Dings

And your overall point is valid, understood, and well received.

I quite respectfully thank you, Sensei!

Namaste

OP, I see that you like classic lines & steel. Why don't you build up a nice fixed from a vintage frame? You certainly have the knowledge and can put the best on your favorite bike and be set.
Fixed/Singlespeed is truely an open book to what you can build. Crazy cool graphics laden CF to aluminum to cheap no-name mass production low end steel. BMX 3 piece cranks, low end 1 piece, stripped road rings. It really seems to be a personalized deal.
I wouldn't touch some "cool builds" with a 10ft pole, yet the love of my fixed gear life is about as low end and cheaply made as one can get. Ugly yet endearing. Hey, whatever gets you off, you know?!
Stock builds are generally cheaper in the end, which you know anyways. But I think you could build such a cool bike with the experience that you have, so why buy stock?

The bikes you posted weren't my cup of tea(maybe the Masi, maybe....) and I didn't see them as creme de la creme. But ranking bikes is hard. People stare at my CF bike and salivate. But it doesn't do that to me. Eh, get what YOU like. The rest be damned. We aren't riding it.

That's exactly what's happening. Usually he stays in the other forums but he does make his rounds here. I wouldn't waste any time directly responding to him, it's not worth it. Take a look at some of his previous posts and threads to get an idea of where this one will go.

Says he's been obsessed with fixed gears for 2 years but doesn't own one and hasn't ever started a thread in this forum until recently? All while amassing almost 5,000 posts arguing about how carbon sucks, low-end components are fine for everyone and steel is the only frame material worth consideration.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-the-Big-Idea?

Hey there Babytoes!

We're really of the same kindred spirit....

I thank you for reading my mind for confirmation!

Once I find the right frame, the game's afoot!

It would appear that a little bit of information is potentially dangerous for those lacking the cerebral capacity for critical anaylsis. The Post that you're referring to is a reflection of me, thinking about how riding a bike without brakes is so potentially dangerous. I still don't see what the big idea is all about. People who ride without brakes are foolish, unless they've mastered the technique. There should be no amateur fixie riders riding in public at full speed, when they don't have the skills to stop with efficiency. To me, that's just a public health risk and a safety issue.

However, I have always held that the single speed with brakes is the way to go. Although, I'm still amazed at the proficient fixie rider who can stop on a dime! That takes amazingly paramount skill!

************************

Yes! I urge all who care to muster the energy, to research my history within the Commuting, Road, Hybrid, and General Discussion Forums. You will for the most part observe me attempting to help newbies find the appropriate bicycles to suit their needs. You will also observe me making statements about preserving our environment by becoming less car dependent. I also have an irrepressible urge to promote and defend the use of steel in the making of bicycle frames, as that is my preferred frame material. Of course, I like carbon and aluminum too. Just not quite as much, as I do chromoly steel.

PS.

Yes. My problem is that I'm simply obsessed with all bicycles, single speeds included. I currently own four bicycles. I own my favorite, which is a 1984 Nishiki Sebring, a Raleigh Grand Prix, a Giant Innova, and a Trek 7.5FX.

Needless to say, adding another bike, deserves some contemplation...

Nice try but that's not going to work today.

If you know the definition of troll, then that's exactly what you're doing right now, at this very moment!

A troll is someone who stirs controversy, breeds contempt, causes discord, and is usually causing trouble by being a prick on the internet.

That is not how I've conducted myself here within this or any other forum.

Thus far, I've been completely courteous and thankful.

Of course, if you persist, things could change very quickly!

hahaha

this thread

because there are crazy things that should be included that you never see on the street for obvious reasons.
https://www.businesscycles.com/anchor.htm

https://www.businesscycles.com/dolan_track.htm

https://www.businesscycles.com/pinarello_pista.htm

For some strange reason, I actually like the Pinarello!

I am a huge fan of the dolans, i was considering it for a bit, but at those prices, i may as well go ti.
so i am saving for a full on ti frame next.

I'm looking forward to converting one of my steel racing bikes into a SS. If I were going to buy a SS, I like the cross versions either from BD (cheap) or the all city nature boy. Another bike that looks like fun is the charge plug prestige.

I do like the Motobecane Uno and the Kilo TT from Bikesdirect. I also wouldn't mine the Timeline.

The Kilo TT is made of virtually the same frame materials as the three you originally linked to, and the frame alone runs $225.
If you wanted to build up a steel steed, I'd recommend the Kilo DLX, from bike island. It's the TT Pro frameset without logos. Chromed tips and everything.

Coolest thing about the 2012 Pro's is that they are completely chrome plated before being painted, so nicks and paint chips just add some shiny character to the bike.

Nagrom! Where do you come from, dude?

You must have a Phd in fixies and single speeds or something! I think I'm gonna start calling you Dr. Nagram, for now on!

Thanks!

PS.

I'm definitely going to look into the DLX at Bike Island!

OP

It's not royalty, but the TimeLine (I have one) is very nice. I run it with the stock freewheel and haven't tried it fixed; I don't plan to. Be aware that the stock tires are marginal if you ride on bumpy, broken streets (i.e., Brooklyn and elsewhere in NYC). I recently replaced mine with a set of Bontrager Race All Weather 700-32s.

I suppose that a Trek District Carbon would count as royalty: A Madone frame with belt drive. From what I've read, it climbs like a scalded cat.

(By the way: I've seen some of your other posts. And, in my view, the Schwinn Slicker is very interesting. I wonder how it would do in a crit... 'nother forum for that. I'll resurrect that thread).

speaking of bike island, did anyone every buy and build up this thing or know if they are any good?

https://bikeisland.com/images/011711005.JPG

did a search, ignore post

Hey, that's a really nice looking frame. I'm really beginning to like this Bike Island idea...

Hairnet says:

When using the term "avant-garde", I guess I was attempting to create the mental image of a proven bicycle that has risen to the top of SSFG cycling, in terms of comfort, speed, agility, style, and durability. It's for these aspects of cycling that most cyclist live and breathe. Having something produced from the cutting edge of state of the art scientific thinking was not necessarily included in my thinking. To my thinking, avant garde means leader of the pack, in terms of quality. Single speeds that rise to the occasion in both service and aesthetics to the point of superiority. Single speeds that we can all claim, are the creme de la creme of all SSFG bicycles.

So when it comes to mass produced single speed bicycles, I guess whatever proves to be the fastest, most agile, comfortable, durable, and pleasing to the eye, would qualify. Since that which is most pleasing to the is subjective, I guess many single speed bikes could fit this description.



I don't really see it as a "bad way" to talk about bikes, when we select the most salient features of those bikes that give us the most pleasure. I think it's just an integral part of human nature that makes us want to categorize and rank according to our likes and dislikes. After enjoying the ride of a bicycle and then expressing your gratitude about it by exalting, promoting, and publically recognizing it, for having the features that provided that enjoyment is pure justice.

And that's exactly what I mean about that which is most "pleasing to the eye", being subjective. Similarly, our choice or preference of frame materials is also, subjective. Perhaps, the term "avant garde" places us within the mindset of the future, and we automatically become geared towards carbon or aluminum, as we visualize future single speeds. I don't know. However, what I visualize for the future of single speeds is that which is the most simplistic in terms of both ease of service and maintenance. The future single speed should have the same qualities as the ones that I have selected. They should be easy to accelerate, agile, comfortable, durable, and beautiful. The bikes that I have chosen are all beautiful bikes to me. There's no doubt that they are all durable, because they're all made of chromoly steel. Many can give their own testimonies concerning comfort and agility, but I'm most certain that they're all top level in both of those categories.

These single speed bicycles might be considered to be just your run of the mil, everyday, average and ho hum single speeds, completely unworthy of an honorable mention. However to me, they're all tops! Of course, as I think about it, I could quite possibly add about a dozen more to that list, as well.

There's the TT Kilo deluxe, the Steamroller, the Madison, the Back Alley, the Rush Hour, the Earl, etc...

I'm sure it all comes down to aesthetics in the end...

Holy tl;dr.

i want to laugh but...i feel like something terrible has happened to this poor little man