Find me a fixie frame (or complete bike)

biondino

So, here's a challenge for you. I am a 6 foot, 34-inch-inside-leg chap of relatively normal proportions and I would kind of sort of like a single speed bike. I want something beautiful, thin tubed to the point of being dangerous (exaggerating for effect here - they do need to be solid), and of good value (though not necessarily cheap). You all know way more about this than I do, so can you post to this thread with either advice or, even better, examples of lovely single speed frames or full bikes I should consider.

Thank you!

lost_in_thought

NYAHA!

Your powers are weak, old ( :?: ) man!

You have succumbed to the inevitable! Resistance is futile! Coasting is for sissies!

Bwahahahahahhaaaaaa! :twisted:

biondino

I'll keep it on the SS side of the flip flop hub and just keep turning the pedals if anyone I want to impress is watching

lost_in_thought

Wuss

cjcp

Oh no; another one bites the dust.

(Check out the link I posted about two weeks ago to the Epic Cycles SS on the Deviants Thread.)

biondino

cjcp wrote:

Oh no; another one bites the dust.

(Check out the link I posted about two weeks ago to the Epic Cycles SS on the Deviants Thread.)

Thanks - I did - bikeradar search ain't great! Found it though. Looks decent but it looks like a 21st century road bike. It has thick tubes!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

A nice Principia frame(from Chain Reaction) to build up an SS from?

il_principe

Try here:
http://www.tourdevillelondon.blogspot.com/

biondino

Jash you are completely on the money - many of those frames are just the kind I want. Thank you!

Gavin Gilbert

Well I have an early 80's (I think) Claud about your size converted to fixed and about to go on eBay. It's even got full mudguards given we are in for 40 days of rain....you're local-ish so PM me if you're interested.

biondino

Thanks Gavin - have done so.

I just spent £160 on bike stuff including cassette, tools and winter accessories. Blimey.

Littigator

biondino wrote:

Jash you are completely on the money - many of those frames are just the kind I want. Thank you!

huuurrrrrgghhhhhhhhhhhh (wipes dribbling mouth)

bllluuuuurrrrgrggghhhhhhhhhhhh

Biondino if you turn up to drinks riding that thing it wont be just your scalp you lose!

Littigator

Sorry, the image i meant was the 'BMX' presto...

although the one below it is a bike of almost unparalelled grace and beauty conversely.[/img]

blorg

Strongly reccomend you go fixed rather than singlespeed, it is great fun (and great training for your pedalling technique too.)

dafruk

biondino wrote:

...examples of lovely single speed frames or full bikes I should consider.!

Sellout.

biondino

No chance - I just fancy an alternative for when riding my lovely dura-aced carbon number simply gets me too aroused for going out in public

Littigator

biondino wrote:

No chance - I just fancy an alternative for when riding my lovely dura-aced carbon number simply gets me too aroused for going out in public

ahhh yes, nothing like some shiny dura ace to 'stiffen the resolve' eh what!

dafruk

biondino wrote:

No chance - I just fancy an alternative for when riding my lovely dura-aced carbon number simply gets me too aroused for going out in public

On which note, care to pass your opinion on the Cayo? I was having a look at probably getting myself a shiny new piece of kit and that one did jump out as being particularly lovely and at a good price too. I'm wondering if there is going to be a 2009 version any idea when they update their range?


This might help you in your search, from the london Fixie site, there are a couple of lists you might want to check out:
£500+ fixies
Sub £500 fixies

Littigator

dafruk wrote:

biondino wrote:

...examples of lovely single speed frames or full bikes I should consider.!

Sellout.

PAH! Says the man that rides a TOURER indeed. Does it have a perspex windshield so the wind doesn't blow your pipe out ???

dafruk

S'very practical, nice comfy wide pedals that fit my slippers perfectly.

Plus it allows me to claim vital FCN points on all the racers out there for when I skin them.

Might have to give that windshield a try, will allow me to look even more effortless as my perfecly coifured hair will be unruffled as I effortlessly glide by!

biondino

Thanks dafruk. I have limited experience of carbon bikes - very limited indeed - but I love how the Cayo Expert feels. The 58/XL size, which I have, is a wee bit too big for me (6 foot, 34 inch inside leg), but it's still a joy to ride. The power transfer is wonderful, everything is smooth and amazing, and I trust the bike totally.

One thing I like about it is all the things which should be alloy are alloy, by which I mean the places that are most likely to take damage in an accident (bars, stem, seatpost) and involve the most clamping!

Riding it is a quantum leap from riding my perfectly acceptable alloy Trek 1200 - I should add I upgraded the wheels to a Fulcrum racing 3, which are a dream.

I don't know when the 2009s will come out - they put up their prices during 2008 (in May I think) so it's possible they won't go up further, though in the current climate it's hard to see how you'll get a better deal on the 2009 model. If they have your size in stock, I'd seriously look into getting one now - they are SUCH good value that even when other brands are heavily discounted I doubt you'll find much better.

Littigator

I had a look for a friend a while back for sub £1000 bikes and the Cayo from Wiggle came in at £999 as an end of season bargain.

With ultegra all round it's head and shoulders above more expensive carbon frame set ups!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus ... 360032366/

biondino

OOh, thought of something else I want as well as ultra-thin, tidy tubes: bullhorn bars. Basically if the charge plug was slimmer and lighter, it'd be perfect.

dafruk

Hmm interesting. I'm basically waiting till bonus time, so a couple of months yet. Was the frame sizing on their advice or were you just taking a punt? I've only got stumpy little 31" legs and somewhere around the 5'9-10 region so suspect I'd be wanting a small. Current frame I ride is a 49, but being a tourer (as litts noticed!) I'm not sure how much the ride position impacts the sizing or if the compact frame has much impact either.

Anyways back to the SS, are you looking to go all old school traditional looks with the skinny frame?

biondino

Yes definitely. Fat framed fixies just seem wrong somehow.

As for the frame, it was my fault, basically. The size guide on Wiggle indicated it was probably okay; I figured out the Focus 58cm frame was almost exactly the same size as my Trek 58cm frame, and indeed it is, the problem being I never realised my Trek was a bit big!! I flipped the stem and pivoted the bars upwards to bring the hoods closer to me and I'm pretty happy with the ride now, even if it doesn't look as sleek and sexy as it used to.

It looks fairly clear that you'll be needing a M/54 but if you prefer a smaller frame (as per your tourer) a 52 might be best. I'd ask Wiggle what they'd advise - they have plenty of 52s and 54s in stock so it's in their interests to get it right rather than flog you whatever they've got.

wayne182

i'm selling my single speed if you're interested


pics here - http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9911.html

Venom Sabre track frame - resprayed by Mercian in a pearlescent white [nice and shimmery] - 56cm comparative to road frame sizing

White Industries Cranks

Phils front and back, fixed fixed laced to mavic CXP30's

nitto pearl stem

nitto noodle bars

hand stitched bar wrap

campy aero stem

Brooks Swift saddle

Currently running as SS but hub is fixed/fixed
[/img]

biondino

That's a beautiful bike. Pricey though! But yum...

itboffin

my advise would be ebay - set up some searches for reynolds steel vintage retro 531 831 sit back and be prepared to be bored out of your mind looking through 100s pages of rubbish but trust me in there will be the odd gem, I've found two 531 steel and one rough and ready steel. I'm currently working on a complete rebuild of a [drool] Mercian [/drool] but I couldn't turn that one into a SS it would destroy the fragile balance of the earth.

Just look at my el cheepo "unfinished" white steed

itboffin

wayne182 wrote:

i'm selling my single speed if you're interested


pics here - http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9911.html

Venom Sabre track frame - resprayed by Mercian in a pearlescent white [nice and shimmery] - 56cm comparative to road frame sizing

White Industries Cranks

Phils front and back, fixed fixed laced to mavic CXP30's

nitto pearl stem

nitto noodle bars

hand stitched bar wrap

campy aero stem

Brooks Swift saddle

Currently running as SS but hub is fixed/fixed
[/img]

Totally beautiful did you build it yourself?

wayne182

yup, took me about 6 months to get all the bits...

gutted it has to go but new track bike and bank manager requires it

biondino

I have an old 531-framed 80s Holdsworth roadie in my shed! But my skills are way too pathetic to turn it into something nice :oops:

(also it's as heavy as you like)