Fancy fixie / singlespeed with TT bars?

pedalbasher
pedalbasher Posts: 215
edited April 2015 in Road buying advice
I'm thinking about getting a new commuting bike, but would like to use it for mid-week training sessions as I can build these in to my commute (trips to Richmond Park, the Olympic velopark, etc).

So I'm looking at a steel single-speed which can be ridden pretty hard, and I'd like a TT bar/brake set-up.

Obviously it needs to be robust enough to get me to work via all of London's potholes and traffic, but ideally I'd like something with a bit of flair/character and a racey set-up.

Any ideas? The only thing I can find is the Kona Paddy Wagon with TT bars.

Cheers

Comments

  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Budget?
    Do you want to be able to 'winterise' it'?

    The beauty of FGSS is in being able to switch around components really easily. You should be able to put any bar/break combo you want onto most bikes. If you are just running one brake, switching between bars is a very easy task.

    Have just finished building this, am a big fan of Bull horn bars with TT style bar end brakes.
    Does a good job around Richmond Park.

    IMG_1981_ps_zpsz4hyyciw.jpg
  • pedalbasher
    pedalbasher Posts: 215
    That's exactly what I'm after! Did you build up from scratch? Lovely bike.

    I've never built up from scratch myself but perhaps this is the perfect opportunity - like you say, not much can go wrong as components should be pretty interchangeable.

    I've got a Bianchi Pista Via Brera at the moment, which is fine - but the hub has rusted so it's stuck in "fixed" and I'd like to run it SS with bullhorn bars and TT brakes, just like yours. Plus it's an excuse for a change/upgrade!

    I'd probably whack a pair of mudguards on in the winter, but otherwise no I probably wouldn't need to change it.

    How do you find the Vigorelli frame? Any other recommendations?
  • pedalbasher
    pedalbasher Posts: 215
    Just noticed yours has front brake only, so presumably fixed rather than SS? Does the Vigorelli frame accommodate rear brake?
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    It's a fixed/track frame, built from scratch, I had to drill out the bung in the fork to even get a front brake on! You wouldn't be able to get a rear brake on which rules out most Cinelli frames. I really like the ride, commute 20 miles each way on it; stiff yet nice and smooth on 25c tyres.

    Why not consider getting bullhorns and bar end brake levers for the Pista Via Brera?

    If I wanted an off-the-peg and tarty bike, I like this from State Bicycle Co. you can add a freewheel for few extra £.
    http://www.statebicycle.co.uk/product_p/contender.htm

    I'm not really clued up on good tarty single speed frames, these are quite sensible and would be great all year bikes..

    Pearson do the Once More into...
    http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/pearson- ... -1393.html
    Condor Tempo
    http://www.condorcycles.com/Condor-Bike ... e.tpl.html