First singlespeed purchase advice!

Hi guys, I'm a newbie to posting but have been lurking for a while.

I'm making considering buying my first single-speed with the view to upgrading to a fixed if I like riding this way. This is the spec of the bike I'm buying secondhand:

Fuji 55 frame with Miche Primato headset, Pearl 11 stem, Alias 130 saddle, Race Face seat post, Shimano BB and RPM crank on Alex 500 flip flop.

It'll cost £250 and the frame is in a good state with no real dings or any damage. Is this a good price? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

anything better than an unipack is a great buy, you should check out the forum first before posting, for instance in the Bike and Bits section;

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread11148.html

The parts additions are nothing special, if the chainset or wheels had been upgraded it would be a big deal but they have not.

And as a new fuji track costs around £300, and I think you can get 2007 ones for a fair bit less. Then it doesnt seem like such a great deal.

Are you a friend of Harold?

If not take a look at this post: http://www.londonfgss.com/post355235-6974.html

Brand schpankers are available from Biddle for £280-odd.

forget to ask - did it have brake?

edit - if it the bike in picture, it´s not a singlespeed, it´s a fixed wheel.

Cheers edscoble, had a brief look there, am still working out what I actually like as well as what is quality so was just hoping for a bit of expert advice to bolster my decision. Thanks again...

The parts additions are nothing special, if the chainset or wheels had been upgraded it would be a big deal but they have not.

And as a new fuji track costs around £300, and I think you can get 2007 ones for a fair bit less. Then it doesnt seem like such a great deal.

Thanks for the advice, as Wibble says, the guy is asking £300, but even I can see it isn't worth that. Still will see what he says...

Are you a friend of Harold?

Just a coincidence! Was going to chat to the seller later today, had a feeling it would go but I'm not that fussed. If the guy wants to pay £300, good luck to him!

Personally I'd spend 290 on one from Biddle or other Store.

http://www.biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162

Slap a front and back brake on it, and a freewheel.

Then you can use it as a Single Speed safely whilst you're building confidence to ride fixed.

That's just my opinion. Someone will be along shorty to tell you to HTFU and ride it fixed from the off ;)

Brand schpankers are available from Biddle for £280-odd.

I may be wrong but I think some people have bad experience with Biddle.

Then you can use it as a Single Speed safely whilst you're building confidence to ride fixed.

That's just my opinion. Someone will be along shorty to tell you to HTFU and ride it fixed from the off ;)

well, less HTFU, but more economical, I mean why spend money on a freewheel and end up flipping the hubs to fixed?

after all, quite a lots of people here who went fixed hasn´t turned back (I think).

Personally I'd spend 290 on one from Biddle or other Store.

http://www.biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162

Slap a front and back brake on it, and a freewheel.

Then you can use it as a Single Speed safely whilst you're building confidence to ride fixed.

That's just my opinion. Someone will be along shorty to tell you to HTFU and ride it fixed from the off ;)

Yeah, I thought of doing this, I want some riser bars though, with new brakes and a free wheel the price ends up being closer to £400 which is too much for me. Was hoping to adjust a cheaper second hand one. Thanks for your tips, I've heard Brixton Cycles are good for singlespeeds?

54, 55cm 2008 fuji on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=220302907821&Category=33503null&_trksid=p3907.m29

£280 and with a brake.

Just another option, just average value again though. Id message him & offer less.
Or just get something new, dont forget the giant bowery only £225 comes with similar parts but with two brakes and more modern aluminium frame.

Someone will be along shorty to tell you to HTFU and ride it fixed from the off ;)

well, less HTFU, but more economical, I mean why spend money on a freewheel and end up flipping the hubs to fixed?

Wow! Good job Edscoble. Quicker than I thought ;)

free wheel?? you don´t need a whole new wheel, it got a flip flop hubs - fixed on one side, freewheel on the other, you just need to buy the freewheel cog.

and riser are cheap, just get some off an old MTB frame at your local dump from next to nowt, brake on the other hand, brand new Shimano Tiagra and BMX brake levels is a shy under 20 quid, maybe even 15.

I've heard Brixton Cycles are good for singlespeeds?

Brixton get nothing but good feedback on here. If they are near you definitely go down there and check them out before you buy anything.

If you don't want to spend OTP money and then add the cost of all the changes you want to make (makes perfect sense. I went the opposite way :( then keep checking the Classifieds section on here. Some good deals do come up frequently.

free wheel??

Now that's a good way to keep the cost down on the build ;)

@DFP: I dont think its possible to get the £225 Bowery deal anymore. It used to be through Pearson Cycles but its no longer advertised. Super value at the time, IMO.

free wheel??

Ha ha, missed out word. 'Cog'. I hear you though, it can be done on the cheap, I want ot do it properly though, you know?

done properly? getting a whole new rear wheel built so you can run singlespeed?

^^ See above!

Are you a friend of Harold?

Is that like a friend of Dorothy?
@OP: Don't bother. We've already jumped the shark...
;-

@OP
If you're already used to cycling in London, then just go fixed.

I moved back here last year and wanted to go singlespeed and then move to fixed. I've only just moved to fixed (today being my first day) after a month of rebuilding etc.

Singlespeed was fun and let me work out how to get around London.

I've got a new challenge now, cycling round London and remembering that I can't coast anymore.

I rode singlespeed back from the shop, flipped the wheel and haven't looked back, fixed all the way. You get used to it within an hour or two, getting good at it takes a lot longer. I've still got both brakes and fitted risers instead of drops and am doing 20-30 mile loops, as well zooming round town. I wouldn't worry about a freewheel

Is that like a friend of Dorothy?
@OP: Don't bother. We've already jumped the shark...
;-

I was just five hours too late....