How to Buy Your First Fixed Gear Bike
Flikr photo by A Continuous Lean
If you are just starting to think about making the transfer to fixed gear riding, there are few things you may want to consider, when looking for the right fixie for you. There are a few I can think of, off the top of my head. Start with something simple, make it cheap, and finally consider a break, and a flip-flop hub.
Something simple is probably the best thing you can start on, if you are not sure how to ride a fixie yet, you might want to make it cheap. It’s a different type of ride; some of you plain and simply may not like it very much. It looks fun, it is fun, but it’s not for everyone. So the best fixie to start on might be something like a Bianchi Pista, a cheap complete steal frame bike, or if you are experienced with bike building or have a good friend that is, you might want to go an even cheaper way. By building it from scrap parts. If you find it hard to find parts, you can buy some of the parts, and find some of the parts. Don’t expect to find all your parts right away or all for free. It might take a while it is most definitely a test of patience.
The next thing you may want to look for when getting into fixed gear riding is a break; for a bit of safety as you are learning to ride, and a flip-flop hub. Which is in case you don’t like the fixie ride, you can always switch to a free wheel ride, which is more like a traditional bike. So if you’re thinking about it, consider my suggestions, and I think you might end up being a very happy rider.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Unless you take that Bianchi Pista without paying for it, you’ll find that its frame is made of steel, not steal. And only if your stopping device is made of plastic will you find that your brake will break.
Another suggestion would be to set up your fixie with not too high a gear, say about 70 gear-inches (5.6m development). This will keep you from riding too quickly at first, and also help protect your knees from the extra stress in fixie riding. My winter fixie is geared at only 57 gear-inches (4.6m), for example, which helps me keep my speed down in icy conditions, and also helps me get up hills (and avoid overspeeding down hills).
December 4th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
@midtoad
Thanks for the great tips. Do you have any opinion on other starter bike frames?
December 5th, 2008 at 8:12 am
@midtoad is right, its all about having a few bikes ideal for different things
January 16th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Cool blog. Will check in every so often. Just FYI, regarding brakes: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/brake.html
January 16th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
the redline 925 is a great bike, retailing for $579.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am
“…I still believe that gears are for people over forty five, is it not better to suceed by the strength of our own muscles rather by the use of gears, as for me, give me a fixed.
Henri Desgrange.(Father of the Tour de France).
An extract from L’Equipe cycling magazine 1903.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:54 am
“…I still believe that gears are for people over forty five, is it not better to suceed by the strength of our own muscles rather by the artiface of gears, as for me, give me a fixed.
Henri Desgrange.(Father of the Tour de France).
An extract from L’Equipe cycling magazine 1903.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
i am looking for my first fixie and i need some help any i am of so cal the (I.E to be exact) if that helps. my email is el_borracho909@yahoo.com any advise would help
June 12th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
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I read alot of glowing reviews of the redline 925….no bikeshop in the twin cities had any in stock.
i ordered one, picked it up today….first pedal the freewheel slipped, same on the second, then heard a noise in the back wheel. made a uturn to the bikeshop.
They pulled the freewheel and laughed, they showed it to me, the inside of the freewheel moved vertically 1/16th of an inch….no brand name just “India”.
What kind of junk is redline building their bikes with!!!!??!??? JUNK!
Luckily the good guys at Edina Bike shop in Edina Minnesota helped me out. They pulled a Shimano freewheel off of one of their Italian bikes and gave it to me.
I was so excited about getting my Redline….now I feel like they think I’m a sucker.
What would make them put crap like this on their product?????
Now I can’t help but think, what else is junk on this bike, and why oh why did I buy a Redline.
I suggest Redline pull theirs heads out of their butts.
Tbone
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 am
thinking about getting new bike, i want a single speed with a flip flop so i can start with the freewheel. i’ve seen a lot of ‘create’ bikes around and they are well within budget. can people give me an idea of whether or not they are any good?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Do any of you have suggestions for a starter fixie that retails under $500?