Advice on first fixed gear bike

woollyuk
Posts: 4
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
Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks
0
Comments
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I know very little,but did ask the same question and one bike that was keep getting mentioned was the Pearson Touche,which I a about to order.0
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Best advice, wear a helmet, use spd's , don't forget it's fixed because when they bite they bite hard. Don't know where you are but I have a fixed wheel if you want it.
Been there done that silly idea, it hurts too much.0 -
I got a Specialized Singlecross late last year and used it a lot this last winter. Great fun, 30 mph downhill at 150 rpm does get the legs working. The bike is ideal for what I wanted as it can be used on most terain, has ample clearence for mudguards and will take a rack if needed. I normaly use 25mm road tyres and they have been fine on it. I would not consider riding it without SPD pedals. Double sided MTB ones are best. As for the helmet, up to you. I do but I do on all my bikes.
Pic in my sig.0 -
Hi, I don't know about Felt bikes, but I'm 5 ft 8 and ride a fixed On One Il Pompino - they do a 51cm (medium) which is the one I have, or a 48cm (small) if either of those would be any good? I got the Pompino for commuting as it takes mudguards and rack, (as does the Condor Tempo http://www.condorcycles.com/tempo.html) but if you want a fair weather/weekend fixed ride instead, and not a work horse, have you had a look at the Condor Pista? All the Condor fixed/SS bikes go down to a 46cm.
http://www.condorcycles.com/pista.html0 -
Just got myself a fixed. Ridden it on the road, too scary for an old dog like me to try and learn new tricks. Reckon I'll just flip it and ride as a single speed.Tail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.0 -
My first fixie was a Fuji Track, not that common over here in the UK but they definitely come in small enough sizes (I'm 5'3"). Not the best bike ever, but reasonable value for money and has that reassuring indestructible cro moly feel without being massively heavy, I've had lots and lots of fun riding it.
Top advice - fit a front brake. I've never felt the need of a rear, but wouldn't feel safe (or legal to be on the road) without a front brake - you don't want to be relying on your knees to protect you from unpredictable road users.0 -
Guy in my club got a Felt and he's had nothing but problems with it and regrets not buyinhg something else.Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/243 ... 8d.jpg?v=0
http://img362.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 076tl5.jpg
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3407 ... e001af.jpg0 -
markos1963 wrote:Guy in my club got a Felt and he's had nothing but problems with it and regrets not buyinhg something else.
Problems in what respect, mechanically or from a riding POV?Tail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.0 -
Frank the tank wrote:markos1963 wrote:Guy in my club got a Felt and he's had nothing but problems with it and regrets not buyinhg something else.
Problems in what respect, mechanically or from a riding POV?
I seem to remember headset problems and also he was assured that mudguards would fit and they didn'tNorfolk, who nicked all the hills?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/243 ... 8d.jpg?v=0
http://img362.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 076tl5.jpg
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3407 ... e001af.jpg0 -
Thanks guys for all your help and replies, I really want a fixie as I do alot of spin in the gym to get me up to scratch and like the feel of the pedals making you work all the time. The roads don't bother me as I ride a Honda 400cc so know how dangerous they can be!!
Sorry for being a complete novice but could i start off with something like the Shimano PD-M520 SPD Pedals? or should i invest a little more money.
Thanks Blonde I like the Condor Pista but a bit above my budget, i was looking a maybe used fixed On One Il Pompino but they seem all large frames and I don't know enough to start putting one together.
John.C you mentioned having a fixie, I am based in the North-East, hence why alot of my local shops are not that helpful, so I don't know whether that close to you?
John.T you mentioned the Specialized Singlecross is that the same as the the Specialized Tricross Singlecross that is offered, if so looks like a nice bike.
Cartesian Centaur - The Fuji Track they have one on evans cycles website for 2009 model, is it similar, again looks sweet
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... gn=froogle
Cheers Jo0 -
I am based in the North-East, hence why alot of my local shops are not that helpful, so I don't know whether that close to you?
I've found the people in the north-east some of the friendliest in the Country.0 -
We are very friendly yes! but I was talking about stock and knowledge of products, we have one local shop and a halfords which are never any use.0
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where abouts are you in the north-east maybe we can point you to a few more knowledgeable bike shops,which i'm sure will also be friendly.0
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Planet-X / On One have a new stock of Pompino frames - they'll do a build up if you ask.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Try Pearsons - really helpful and knowledgeable people - they will build to spec or they have a range of SS bikes avaialble0
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Sorry for being a complete novice but could i start off with something like the Shimano PD-M520 SPD Pedals?John.T you mentioned the Specialized Singlecross is that the same as the the Specialized Tricross Singlecross that is offered, if so looks like a nice bike.
They are not 'fixies' this side of the Atlantic. They are 'fixed bikes' or just 'riding fixed'. Fixies are some kind of fairy.0 -
I've been hankering after a fixed gear for a while.
I went to the LBS yesterday to book my bike in for a headset change as its knackered and they had a Schwin Madison in there which I feel in love with there and then and it came home with me.
Took it out for a ride yesterday and it rides really nice, riding fixed is a bit strange at the moment and I'm sticking with the flat pedals it came with before I fit a set of clipless to it.
My knowledge of fixed bikes is a bit limited but I'm loving it so far. I suspect the rims are on the cheap side of budget looking at but it'll get used for a commuter / training bike so I am not so bothered about that, brakes likewise are unbranded tektro's but it seems to stop alright, rest of the biek looks really nicely put together and its nice riding a steel frame again 8)0 -
Add-on bike parts such as which pedals you use are pretty irrelevant really. It's completely down to personal preference and you should simply use the ones you are used to/already use on other bikes, otherwise you'll not only need to get used to new pedals but you'll also need a seperate pair of shoes just for riding fixed unless you plan on changing the pedals on any other bike you ride, plus, any shoe/cleat/peadal change will intefer with the sadldle height set up, so you'll have to re-set that as well.
I personally use Look Deltas on all four of my bikes, including my road fixed and my track bike, mostly because that's what I started with, I didn't ever have any problems using them, whether on a fixed gear or not, and I can't afford to change the pedals on all four of my bikes just yet. I will probably go over to the newer Look Keos at some point, but as there is nothing actually wrong with the older Delta version, I may as well stick with Delta until the spares are no longer available.0 -
I have a medium pompino and although it is a lovely bike I wouldn't recommend you get one as it is a very long bike and as women tend to have long legs a shorter bodies you would be very stretched out on it.
The SPECIALIZED LANGSTER is a good bike as it will be combatable and comes in some smaller sizes.
You can get them quite cheap and as they’re as so many available you can pick them up second hand easily
here is one for £360
http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/products ... 3290&rs=gb0 -
The Giant Bowery is a decent machine which could probably had for a sensible price (£250-£300) if you look around. The frames go quite small as well.
Not sure about the sizing but the Charge Plug Racer is a nice British designed steel fixie.
Finally SE Racing fixies from Evans Cycles ain't too shoddy either.....Let's close our eyes and see what happens0 -
I'm in Thirsk , where are you. The wheel I have is just one I undished but you're welcome to it if you want to try ridding fixed without too much initial expence.
Any spds will do , just so long as they pull your legs off when you stop pedling otherwise you will end up over the bars VERY quickly.0