I'll be sure to post it up, it should arrive sometime next week!

Congrats on the purchase. I paid more than that for my BigShot (don't shoot me, I didn't know they were garbage) and ended up replacing almost everything but the seatpost collar and headset. Enjoy the bike, ride the hell out of it, and post pictures when you get it.

Thanks! I plan to ride the hell out of it!

Oops, just read you bought the Eastside. Oh well, below was my two cents...

I own a Fyxation Eastside. I bought it as a complete bike with delusion that I'd have it as a "beater" bike, and never upgrade the components until they either fell apart or got stolen. However, after the first ride I had to change the wheels and crankset. Despite my original resolve to not replace anything, they were so bad I just had to, or else I'd never ride the bike because I was hating it. The wheels weigh about 3.5 lbs each, and the crankset is about as stiff as an aluminum pie plate. So if you're still thinking about the Eastside, be prepared to replace at least the wheels and the crankset.

Well it already has a bontrager crankset installed and a new set of wider tires, but stock wheels. Being that I am a complete amateur when it comes to cycling, I doubt I will notice nuances such as stiffness without knowing anything different than the first bike I ride. This will be a learning experience for me on top of the sport/hobby itself. The one thing I feel confident in is that the frame set is a decent one. The wheels and other parts can always be upgraded in time.

You'll be fine. At your weight you'll hardly notice the weight of those wheels.

For the price, the Eastside is a great bike. Sure, you may want to upgrade parts over time, but the frame is solid, albeit a bit heavy (ok, maybe I've gotten too used to my Vigorelli), and the ride is certainly smooth. For me, I just wanted something I could ride in the rain and lock up in the city, without worrying. For that, it's great. Then again...maybe I should have gotten a Kilo TT :lol:

Z3BR4, congrats on the bike purchase and welcome to Bike Forums!

Here's a great source of bicycle info. that should be helpful reading: Articles by Sheldon Brown and Others

singlespeed info: Singlespeed Bicycle Conversions

fixed gear info: Fixed Gear Bicycles for the Road

There's also the "Ask Scrod" thread. :)

Thanks! Already checked out the Sheldon Brown website before, but I'll probably reread it several times and reference it frequently. I'll check those other links out too.

I see that Sheldon strongly recommends starting with fixed gear if you aren't already accustomed to a freewheel. My goal was to eventually work into fixed gear thinking that it would be easier to transition once I had the basics down on a single speed.. Maybe I should start with a fixed gear and front brakes that way there is no "transition" from a freewheel?

You are already riding a freewheel setup on your geared bike, so you are already used to it. Just leave both brakes on the bike, install a fixed gear cog + lockring on the flip side of your hub, and experiment with both setups.

I don't have a geared bike though, I'm literally new to cycling aside from biking as a kid and teen.. It's probably been about 10 - 12 years since I've actually ridden something more than a couple hundred yards lol.. I'm 27 btw.

Well, I'd still recommend starting out with a singlespeed w/o foot retention until you get comfortable riding the bike, using the brakes, and mounting / dismounting before trying fixed. To do fixed you will need pedals with foot retention, which can take getting used to and back pedalling for slowing down.

I started out with a freewheel too and after some days decided to just flip it and ride fixed instead. It wasn't bad, it felt tiring at first but that was it. As Tejano said, leave both brakes on it, I did on mine at first and noticed that I don't even use it. I don't skid or anything like that, I just slow down before a stop. You don't have to remove your brakes like I did, do whatever makes you feel safe on the road.

Thank you guys, makes sense. Just conflicting theories on how to approach it all so I was confused myself. I'll stick with my original plan of starting with single speed then!

If you ride SS first and then switch to Fixed... be careful. lol. I don't know if I'm dumb but my SS muscle memory was insane. I rode SS for 2 1/2 years and then switched to fixed. First day I rode fixed, I was pedaling super fast on this long and straight flat road. Once I got my speed I went to relax and coast because I had forgotten I was fixed. Wam, my legs went flying every which way and I was skidding across the asphalt until i was abruptly stopped by a parked car. My worst fall ever. Steel frame was bent. Had road rash on my arm, leg, and side. The car was all dented where I hit. Anyways, I limped home feeling dumber than dumb.

Needless to say, every day I rode after that, I kept repeating in my head "I'm fixed, I'm fixed", so I would remember to keep pedaling.

Muscle memory is a crazy thing. I've been riding fixed now for a little over a year and all is good. Muscle memory is now used to constant pedaling. In fact, it is super weird and awkward when I ride a SS now.

So guys, I know it's been awhile.. But as the weather has finally broke here in Ohio I've been able to ride my bike a few times :) I've been riding it around town for some hour long rides and I took it to our local bike trail once (which is beautiful and well maintained) and I recently finished a 25 mile loop on some back country roads. Everyday I come home, I hope the weather will be warm enough/clear enough for me to ride. I don't dread it like going to the gym on some days.

The verdict on the bike... I love it! I'm very happy with my decision on the Fyxation Eastside and taking up cycling in general. I am currently riding it Fixed and having no problems. I bought a pair of YNOT pedal straps and a new seat as my sit bones were a little too wide for the Fyxation seat that it came with, both of which should arrive this week. After my 25 mile ride I realized my fit wasn't quite right, so I did some reading and I used the 109% rule and raised my seat and adjusted it back slightly using the plumb bob method. I can't really compare the performance of this bike to others since I really have no experience, but truthfully it has felt great to me. I had some lower back pain after the 25 mile ride, but I think this was due to my seat being FAR too low and the upright position it was causing me to ride in. I am riding fixed, but I'm also running both brakes. I don't see any reason to remove them really. Besides that, I've been milking it without pedal straps on these first few rides and having those brakes as a safety net is good.

Component wise, there were some people mentioning originally that the wheels were heavy etc.. I really don't notice this as I'm a heavy rider. A lighter bike might feel too tingy/squishy for me, I'm not sure though. I do think I'll replace this Bontrager Sport crank it came with before long though. It was a little more beat up than I had thought it would be. Not in terrible condition, but I also know there are better options for this bike out there. I opted to ride the 28C "Accela" tires that came mounted and I have had no issues thus far. The other set of 35C's may get mounted in the future, but I see no reason for this at the moment.

Here is a picture from my 25 mile ride. Note the seat height is slammed, due in part to me not realizing my fit was off and also because I just wasn't comfortable at first riding with the elevated seat. I'll get some pictures with the new seat and pedal straps when they arrive!

http://i.imgur.com/5VVgrM9.jpg?1

glad you're riding.. that's all that matters.

you won't be heavy for long.

As far as Cranksets go... I've read that Andel's are pretty good bang for the buck. I'd like to go with something 46t and 165mm. These bontragers are 175mm which I don't really like but they feel much sturdier while pedaling than the stock fyxations this came with (which are 165mm).

Any suggestions on a good crankset for like $100 or less? Or is it worth just spending a bit more to get something like an Sram 300 or Sugino RD2/Sugino Messenger?

can you post a close up pic of your crankset? theres something off about your chainring

Yes I can. The chainring looks to be the original fyxation chainring (I bought this off someone else who had fitted these bontrager arms)

One moment I'll snap a picture.

I just reattached it the way it originally came, I probably should have assumed it wasn't right. The arms are off a mountain bike or geared road bike I would think.
http://i.imgur.com/wvM2m5L.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/LezP3LD.jpg?1

I might be wrong but, I think you should install the chain ring on the other side.

That crankarm spider has a shoulder on both the inside and outside, so the chainring can be mounted on either side, depending on which side gives the best chainline.

It looks as if it could be installed on either, but I definitely see what you mean. I figured the person who sold it to me had installed it this way for the chain alignment.. Which I think looks good where this is set..

All in all, this is just another reason that I think buying a better crank/crankset is in order.

Oops, Tejano beat me to it.

The Andels are only $95 at Retrogression>>> Andel Standard track crankset | Retrogression

Yeap, sorry, never seen a close up of a crankset for multiple gears >_<


Andels are good man, didn't have problems when I had them. This Andel is under $100 without the bottom bracket. The bottom bracket is for $18 or you could get a different 110 JIS taper

Ohh, nice. Cheaper than I saw them at Ben's. I believe the bottom bracket is a 107mm on my bike currently so does this mean I'd need pickup the 110 BB for the Andel?

Outside of the crank and potentially the bottom bracket.. I would need a crank extractor and a bottom bracket tool correct?

Yes and yes.