Fixed Gear Bikes

[edin351]

For all you hipsters out there...

Im looking for a cheap fixed gear. Any suggestions?

I see bikes like these

Motobecane Singlespeed Bikes - 2010 Track Bicycles by Motobecane USA up to 60% Off

Track Bkes | SingleSpeed Bikes | Fixie | Windsor Bikes - The Hour | Save up to 60% off Fixed gear and singlespeed bicycles

that go for really cheap, but are they any good? What kind of stuff should I be looking for?

 

[OZCAL]

Word on the street is that fixed/reversibles that cost $1,000 last Christmas will be practically free this Christmas. The market is saturated and last year's are sitting in the guest room with the home gym equipment now.

 

[Shahram]

Track bikes are great, if you ride velo. If not, don't bother. The geometry on a track bike is less comfortable, with a higher crank for the banked track, lower stem, and generally shorter stays, built more for sprint and tuck, than commute, urban maneuverability, or fitness.

I've had lots of road bikes and one track bike, and a good steel road frame that is stripped down and fits right is going to give you a lot more enjoyment and exercise than some compromise bike that is built to keep your head as low as possible, as much weight over the bars, and is set higher at the crank to account for a banked track.

Lots of great single freewheelers and fixies on craigslist. Know what you're looking for, and caveat emptor.

If you have your heart set on shiny and brand-spanking new, the KHS Urban Soul is a cromoly frame stand-up with a flip-flop and a nice Shimano gruppo, that seems to be the best bang for the buck at around $379 before tax. You get two sets of brakes and everything!

Link: KHS Bicycles :: Urban Soul

 

[edin351]

I'm in college in New Hampshire so I've been tracking the craigslist here for the past couple of months with no luck which is why I turned to possibly buying new.

Honestly I just really love the way the fixed gears look and i'm willing to sacrifice some comfort to be riding one.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[scottm]

I looked into converting one of my old bikes to a fixie, I just don't get the point of it. I don't make much effort on appearance when riding, especially the half-year that it's below freezing most mornings. I can ride in one gear if I keep my hand off the shifter, or maybe just lock the derailleur in place. There are some exceptionally artful bikes out there, I guess I'd go for one of those for casual riding over an expensive fixie.

Track bikes are great, if you ride velo. If not, don't bother. The geometry on a track bike is less comfortable, with a higher crank for the banked track, lower stem, and generally shorter stays, built more for sprint and tuck, than commute, urban maneuverability, or fitness.

My first competition road bike was my sponsors old bike, specifically built for him, converted by Fuji from a velodrome frame. Fuji basically made custom dropouts to fit a road axle and derailleur, probably swapped out the front fork. I ended up putting aero bars on it and raced triathlons for many years with it. It was super comfortable and nimble in that config, I could jump railroad tracks without coming off the aero bars, great bike.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

Specialized Shark- although, I'm not into speed at all.....it has a basket big enough for a twelver and an integrated bottle opener in the frame!

 

[jesterb]

If you decide to convert an old road bike make sure it has horizontal drop outs.

My bro-in-law took an old free Raliegh and built one. Hand laced Velocity wheels, some crazy comfy English saddle and so on. He didn't save any money, but it's his and was able to get what he wanted. Plus, he only had to buy it one piece at a time.

 

[Jman]

Honestly I just really love the way the fixed gears look and i'm willing to sacrifice some comfort to be riding one.

Have you ridden one? Extensively, in all the various terrain you would want to use it? Will you be hitting any hills, ever, either up or down?

Mojo comes with a price. . . . .

Me? If I wanted one, I'd buy some old road bike with the right configuration and convert it. Half the fun is doing the work.

 

[agomez]

can't miss with something like this...

 

[cary]

For all you hipsters out there...

Im looking for a cheap fixed gear. Any suggestions?

I see bikes like these

Motobecane Singlespeed Bikes - 2010 Track Bicycles by Motobecane USA up to 60% Off

Track Bkes | SingleSpeed Bikes | Fixie | Windsor Bikes - The Hour | Save up to 60% off Fixed gear and singlespeed bicycles

that go for really cheap, but are they any good? What kind of stuff should I be looking for?

Things you should be looking for:

1) Brakes,
2) a freewheel, and
3) a helmet.

Seriously, fixed gears are for velodrome racing, not street riding. A decent single speed is a much safer choice and will make you better rider. If you are trying to impress the girls, there are much better ways than riding a fixie.

 

[cary]

can't miss with something like this...

Wow, Walton and I agree on something.

 

[edin351]

My bad, I did mean a single speed not a fixed gear...I'm not experienced enough to ride a fixed gear

 

[edin351]

Have you ridden one? Extensively, in all the various terrain you would want to use it? Will you be hitting any hills, ever, either up or down?

Mojo comes with a price. . . . .

Me? If I wanted one, I'd buy some old road bike with the right configuration and convert it. Half the fun is doing the work.

I'll mostly be riding it around my campus which is mainly flat. I'll be riding it back in suburban chicago which is definitely flat so I don't think hills will be much of an issue.

I do have an early 70's peugeot that I fixed up just to have the front spokes snap on me and warp up my front fork...trying to find replacement parts for that now. Maybe i'll convert that into a single speed

 

[Jman]

If you are thinking of doing a fixed conversion, here is some good info.

Fixed Gear Conversions

A single speed with a freewheel hub and rim brakes could be fun. You could get a 1970s road bike and convert it to a single-speed freewheeling bike pretty easily. There are even "flip-flop" hubs that have single speed on one side, and fixed gear on the other, so you can do both on the same bike.

Here is some more info:

Singlespeed Bicycle Conversions by Sheldon Brown

 

[amaurer]

Why the hell would anyone seek out a single speed or fixed gear bike?! People give that s*** up when they're 5. Its not like you're saving any money.

Is this all for impressing other hipsters, or is there a real reason? Maybe the single gear is less likely to snag your designer skinny jeans?

 

[edin351]

Why the hell would anyone seek out a single speed or fixed gear bike?! People give that s*** up when they're 5. Its not like you're saving any money.

Is this all for impressing other hipsters, or is there a real reason? Maybe the single gear is less likely to snag your designer skinny jeans?

I don't give a s*** about impressing other people...i like it because I like it

 

[amaurer]

I don't give a s*** about impressing other people...i like it because I like it

Fine but why?! If someone came onto this forum and said they wanted a single-speed landcruiser because they just liked it, you wouldn't wonder?

I live near San Fran, so I completely grasp the helpless nature of some bikers who go to the bike shop just to have a bolt tightened. But this is an auto forum, so I'm guessing you're not so helpless with a wrench that you couldn't possibly deal with any mechanism more complex than a single gear with a chain around it.

Sooo...

 

[edin351]

some would say I'm just as helpless with cars...which may be true.

I became interested in cars this past year when I bought my land cruiser so i'm still learning and I won't have much time to play around with cars or bikes for the next four year while i'm at college so it will be a long learning process...i'm such a noob

But as to why...i guess i just like the way the single speeds look and yes they won't get caught in my skinny jeans

 

[cary]

Fine but why?! If someone came onto this forum and said they wanted a single-speed landcruiser because they just liked it, you wouldn't wonder?

Sooo...

Single speeds build strength and good cadence. They are excellent for training and force you to work on handling skills rather than shifting. For some experience mountain bikers, a single speed rigid bike is the essence of mountain biking.

For the original poster, check out bikesdirect.com. They offer a good selection of single speeds with road geometry (72-73 head angle instead of 74-76) and brakes from $299 up.

 

[LongIsland60]

If you are thinking of doing a fixed conversion, here is some good info.

Fixed Gear Conversions

A single speed with a freewheel hub and rim brakes could be fun. You could get a 1970s road bike and convert it to a single-speed freewheeling bike pretty easily. There are even "flip-flop" hubs that have single speed on one side, and fixed gear on the other, so you can do both on the same bike.

Here is some more info:

Singlespeed Bicycle Conversions by Sheldon Brown

+1 on the sheldon brown linky. All you'll need to know right there.

I built a fixie out of an old steel frame - my commute to work was a flat 4 miles and I wanted some kind of exercise...

I don't agree that they belong on a track only. They are lots of fun to ride - too bad the hipsters usurped the fixies for the moment.