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Entry-level fixie?

Old 06-20-20, 08:37 AM
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bicyclepost
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Entry-level fixie?

I've been looking to get a fixie to use as a beater commuter. I've never ridden one before but am very curious to try it out since so many people say they love it. I'm just looking for a cheap thing that will get me from A to B and be mostly reliable. Also looking to ride in the winter in Ottawa, Canada so cold and snowy! I've been looking on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. I saw a Critical Cycles fixie for $150 and a 6KU for $200. They're both gone now but just for future reference, are either of these decent bikes for what I'm looking to do? From my research Critical Cycles is not very reliable but 6KU is decent? Any tips or guidance is appreciated!
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Old 06-21-20, 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by bicyclepost
I've been looking to get a fixie to use as a beater commuter. I've never ridden one before but am very curious to try it out since so many people say they love it. I'm just looking for a cheap thing that will get me from A to B and be mostly reliable. Also looking to ride in the winter in Ottawa, Canada so cold and snowy! I've been looking on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. I saw a Critical Cycles fixie for $150 and a 6KU for $200. They're both gone now but just for future reference, are either of these decent bikes for what I'm looking to do? From my research Critical Cycles is not very reliable but 6KU is decent? Any tips or guidance is appreciated!
You might get more responses in the Single Speed/Fixed Gear forum. My suggestion is to find an older steel road bike and convert it. All you might need to add is a new rear wheel. Check out Sheldon Brown's website. He has a section relating to converting a road bike to fixed gear. I own a couple fixed gear bikes and while they're great, I love riding my converted bike a lot.
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Old 07-16-20, 12:15 PM
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About as low as you can go .. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kent-700c...k-Red/23810254
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Old 07-16-20, 12:35 PM
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Unca_Sam
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Take with a shaker of salt

You could dip a toe into fixed riding by riding single speed. You can determine your gearing by selecting a chainring and cog on your multi-speed bike, and not changing gears, when you buy or build a fixed bike, you'll know what ratio works then. 3/32nds or 1/8th? Drop, flat, or pursuit bar?

What's your tolerance for braze-on fittings that become superfluous, like shifter hardware and cable stops?

My only gripe with the modern, commercially available fixed-gear street bikes (track bikes are really neat, but aren't designed with braking in mind), is that they're mediocre welded chrome-moly plain gauge frames with Sunlite grade cranks, rims, tires... they're cheap to hit a price point. Lighter and more responsive frames start around $400 new, but still have the cheaper finish components.

Read through Sheldon Brown's page about converting old bikes for fixed gear duty.
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Old 08-18-20, 02:52 AM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Wow... they still make those effing things?
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Old 08-20-20, 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Jax Rhapsody
Wow... they still make those effing things?
Yepper.

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