Looking for a fixie little help
Thread started by
dolamyte at 04.14.08 - 2:35 pm
Hey everyone, I'm hoping I can draw on some of the knowledge and expirience of the group for this. I've been a MTB rider my whole life excpet for a small stint of BMX, and I would like to goto the dark side and start riding a Fixie. I've done a lot of reading but I'm still not really making any head way. Some of the things I'm wondering are:
Should I build or buy?
Sizing. I've never really been sized on a road frame.
Gearing?
Tires?
Rims?
Someone who could be bribed into sparing some time to look at a bike with me to make sure it's good.
or if you know a bike that needs a good home.......
And the list continues. I'm really just looking for a starting point. I think for now I would rather just buy one than build because my local bike shop was burnt to the ground not too long ago and I dont have many options left. For gearing, I dont have to compete with too many hills. Tires and rims I think are pretty basic but I've seen some Fixed Ridazz with these solid five(?) spoke wheeles, what are those about? I would normally just dive right into this, but I think I'll be more sucessful with it if I rely on those who know better and can point me in the right direction. I'm about 6'1" and 160 poinds and ride the largest MTB frames (not including frames that have been stacked and welded together). I tried to take my Dads brand new million dollar Bianchi since he can't ride due to a knee surgery but he wasn't having it, I'll bring flowers next time me thinks. Also I'm not rich by any means, but I do have spending cash. Though part of this will be for beer on the R2rrrr ride! Any help is super appreciated, Thanks guys.....err umm and gals!
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edit: topic should say Looking for alittle fixie help. Sorry I'm retarded.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 2:35 pm
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beware, once you go black you never go back
HANDBONE04.14.08 - 2:38 pm
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thats a punishment I am prepared to deal with!
dolamyte04.14.08 - 2:54 pm
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My requisite reply to any fixie thread.
hatehills04.14.08 - 2:54 pm
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They are found here:
http://2inches.com/
hatehills04.14.08 - 2:59 pm
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Sounds like your pops is a pretty smart cookie!
User104.14.08 - 3:11 pm
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Haha, no hes just stubborn. Anyways I would take it, but I'ld rather got the fixie route.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 3:12 pm
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You could buy a complete bike and be done with it, but it's a hell of a lot more satisfying to build up you're own.
I bought a cheaper, complete bike and swapped out parts (i.e. wheels, handlebars, stem, and seat).
You're just about the same size and weight as me (6'0" and 155 lbs here), so a 58-60 cm frame.
Gearing? Alot of SS/fixed bikes I see are running 42-16, but I bet you can pull something bigger, say 48-16 or 42-14 no problem.
Make sure to get a flip-flop rear hub on the wheelset.
700c is the standard for road riding.
I don't know much about the five-spoke wheels, though. Anyone else have some info?
Are you riding clipless? If so, make sure to get the same kind of pedals as you're MTB.
The handlebars are up to you: Flats, drops, road, bullhorn, whatever.
What mountain bike are you riding?
Alex04.14.08 - 4:49 pm
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Alex thanks for the help!
I was thinking about doing what you did, buy a complete bike and change out for parts that I would rather have.
I'm glad to hear your suggestions for the gearing, I was worried I might be totally off.. As for the flip plop hub, would a gear with a coulpe more teeth be a good choice? With the five spoke wheels, it's just something that I've seen, and I wanna say usually on only the front wheel. Just curious more than anything.
I do ride clipless, and my current bike has egg beters on them. I'm just oing to buy another pair since I'm in love with them.
Witht he handle bars, does it matter what shape they are? There are too many choices and I'm not educated enoughin this field to know whats what. What do the different shapes offer a rider? Is there any benefit to been seen fomr one to the other or does it just come down to styling or rider preferance?
I ride a FS motobecane. 6" of travel all around and I really like the bike. The only thing I dont like too much are the brakes. I've got avid bb5's and I think I might change out for the Juicy 5's.
The weekend after the Amboy ride I'm thinking aobut coming down to LA fort he weekend. My mom lives there in the handock park area (just west of beverly and western) and also to ride some ridezz! What shop are around that I can goto and sit on some bikes and ask a bunch of dumb questions? I don't know many good bikes shops in the area, but I know some people on here do! Again thanks for the help!
dolamyte04.14.08 - 5:48 pm
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Riding carbon wheels on the road is stupid.
kyber04.14.08 - 5:52 pm
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"I'm glad to hear your suggestions for the gearing, I was worried I might be totally off.. As for the flip plop hub, would a gear with a coulpe more teeth be a good choice?"
Remember, you only have so much dropout to work with adjusting the wheel forward and back. I'm not sure how many teeth difference you can do but check out the
Captain's (RIP) site for awesome information.
I do ride clipless, and my current bike has egg beters on them. I'm just oing to buy another pair since I'm in love with them.
"Witht he handle bars, does it matter what shape they are?"
If you want to continue doing long rides stick with regular road drops or some bullhorns. If you want to start doing lots of tricks get short flat bars.
"I ride a FS motobecane. 6" of travel all around and I really like the bike. The only thing I dont like too much are the brakes. I've got avid bb5's and I think I might change out for the Juicy 5's."
I had bleed issues on my rear Juicys so I switched to bb5s for the rear only. I actually have the rear bb5 feeling just like my front juicy.
"The weekend after the Amboy ride I'm thinking aobut coming down to LA fort he weekend."
If you're 6'1" you can try my fixed conversion out out in Amboy.
Oh, and I'm definitely of Sheldon's school, get at least a front brake on your fixed gear. No matter how good you can skid a rear skid can't stop anywhere near as fast as a front brake can.
toweliesbong04.14.08 - 6:03 pm
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"dude, ask the god off all fixiness, sheldon brown "
beat me to it.
toweliesbong04.14.08 - 6:03 pm
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????Riding carbon wheels on the road is stupid.???
It would really help if you would explain. I've been using carbon wheels for a few years and have no issues. Carbon wheels are use in cyclocross without any problems.
Also, the 5 spoke wheels (aerospoke) are not made carbon but some kind of plastic. They're expensive around 300 - 500 each, the cost of a decent steel frame.
My advice is get a steel frame that fits you and build from there. While buying a complete entry level bike like a Bianchi Pista or a Langster is the fastest way to get on a bike, it is ultimately not the cheapest way. You will eventually replace every component on these bikes. If you buy cheap you buy twice.
sc_nomad04.14.08 - 6:11 pm
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@towlie
Thaks for all the help, man you awesome! With that I think I'll stick with regualr road bars.
I've tuned my bb5's about a dozen times and cant quite get that juicy feel and if I get close the pds rub and annoy that crap out of me. Maybe you can help improve my tuning technique. Thanks for the offer aboutletting me try out your bike. I'll have to take you up on it, are you riding clipless? Obviously I have spd cleats right now.
Sheldons website has been emeslily helpful the past three or four days. The only thing I haven't read through at least ten times are the testimonials.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 6:21 pm
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Sure thing.
Most of the people that I see running composite wheels are the same individuals who are doing wheelies and end up cracking them. It's an expensive 'bling' item that serves no other purpose but to advertise 'wealth.' I've seen too many people abuse them, that's all.
I do realize composite and carbon wheels have a legitimate place in competitive cycling. But honestly, if you have to ask about something like that....you probably don't NEED to have it.
kyber04.14.08 - 6:24 pm
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I have toe clips on my Motobecane, be sure to bring some flat shoes, or we could switch pedals.
Maybe I got lucky with my BB5s but they've been working great.
toweliesbong04.14.08 - 6:25 pm
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@Nomad
I know that buying complete now = more $$ in the long run, and I would definitly perfer to build up but I dont have anywhere near me for shops to help me do that, and I would rather buy from a shop anyways. iF you have any sugestions on a shop in LA or near LA please let me know I can patronize them! Also I dont mind swiching stuff out becuase if it's an upgrade I tend to enjoy it more than if I had it from the get go. but I'll definitly heed your advice when it comes time!
dolamyte04.14.08 - 6:26 pm
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Head over to orange 20 in hollywood.
They'll hook you up. Just try to go at an odd hour or you will most likely face a large crowd.
In my experience, orange 20 is usually pretty empty in the early afternoons (except weekends.)
kyber04.14.08 - 6:29 pm
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Try Orange 20 for starters, they have a good selection of bikes. The best part is they stock a lot of items so you can touch and feel what you are considering.
What area of LA are you in? Most bike shops have a fixie offerings and they have access to most of the general items. I am a big advocate of supporting your local bike shop (LBS). Find one with people you'll like doing business with and stick with them. The relationship will pay off in the long run.
sc_nomad04.14.08 - 6:36 pm
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@ kyber,
Thanks for the clarification. You're right carbon is not best for those applications. Just didn't want anyone to think carbon is bad for all applications.
sc_nomad04.14.08 - 6:39 pm
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No way, carbon is great when used correctly.
I wish I had money for some nice wheels for the track, but alas. I am broke! I suppose that is where some of my feelings for misused carbon and composite wheels comes from.
kyber04.14.08 - 6:45 pm
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@ Towlie,
Toe clips wont be a problem, I use mountain shoes to the cleat isn't an issue. Don't get me wrong I like the brakes but I'm just considering getting the juicy's.
@ Nomad and Kyber
Orange 20 eh? I'll have to check them out. It'll most likely have to be on a weekend though. I wasn't considering the corbon wheels, just curious as to what they were and their purpose. Personally I think carbon is only going to help out on the track, aluminium or titanium are better choices for $$$$ bikes for the road I think.
Can anyone guide me to what things to look for in particular? I know the rear hub is the heart of the machine, but I'm not expirienced enough to see the obvious no no's and eye brow raisers. Again thanks to everyone for their help so far!!!
dolamyte04.14.08 - 7:43 pm
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@Nomad
Sorry I forgot to add, when Icome down I stay with my mom, shes in the Handcock Park area, a few of blocks west of Beverly and Western (K Town). Also near, Larchmont, Rossmore/Vine ect. I will aslways go the LBS route, but I don't have one anymore and they wont be back for a very long time. So it's either an hour and a hlaf drive to Palm Springs or a 2 hours(depending on traffic, hooray for the 101!!!!!) drive plus a place to stay, and ridezz to ride if I goto LA, easy choice if you ask me.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 7:47 pm
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as a model for comparison, I saw
This Bike listed in the LB. He didn't mention what the crank set are, wheel set, tires or much at all. But assuming they are middle of the road is 350-400 and fair price for a bike like this in good condition? What might be the savings of building one with similar specs? I'm sorry I'm not very good with this stuff.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 9:26 pm
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Oh hey, Dolan! You had the kilt on at the last LACM, right? It was good to see you. I rode and envied you're bike for a bit before we started. =D
Yeah, you can run a bigger gear on the freewheel and a smaller gear for the cog, so you can go faster on the fixed side and back it off a bit on the free side if you're doing longer rides.
In my opinion, it's all preference in the end, but:
Flat bars would be the easiest switch coming from MTB. Road or drop bars get you in a more aero position. Bullhorns are more upright than drops, but still have the sideways hand positioning like them.
Test out as many variations as you can.
Alex04.14.08 - 9:52 pm
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Hey Alex, yea man I had fun riding with you, what happend at the end of the ride? You doing any other rides any time soon?
I was thinking either the bull horns or the turn downs. I'm not too worried about the flip flop hubs, but it's seems like it would be nice to have. Testing things out is the hard part for me. No more local shop and I wont be able to make to LA till the weekend after the r2rrrr ride.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 10:19 pm
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I went to the Hollywood Ridazz after LACM ended.
You should come out to the Cycledelics ride in Riverside, May 2nd should be the next one.
Alex04.14.08 - 10:41 pm
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I think I might be LA that weekend, if I'm not working of course, but if not then for sure, or maybe even do that ride and then head down to LA. Who knows we'll see.
dolamyte04.14.08 - 10:51 pm
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400 seems to be a fair price. Buying a used one is a good alternative. Some people get fixies only to find out later that it won't work for them, it's good for everyone else since they end up selling the bikes at a lost.
I'm assuming you're coming from points east. If you come down the 60, drop by Incycle (60 Freeway and Mountain)on you way to or from LA. Check out what they have and try to get an idea of what size bike would fit you. While their selection doesn't compare to Orange 20's, they have a bigger showroom and more staff. It doesn't cost to browse, ask questions or test ride.
O20 is the best fixie shop around but getting service on weekends might be a challenge, they're that popular. Also O20 is unique that it is open from 2PM to 10PM everday but Wednesday (close).
sc_nomad04.15.08 - 1:05 pm
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@nomad
I usually dont take the 60, but i might next time. O20 isn't far enough for me to even get warmed up on a bike ride so I'm definitly going to check them out! Again thanks for all the input.
dolamyte04.15.08 - 1:46 pm
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I ran into a guy whos selling a Bianchi Fremont, anyone know much about these bikes? i was looking at a preista, but Im worried it might be a little aggressive for me coming from a MTB. I've looked the fremont up and am kinda diggin it, but wanted to see if anyone knows more about them, or has any riding expieriance on it. Any ideas? Thanks y'all
http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_b4p_fremont.html
dolamyte04.15.08 - 2:07 pm
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Go to LA Brakeless in Culver City. I just went there for the first time and the owner was super cool, hooked me up with free shit and service.
0gravity04.15.08 - 4:22 pm
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@Ogravity
See your topic about them. I posted up in there before reading this.
dolamyte04.15.08 - 4:56 pm
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