I'm buying a single speed/Fixed Gear.

Sajan

OK. I have now decided. I am going to buy a single speed or fixed gear. Or in the case of the Langster, both. I am just looking for some advice and if possible the best one on the market for around 400-500. I was in Cycleways today and saw the langster and I really liked it. It is definitely the top price I am willing to pay. And as it will be my first bike, and the area I will be locking it I would be persuaded to buy something cheaper if someone recommended it. I have also heard that there is a guy in Dublin 8 who builds them and sells them for around 300. Does anyone know of this person. I know this topic has been done to death on here but any help would be really cool.

Thanks.

blorg

Langster is a very good bet I would reckon, especially if you can get it in that price range (it used to be €600.) Decent lightweight fixie.

Sajan

Yeah I have to say I was very impressed.. Is there any around with no branding. That would help immensely.

Sajan

Anyone seen any of these around or heard anything about them?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Single-Speed-Bikes-Track-Wheels-Fixed-Gear-Black-60cm_W0QQitemZ110407222490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item19b4c884da&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1688|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

flickerx

Dont know anything about them bikes. 60cm is a very big frame though. How tall are you?

I used to build them and sell them here or on eBay.ie but I'm not living in Dublin at the moment. If you can wait 3 months I'll build you one when I get back, but I'd encourage you to have a go of it yourself, its a great learning experience - but maybe if you want it quick and cheap, you might prefer just to buy one. Building one, if you want all new parts, usually works out more expensive (but you'll have a really nice, unique bike).

flickerx

Oh yeah join this when you get your bike
http://www.londonfgss.com/forum29.html

Sajan

Anyone seen any of these around or heard anything about them?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Single-Speed-Bikes-Track-Wheels-Fixed-Gear-Black-60cm_W0QQitemZ110407222490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item19b4c884da&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1688|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Sajan

Sorry about the double post. Yeah i'm going to change the frame size. Interesting offer for the build. Thanks for that. I'm looking to get one ASAP though which kind of rules that out now. But not for the future. I really dont know what to do

blorg

I think you would be far better off with a Langster than those things, the Langster would be far lighter and have better componentry. The eBay bike you linked is known as a "Unipack" and is scorned by the fixed gear "community." Now I am not sure of the validity of a lot of the vitriol poured on Unipacks (they are after all simple enough, maybe they go and are just a bit heavy?) but certainly a Langster would be a better bet.

copacetic

those ebay ones look ok if heavy enough and are certainly closer to what a fixie/singlespeed should cost.

The markup the name brands put on their 'style' bikes tends to be a fair bit more than on their standard bikes

blorg

What copacetic says is very true, it appears stripping the gears off something increases the cost... However I would still think the Langster is going to be a much better bike. Whether it is ~twice as good depends on your own perception of value.

DirkVoodoo

You also have the convenience of popping into Cycleways if something goes wrong.

Trojan

I'm gonna see can I get an 09 Langster, in Dublin, for 500 quid incl raceblades. CW currently has it listed at 494... we shall see.

Mr.Boots

Have to say i love this....even if it is a bit pricey.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/cinelli-rat-1000.jpg

Trojan

Pricey to say the least - €700 quid for that Cincelli.

copacetic

blorg wrote: »

What copacetic says is very true, it appears stripping the gears off something increases the cost... However I would still think the Langster is going to be a much better bike. Whether it is ~twice as good depends on your own perception of value.

there is no doubt in that alright, much better, prob more reliable etc. Those ebay ones have painted rims and chains which won't look so good after a couple of days also.

Sajan

OK.. I think I have decided on the Langster. Seriously fell in love with the bike. I might try source one online. See if there are any savings to be made.

blobert

The Cycleways price is pretty good alright, you can get it for £440 delivered from McConveys in the north though its not going to me much of a saving.

Another option might be an 08 Fuji Track, for £299 from Biddle bikes or Winston Stanley, if you are going fixed this might work out cheaper, you'll just need a front brake and lever.

I've had both and they are both very nice, might even recommend the Fuji over the Langster, steel frame is smoother on bumpy Dublin roads:)

blorg

copacetic wrote: »

there is no doubt in that alright, much better, prob more reliable etc. Those ebay ones have painted rims and chains which won't look so good after a couple of days also.

Painted rims are more than an aesthetic problem, they seriously compromise braking. Fine on a track bike where you don't have brakes anyway but not if you are looking for a street fixed.

ROK ON

I may give in and mover to the dark side of fixiedom.
My commute bike is way overgeared, so I may sell it.

Are there any stockists in the Dublin area of anything other than Langsters and Boweries.

I really like the look of the Cinelli, but would also think of the Bianchi Pista (do they come with drop bars - as I have only seen them with flat bars?).

So, where is the widest range of fixies in Dublin?

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

I may give in and mover to the dark side of fixiedom.
My commute bike is way overgeared, so I may sell it.

What is it? I'm thinking of going the other way.

blorg

ROK ON wrote: »

My commute bike is way overgeared, so I may sell it.

As in, it has too many gears?

The Pista comes with drop bars as standard, I believe it comes without brakes though so you would want to add them.

Morgan

I can't think of anywhere that has a particularly wide range of fixed wheel bikes.

Cyclogical for Genesis Flyer
Wheelworx Clondalkin for Dolan FXE
Eurocycles in town (maybe) for Felt Dispatch / TK
Cyclesuperstore may have some suitable frames too (e.g. Flanders)

ROK ON

blorg wrote: »

As in, it has too many gears?

The Pista comes with drop bars as standard, I believe it comes without brakes though so you would want to add them.

Yes way too many gears. Triple with 11/34 on the back. Tricroos sport comes with mtb gearing.

I may just get a shop to change it to ss for me, as I really find it comfy.
But I often feel silly on a bike with collaosal gearing that only goes from D15 to IFSC and back again.

Anyone in Dublin sells Pista's??

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

What is it? I'm thinking of going the other way.

Interesting, giev that we have a similar length commute, why do you want to go geared on the commute from SS?

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

Interesting, giev that we have a similar length commute, why do you want to go geared on the commute from SS?

I would like to be able to go up hills with a child on the back. This is difficult on a Tricross single.

I don't suppose yours is a 56?

Maybe we could just swap drivetrains.

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

I would like to be able to go up hills with a child on the back. This is difficult on a Tricross single.

I don't suppose yours is a 56?

Maybe we could just swap drivetrains.

Mines a 54.

blorg

You don't have to use the gears you know Trying to convert it to SS would not be a great idea, the frame is not designed for it. There are hacks with chain tensioners but might not work great compared to a frame with track ends. You would be throwing away/swapping perfectly good components and you could never go fixed. Probably would be expensive if you wanted to do it properly, you would be getting a new crankset, new brakes, conversion kit to replace the rear cassette. Just sell it and buy a fixie if that is what you want.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

You don't have to use the gears you know Trying to convert it to SS would not be a great idea, the frame is not designed for it. There are hacks with chain tensioners but might not work great compared to a frame with track ends. You would be throwing away/swapping perfectly good components and you could never go fixed.

If that's directed at ROK_ON, surely the frame is identical between Tricross Single and Tricross Sport? Wouldn't the components just swap over?

niceonetom

Lumen wrote: »

If that's directed at ROK_ON, surely the frame is identical between Tricross Single and Tricross Sport? Wouldn't the components just swap over?

Nah - rear triangle is different. 130mm spacing rather than 120mm. And vertical dropouts as opposed to track-ends. Conversion to single would be messy and the result would be less than ideal.

Buy another bike.

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

If that's directed at ROK_ON, surely the frame is identical between Tricross Single and Tricross Sport? Wouldn't the components just swap over?

No, the Single has track ends while the Sport has standard vertical dropouts and a rear derailleur hanger, etc. The Single actually does have braze-ons for gear cables, it looks like the frame is otherwise identical just with the dropouts replaced with track ends.

This is a pretty fundamental difference though; you would have no way of tensioning the chain on the Sport and no way of attaching a rear derailleur on the Single.

Trojan

I priced the Flyer in LBS, approx €799. I was also recommended the Ridgeback Solo World which is similar to the Flyer (and same price) but comes with fenders and doesn't have STEAL ME printed on it in luminous green.


Back to the Langster... anyone know if they're using sealed bearings on the rear hub? I heard there was problems with the bearings in the older Langsters rear hubs.

I'm thinking the Langster is the way to go given the price.

Caroline_ie

Sajan wrote: »

Anyone seen any of these around or heard anything about them?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Single-Speed-Bikes-Track-Wheels-Fixed-Gear-Black-60cm_W0QQitemZ110407222490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item19b4c884da&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1688|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

The seller sells a lot a BSO ( bicycle shaped objects) ... what it says to me is that he gets them from the same supplier. Also look at the Feedback, one of the comments isn't very positive, and suggests that the seller doesn't really inspect the bikes he sells.

flickerx

Lumen wrote: »

What is it? I'm thinking of going the other way.

Yes I too would like to know what geared bike you have. I might be interested in swapping an 07 Langster for an equivalent value road bike in ten weeks' time when I return to Ireland...

Hmmm maybe that deserves its own post... cos I really dont know what road bike I should be looking for.

blorg

flickerx wrote: »

Yes I too would like to know what geared bike you have. I might be interested in swapping an 07 Langster for an equivalent value road bike in ten weeks' time when I return to Ireland...

Lumen has a Tricross Single (fixed?), ROK_ON has a Tricross with gears.

copacetic

2010 steel frame for the langster looks pretty nice

Borneo Fnctn

They've done away with the carbon fork?

copacetic

I think there will the current version in new colour also, but a steel framset available in above red/chrome and also white.

Morgan

That's really nice - but why oh why won't they put mudguard mounts on it...

copacetic

Morgan wrote: »

That's really nice - but why oh why won't they put mudguard mounts on it...

the seattle comes with mudguards I think but haven't seen it here, so they must have a mounting method?

Morgan

On current models there's a mount on the rear, but not on the fork. The Seattle has a different fork.

Sajan

Going to get a Langster.. Doing it through work as well.. Thanks Green Party. Will let you all know how I get on and thanks to everyone for all the cool advice.

theo4130

http://www.dublin-bicycle.info/ad_bicycle.php?id_bike=1092

there is one for sale in the cycling adverts forum, page two, i have no idea what these bikes are like but i thought i could point u to one
good luck