SingleSpeed Road Bike; buy or build?

IronPanda

Im thinking of buying/building a singlespeed road bike for £600 or less but i cant decide, was hoping to get some advice from y'all

its either build this up:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=28791

or just buy this and replace the handlebars with proper curly ones
http://www.fixedgearfrenzy.co.uk/produc ... 010_CRBL59

HELP ME CHOOSE! please?

mattward1979

Do you have your heart set on a singlespeed? for any particular reason other than cost?

For personal taste, I would avoid the one with any trace of Lime green on it as I have witnessed the reaction it can evoke from people...

mattbibbings

Specialized Langster. Problem solved.

Ben6899

Nah, everyone goes for the Langster

Go for the Giant Bowery http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Bowery-72-2010-Road-Bike_28340.htm.

mattward1979

Ben6899 wrote:

Nah, everyone goes for the Langster

Go for the Giant Bowery http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Bowery-72-2010-Road-Bike_28340.htm.

That is without a doubt the most Chav singlespeed I have ever laid eyes upon... Isnt there a seperate singlespeed forum!?

Ben6899

What's chav about it? It's just aslightly relaxed track frame with slightly smaller gearing for road use.

mattward1979

If it had Ford Fiesta written down the side instead of the Giant Logo in that awful font, I wouldnt be suprised!

Im sorry I just have a natural aversion to singlespeeds ever since I saw a Japanese kid on a lime green frame with a lime green crankset powering a lime green chain through a lime green singlespeed cog on Lime green wheels with Lime green Tyres whilst wearing a Lime green hooded Jumper (with Lime green pointy ears) with lime green Gloves clutching Lime green hoods attached to a Lime green handlbar..............

I am mentally scarred.......

(didnt mean to disrespect your bike.. Each to their own!!)

Ben6899

Hey you don't have to apologise for not liking my bike! The font is Giant's original one and I agree it's a bit Marmite. I'm quite a fan of Marmite.

When I decided to get a single speed for winter training, I knew I'd use it during summer for popping to the chippy or the offy. So I thought I'd go for a something a little different; for example, the Langster looks a bit like my Felt but without the gears. Where's the fun in that!

As for the Japanese kid, well I was in Tokyo last month and spent a lot of time mouth-watering over the fixed gear bikes... that probably gives you an idea of my 'alternative' taste!

All good.

mattward1979

haha fair enough

Its not that im anything of a bike snob.. Up till 9 months ago my "best" bike was a £160 MTB from the LBS lol!

I have to give respect to the guy on the singlespeed that essentially raped me up Shooters hill a few weeks back. (figuratively, not literally!! although there are a LOT of wooded areas around there...) I just couldnt keep up! So I appreciate they are more than a posing pedestal for the wannabe courier class, but Id be lost without my lovely gears hehe :

And yes I am jealous you were in Tokyo!

IronPanda

the reaction it can evoke from people? im intriuged...

im not entirely sure why i want a singlespeed not gears, it just appeals =D

mattward1979

IronPanda wrote:

the reaction it can evoke from people? im intriuged...

im not entirely sure why i want a singlespeed not gears, it just appeals =D

Ok, I admit it. I shouted at the Japanese guy on the obnoxiously lime green singlespeed :twisted: So its probably only 1 person out of the several million in the UK that might take aversion to it, but come on... LIME GREEN!?

Ok back on topic now Have you built a bike from parts before? if so, maybe its cheaper sourcing a frame + parts, but if not, for pure convienience, get a built one from a reputable supplier.

Ben6899

IronPanda, I bought a single speed in the first instance for practicality during winter... far less to maintain as I plan to head out as long as it isn't icey.

mattward, you should be jealous. It was bleeding awesome!

borisvanhalen

i built a pompino (planet x / on one) for approx £250... shame they've stopped doing the light blue now tho

ride_whenever

save another hundred and buy a pompino...

IronPanda

yeh i guess me not really having to maintain it to the same level as a geared bike appeals

and no never built from a frame before, but everyones gotta start somewhere =p. besides, if i screw up i have a mate thats proper good at that type of thing =D

besides id swap the wheels for lighter probably black ones

mroli

Boardman road comp sc from Halford for <£500.

You'll have to rebuild it anyway - :roll:

Frank the tank

I've got a kinesis decade single speed with flip/flop rear wheel so it can be ridden fixed, for sale. It also has a replaceable drop out so it can be converted to a geared bike if you want.

Set up with mud-guards, front rear brakes excellent condition it's a snip at £450. 8)

Erudin

http://www.lfgss.com/thread44361.html

"i am talking from experience of the 2007 create/unipak bike not 2010 but what was wrong was:
front brake holes not drilled straight.
left crank arm is very weak and twists about BB (problem not isolated to my bike)
chain ring bolts love getting loose and lost (don't even know how this happens)
rear wheel nuts don't have enough grip to hold the wheel straight even if you put the weight of the world into tightning them.
the failure that meant i haven't ridden that bike since was when my chain snapped because it was a piece of shit and it was flexing because of the loose chain ring bolts.
i ended up with my stem and testicles, momentarily passed out and miraculously stayed on my bike.
i am sure there is something i have forgotten that went wrong as well as silly little things like the crank nut covers falling out too easily

in short i would only buy this bike for someone who likes eating road"

The definitive OTP ( Off-The-Peg ) List

e999sam

The Pro-Lite Cuneo would be no good for a single speed it's got vertical dropouts.

Velonutter

I would have a look at this: -



It comes as a road version with brakes: -

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/bianchi- ... 50101.html

I've seen these and frames only on Fleabay a number of times at very good prices (Sub £500) so might be worth keeping an eye out?

Ben6899

The Bianchi was my other option, but I couldn't bring myself to put the chrome finish through a British winter's riding!

Many people who own the pista oil the frame.

RedAende

LIME GREEN - YUMMY

if I win the lottery, 2nd purchase after getting my rusty single speed Mercian 531 resprayed will be a lime Lambourghini

TommyEss

Of the two you initially suggested - the pro lite is a road frame, with vertical drop outs, not track ends - this will mean you'd need either a chain tensioner or get really lucky with chain length.

The second one is a complete bike for a pretty low price. The deep section rims will be very heavy, and they're not machined - so the braking performance will be noticeably worse than if they had machined rims - you'll stop - eventually - but it might be after you've hit the thing you were stopping for.

Also, any braking will start to scar the rim - so they'll look pretty untidy pretty quickly.

I've got a pomino - it does everything I need.