Fixie sizing

SeamusD

I really want to buy a fixie. I know that I should probably make one up with bits from my washing machine but I haven't got time and I took my old washing machine to the tip and well the off the peg ones just seem like a really good deal, but ...
I went to look at a Specialized Langster today. OK it may not please the purists out there but it seems to tick a lot of my boxes. But the head tube on the 54cm frame just seems to be so long compared to my current road bike. I'm about 5'7 and ride a Trek 5500 size 54 which is just about perfect (well according to a bike sizing I went to before I bought it). I've had it for a number of years and certainly it's really comfy. I ride with no spacers above the headset, but the headtube on the Langster is just so long and with a long cone shaped top to the integrated head set the bars would be at least an inch higher (nice mix of metric and imperial going on here - sorry).
Which finally brings me to my question. Is there a reason why I need a longer head tube on a fixie (or any other sizing tips I should know about), or should I be looking to get something that is as close as possible to the bike I already ride? BTW the plan is to ride on the road (though I did go to a quick taster session at the Calshot track and it was awesome 8) )

Anonymous

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/products.php?plid=m1b0s6p519

This one has a short headtube, is a lovely steel frame and can easily be converted to a fixed from a singlespeed.

Might as well take the rear brake off aswell if your using it as a fixed.

cannonfodder

SeamusD wrote:

Which finally brings me to my question. Is there a reason why I need a longer head tube on a fixie (or any other sizing tips I should know about), or should I be looking to get something that is as close as possible to the bike I already ride? BTW the plan is to ride on the road (though I did go to a quick taster session at the Calshot track and it was awesome 8) )

If you are going to ride on the road you may want a very slightly longer headtube as you may have a slightly higher bottom bracket and shorter cranks on a fixed for ground clearance, both of which have the effect of making your seat position slightly higher relative to the front of the bike.

But it sounds like the Specialized may be a bit tall for you in that size anyway.

If you are going to ride on the track then you probably want a track specific bike - depending upon the where you are going to ride.

il_principe

Try the Pearson Touche. Far nicer bike than the spesh IME and not as ubiquitous. Plus Pearson know their stuff and will give excellent sizing advice.

Haynes

I ride a 54cm trek as well, which has a horizontal top tube as im sure your 5500 has. My fixie is a Kona with a sloping top tube, sized at 52cm. Im pretty sure the langster has a sloping top tube as well so youll probably need a smaller size. ( I thought top tube length was a more critial measurement than seat tube?)

I went for the Kona because it has a steel frame and forks, and can take full mudguards as its a winter commuter. They have this years model in the LBS, which is a nice retro grey, with some retro bands, theyve fitted a leather brooks saddle, leather bar tabe with cork bar stops, looks very sweet. (i'm almost tempted to offer you my blue Kona, so that i can get the grey one!)

Fixies make great commuters and winter bikes, faster on short hills, scary on fast descents, builds strength too. I built up my first fixie with a magic gear just to try it out, but its nice have a brand new bike, especially with the miles i do, much more convenient and not hideously expensive.

SeamusD

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely coming to the conclusion that the 54cm is just too big. In fact looking at the sizing charts the 52cm Langster has a more or less identical effective top tube length to my existing Trek, so that does look like the size. The point about the BB height makes sense too as everything is really measured from there anyway. So yeah. Thanks.
Then it comes down to personal preference. All the bikes look nice (though personally I'm not hooked on the look of those Kona forks), but I have to say the Langster still looks good to me and whilst they may be ubiquitous in some parts, I've never seen one in the New Forest! And if necessary I could swap the headset for a shorter model. Right. Now where did I put that credit card?

gkerr4

good news - the 'cone' part on the langster does remove and leaves the alternative flat bearing top- bit (technical term)

damn - wish I'd taken a picture now as I read your post earlier and then had to look at the headset on my langster this evening (seeing is a ceramic bearing I had lying around would fit - it wouldn't) It was the first time I had taken the headset off the langster since getting it and I was impresed that the cone can be removed and the regular flat top used instead - it eben have cane creek written onto to to - so this would remove 20mm from the handlebar height straight away.

I have had the langster since august 2007 and it is a fantastic bike - light and fast feeling it has a real turn of pace that keeps you smiling on urban rides. I have the 2007 model in 'rust' which some people hate but I quite like. I have replaced the bars with specialized S-Works bull-horn style aero bars and cane creek TT levers. I have also fitted a charge spoon saddle like this:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... l%20Saddle
in brown - which I admit I did purely for the look as the saddle that comes with it is remarkably comfortable - reminds me of the "toupe" I have on my other road bikes.

A great intro to 'fixed' i think and like you I don't seen any others around my way so I don't buy the whole "everyone has one" thing...

go get it - you won't regret it!

SeamusD

Bought it. So much choice it was doing my head in! Very nearly went for a Lemond Fillmore at the last minute but in the end the Langster got the nod. Thanks again.

gkerr4

cool - have you picked it up yet?

what colour is it - the green one? - they are nice
post some pics when you get it

good choice!

meagain

"Might as well take the rear brake off aswell if your using it as a fixed."

Purely a matter of personal choice, but opinion divides and mine would be keep TWO.

Enjoy!

gkerr4

i have kept mine on - i think I could live without it, but kept it to keep the bars the same (?)