ATTN cyclists: Fixed gear road bike on a budget?

doctorjazz · #1 11-26-2008, 10:46 PM

Normally I'd just join a bike forum and ask this, but I know we have a lot of cyclists on here, so I figured why the hell not?

After a while spent pedaling my Wal-Mart Schwinn mountain bike around at ludicrous speeds for exercise and pleasure, not to mention commuting, I've come to the following conclusions:

1. I wish I had gotten a road bike.
2. I'd like to ride a fixed-gear.

I don't need (or want) something really expensive, I'm neither currently nor looking to become a hardcore enthusiast. Actually, I'm somewhat skint at the moment, so my budget is definitely under $1000, with under $800 greatly preferred. $500 or less would be spec-friggin'-tacular, albeit probably unrealistic.

The three bikes that I've been looking at the most are the Masi Speciale Fixed, the Schwinn Madison, and the Raleigh Rush Hour. I'm leaning toward the Masi at the moment, but I'd like to get some advice. Whatever anyone can tell me about any of those would be great, and also if anyone knows where I could find parts to build my own bike for cheaper than those, that would be just dandy as well.

bassteban · #2 11-26-2008, 11:14 PM

Have you ever ridden a fixed gear bike?

doctorjazz · #3 11-26-2008, 11:36 PM

Admittedly no, I need to get on that. I know somebody that has one too, just need to take it for a spin and find out for sure.

I basically just arrived at that conclusion because I don't ever use my derailleurs, so I figure that's just one less extraneous thing for me to maintain and/or fix. I dig the simplicity, plus I hear a lot about how much fun fixed gears are, so I'm dying to give it a shot. It's dead flat where I live, so I won't have to worry about the complications that come from going up and down hills. Those bikes I mentioned come with flip-flop hubs anyway, so even if for some reason I still feel like I need a freewheel, that won't be an issue. I'll still have the single-speed I want, plus I can ride fixed occasionally just for kicks.

bassteban · #4 11-27-2008, 12:02 AM

Cool. 25 years ago my first non-dirt bicycle was a Raleigh Professional track bike(now in pieces, one day to be restored). Lots of fun, but I laugh at the tons of fixties I see FS on CL all the time. My guess is that a lot of guys hop on the trend only to find they are often a serious handful in traffic. I also get the feeling a lot of the 'fixties' on CL are SS w/a freewheel, although you obviously know the difference.

My only advice is to try before you buy. Hills are a beezy, but traffic genuinely kills.

BTW, in my MTB racing days(83- mid 90s)I raced SS so I also dig the simplicity. At 45 w/a partially-torn ACL I'm not sure I could or should do it although I'm going to restore my Mert Lawwill Pro Cruiser as a single.

Alcyon · #5 11-27-2008, 12:51 AM

I definitely recommend using the flywheel as the fixie is well-known for causing serious knee cartilage damage which ruins you later in life (no matter how badass they are). I only use one gear set anyway really so I'm considering switching to a singlespeed myself.

Honestly though, most people buy an old road bike and just take all the gears and shifters off. That's the way to go, in my opinion... If you have a local bike store that is pretty laid back, you can run out to a garage sale or craigslist and pick up somebody's old Nishiki and some matte black auto paint and get yourself a cool lookin' ride.

bassteban · #6 11-27-2008, 01:09 AM

Good advice on the knees & how-to stuff.
Is 'flywheel' Canadian for 'freewheel'?

Alcyon · #7 11-27-2008, 01:10 AM

no, just me being a dumbass.

although, a flywheel bike would be cool, you could work it up to speed going downhill and coast for a long time...

ehque · #8 11-27-2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcyon

no, just me being a dumbass.

although, a flywheel bike would be cool, you could work it up to speed going downhill and coast for a long time...

You could just install really heavy tires...

spade2you · #9 11-27-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcyon

I definitely recommend using the flywheel as the fixie is well-known for causing serious knee cartilage damage which ruins you later in life (no matter how badass they are). I only use one gear set anyway really so I'm considering switching to a singlespeed myself.

Yeah, a close friend of mine was once coming home and his sore knee was pretty thrashed after a few downhills on his fixie. I've thought it would be fun to get one, but a lot of my routes are simply too windy and hilly.

ibanezcollector · #10 11-27-2008, 07:16 AM

Felt Dispatch for the win..

http://www.feltracing.com/09-catalog...-dispatch.aspx

doctorjazz · #11 11-27-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcyon

I definitely recommend using the flywheel as the fixie is well-known for causing serious knee cartilage damage which ruins you later in life (no matter how badass they are).

Wouldn't using less of your legs and more of the brakes to slow down mitigate and/or eliminate that problem? I'm not into the whole riding with no brakes thing, I intend on having a bike equipped with front AND rear brakes.

Alcyon · #12 11-27-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorjazz

Wouldn't using less of your legs and more of the brakes to slow down mitigate and/or eliminate that problem? I'm not into the whole riding with no brakes thing, I intend on having a bike equipped with front AND rear brakes.

I think the whole no brakes thing is part of the allure of a fixie... but it's also the whole grinding up hills in the single speed and pedaling like mad downhill for no reason that is hard on the knees.

Figjam · #13 11-27-2008, 08:25 PM

I would ride it single speed. Dont get a fixie just because. If you dont know what you are doing, you may get hurt.

iamlowsound · #14 11-27-2008, 08:34 PM

Ride it as a single speed. Trust me, you don't want bad knees.

lowsound

Figjam · #15 11-27-2008, 09:11 PM

No matter how 'trendy' you may look riding fixie.

psi · #16 11-27-2008, 09:19 PM

Fixed gear riding is positively a trend and it's certainly more dangerous compared to other forms of bicycling. However, it can be "fun" in the same way that sampling the spiciest killer hot sauce is "fun", and it also affords an opportunity to do cool "fixed gear only" tricks if you're into that type of thing.

Rather than plunking down a grand on a boutique fixie or a velodrome, find a ****** 10-speed roadbike on craigslist and convert it or have a bike shop convert it. If you aren't a bike mechanic, make sure to bring it to one before you ride because you can kill yourself if you don't assemble and tighten things correctly.

SuperDuck · #17 11-27-2008, 09:20 PM

Having gone through the same exact search, I have a solution for you. It's less than $600. Before that, though...

Another +1 on riding it SS instead of FG - my SS has a flip flop rear hub (most do). I rode it for a month as a single speed and _loved_ it. Then one day I switched it to fixed and changed it back after about an hour.

Having said that, check out a Redline 925. I looked at a lot of bikes and ended up with that one. You can take off the fenders (it's meant to be the uber-commuter bike) and you've got yourself a slick ride. As I mentioned, the rear hub can be reversed so you can ride it as a fixie or use it as a single speed. If you don't like the bullhorns (I do), you can spend a little coin for some drop bars and still be well under $1k.

I'm not that hip. Not only did I keep the fenders, I added a rack, saddlebags, and a milk crate. I love that bike!

bassteban · #18 11-27-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Figjam

I would ride it single speed. Dont get a fixie just because. If you dont know what you are doing, you may get hurt.

Listen to this guy- he's young. I was gonna say that but you wouldn't listen cuz I'm old.

syciprider · #19 11-27-2008, 10:03 PM

Surly Steamroller.

http://www.surlybikes.com/steamroller_comp.html

Alcyon · #20 11-27-2008, 10:10 PM

Kona Paddy Wagon.

http://konaworld.com/09_paddywagon_c.cfm