Advice on first fixed gear bike

[woollyuk]

Hi everyone I am new on here and would love some advice on getting a decent fixed gear road bike. I was looking at something like the Felt dispatch, but as a female of 5' 6" not alot of places have any smaller bikes floating around.

Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks

 

[oxbob]

Hi Woolly,Have you looked at the specialized langster/tricross fixed or giant bowery, kona paddy

 

[jimboalee]

Hi,

When you have selected your new fixie, strike a deal with the LBS for them to include in a selection of sprockets, a chain and a chain tool.

 

[Joe24]

Build one up? Pretty easy to do, and how i got into riding fixed.
Or, if you want an Off the peg, Giant Bowery, Genisis Flyer, Specialized tricross and Kona paddy wagon are ones to look at.
Dont get a langster, please

Go for the one you like the look of more, the components one them are pretty much about the same, or nearly the same.

Try and get a deal with a few more sprockets and either another chain. But dont go for cheap crappy sprockets. Planet X/On One do good sprockets, that arent too expensive if your LBS doesnt have any to put in.

Where in the UK are you?

 

[zimzum42]

Bob Jackson make lovely track frames, plenty of sizing options. Not cheap, but not too expensive either, and it'll last forever!

 

[woollyuk]

Thanks guys for all your replies, I am based near to Middlesbrough and find local shops not too helpful and I don't know too much about the bikes yet to put one together myself so will have to get one off the peg.

Hi Joe thanks for the bikes I was looking at the Kona as well thinking it might be a nice piece but need to see one close to me. Can you explain about the sprockets and chain and why I need a few nore and another chain - is it a tension thing?

Cheers

 

[Joe24]

Having different sprockets gives you the chance to change gear.
For me, i have a 16t on one side, 18t on the other, to give me different gear sizes.
On another fixed i have a gear for going slower on i have a 19t sprocket.
On my TT bike i have a 13t sprocket.
Although, i just use 48/18 to go most places anyway, but use the 48/19 to go to shop/6th form.
Gives you different gear sizes.

If you do that though, you will also need a chain whip.

Second chain is just icnase one breaks, but also, if you have a gear on thats say, 48/18 and you want to change to 48/13, your chain will be too long. So you cans et the second chain up to this length.
48/13 is a big gear though, and i would reccomend just riding this.
I run 48/18 and 48/16 on the same chain, the wheel just moves from the front to the back of the drop outs.

Hope this makes sence!!!

 

[woollyuk]

Thanks Joe, it does somewhat as I was reading some articles on this type of stuff, in the Tour de France and how they set up the geared bkes etc.

Point of reference though can i explain this to a LBS and they should know what i am talking about and be able to fit it all for me?

Cheers

 

[Joe24]

Thanks Joe, it does somewhat as I was reading some articles on this type of stuff, in the Tour de France and how they set up the geared bkes etc.

Point of reference though can i explain this to a LBS and they should know what i am talking about and be able to fit it all for me?

Cheers

The LBS should know. Id say gear for yoru area, then either have a gear that will be easier for going up hills, or a gear for when you want to go fast. Get them to put that on the other side(if you have a flip/flop hub then you wont have a lockring on one side, so it would have to be on tight!)
I have just got a chain whip, before that i just went to a mates house and got him to do it.......

 

[jimboalee]

Build one up? Pretty easy to do, and how i got into riding fixed.
Or, if you want an Off the peg, Giant Bowery, Genisis Flyer, Specialized tricross and Kona paddy wagon are ones to look at.
Dont get a langster, please

Go for the one you like the look of more, the components one them are pretty much about the same, or nearly the same.

Try and get a deal with a few more sprockets and either another chain. But dont go for cheap crappy sprockets. Planet X/On One do good sprockets, that arent too expensive if your LBS doesnt have any to put in.

Where in the UK are you?

Is there an echo in here?

 

[Joe24]

Is there an echo in here?

problem jimbo? i give some advice that agrees with you just dont put a stupid '+1' its simple really.

 

[bicyclerubber]

Once you become a fixie - which is easy to do - have a look at the titanium fixed frames at www.burls.co.uk mmmmmm

And a nice shiny stainless steel polished phil woods sprocket is just sublime