How do fixed freestyle bikes handle? - OR other bikes for bombing round town!

Hi,

I'm looking to get myself a new ride for getting round London town but I want something thats gonna allow me to sit pretty upright and cruise around and maybe pop the odd hop off a curb and whatnot.

I currently ride a 24" cruiser with schwalbe slicks and a long-ass seat tube, its pretty fun but doesnt allow me to be totally comfortable while seated so i thought it might be time to upgrade to an adults bike : )

I test-rode a couple of standard singlespeeds: Fuji Track and something else I cant remember, both with drop downs etc. I found them to be too 'greyhound-like' for me, i guess I need something with a bit more beef, prob what Im looking for would be the ultimate pub bike, i just want something real easy, comfortable and fun to ride.

**Anyway, Ive seen a few of the fixed freestyle bikes on the net and like the look of them, just wondering how they handle in normal riding situations. **

Or if anyone else has any ideas of something I should try please shout!

Sam : )

Before everyone says UTFS, it sounds like you should get something like a charge plug.

best is to actually go to a shop and try them out if you want to know how they handle.

Oh and you should do a search as well because this is covered in lots of other places.

The Scissor might be better.

charge freestyler, one for sale on here somewhere.

SamBoogie, have you noticed that there's a Fixed Freestyle Forum? You could move this thread there (not sure if you can do it yourself under 'thread tools', but a PM to hippy would do the trick in that case).

I did some searching but didnt find anybody discussing freestyle bikes handling in normal riding duties.

I've been to quite a few shops but not found anywhere that has anything freestyle that you can test ride, thats why I figured I would ask some peeps who actually ride them.

No, I didnt spot the freestyle forum, cheers!

Freestyle bikes feel largely the same as a 'normal' road/fixed bike. They handle very well and are very good for your intended purpose. Have to add I only have experience of a Charge Scissor when referring to freestyle bikes.

Depending on how much more than popping off the odd curb you are doing then any of the many fixed/ss frames/bikes would do it as long as you have risers to give the upright position you are after.

Freestyle bikes feel largely the same as a 'normal' road/fixed bike. They handle very well and are very good for your intended purpose. Have to add I only have experience of a Charge Scissor when referring to freestyle bikes.

Depending on how much more than popping off the odd curb you are doing then any of the many fixed/ss frames/bikes would do it as long as you have risers to give the upright position you are after.

cmon. no they don't. not even close. you know that.

cmon. no they don't. not even close. you know that.

I did say my only experience was the Charge Scissor and it handles very much like a road bike. In fact I have drops on it at the moment and it is very similar to a road bike ==> http://www.fizzypeach.co.uk/bike.html
Why freestyle bikes feel different is because of the short stem and riser bars. Put a short stem and risers on a Steamroller and it would feel the same yet the Steamroller is a bike intended for road use isn't it?

the steam roller is not a road bike... and it's never going to handle like a trick bike which has very low rake usually. Trick bikes basically handle like crap because of the exaggerated low rake and short stem, and usually require the the rider relax the upper body quite a bit in the turns and steer with arse otherwise you get the sensation that you are falling into the turn. They are not bikes that like to be ridden fast and in turns. Owners will disagree because they are simply used to it.

I would point him in the direction of something like aluminum langster with riser bars. I would just stay clear of the bar spin fork, BMX stem thing.

this is all my opinion and not written rule.

Hi,

I test-rode a couple of standard singlespeeds: Fuji Track and something else I cant remember, both with drop downs etc. I found them to be too 'greyhound-like' for me, i guess I need something with a bit more beef, prob what Im looking for would be the ultimate pub bike, i just want something real easy, comfortable and fun to ride.

How about a nice older British light tourer converted to singlespeed? My pub bike is a Claud Butler road bike - sturdy 531 frame, relaxed geometry, moderate gear ratio. It's as comfy as an old slipper and the relaxed geometry and well-raked forks give handling characteristics appropriate to the more 'relaxed' rider - ie not so twitchy that it dumps you in the gutter when you're pissed.

the steam roller is not a road bike... and it's never going to handle like a trick bike which has very low rake usually. Trick bikes basically handle like crap because of the exaggerated low rake and short stem, and usually require the the rider relax the upper body quite a bit in the turns and steer with arse otherwise you get the sensation that you are falling into the turn. They are not bikes that like to be ridden fast and in turns. Owners will disagree because they are simply used to it.

I would point him in the direction of something like aluminum langster with riser bars. I would just stay clear of the bar spin fork, BMX stem thing.

this is all my opinion and not written rule.

Guess you have ridden more trick bikes than me but what you are saying above is not the Scissor at all. Lower rake doesn't make as much difference as people think, I went from 30 to 44 on my Scissor and it wasn't noticeable. The short stem and risers are what does it and that is the same on any bike with a short stem and risers

And the Steamroller is a bike intended for the road by the way.

The Charge Scissor has been suggested, and recommended, but how would the OP try one out? Its sold as frame-only if I'm not mistaken. Therefore a suggestion of a frame, to someone who wants to try out suitable bikes, seems a rather drawn out affair for a noob to the forum.

I think something like the** SE DC x PK Fixed Gear 2010 Single Speed Road Bike **would be just the ticket. Pricey though.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/se/dc-x-pk-fixed-gear-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec020550?utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=awin

Or maybe the less expensive Giant Bowery 2010 FMX

http://www.reveloutdoors.co.uk/Giant-Bowery-FMX-2010/cycledetail/1-1577

That looks nice. 60mm stem and it's perfect.

That PK Ripper looks almost acceptable in black.

I'd buy one...

I'm looking into the same thing.

I currently ride a old Cinelli based road bike, but want to get a fixed freestyle frame and build a bike from there. Brick Lanes Bikes do a freestyle frame and fork combo at a reasonable price and a friend suggested the Surley SteamRoller frame/fork set up too.

so far i've found it seems better in the long run to build a freestyle bike than to but an off the shelf bike.

I'm going to check out 14 Bike Co, as they do built to order bikes and are proven freestyle bikes. Frames are built by SuperTed and he rides hard so will definitely be up to the job!

I have a similar problem, coming from mountain bikes i want something i can ride a long time but want to be able to jump and drop it. Plus i live in Sheffield so no gears will be a ball ache but i don't think anything else will be strong enough, thinking of getting a volume cutter anyway.

why not just get an MTB?

I have a very expensive mountain bike that i cant afford to maintain and cant really justify keeping, anyway what is the point in having 6 inches of travel for riding around town? not very efficient. I pretty much know what i want just trying to work out the best compromise.

I have a similar problem, coming from mountain bikes i want something i can ride a long time but want to be able to jump and drop it. Plus i live in Sheffield so no gears will be a ball ache but i don't think anything else will be strong enough, thinking of getting a volume cutter anyway.

you could build up an internally geared hub or this or this.

the truvativ is fully functional and on the market. All mountain and Freeride. looks tight. but requires chain guide tabs.

Think id rather struggle with no gears for a while until i get used to it instead. I know the hammerschmidt weighs about 1.7 kg and has a significant loss in efficiency so i cant imagine this being much better, i have been looking at the sturmey archer s3x but a guy from harry halls in manchester said it was terrible. Might just try it anyway because that sounds like my ideal set up really, volume cutter or fbm sword with tough but light components, bullhorns and s3x. I have seen a few single speeds around sheffield anyway but its not really the ideal place for them i guess.

yea was mainly kidding around.

not sure anyway got to sell my mtb and do some research or part x at harry halls and get some advice

not all MTBs have 6 inches of travel!