I have the 03 pista and am content with it, and have friends with the fuji (which is pretty much the same but i like the bianchi having threadless headsets) and specialized....the specialized suuuucks...the khs flite100 is worth a look too

The pista is definately the best out of the three. I own one and love it. Although there is a merciar on ebay now which is a KHS Flight 100 rebadge for pretty cheap that is worth a look, and has been discussed already, http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=82291

I have a Langster and I like it. I think you get a lot for the money. It doesn't come with a fixed cog and it has brakes. I think that's why it gets a bad rap. For an al frame and fork, it's not a harsh ride. I was pretty suprised how smooth it rides. The Bianchi is steel, which always feel nice.

I should also note that I'm 135lbs. If you're a bigger guy, steel might be a better option.

steel is pretty much always a better option

i'm going with a write-in for the KHS

at least fewer people have them already.

It gets a bad rap because it's aluminum and has a sloping top tube. Other than that, it's priced right and is generally a good deal.

Bianchi Pista! I haven't owned any of the bikes you mentioned, but I do own an old steel Bianchi road frame and like it. Bianchi pista looks best too.

Oh yeah, I think the new Lemond track bike kicks ass.

I have a Langster and I like it.

I wouldn't have bought it new, but I picked it up barely used for an alright deal.

maybe even check out an IRO

http://www.irocycle.com

Best thing to do is test ride and take the one that feels right/fits best.

I vote for the Fuji.... light, steel, decent price.

But I put in 2 votes for you just trying them out and picking the one you like the most.

I definitely vote against the Lemond. It's a road frame with track dropouts. That's bunk. If we are suggesting bikes, I also vote for the KHS.

If you've been riding road, you might be better off just doing a conversion instead of getting a new bike. Find an old frame with horizontal dropouts that fits you and has geometry similar to what you're used to, and buy a nice rear wheel for it - boom! You've got a fixie.

Something to keep in mind... If you ever plan to put fenders on this bike for any reason, rear opening dropouts are a pain with fenders. You can't get the wheel out easily with the fenders on, so fixing flats on a ride sucks. Older road frames with "semi-horizontal" (they open in the front) work much better with fenders. I don't know if you ever plan on having fenders on this bike, but it's something to keep in mind.

Thats not too easy to do around here. Only shop that respects track bikes sells Soma and they are order only and they have none to try. The other shops can get the three I mentioned and one had the Pista and Fuji, I rode both but I take around a 52cm these were 58 and something else cant remember. Really liked the Fuji, but it was closer to my size than the Pista. Test ride was in the shopping mall next to the LBS and rode back and forth for over an hour! I loved track bike and have to have one this year for sure. They though I was nuts for wanting one. oh well.

I know the feeling. I drove over an hour to get to the lbs that had some fg bikes to demo. There aren't any shops close to me that carry the goods. I was lucky that they had a 53 IRO that I could demo. I have an older Bianchi track bike that is a smooth ride, but I don't know how the new ones are. The IRO that I bought was tricked out with components that came off the Fuji Track bike. First thing I did was swap the cog. That's another thing to remember. After You ride your new bike you might start to swap stuff. I've never seen the langster, but I wold rather go with steel.

i vote for the iro as well.

you know, now that i think about it, i'd take the IRO too...in fact, i almost bought one, and every time i've dealt with tony it has been beyond wonderful.

IRO Mark V. If you want to fit fatties (i.e. 700x38c) then grab the Jamie Roy. Both great deals and a really quality seller.

Pista is pretty damn sexy if you like the chrome. I do, all the better to see my reflection in the top tube (lol) :D

I'd call Tony at IRO and buy a MarkV, best deal I've seen.

My only new fixed-gear is my Van Dessel County Road Bob. (about $700)
The other five are converted lugged steel frames from the 70-80's. ($450 or less each.)

They are all nice bikes.

I ended up having to drive 1 hour to south jersey, seaside to be exact for my 05 pista. It was totally worth it. They fitted me on a Cannondale track (only fixie they had in stock, NICE bike) and I had them order me the pista. There are great deals out there you just have to look around. I spent an hour calling all the Bianchi dealers in my general area and the bike shop I went to quoted me $450.00+ tax instead of the common $550. They actually told me the suggested price from Bianchi was $500-550 msrp, so any shops letting them go for $550 are just looking for the most amount possible.

The funniest thing was when I went to go pick it up and all the employee's where standing around the bike and were drooling. They then proceeded to polish the bike with a chamios constantly while I was being rung up. They threw in the chamios in the deal :roflmao:

The Fuji is a great bike for less money. The new one has braze ons for one bottle also.
I love mine,it handles like a dream.

what is up with that frame?!?

Although I ride a newer Fuji and like it, I am interested in the Flite and Soma bikes. The Soma might be more expensive, but it has more attention to detail. The Fuji is okay, but the handlebars and the cheap hubs have to go.

I like those IRO's, thanks for the hookup. Always wondered what those were.
Sometimes people forget these other companies, it usually starts off Bianchi Fuji Specialized. Repeat.

Not that there's anything wrong with that..I own one too :)

Oh man tell me about it. I flipped/sawed them into horns, and got a replacement dropbar for it.
The hubs thing I didn't know about...have they given you problems? Do tell please.