Greetings all. This is my first post and hopefully many more to follow. I'm interested in getting a single speed/fixed gear bike and was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction. From doing some research I realize my requirements are straight forward and simple. 1) Single speed 2) Weight "Not trying to lug a tank" 3) Flat bar or raised bar and 4) Price range equal to or less than $550. My riding skills are very limited, so I am generally looking for a bike where I can hop on and just ride. This bike will be used for casual riding around town and maybe something to use within a 10 mile radius. Will any of these bikes meet my requirements?

https://www.retrospecbicycles.com/amo...ss-ss-419.html ($419)
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...t/district_s/# ($660)
https://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/declaration ($489)
https://www.irocycle.com/markvbuild-a...heelset-2.aspx ($549 + $85 in upgrades (flat bar/brakes/pedals))
https://www.biria.com/bicycle/single-speed/fixed-gear ($400 in LBS)
https://www.settebikes.com/UrbanBikes.html ($200 on pricepoint.com … 50cm size though)
https://www.statebicycle.com/ProductD...Code=matteblk4 ($430)
purefixcycles.com
bigshotbikes.com

Also, can I find what I am looking for given my price range?

Any feedback is appreciated and thanks for your time.

KiloTT - read around and you'll find it's the current favourite. We can't choose for you, you have to make that decision and based on what you've told us, go visit some real shops, try, ride and see what you like.

Thanks!!! I see the KiloTT have drop bars, can I swap those bars with the riser bar or flat bar? Is replacing the handlebars an easy process to do? Sorry if question was worded wrong, I know the final decision is up to me, primarily based of the comfort of the bike. Guess I wanted to know with the specs of the bikes, what would be my best option? The local shops by me don't have many single speed bikes and the ones they do have are currently out of my price range. I will see if other shops in the surrounding towns carry single speeds for me to try.

Check out the current sale on the 2012 Jamis Sputnik. Jamis still has stock on the beautiful copper/pearlescent color as well, in both 55 and 57 cm.

https://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12294000

Sale to $525, plus $50 off for joining their club (free), so that's $475. It's a very pretty frame with decent components. I test rode one for two hours on Friday and decided to buy it. The top tube is longer, so while I normally ride a 58 cm frame, the 57 with its 57 cm top tube fits perfectly. The track drops are shallow and narrow, but feel kinda cool. I think that I'll keep them.

So, with tax, plus one bottle cage, mine was $507 out the door. PG

I like that Fuji Declaration! Also research the Felt Bougham

#kiloTT

Swapping the bars on Kilo TT for flats/riser is simple. Just buy bars with the same clamp diameter so you don't have to get a new stem (I believe they are 26.0mm).

Thanks everyone!!! I truly appreciate all the good information, only wish I could have jumped on this a little earlier. I'm in the Jersey area and we've been having wonderful weather lately. Perhaps I can get a few good rides before the ice and snow season.

Ahh, but then you can start building your snow and ice bike
Never overlook an opportunity for N+1

That Retrospec looks like a pretty decent deal, and would give some decent options for rough weather commuting. And that Trek is one of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen.

i was in this same position about a month ago, do some more research and you can come across a bike that cost 1-2k with great parts already for about half the price on craigslist or ebay if you're willing to be patient, and look into quality bikes like italian or japanese, bianchi, cinelli, etc, etc, as you get more into bikes you're gonna want to start buying better parts and switch them out because you'll find stuff you don't like or want to improve, i ended up buying a fuji feather but wish i did a lot more research because the frame is the most important part of the bike and you will be with it until you decide to sell it, and parting the other stuff is easy. Spending money on parts is a piece of cake if you have the money to shell out for parts but make sure you make the right decision.

Those frames are made in the same factories in Taiwan and China as every other bike. Unless you are buying a custom build frame or a very high end frame it is made in china

It only snowed a handful of times last winter, and it doesn't get that cold. Ride all winter.

One sentence.

thats how we do it

Can't punctuate don't want to

Very true. Long as the weather stays somewhat decent I could ride all winter.