I'm planning to switch out my commuting bike with a single speed fitted with IGH. I would also like to make it my travel bike and around town beater.

I'd like to keep it in the 22 lbs range and under $400 if possible. I've seen the cheap 26 lbs single speeds, and the expensive ones too. Right now, I'm contemplating on building a leader 725 or aventon, since both appear to be decent frames, for <$200. I have no idea about the wheels though, but I'll be putting on a couple of 25 tires on them.

anyone have suggestions for what I want to do?

fixie =/= single speed =/= IGH

well yea... but the only difference is the hubs.

the idea is to get something with a flip flop hub or a coaster hub, and later decide if IGH is really necessary. or just built one from the frame up.

you don't need gears in texas.

get a fixed gear

I guess you've never heard of the Texas hill country.

back to topic?

IDK, what exactly is the topic supposed to be ?

Get a Sturmey Archer S3X - three speed, fixed gear hub - gears and fixed gear. You can get them either as hubs or as wheelsets.
Fit it to a bike you like that fits.

If you think you're going to build up a new bike for $400 you're wrong, unless you have a large stash of parts laying around. Buy a new fixed rear wheel for your commuting bike, shorten the chain, take the geary stuff off.

building a 725 with 400..... lol

Used carbon road bike would be one way to go if you plan on running it as a single-speed. Lugged Pre- carbon monocoque or beginning carbon monocoque era are quite cheap.

We're all unclear on what you want to do.

Get a Kilo TT if you have any slight mechanical inclination. Or convert your current bike if possible.

yea I guess my intentions aren't very clear. I just want to know more about what's out there, so that I know what to get. earlier today, I was contemplating on getting a higher quality fixie or track frame that will replace my 26 lbs commuter, and maybe even put on a 3 speed hub to do training rides with. now, I just want something cheap to F* around with and not worry about the speed, gear, or theft.

I think I'm just going to go for one of those $200 walmart bikes, and put on my own saddle, handlebar, and tires, which I already have. The only concern is there are reviews about these bikes' quality. I'd like to know that they'll be reliable, and their approximate weight.

Rather than a walmart bike - which will be as heavy as possible and probably have issues with quality control - you'd be better off getting an old road bike from cragislist and buying a flip flop hub wheelset. You could do that easily for under $400 I imagine and end up with a relatively light and well-made frame.

You should probably look up these kinds of projects online so you don't come up against problems regarding wheel spacing and such.

I can buy a 70's road bike for under $100 here in Oz, and only that much if I want a decent one. You can then convert it to SS for nothing ... as I did to my daughter's bike, or you can buy a cheap freewheel for $20 and maybe lash out on a chain for the same. Fixed gear with brakes will cost you a fixed cog and, if you're feeling like throwing money around, a chain.

There is NO reason to buy a Walmart bike... well, not one you'd admit to your mother in law.

i got a projekt fixie for about $240. it'll be like 25 lbs, but it'll do what I need it to.

you could've found something decent on ebay for a few bucks more. at least something that was 4130.

We we still ride horses everywhere here in Texas. What's a bike???

Fuji track classic can be had for low $400s in your country.

A bike is the two wheeled contraption I was on in Fort Worth when I got stuck behind a slow moving horse.

Oy vey. Projekt F***e?! Return that garbage and build a nicer used bike into a nice 1x7/8 drivetrain. Also, apart from the Sturmey S3X, most IGH are 130-135mm OLD and won't really work without some kludging on a 120mm frame.

May I ask what you got stuck IN?