Cheap single-speed bike?

the_hundredth_idiot

Hi all!

This isn't quite the usual noob's first post (i.e. what bike should I buy) but still pretty close, so I hope you'll forgive me.

Cycling to work this morning, I spent a little while cycling behind a woman on what looked like quite an old single-speed racing bike (i.e. what I would call a racing bike from my youth as it had drop handlebars). She seemed to be pootling along quite effortlessly and with no real speed difference from me (admittedly I am on a mountain bike which isn't really the best bet for a road commute). I was really taken by the simplicity of it and fancy trying it myself (for those who know it, on my commute the only real hill is up Camberwell Grove and down the other side).

But where can I buy a cheap (say £50) second-hand single-speed (not yet brave enough to try the fixed wheel thing but with a flip-flop hub I could always give it a go)? I've had a quick look on gumtree and the prices people are asking seem pretty high. Given the Bike to Work scheme my company operates, I could get a brand new Specialized Langster for an effective cost to me of £176 - i.e. £399 x (0.59 - 0.15) - so anything second-hand costing more than £100 doesn't seem worth the hassle.

Or am I being too optimistic (pessimistic :? ) about second-hand prices? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Simon

2wheelzgood

Possibly too optimistic?? I am not all knowledgeable about where to get bargains though.

I got the taste when my rear mech broke and decide to converted a hybrid.

I spend maybe 180 between parts, new and used, replacemnt for used and labour to have my lbs fit it all.

I then spent extras on strictly unnecessary parts like new brakes to replace the old ones, extra fancy bar extensions and a new saddle.

Still as you point out, new ones are very £££, so I think it's worth it. Dammit it has to have been worth it, even with my slightly out of shape wheels and scratch frame and all the rest of bearings etc that still need seeing to on 5 year old bike..

If you do want to convert, there are plenty of cog/spacer kits.. londonfixiebike seller on ebay is who I used and he was cool about tips and contacting him. Make sure you ask about for a good gearing. Longer cranks help too.

Same as you though, I think before long, I'll be investing in a new fixie! or convert my MTB when I get fed up spending cash on the battered thing! i.e. NOW!

good luck. If you do want to convert, I can show you in more detail my Frankenstein

meanwhile

Put decent slicks on your MTB. (I'd go for the narrowest Conti sports to best approximate a Langster.) Select the gear you fancy and then (brace yourselves to receive the fruits of my genius!) don't change gear all day. Single speed bike now approximated.

The approximation will be closer, much closer, if your MTB is a decent hardtail bike with a rigid or locked fork. Cost about £40. You could probably get £20-30 back for barely used Sports on ebay.

To approximate a fixie, don't stop pedaling. To approximate a really cool fixie, grow a goatee and remove both brakes.

2wheelzgood

Nice one but way too clever for me

meanwhile wrote:

1)To approximate a fixie, don't stop pedaling.
2)To approximate a really cool fixie, (A)grow a goatee and (B) remove both brakes.

I think 1 and 2b are mutually exclusive. unless you like to slow with your converse on the ground-BMX style

Greg T

meanwhile wrote:

To approximate a really cool fixie, grow a goatee and remove both brakes.

Like 2wheelzgood says - It's like TOTALLY COOL then really really not very cool in a very short period of time. I presume the Goatee is for storing the teeth in?

meanwhile

Greg T wrote:

meanwhile wrote:

To approximate a really cool fixie, grow a goatee and remove both brakes.

Like 2wheelzgood says - It's like TOTALLY COOL then really really not very cool in a very short period of time. I presume the Goatee is for storing the teeth in?

No, dude - its 4 teh aero!

the_hundredth_idiot

Genius! The same thought occurred to me on the way home last night.

I picked the ratio which felt like it would be most "relaxing" up hill, down hill and on the flat and just stayed in that. I also tried to keep on pedalling to approximate that fixie experience (I'll have to work on the goatee). And it actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, although quite a few old ladies on Pashleys overtook me on the way up Camberwell Grove - I was a wee bit slower than usual. The fixie impression disappeared on the way down the other side as my legs started spinning.

On the basis of nothing other than that, I've concluded that this gearing malarkey is overrated - all the extra maintenance and cost when what you really need is fitter legs.

FWIW, when I got home, I had a look at the gear ratio I'd used: 42/17 on 26 inch wheels so a 64 inch gear ratio (is that the right word).

And when I told my wife what I'd done, I got one of those looks which suggested a complete lack of understanding. And, after I'd explained again, I got a look which suggested a different opinion of my little experiment!

2wheelzgood

Haha nice one 100th idiot! I get those looks from my family and mates even the cyclist ones.. I reckon there are 2 types of cyclist. ss/fixed and those yet to try it!

Yep get stronger legs... so easy and mindblowingly liberating! although to get passed by old laydees!! do you not play THE GAME? http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12575770

Your post just now go tme thinking. I;ve never worked out my gain or inches or whatever. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/ says my 700x28 on a 42x16 with 175 cranks is 70 inches or 25mph at 120rpm! I'm seen 32 whilst pedalling! (my legs must've been going like a faster thing) and 39.1 freewheeling.. god fixed must be tough!

the_hundredth_idiot

That's an amusing thread. But, darn it, where did my lunch hour disappear to?

Cheers - I'm still thinking hard about this single-speed thing - maybe spend my Bike to Work allowance on a fakenger Langster? (Crikey - I've picked up the lingo quickly.)

Problem I see is that that puts me high on the list of The Game so I'll have all the other commuters trying to take me on. That sounds stressful!

2wheelzgood

yer hooked and you'll be stressing so much on every ride now!

meanwhile

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

That's an amusing thread. But, darn it, where did my lunch hour disappear to?

Cheers - I'm still thinking hard about this single-speed thing - maybe spend my Bike to Work allowance on a fakenger Langster? (Crikey - I've picked up the lingo quickly.)

The singlespeed version of the Cotic Roadrat (I seem to obsessed with recommending this bike, but the design is genius - I'll be getting one when I have B2W sorted) would be cooler, tougher, and much more versatile. I'm not sure about the cost difference, but HMG would be paying half of it...