MIN 

Everyone was a newb once. Let's use this thread to help out those who are starting out on fixed gears and single speed bike.

Please post links to useful threads and websites related to fixed gear and single speed concepts. Do not post unless you have something constructive to add as this is a community resource thread. I will update the OP as others offer more links.

Thanks everyone.

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Bikeforums Threads

2009 Fixed Gear/Single Speed Bikes

Do It Yourself (DIY)

The Gearing Primer

Braking 101

Gluing Tubulars (DIY)

Totally Tubular

A Discussion of Budget Fix-specific Frames/Complete Bikes

Some lock advice from a locksmith



External Resources

https://www.bikecalc.com

Rabbit, A SS and FG Gearing Calculator

Sheldon Brown's Fixed Gear for the Road Article

Sheldon Brown's Fixed Gear Conversion Article

Shelon Brown's Single Speed Conversion Article

Tom Deakins' How to Convert Article

Sheldon Brown's Glossary of all things bikes

Jobst Brandst Usenet Archives

Off Road Fixed Gear

Bicycle Tutor -- Videos of how to fix just about anything on your bike

Step by step SS conversion



Social Sites

Fixed Gear Gallery

FGG Index

Velospace



Bike Photo Specific Threads on Bikeforums

Pista Concept Photo Superthread

Cross Check Photo Superthread

Mercier Kilo TT Photos

Showoff Your Townies

IRO Superthread

Pista Photos

Bike Porn

I love my Windsor Hour

IRO Thread

Motebecane Messenger

Riser Fan Club

Track Bikes in Tokyo

Keirin Fixation

Favorite Track Bike Pictures

hackybiker

You could add my FixedGearGallery Index site: https://codefork.com/fgg/

I posted a message about it a few weeks back. The site lets you browse FGG by marque, which is really useful when you're looking for build ideas for a frameset.

kyselad

How about adding the 2009 fixed bikes thread in the first section? Wasn't that originally a sticky?

MIN 

added.

Saddle Up

The question "What size bike should I get?" comes up quite often. About 50% of the time the recomendations given are wrong I believe. Just because someone rides a bike that is too big for them yet it seems to work okay is no reason someone else should ride a bike that is too big for them also. Over the years before I knew any better I've was sold bikes that were the wrong size for me yet I seemed to enjoy riding the bikes. Having said that riding a bike that truly fits is a far more enjoyable experience. Stem length and fore/aft saddle adjustment are there to fine tune to perfection, not to compensate for an ill fitting frame. This chart is for use as a guide only. It is based on over 25 years of experience of one of the world's largest bicycle manufacturers and it really works provided the rider is not excessively abnormally porportioned. In other words for most of the population.

If you are buying online use this chart as your guide, do not go to your LBS and expect them to assist you in getting sized for a bike you are buying off the interweb. Nothing angers them more, rightly so I believe.

The matrix is self explanatory. Find your height and look for the size directly beside your height. Personal preference comes into play also. At 5'8" I'm able to ride 51cm on the smaller end up to 54 cm at the larger end of the scale. My personal preference are smaller bikes so I don't ride anything over 53cm. The top tubes start to get too long for me on 54cm bikes. Stand over height really means very little. If you choose a bike that is the correct size from the chart you can almost always be assured you will have sufficient standover clearance. I hope this is useful, feel free to add comments or ask questions.

Extra Small
5'0" 48cm
5'1" 48cm
5'2" 48cm
5'3" 48cm
5'4" 48cm
5'5" 48(49)cm

Small
5'5" 51cm
5'6" 51cm
5'7" 52cm
5'8" 52(53)cm

Medium
5'8" 54cm
5'9" 54cm
5'10" 54(55)

Large
5'10" 56cm
5'11" 56cm
6'0" 56(57)cm

Extra Large
6'0" 58cm
6'1" 58cm
6'2" 58cm
6'3" 58(59)cm

Extra Extra Large
6'3" 60cm
6'4" 60cm
6'5" 60cm
6'6" 60(61)cm

Extra Extra Extra Large
6'6" 62cm
6'7" 62cm
6'8" 62cm
6'9" 62(63)

Edit: I tried to do a matrix but it gets reformatted to fit the page so I've done it like it displays above. I have limited computer skills.

racin jasin

thx!noob here

Riis

I disagree. Among my group of friends, our inseams are all over the place. Mine is just about a 32", my friend who is an inch taller than me has a 30.5", another friend who is 2 inches shorter than me also has a 32" inseam. None of these people look 'abnormally' proportioned, it's simply a product of the fact that one's inseam can vary enormously. I personally think one's height is only a marginally useful indicator of what size frame one should purchase. The only way to really know beforehand is to get a proper bike fitting done. Otherwise, you have to use a bit of trial & error.

I'm a perfect example of this - at 5'11, there's no way I could comfortably ride the size that your list prescribes.

Saddle Up

I'm not sure what your in disagreement about. If the bike size is chosen based on top tube length standover will be correct also unless the rider is really abnormally porportioned. I originally posted because you cannot get a proper bike fitting done over the internet.

Like I said it's a guide based on the 25 years of experience of a large bike manufacturer.

MIN 

If the search feature is down, as it frequently is, please use google and filter your results.

For example, let's say you want to search "Phil Wood Hubs". Google the following "Phil Wood Hubs site:bikeforums.net" without the quote marks.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

carleton

Please add this first post: Some lock advice from a locksmith

passerby

It might help to add a few respectable online bike stores? Like benscycle or something...just a suggestion

fixedgearbikes

Fixed Gear site for social networking with riders from all over the world, good for newbies with lots of questions and people looking for people to ride with. Look below for website.

myfixedgear

Apologies for the shameless self promotion, but I'd suggest www.myfixedgear.net

bryyando

I did not see the this or maybe I'm blind but heres a bike fit link:
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO

riderx

I recently updated my How To Build A Single Speed For Dummies article. It's a step by step guide, intended to be about as easy to follow as possible. The original was published in 2001 and still gets lots of traffic. The update includes new products that weren't available back then as well as "The Rule of 4" and linkage to the Magic Gear Calculator.

gill

alright im a super-noob to fixed gear and single speeds, i just got a Trek 360 (from 88' i beleive) and i am looking to convert it into a singlespeed....i have no clue where to start. some positive help would be awesome.
ive already searched around the net on ways to convert (sheldon brown, velospace..etc)
some of it is confusing and some isnt.

basically i need to know what i need to do with the back wheel....

thanks

Larzon

Hi gill,
what kind of rear wheel do you have?

and do you want a singlespeed with freewheel or with fixed gear?

gill

i want a freewheel

what do you mean by, what kind of rear wheel do i have?

jkatakoon

Hi, I'm new to the Fixed Gear / Single Speed bicycles, so I wanted to have some opinions from other people.
I am thinking of investing in a bike but not sure which to get.
I am debating between these 2:
Track Bikes - Mercier Kilo TT --> https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm
Dawes SST 1 Speed Track Bike --> https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm
What do you folks recommend and why? Please give me the pros and cons for each bike. And I'm also not sure about which size to get. I'm 5' 10.5" with pretty long legs? My budget is about $350, so if there are better bikes I can get for that price, please let me know
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Patricky

go back to iss

Patricky

Hey where can i get the MERCERR KILO TTT like 3t coz i herd NAd they ken be gud first fixy i have felt concept but need strt fixy coz hipster look at it lke no mor haha coz its scray i in NY

IMHO

"I am debating between these 2:
Track Bikes - Mercier Kilo TT --> https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm
Dawes SST 1 Speed Track Bike --> https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm"
- - - - - - - -
I too looked at these bikes as I am getting a SS road bike. Which bike you decide upon depends one one major factor and how you feel about them. One is a steel frame and one is aluminum. Some people feel very strongly that steel is the only way to go ("steel is real"). I have been riding an aluminum Fuji Cross with 23cc tires as my road bike since 2003 and I love it. I use it to commute and I have ridden century rides on it and I have never had an issue with the frame or felt beat-up because it was aluminum. My previous road bike was a Schwinn Le Tour Steel frame (with comparable components) and my Fuji feels faster. Though I did like my Schwinn...just not enough to get another steel frame.
The Dawes comes with a better wheelset, and that alone should shape your opinion. Also, it is going to be a few pounds lighter (big deal with bikes, as you can feel a pound difference in a bike, no problem). Regardless, I would order a $50 carbon fork from ebay for either bike, you will lose another pound off the bike and have improved ride feel. It will be money well spent.
I hope this helps.

Oh, I ultimately did not get either, and ordered a Leader frame and am building a bike. Still, it was tempting to get the Dawes and slowly upgrade different items. I think you will be happy. Just be sure you feel comfortable putting the bike together when it arrives, or take it to a bike shop to have them assemble and check it over so you are ready to go.
Good Luck!

Retem

Quick fact because I am tired of this question
1/8" drivetrains make a little noise even if you have the chain tension right it will make noise because no chain ring is perfectly round there is always a little noise from them

lord1e

So I just got hold of a Road bike that i though was a fixed gear but turned out it was a coaster(peddling backwards is the brake) and other then that the bike is amazing but i want to know whats the cheapest way to convert

pimpnjoseb

heyy, im new to fixies and single speeds, i have my eye on this bike https://www.irocycle.com/index.asp?Pa...ROD&ProdID=197 im 5'8 and i dont know what size to get on my stuff?....can i have advice?