Teach me how to fixie

[honestmachinery]

@Judd 147187 wrote:

So it’s been six months since I last bought a bike and I’m thinking that I would like to add a fixie to the stable. Since there seems to be a lot of fixed gear expertise I thought I’d ask for some recommendations. I see a few possible routes:

1. Purchase new stock fixie from a LBS.
2. Order a new customizable bike from a place like Pure Fix.
3. Buy a used one on Craigslist
4. Build my own

The idea of building one appeals to me since it gives an excuse to buy some tools and I like to tinker but I’m interested in others experiences.

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I’ve built up a few from old road frames, but given the variety of inexpensive single speed bikes with fixed/free hubs these days, I’d probably go new if I wanted another. More riding for the dollar.

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[OneEighth]

I like to build my own.

[jrenaut]

Building your own would be way more interesting for us. Like when DKel built up his bike, complete with pictures of all the stages. You should definitely do that.

[EasyRider]

Build your own, of course! 😎 I bought my bike off CL for cheap, stripped it, bought a new wheelset, and went to the parts bin and Ebay for most of the rest. Over the years I’ve added newer bits as the spirit moved me.

[tnelson]

With Bikes for the World’s warehouse clearance sale this weekend, you can probably pick up a frame (and other parts) for super cheap.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I built both of mine myself. More fun.

Subby didn’t build either of his, and he has the sads.

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[KayakCyndi]

@ShawnoftheDread 147199 wrote:

I built both of mine myself. More fun.

Subby didn’t build either of his, and he has the sads.

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Subby is too busy riding 600Ks to be bothered to build bikes.

[dkel]

Definitely build your own. It’s not that hard. You don’t need that many special tools, and if you don’t want to buy a tool for something like pressing in a headset, you can make one (in that case), or get it done at an LBS, since such one-offs don’t cost prohibitively much, and you may only end up pressing in a headset once anyway.

[peterw_diy]

@dkel 147211 wrote:

You don’t need that many special tools, and if you don’t want to buy a tool for something like pressing in a headset, you can make one (in that case), or get it done at an LBS,

Or do it at a co-op with its tool.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Build your own. I’ve owned three FGs and ended up selling two of them (against my will). The one I refuse to part with is the one I built myself. If you need tools or help doing the work, I’m happy to help.

Mine:

[dcv]

@TwoWheelsDC 147218 wrote:

Build your own. I’ve owned three FGs and ended up selling two of them (against my will). The one I refuse to part with is the one I built myself. If you need tools or help doing the work, I’m happy to help.

Mine:

chain’s too slack

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dcv 147220 wrote:

chain’s too slack

Was waiting for that. It was fixed (har har) within minutes of this photo being taken.

[vvill]

+1 for build your own. Fixed gears are probably the easiest bikes to work on, just be careful of getting a finger (or anything really) in the chain when it’s spinning!

I am tempted to completely rebuild my Wabi but that would be kind of pointless. I already replaced the cranks/BB/chainring/cog/chain/handlebar from stock quite some time ago.

Most big bicycle manufacturers don’t spend a lot of time on making an interesting fixed gear model for their lineup, so there usually aren’t a lot of interesting fixed gear bikes in stock at bike shops, except for some the really expensive city shops (NYC, SF, etc.). And then because of the previous FG craze there’s still makes of fixed gear bikes made to look colorfully cool built on crappy heavy steel frames, and others that are made to look more classic and refined utilitarian cool but… similarly overpriced for what you get (unless you happen to really love a particular model’s look, of course).

[dcv]

This link has an expiration date
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/5806242322.html

[jrenaut]

@vvill 147222 wrote:

others that are made to look more classic and refined utilitarian cool but… similarly overpriced for what you get (unless you happen to really love a particular model’s look, of course).

This is my Pinarello. Although mine was a bike shop floor model from a year or two before I got it, so I got a good deal on Ebay.

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