Road bike - potential buy « Singletrack Forum

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Road bike - potential buy

10 posts & 6 voices | Started 1 year ago by Taff | Latest reply from Taff

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Taff - Member

I've been toying with the idea of building a fixie for ages but eBay isn't being very forthcoming on bargain frames so I've been looking into off the shelf bikes which has then raised the question over fixed, freehub or geared.

I've been looking at three bikes - spesh langster, genesis day 1 and bianche Via nirone. All are quite different but I'm very tempted by a langster as it £370 for a 2010 version. The genesis and bianchi are 550 and are slightly more versatile.

I'm still not sure What I want but how many of you guys have a single speed road bike and why do you prefer it to a geared road bike?

Posted 1 year ago #
Steve-Austin - Member

Why not buy a geared one and stay in one gear?

Then if you don't like it you got a geared one to try

Posted 1 year ago #
sc-xc - Member

4 years ago I built a cheap fixed up, use it most days for getting to work - which is only about 40 minutes each way. It's ace - and perfect for the job.

I have also bought a proper road bike...and it's a totally different thing. As much as love riding the fixed, I wouldn't want to do more than a couple of hours - whereas the road bike just flies along.

I guess it comes down to how you want to use it.

Posted 1 year ago #
drofluf - Member

I've got 2 road bikes geared and single speed. I can't honestly say that i prefer one to the other. The singlespeed is lighter and nippier. Both are comfortable enough for all day rides it just depends what mood I'm in.

So not much help I'm afraid

But getting a geared bike and leaving in one gear isn't the same. Trust me on this.

Posted 1 year ago #
cynic-al - Member

Depends on terrain and use. A ss or Dixie would be fun but it could never be my only road bike as it's Billy here and I need versatility.

Posted 1 year ago #
Steve-Austin - Member

But getting a geared bike and leaving in one gear isn't the same. Trust me on this.

Course it is!! unless its not the right gear...

Posted 1 year ago #
Taff - Member

I would probably only use it for 2-3hours tops and would be more of a training aid and possible commuter when the needs arise. Originally I wanted to build my own fixie as another new project that would be relatively cheap to build but fun to ride

Posted 1 year ago #
Taff - Member

Missed out on a classic frame on ebay in the last few minutes. Got a few others in the pipelines, but how does Cr-mo butted steel fair in the game? Always thought it was a budget material but Sheldon Brown says it's used on most high quality frames.

Posted 1 year ago #
bassspine - Member

steve austin you may be bionic but you are wrong on this. Staying in the same gear is not the same as single speeding. Try it some time if you're brave enough

My Il Pompino is becoming a real favourite for road riding, on days when I'm feeling simple. it's comfortable, quiet and the gears don't go out of adjustment because there aren't any.

Posted 1 year ago #
Taff - Member

Don't think I ever showed you guys this in the end. My mrs found me this through her work classifieds so a few hours later I was picking it up. It's a 1999 Giant Peloton and until I had it had only been ridden twice until the bloke broke his leg [not on this bike]. Since then it had been hanging on a garage wall, tyres are a little tired on the side walls but other than that it's pretty mcuh pristine. Few little rusty spots most of which have been cleaned off. May have made a mistake by trying to modernise it with the stem and bars. Thought it was a bargain though...

Posted 10 months ago #