Single speeds and fixies

[marting]

I've never ridden fixed wheel bike before and have an urge to give one a go.
I usually cycle at both ends of my commute (4km cycle, hour on the train, 4km Boris bike).

I'm looking for something that will satisfy my urge (and help me avoid using a Boris bike), but that I can leave in a fairly secure place in London (work) without someone going to a lot of trouble to nick it.

Any suggestions for cheapish SS/fixies? Ideally it'll be modern so I can interchange components easily.

Spesh langster looks quite tasty...

[anonymous-user]

Langster or a Charge Plug are you best bet, I dont like Langsters personally, they seem to be the default wannabe hipster choice. Genesis Flyer is a nice retro looking alternative too.

[Disco You]

Are you planning on leaving it in London, or will it be going on the tube with you?

The Langster is quite good, and comes up on ebay often.

[marting]

Disco You said:

Are you planning on leaving it in London, or will it be going on the tube with you?

The Langster is quite good, and comes up on ebay often.

I'll have to leave it in London unfortunately, apparently Liverpool Streets bike park is fairly secure

[Some Gump]

Give it a try first imo.

I bought an ss/fixed for commuting, because i thought it woukd be a good workout. I'm 5 miles each way, flattish.

At first, i tried fixed. It's cack. Scary as in traffic, and frustrating once going. So i swapped to ss. Now, although th commute is ok, it's frustrating. On the way home, i often fancy a detour - but i can't do anything hilly on it (my detour hits the edge of the peak district). Even the main commute gets frustrating.

Obviouslty everyone is different, but my ss experiment has soley shown me 1 thing - bikes have gears for a damn good reason!

Ps - surely a spesh langster looks nice enought to be nickable? Tought the idea was to have omething looking naff so it's safe?

[47p2]

Some may tell you to ride fixed and you'll feel more in sync with the bike and the road, others will say that fixed is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Some may say that single speed is terrible because you'll never get up the hills and you'll spin out downhill or your knees will pack up because of the strain.

Well I'm going to say it's a load of 8ollocks, try it and see how you get on. I bought a Genesis Skyline last November and have used it throughout the winter and it's been fantastic. It has a flip flop hub but I have used it mostly single speed 48T-18 giving me a 70 gear inch and it hasn't stopped me from attacking the hills around the West of Scotland. I did flip the back wheel a few times but found trying to get through the traffic a bit silly when trying to clip into SPD pedals and get away from the lights so it is now single speed only and possibly the smoothest running bike I have...


To quench my long time passion for riding fixed I decided recently to buy a Czech built Fort track bike, it needed some work to make it road worthy. I replaced the headset and bottom bracket and fitted a front brake to keep it legal. First time out I was giving it 'plenty' downhill towards a roundabout when the rear end started wobbling all over the place, I had visions of me going home with road rash, but managed to gain control and avert a possible disaster. It's a completely different ballgame riding fixed and should in my opinion be tackled with great care, it's fun, fast and scary at times but very addictive. Just an extra note that I ride the velodrome on fixed gear bikes which I've been doing for the past year, but out on the road is completely different to riding the boards...Be careful and enjoy...




And for all the sceptics out there who say hills are impossible without gears here's my Strava Gran Fondo 1 challenge which I completed on 2nd January on the single speed


89 miles, 5141 feet of elevation






and Strava Gran Fondo 2 challenge which I completed on the 9th February on my single speed




Gran Fondo 3 and 4 were done on gears...Not bad considering I get my free bus pass in a couple of years time

[47p2]

marting said:

Any suggestions for cheapish SS/fixies? Ideally it'll be modern so I can interchange components easily.

Cheapish will cost more in the long run, cheap components won't last once the water gets into them. Buy something with decent quality tubing (Reynolds or similar) and reasonable components and it will last. I paid less than half price for my Genesis in November, it was 4 years old and had travelled a grand total of 20 miles in 4 years by the original owner. It looked brand new and the original tyres still had the moulding nipples. There are bargains to be had if you look out for them. My total mileage on this bike since November is almost 2000 winter miles and the cost for repairs etc are zero. Quality doesn't come cheap, but it is cheaper in the long run.

[AyBee]

I have a 2010 Langster that I love. Think they've changed the design to be rather more "cool" recently which I don't like. Used to ride it SS but thought I'd try out fixed, didn't like it at the start and was finding it awkward on the commute but really enjoy it now I'm used to it. I also like the thought of someone stealing it and then injuring themself when they realise it's not your average bike Although I'd cry if it was ever stolen

[Dammit]

Here's as close as I can get to the "perfect London bike":

[marting]

Dammit said:

Here's as close as I can get to the "perfect London bike":

Nice! Is that some thing you've built up yourself?

Edit: just seen this on the manufacturers site, bit expensive for a 4k commute!

Edited by marting on Friday 2nd May 07:55

[Mr Will]

Dammit said:

Here's as close as I can get to the "perfect London bike":

Anyone recognise the front light on it? I'm after one that mounts like that.

[AyBee]

Mr Will said:

Dammit said:

Here's as close as I can get to the "perfect London bike":

Anyone recognise the front light on it? I'm after one that mounts like that.

That bike is gorgeous Anybody know what the mudguards are too?

[Dammit]

Supernova E3 light with the caliper brake mount adapter and Curana C-Lite mudguards.

[Mr Will]

Dammit said:

Supernova E3 light with the caliper brake mount adapter and Curana C-Lite mudguards.

Awesome, thanks

[upsidedownmark]

Nice, but not sure about perfect london bike.. how long would that last locked to a railing!

[croyde]

A Langster has a fixed cog and a freewheel cog. You just flip the rear wheel over. I did try it fixed for about 3 days but just didn't like it. SS was fine especially in London and even on longer trips. It gets you fit.

I was using mine in Richmond Park a few years ago and used to have to walk it up that hill near the A3 gate but kept at it and then I was over taking a few of the Tour de France lot on their multi speeds

They always caught me on the downhill tho

I thought it was fun and involves hardly any maintenance.

[Dammit]

upsidedownmark said:

Nice, but not sure about perfect london bike.. how long would that last locked to a railing!

That is an issue- I'm a member of the H3 gym in Soho which offers secure bike parking, which removes the railing issue from the middle of town at least.

[marting]

I think a second hand Langster could be on the cards...

[GarryDK]

Ive just ordered a Charge plug 2. Was very impressed with it compared to the Specialized. But then I have never been a "fan" of Specialized.

[AyBee]

croyde said:

A Langster has a fixed cog and a freewheel cog. You just flip the rear wheel over. I did try it fixed for about 3 days but just didn't like it.

Try it again and stick with it - I hated it after 3 days, I'd now find it weird not riding fixed on my commute