Afternoon people, some newbie advice needed on purchasing my first fixie/ss

Hi

I'm 6 foot, 32 inch inside leg, grossly fat and looking for my first bike. been mountain biking and eating pies for a few years but i'm getting sick of paying vast amounts of money of forks and brakes - and i've always loved fixies since i was aware they existed.

So i'm looking at the SE lager at the moment (coz is cheap) but my heart say's buy the Halfords Carerra SS first (this one http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_551205_langId_-1_categoryId_165534 ) and save up for a much better bike (Surly, Soma, IRO etc)

Any thoughts, i need to buy a bike fairly quick for my new job as I sold my car blah blah blah

Cheers

Welcome.

I bet I am fatter than you.

Why not use the search function and have all your questions answered.

Function at the top on the toolbar - 'Search'

Welcome! This is one of the biggest repositories of fixed advice going. There is a search function which will likely yield much info very quickly, including the OTP list threads in 'bikes and bits' which cover the range of off the peg stuff. If it isn't covered by the search, could revive this thread.
regards, doc_si

If still in doubt after using the search, I would recommend popping to Cyclefit and buying one of their Glider Tupelo SS's with Compag Record components. Excellent ride.

Get cheap bike, ride it a lots, lose lots of weight, then concentrate on getting a better bike.

just not a unipack/create.

also stop eating all the pies, you fat cunt*

*if this offends you then you will need to HTFU. i am just preparing you.

Hi, not everyone's savvy with the nuances of every internet forum, so don't worry about the UTFS mob.

Other than that my best advice would be listen to drop the pies and get on the melons. Sweet, filling, and 90% water. You'll be a skinsuit wearing whippet by Christmas.

This is the thread everybody is referring to: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9085.html

Get a bike from this list (Fuji Track is nice for the money IMO) or keep an eye out for the classifieds. Or sell your mountain bike and get something nice.

I would get a Fuji Track, lower the gearing, add a brake, take a photo and stick it in the Bike Porn thread.

you've got two choices really

1. http://www.parker-international.co.uk/6239/Pinarello-Xtrack-FP-Madison-Track-Frame.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid6239
   
   

or a unipack.

now go buy buy buy

Welcome to the forums.

Another option for a cheap and quick way into fixiedom would be to find an old 10 speed road bike with slotted rear dropouts and convert it.

Buy a rear wheel with a fixed hub, then take off all the bits you don't want (derraileurs, rear brake, shifters etc) and bingo! A cheap fixie that will also be more unique that many of the OTP bikes you see being ridden around.

i was tempted by these before i stumped up for a crappy raliegh record ace: http://singlespeed.angelfire.com/

cheap. look okay. no idea how they ride. spoke to the guy and he seemed okay. wouldnt go to halfords out of principle (its those ANNOYING adverts on Dave).

or you could go to recycling in elephany castle buy a dodge old road bike and convery it. very satisfying/ frustrating.

ps. your leg is the same size as my waist and im 5" taller than you. dunno who that reflects on worse

*you could also buy a Create if your were on a budget (199) but they look pretty horrendous to my mind

someone should make a stickie for noobs (with lots of details about converting and buying your first frame). having been one recently* and spent a lot of time annoying the old hands im sure it would save a lot of time and slating. dunno who could sort that out.

im gonna stop now as im pretty sure im talking to myself.

Don't buy a Create/Unipak. I work in a bike shop and we see at least one of these a day where the chain has broken/something important fell off/the crickets escaped from the bottom bracket/it caught fire. You'll end up spending the same again as the original price, just to end up with a heavy POS. Fuji Tracks are good, but I think pretty much everyone is out of stock.

don't worry about the UTFS mob.

i'm new here and they keep me up at night. but seriously, this is a question that has obviously been asked many times.

bit of a curveball with the carrera tho!

if you have bought a new car shouldn't you have enough to get a decent bike? i.e. don't waste money on a bike like the carrera or lager that will have a resale value of...zilch.

and:

bike sizing - Google Search

just not a unipack/create.

Correct, don't buy either.

i was tempted by these before i stumped up for a crappy raliegh record ace: http://singlespeed.angelfire.com/

davhimself, you should have tried putting "Angelfire" in the SEARCH.

no idea how they ride. spoke to the guy and he seemed okay.
Gullibility appears to be a reason for your positivity.

ps. your leg is the same size as my waist and im 5" taller than you. dunno who that reflects on worse

Your comment is what reflects worse; as obviously you are highlighting a newbie's length of leg with your slim waist. I recommend you hurry on down to Sainsburys as they have lives on sale. If there's only one left, I think you should get one.

*you could also buy a Create if your were on a budget (199) but they look pretty horrendous to my mind
Obviously not. Unipaks and Create bikes are potentially ruinous.

Don't buy a Create/Unipak. I work in a bike shop and we see at least one of these a day where the chain has broken/something important fell off/the crickets escaped from the bottom bracket/it caught fire.

Precisely why not to buy a Unipak or a Create.

The Halfords bikes are normally not well put together. As long as it is properly inspected on purchase, then it should be an okay starting bike. I'd recommend something better (SE Lager, if thats what you like), or even 2nd hand (like a Langster or Bowery), above the Halfords bike. Also, if you're very heavy, I'd ask you to consider an aluminium framed bike, as it flexes less. Trust me, I should know.

if you have bought a new car shouldn't you have enough to get a decent bike? i.e. don't waste money on a bike like the carrera or lager that will have a resale value of...zilch.
[URL="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bike+sizing&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.ubuntu:en-GB:unofficial&client=firefox-a"][/URL]

£7,500 for a new car, on average in old London town, you probably do 7,500 miles a years give or take, maybe less.

£450 get you a decent road bike, you'd probably do says, 4,000 miles a years.

it's a bit obvious to know which one is the better value.

£7,500 for a new car, on average in old London town, you probably do 7,500 miles a years give or take, maybe less.

£450 get you a decent road bike, you'd probably do says, 4,000 miles a years.

it's a bit obvious to know which one is the better value.

what i meant to say what if you have just SOLD a car, hence having lots of £££

XL bowery £450, done

sorry, a large if your 6 foot

Welcome to a warm friendly forum where you will be supported through the choice of your first real steed,
Now UTFS

GOD. cheery tonight. okay:

a) i HAVE searched "angelfire" and feedback is mixed. but for £250 i dont think its a bad punt. not everyone has hundreds to spend hence the suggestion. i think we are all agreed on the creates.

b) my comment re. waist size was indeed based upon a misreading, however my point was that i need to bulk up.

c) sainsburys is closed on a sunday night, hence why i am here. suggest you go to your local 24/7 and pick something up for your obvious social retardation. beer usually works.

i mean what is the point of bitching??

GOD. cheery tonight. okay:

a) i HAVE searched "angelfire" and feedback is mixed. but for £250 i dont think its a bad punt. not everyone has hundreds to spend hence the suggestion. i think we are all agreed on the creates.

b) my comment re. waist size was indeed based upon a misreading, however my point was that i need to bulk up.

c) sainsburys is closed on a sunday night, hence why i am here. suggest you go to your local 24/7 and pick something up for your obvious social retardation. beer usually works.

i mean what is the point of bitching??

what?