Fixies -yet more on fixies!

TinyExplosions

So dear little internet chummies, I have 700 quid burning a hole in my pocket, and want need to get me a fixie... question is, what do I go for! The lightweight and style of the Langster, and risk the wrath of Niceonetom; the beef and weight of a Surly Steamroller and just say 'no' to hills; the middle of the road (in weight terms) of the Bianchi Pista or Fuji Track and wait endless days on the postman?

Answers on a postcard to the usual place

Gavin

Dare I ask, wot's wrong with the paddywagon?

TinyExplosions

Verb wrote: »

Dare I ask, wot's wrong with the paddywagon?

She is no more

Long story, but el Paddy Wagon is gone to the bike graveyard in the sky, and I've got a 700 quid insurance cheque to spend on a new bike

unionman

TinyExplosions wrote: »

and risk the wrath of Niceonetom

?

I would have thought he'd approve?

Langster, has to be. Is there an '09 model yet?

TinyExplosions

unionman wrote: »

?

I would have thought he'd approve?

Langster, has to be. Is there an '09 model yet?

I think he doesn't want to see the Langster go the way of the Bowery :P

Model year doesn't bother me -if an 07 was available and cheaper I'd go for it!

The carbon fork is mighty tempting though, I have to be honest

unionman

The Bowery thing won't last, sooner or later they all want skinny tyres and less weight:D

I never see any secondhand ones up for sale. I prefer the 07 to the 08 (not just because I have the 07:)).

Weightwise it's the biz. Happy shopping.

petethedrummer

fixies are out, new trend in town...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRekj46Vq8

kenmc

guess you wouldn't need a bell with that racket, and you wouldn't have ppl stepping out in front of you!

Gavin

You could get the Fuji/Pista and keep it for the track! Or do they allow you to bring your own track bikes.

TinyExplosions

Verb wrote: »

You could get the Fuji/Pista and keep it for the track! Or do they allow you to bring your own track bikes.

They do indeed let you use your own ones, but I need it for commuting! (man, I'm fickle)... think it's going to have to be the Langster at this moment in time

dub_skav

You know you really want the Plug

fish-head

Well if it's for commuting don't go for the Bianchi or Fuji, they'll pummel you into the ground with their aggressive geometry. The Langster's the best choice I reckons.

Morgan

The 2009 Langster comes in a few subtle and tasteful colour schemes:


Re: the video above - pretty funny, but everyone knows Fix-Push is going to be HUGE in '09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2885aR6o6s

Raam

I have a Genesis Flyer and I like it. But you aren't allowed get one.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

I have a Genesis Flyer and I like it. But you aren't allowed get one.

This is the big problem -everyone wants to have the 'only' one of each model... that was fine when I was the only one on the Paddy Wagon, but now I want a change everyone's going to hate me.... the Flyer is nice, but I can't pull of a white bike really -too fat

Caroline_ie

Morgan wrote: »

The 2009 Langster comes in a few subtle and tasteful colour schemes:


Re: the video above - pretty funny, but everyone knows Fix-Push is going to be HUGE in '09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2885aR6o6s

Yuk ... I prefer the 08 by far.

penexpers

TinyExplosions wrote: »

She is no more

Long story, but el Paddy Wagon is gone to the bike graveyard in the sky, and I've got a 700 quid insurance cheque to spend on a new bike

**** buzz

You could self-build a Surly 1x1.

Chips Lovell

Buy Gabgab's Pinarello and convert it.

Gavin

el tonto wrote: »

Buy Gabgab's Pinarello and convert it.

haha nice

stabu

are we allowed ask to which selling establishment you may wend your way TE?

TinyExplosions

stabu wrote: »

are we allowed ask to which selling establishment you may wend your way TE?

I'll go anywhere -am lbs agnostic!

Langster is still in the lead, with a Surly Steamroller build in close second.

Being an impatient sod, I think I need one that I can buy in Dublin, as I don't want to wait for delivery -commuting on my road bike is not fun (it doesn't like the traffic!)

Itsfixed

They're not available in a shop in dublin, but I'd consider any of these:

Gorilla Hattara
Pearson touche
Salsa casseroll single - this one has semi horizontal dropouts, so can be converted to a geared bike. Extra versatile and good option from the standpoint of being a commuter.

But I really steamrollers too.

dmigsy

I love my Charge Plug. Also considered the Pearson Touche but couldn't justify the extra dosh over the Plug for a bike that is used mainly for commuting.

mkdon05

You could buy my 08 Langster off me, but im not entirely sure i really want to sell it. The allure of gears is getting stronger every day though

DirkVoodoo

I love my Felt Dispatch. It has one of the nicest frames out of any Al fixie but the low gearing (39x16) might put you off.

I also like being pretty unique, so maybe don't buy one!

They cost about 600 squids off wiggle, I would have preferred to buy from Joe Daly but they were unsure about getting one in (dunno why, ordering a bunch of felts anyway I would imagine).

The paintjob is also nice and subtle, one of the things i didnt like about the langster.

fish-head

I'd also consider an On One Il Pompino. They're so cool!

Vélo

This isn't exactly going to be unique but it looks fantastic.

It would be cheaper in the UK also.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=23598

unionman

Aquinas73 wrote: »

This isn't exactly going to be unique but it looks fantastic.

It would be cheaper in the UK also.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=23598

I like those deep dish rims, but overall it doesn't appeal.

The 09 Langster looks as though somebody vomited the colour scheme onto the bike.

niceonetom

anyone got any strong opinions on this?

i'm not mad about the red colour scheme but cannondale know what they're doing when it comes to aluminium, and i like the classic horizontal tt. smooth welds too... and as a pathological upgrader the entry level cranks and wheels don't even put me off.

that new langster is hideous. but i'm sure there are other colour schemes available... right?

penexpers

niceonetom wrote: »

anyone got any strong opinions on this?

i'm not mad about the red colour scheme but cannondale know what they're doing when it comes to aluminium, and i like the classic horizontal tt. smooth welds too... and as a pathological upgrader the entry level cranks and wheels don't even put me off.

that new langster is hideous. but i'm sure there are other colour schemes available... right?

Yes there are

http://thebicycleescape.blogspot.com/2008/05/2009-spcialized-langster.html

TinyExplosions

niceonetom wrote: »

anyone got any strong opinions on this?

i'm not mad about the red colour scheme but cannondale know what they're doing when it comes to aluminium, and i like the classic horizontal tt. smooth welds too... and as a pathological upgrader the entry level cranks and wheels don't even put me off.

that new langster is hideous. but i'm sure there are other colour schemes available... right?

Was looking at one in Cycleways just there -it's nicer in the flesh (don't worry, I wasn't tempted!)

Got a Langster -will be with me tomorrow (it's the nice looking 08)

beans

Given any thought to a random, old steel conversion?

I have a ludicrous fake Pinarello frame being built up right now, but maybe an old resurrection might be a plan? It'll at least be originial...

edit - I see you went with l'langster... not a bad choice, considering I could have bought one + racks and panniers given the pirate-price that Eurocycles is charging for the work they're doing :0

edit II - what happened to your other ride?

72hundred

Dang youtube link isn't working here's the direct. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvvNbVzABLA&NR=1

(Ignore the last 45 sec's - don't know what that's about!)

Raam

So, eh, what actually happened to the Paddy Wagon? Is it too sore a subject?

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

So, eh, what actually happened to the Paddy Wagon? Is it too sore a subject?

Bike on car, other car into back of my car. Broken bike

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Bike on car, other car into back of my car. Broken bike

Oh no

fish-head

Anything salvageable on it?

rp

fish-head wrote: »

I'd also consider an On One Il Pompino. They're so cool!

On One are doing some special offers on Pompinos this week, £399 for flat, drop or Mary bar versions. Good value for an excellent bike.

PeadarofAodh

My Bianchi Pista arrived yesterday, very happy with it! Going out today to stick a front brake on it, not quite confident enough to keep it brakeless. One question I have is what pedals would people recommend for a fixie? It came with basic flat pedals but was considering getting toe clips as I don't want to have to use straps or clipless. Anyone else get around using toe clips?

rp

PeadarofAodh wrote: »

My Bianchi Pista arrived yesterday, very happy with it! Going out today to stick a front brake on it, not quite confident enough to keep it brakeless

It's not just confidence, its being prepared to ride slow enough to go brakeless (and live).

One question I have is what pedals would people recommend for a fixie? It came with basic flat pedals but was considering getting toe clips as I don't want to have to use straps or clipless. Anyone else get around using toe clips?

I find two-sided SPD's the ideal pedal for a fixie. Easy to get in and out of and a good fixing for pulling on the upstroke.

stuf

PeadarofAodh wrote: »

My Bianchi Pista arrived yesterday, very happy with it! Going out today to stick a front brake on it, not quite confident enough to keep it brakeless. One question I have is what pedals would people recommend for a fixie? It came with basic flat pedals but was considering getting toe clips as I don't want to have to use straps or clipless. Anyone else get around using toe clips?

I'm on toe clips on mine and and quite happy with them - I've had a few incidents where SPDs would have left me on my arse. Normal bike I'm SPD all the way but for the fixie I prefer the clips.

One thing I'm enjoying on mine is planning routes and riding them with the intention of not having to stop at all (not track standing yet) - made home-work-home yesterday with no stops - 2 miles each way in city centre and no jumped reds.

niceonetom

i haven't used toe clips on the fixie so i can't comment, but i use these
spds for commuting, training etc. but still ridable in flipflops if you just need to pop out to buy milk.

PeadarofAodh

It's not just confidence, its being prepared to ride slow enough to go brakeless (and live).

Not exactly someone who leisurely cycles around the place so think front brake is the only answer!

digitalage

good value on a fuji track,

http://biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=25&products_id=162&osCsid=c5b7eb1fb4e92e900c7d7df4fadc04ab

Itsfixed

stuf wrote: »

I'm on toe clips on mine and and quite happy with them - I've had a few incidents where SPDs would have left me on my arse. Normal bike I'm SPD all the way but for the fixie I prefer the clips.

I'm the other way round. ie i normally used clipless on my fixie but when I needed to replace them I got a half-decent pair of toe clips and straps instead, just to see if they wouldn't be more suitable. So i put them on, and come to the first set of traffic lights and what happens?

1 I topple over trying to release my left foot.

2 I fall on top of a fellow cyclist who had ridden up along my left and he falls over too.

3 And right in front of a crowd of waiting pedestrians who had just exited U2's uber-cool Clarence Hotel.

4 And put a humdinger of a scratch on the frame where it hit the other cyclist's pedal.

Oh, the shame. Its only now I'm able to talk about it.

Back to clipless after that.:D

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Itsfixed wrote: »

I'm the other way round. ie i normally used clipless on my fixie but when I needed to replace them I got a half-decent pair of toe clips and straps instead, just to see if they wouldn't be more suitable. So i put them on, and come to the first set of traffic lights and what happens?

1 I topple over trying to release my left foot.

2 I fall on top of a fellow cyclist who had ridden up along my left and he falls over too.

3 And right in front of a crowd of waiting pedestrians who had just exited U2's uber-cool Clarence Hotel.

4 And put a humdinger of a scratch on the frame where it hit the other cyclist's pedal.

Oh, the shame. Its only now I'm able to talk about it.

Back to clipless after that.:D

I find my toe-clips and straps a breeze to get in and out of. Getting in is simply a case of a quick flick and getting out just means pulling my foot out. I don't even think about doing them any more.

Morgan

How tight do you have them though?

I've been using clipless pedals for years and they're second nature at this stage. I tried out toe-clips on my fixed wheel because I didn't want to be wearing bike shoes all the time. With the straps done up tight they were very hard to get out of, but with them loose I couldn't pull up on the pedals effectively.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Morgan wrote: »

How tight do you have them though?

I've been using clipless pedals for years and they're second nature at this stage. I tried out toe-clips on my fixed wheel because I didn't want to be wearing bike shoes all the time. With the straps done up tight they were very hard to get out of, but with them loose I couldn't pull up on the pedals effectively.

Somewhere in between I think;) My foot barely budges up and down when I'm pulling and pushing but seems to come out easily enough.

fish-head

I'm very comfortable with both. For in town I find straps favorable but out on the road clipless wins over for overall performance.

King Eric

PeadarofAodh wrote: »

My Bianchi Pista arrived yesterday, very happy with it!

Hey Peadar, where did you get your Bike from?

Im looking to build up another fixie and i love the plain chrome of the pistas i've seen about.