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fixed gear vs non fixie road
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:58 am
by misk
For all you pedalsteppers out there! I'm looking to get a bike, and i've just recently acquired a bit of money. Initally i was hellbent on getting a fixie, but the more i research the type of bike i want, the more i realize that i want to be able to ride long distances, and maybe coast. I'm torn between a newish bianchi pista or a trek 1.2.... any suggestions? any suggestions for better bikes that may be a bit cheaper?
I'd be down for a fuji ace, but are they any good? I've got some cash, but i want to know that im purchasing a bike that is:
a: in the $500 - $700 price range (preferrably cheaper if i can find it used)
b: a good starter road bike that I can grow into for a few years
c: fucking awesome (is that too much to ask?

)
thanks!
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:59 am
by djelements
Mang, I got a Giant Boulder. It's like 380 and it's sick.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:04 am
by tempest
fuck off fixies to be honest mate... thats all the help i can give im sorry

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:04 am
by misk
DJelements wrote:Mang, I got a Giant Boulder. It's like 380 and it's sick.
thats dope man, but im not interested in a mountain bike. I want speed! ironically i live next to a dope trail... but i also live on a fucking dope road.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 am
by misk
thats kinda what im saying, tempest. and that trek 1.2 looks pretty sick.... not sure if i can afford it yet though.. might have to buy an older model cannondale or fuji... or if im lucky... a motobecane...
Im busy watching craigslist like a damn hawk!
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:07 am
by djelements
Misk wrote:DJelements wrote:Mang, I got a Giant Boulder. It's like 380 and it's sick.
thats dope man, but im not interested in a mountain bike. I want speed! ironically i live next to a dope trail... but i also live on a fucking dope road.
Third gear on front wheel, 7th on back, and I fly down the road.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:24 am
by tempest
are fixies sposed to be for pro racing?
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:24 am
by misk
DJelements wrote:Misk wrote:DJelements wrote:Mang, I got a Giant Boulder. It's like 380 and it's sick.
thats dope man, but im not interested in a mountain bike. I want speed! ironically i live next to a dope trail... but i also live on a fucking dope road.
Third gear on front wheel, 7th on back, and I fly down the road.
iiiinteresting....
im still looking for any roadbike suggestions though
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:31 am
by misk
tempest wrote:are fixies sposed to be for pro racing?
well track bikes are for velodrome racing, and a fixie is essentially a track bike. whatever though, i hear that a fixie is a totally different feeling from a typical road bike, but at the same time, im not gonna ride 40 miles on a fixie....
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:45 am
by macroclimate
I ride fixed, I take a lot of flak for it sometimes, but I love it. Not trying to be a hipster or anything, just really dig it.
I rock a Pista too, not a bad frame for a fairly decent price. All-in-all I spent about $1500 on building my bike, but in the end I think it's definitely worth it for me, I love that bike.
I typically don't ride really long distances. I've got a flip-flop hub with 18 on one side and 16 on the other (I've got a huge chainring), so when I'm fixing (no pun intended) to ride long distances I'll switch it to the 16, but if I'm just riding around the city (like I usually do) I'll keep it on the 18. I think the longest I've rode on my fixie was about 20 miles, although I know of a few dudes who ride the STP (Seattle to Portland) on their fixed gears, never tried that though.
I do sort of miss coasting sometimes, but I don't think I'd ever go back to riding a freewheel bike for city stuff.
Are you planning on buying a pre-built bike, or getting the parts yourself and putting it together? I went with the latter and really enjoyed the experience, just for the record.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:14 am
by djelements
Misk wrote:DJelements wrote:Misk wrote:DJelements wrote:Mang, I got a Giant Boulder. It's like 380 and it's sick.
thats dope man, but im not interested in a mountain bike. I want speed! ironically i live next to a dope trail... but i also live on a fucking dope road.
Third gear on front wheel, 7th on back, and I fly down the road.
iiiinteresting....
im still looking for any roadbike suggestions though
Dope trail PLUS dope road. Think about it.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:20 am
by misk
macroclimate wrote:I ride fixed, I take a lot of flak for it sometimes, but I love it. Not trying to be a hipster or anything, just really dig it.
I rock a Pista too, not a bad frame for a fairly decent price. All-in-all I spent about $1500 on building my bike, but in the end I think it's definitely worth it for me, I love that bike.
I typically don't ride really long distances. I've got a flip-flop hub with 18 on one side and 16 on the other (I've got a huge chainring), so when I'm fixing (no pun intended) to ride long distances I'll switch it to the 16, but if I'm just riding around the city (like I usually do) I'll keep it on the 18. I think the longest I've rode on my fixie was about 20 miles, although I know of a few dudes who ride the STP (Seattle to Portland) on their fixed gears, never tried that though.
I do sort of miss coasting sometimes, but I don't think I'd ever go back to riding a freewheel bike for city stuff.
Are you planning on buying a pre-built bike, or getting the parts yourself and putting it together? I went with the latter and really enjoyed the experience, just for the record.
thanks! I think i'll be buying a pre-built bike. Im thinking i'll have about $500 - $700 to play with but im not positive. If i could build a road bike that was halfway decent at that price, i might do that instead

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:38 am
by primate
i had a bike called an okee which was single speed but not fixed. but you peddled backwards to brake the back wheel so there were no brake cables etc. weighed 6kg. but they don't make them any more and mine was stolen. but check out the website -
http://www.okee.se/
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:03 pm
by doom
primate wrote:i had a bike called an okee which was single speed but not fixed. but you peddled backwards to brake the back wheel so there were no brake cables etc. weighed 6kg. but they don't make them any more and mine was stolen. but check out the website -
http://www.okee.se/
They're called Coaster Brakes. There should still be companys making them since I seen one on some weird Carhartt cruiser a few weeks ago.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:17 pm
by deamonds
wouldnt get a fixed wheel unless your a bmx'er.....if you are blatting and you stop pedalling, well...over the handlebars is the minimum you can expect.. oh and trek's=ace....
although for that price range id be looking at maybe a second hand Specialised, Claude Butler or Kona. Are you looking for a suspension ting or just normal
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:18 pm
by braiden
deamonds wrote:wouldnt get a fixed wheel unless your a bmx'er.....if you are blatting and you stop pedalling, well...over the handlebars is the minimum you can expect.. oh and trek's=ace....
although for that price range id be looking at maybe a second hand Specialised, Claude Butler or Kona. Are you looking for a suspension ting or just normal
fixed bmx is rare but i think some flatlanders use it??
fixed around town is best without a doubt. being able to fully control your speed with just your feet is so much more intuitive and fun - and you have much more control at slow speeds around traffic.. yes it takes a little while to get used to it, maybe a week or two. but the benefits are worth it. 40 miles on a fixed is fine unless its up the alps.
the only thing worse than the people jumping on the fixed craze purely because its cool, is the people avoiding it and putting it down purely because its cool.
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:23 pm
by fixation
best to go to a local bike shop, see what they have, and u can test ride...
it is best if u get a good relation with a local shop, as you will spend alot of time and money in there!
its also best to get as an expensive bike as u can afford, as in cycling, u do get what you pay for, just be careful.
and dont get a fixed, unless you want to do cycle couriering(sp?)
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:27 pm
by braiden
Fixation wrote:
and dont get a fixed, unless you want to do cycle couriering(sp?)
how is couriering any different? its just riding around a city
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:31 pm
by fixation
he said he wanted to do longer rides, couriering is generally not that far