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The point is, if you've only got one bike, get something flexible and you can adapt it as you need. On the other hand, if you're choosing a bike coz you want to be a hipster, then you will probably suffer for it - like birds and high heels? Just be honest with yourself about what you need from the bike.

Definitely not interested in fashion. What do I want... good question - I think what I want is a bike that is efficient, fun to ride, and reliable, that I can use as a realistic replacement for a car for most of my travel needs.

Silly question but can you take your bike on the train? I thought you could only take folding bikes on commuter trains?

Yes - there's no restriction on my line.

S.

Cope, what will be your daily route?

5 miles from home to railway station - fairly undulating. Then usually to Kentish Town from Waterloo - but could be to anywhere. I've not worked out a route from Waterloo yet - maybe worth a separate thread.

I personally wouldn't ride fixed with a significant amount of weight, esp panniers. I'm not surprised you came off, it sounds like it was inevitable. And in the long run not good for your knees.

That's strangely reassuring! I wonder what counts as a significant amount of weight - I will always be carrying a laptop, papers and a change of clothes - but maybe that's not very heavy. Sometimes it'll be more.

You could go singlespeed with a slightly relaxed geomentry (maybe a path frame?) which'll help you balance the weight.

What's a path frame?

But for town riding, fixed with a tight frame is best - you'll get the agility you need amongst the traffic.

Presumably you don't commute from the cotswolds, so have you thought about 2 bikes?

I live in Hampshire - the commute is 5 miles to the railway station, then a journey into London, then on from Waterloo.

2 bikes is a good idea in the long run, but for now the budget is fixed at about £500 - so it's a case of which to get first.

Try a few others, like the Genesis Flyer, the Lemond Fillimore and maybe the Pearson range as they are of similar ilk to the Tricross, before parting with your cash.

The Pearson looks glorious, but is out of budget - the others also look to be expensive when I factor in mudguards, a rack, and a dynahub.

Can't advise on carrying weights. Would a messenger bag be better than panniers? When the big boys wake up they'll advise you on that!

Not sure - historically I've not liked riding with stuff on my back. I tend to carry my laptop, some books and papers, a lock, and some clothing. That's quite a lot in a rucksack, hence proposing panniers. Open to suggestions and advice, though.

I'm in the process of buying my first bike for about 5 years. Having searched the forums I came up with the best options for my budget, and I went to LBS and had a go on a Tricross Fixed with 42/16 around the town - no hills, reasonable amount of traffic.

Maybe because I'm unfit, or maybe because my last bike (Dolan/Centaur Audax) was so lovely, I didn't love it - it just didn't quite sing for me. I also didn't get on well with the pedals - toe-clips, and I found it hard to get my left foot into the left clip once the pedals had started moving. I also found that I was wobbling a little at about 20 mph, which felt unnerving.

I'm a bit worried about hills, given that my last experience of riding fixed was falling off, going down a steep hill in the Cotswolds on a fairly heavily loaded bike - although to be fair that bike was a bit crap.

My daily ride will involve a few hills - I'm not worried about going up them - it's going down them that scares me - especially with fairly loaded panniers. I feel tense at the memory of feeling out of control, and wobbly, and I remember not liking the feeling of not being very able to stop when the pedals were going round faster than I felt I wanted to go.

I'm also a little worried about handling London traffic - I used to cycle in London on my audax bike, and got used to it, but I guess I don't feel very in control or nimble, so worry about stopping / starting / weaving around.

These doubts are adding to the sense that perhaps I should just get a geared bike - no worries about hills there at all - freewheel if it's too fast, and low gear going up if need be. Only concern is that there's a lot of wasted stuff - I don't need 28 gears, and I love the simplicity of no front or rear mechs, plus the decrease in weight (although given that I'll be carrying 10+ kg of stuff on the rack, perhaps that's negligible). I also sense that at the same budget a Tricross Single is just going to be better quality than an equivalent priced tourer or audax.

Maybe I'm scarred by my last experience, and I should just get over it - I just don't want to spend £500 on a fixie + kit, only not to ride it much because I don't enjoy it, when I could spend the same on a geared bike that I know I will enjoy, but might wish it were faster and lighter and simpler - somehow more elegant.

Reassurances? Advice?

I was under the impression I'd posted 5 times now... and I've been around a week now... maybe this is #5 - I expected to be out of the nursery by now...

Thanks very much! I have a good idea of what I'll buy now - but, assuming I've graduated from the nursery, will post to the bike section for comments before I part with cash.

Dorset cereals FTW

My grandfather used to ride fixed, and recommended it to me. I didn't have a bike - mine had been stolen, so I managed to build a fixie from bits in the college bike shed, plus a bit of help from Walton Street Cycles in Oxford. I absolutely loved it - feeling of control, power, and being in tune with the bike.

My bike was pretty crap - the brakes were rubbish, the gear too spinny, and the frame a bit twisted, and a fell off going fast down a hill in the cotswolds, and I've not had a fixie since - just circumstances. My next bike was a custom-built Dolan audax bike, but I had to sell that 3 yrs ago, and I've not had a bike since.

Anyway - definitely getting another very soon, and getting excited at the prospect.

Hello here too - that's 2 posts.... :o)

Hello all - just saying hi - haven't rode for about 10 yrs - built a fixie from bits lying around in the college bike shed - but it wasn't very reliable! Dropped it touring in the cotswolds, and bent the frame. Anyway - looking to buy a bike soon - any hints on search parameters so I don't ask a very FAQ - budget is £300, needs mudguards and rack. Don't mind 2nd hand, don't mind building from scratch.