Cheap single speeds - any good?

prawny
prawny Posts: 5,459
edited July 2011 in Commuting chat
Thinking about giving one a whirl - just pondering. seen a few on the net for about £250. Anyone got/tried one, just be used for a pub hack/station commuter.

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    250 sounds expensive.

    seen this http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • dhope
    dhope Posts: 6,699
    Which one did you see?
    Things like the Create bikes are pretty crap I think.

    Better to head to eBay or LFGSS classifieds and either
    Get something poor for well under £250
    or
    Get something decent for £250
    Rose Xeon CW Disc
    CAAD12 Disc
    Condor Tempo
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    I have the 10 Revolution Track the 11 has few changes namely to gear it down and give it better tyres it is over budget at £325?

    I love it great fun and sensible bike.

    As you go downmarket wheels will get cheap and nasty brakes as well.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,459
    nicklouse wrote:
    250 sounds expensive.

    seen this http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

    Yeah thought about that but it doesn't look like they sell em any more.

    These look ok, but I really wanted drops, found some this mornng but can't see them any more.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,459
    How about these?

    http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/new-o ... d/83029341
  • CyclingBantam
    CyclingBantam Posts: 1,299
    In my experience Cheap and Good don't go together. I normally find "The best I can afford" (which doesn't mean expensive, just the best I can afford) and Good go much better together.

    Buy cheap, buy twice is a very good saying.

    Just my opinion.
  • dhope
    dhope Posts: 6,699
    prawny wrote:
    How about these?

    http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/new-o ... d/83029341

    Looks like Create or the No Logo stuff at GoingGoingBikes, i.e. not great. I'm only going by the comments on LFGSS though

    http://www.lfgss.com/search.php?searchid=8865001
    Rose Xeon CW Disc
    CAAD12 Disc
    Condor Tempo
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    dhope wrote:
    prawny wrote:
    How about these?

    http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/new-o ... d/83029341

    Looks like Create or the No Logo stuff at GoingGoingBikes, i.e. not great. I'm only going by the comments on LFGSS though

    http://www.lfgss.com/search.php?searchid=8865001

    having had a look a couple of them.. I suspect you'd need to replace most of it fairly quickly...false economy
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • mzm70
    mzm70 Posts: 123
    I have a 2010 Specialized Langster Steel if you are interested
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,459
    Cool, Cheers guys.

    Singlespeeds just seem really expensive when you can get an ok hybrid for about £3-400 surely getting rid of the gears should save a fortune.

    Might have a look at the Revolution one in the winter/post chrimbo
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,459
    mzm70 wrote:
    I have a 2010 Specialized Langster Steel if you are interested

    Size & price?
  • mzm70
    mzm70 Posts: 123
    Prawny, it's a 56cm and it's what you're looking to spend. It has a few extras, a Miche carrier which makes changing the fixed cog much easier, a selection of fixed cogs (can't remember how many), strap on bottle cage (they don't have boss's) and a pedro's fixie tool.
    Not sure if you can see the picture here
    http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m50 ... 020083.jpg

    I've nicked the bar tape off it to put on another bike (will put on new tape).
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    prawny wrote:
    Singlespeeds just seem really expensive when you can get an ok hybrid for about £3-400 surely getting rid of the gears should save a fortune.

    Man i must have been seriously ripped off when i bought the Dolan :(

    :P
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    prawny wrote:
    Cool, Cheers guys.

    Singlespeeds just seem really expensive when you can get an ok hybrid for about £3-400 surely getting rid of the gears should save a fortune.

    Might have a look at the Revolution one in the winter/post chrimbo

    they still need a drive chain and OEM stuff probably costs peanuts....
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,459
    Oddjob62 wrote:
    prawny wrote:
    Singlespeeds just seem really expensive when you can get an ok hybrid for about £3-400 surely getting rid of the gears should save a fortune.

    Man i must have been seriously ripped off when i bought the Dolan :(

    :P

    Mmmm, but I understand why that would be expensive, it's lovely.

    I suppose there's not not the volume with SSFG bike that there is with hybrids too. I wish I'd bought one of them £200 tricross singles a couple of years ago now. Ho hum.
  • Confusedboy
    Confusedboy Posts: 287
    prawny wrote:
    Cool, Cheers guys.

    Singlespeeds just seem really expensive when you can get an ok hybrid for about £3-400 surely getting rid of the gears should save a fortune.

    Might have a look at the Revolution one in the winter/post chrimbo


    You'd have thought, wouldn'cha?. But a £3/4 hundred SS needs to have higher quality components, especially wheels, due to the very much higher stresses it's gearless life will provide, and, assuming that the bikes compared are of tolerable quality to start with,
    this is what accounts for the apparently high price of the SS, along with the volume savings that can be realised by hybrid suppliers.

    Or it may be that the marketing people know that FGSS riders are fashion victims whose 'choice' of steed has revealed thier gulliblility and who will pay whatever is asked......



    leaves quietly by rear exit

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