Forum menu
Suggestions wanted for a singlespeed commuter to replace my crumbling Langster. The Langster meets all my needs except accommodating mudguards and reasonably comfy 28mm tyres. My current shopping list is mainly focussed upon the Kona Paddy Wagon and Genesis Flyer, I have pondered a Dolan FXE but I am not convinced it will accommodate mudguards AND 28mm tyres.
It is a shame they don’t make the Langster a little more suited to the UK’s perma-damp wet through grey weather as I find everything else about the bike great.
I haven't tried a Genesis Flyer, there's lashings of space for mudguards on a Day One though. Almost too much! 🙂
I just had a look at my Dolan PreCursa, which I think the FXE is based on. I think that you are right, it would be a bit too tight for 28mm tyres and mudguards! 🙂
There's a review of Revolution Cross 0 on road.cc I think. £250 new
The FXE will be quite a change in ride - which can be a good thing. Those steel fixed gear bikes are all great - Langster, pompino, flyer etc, but they're quite samey. I guess that's not a bad thing in a commuter, but you could be on one for the rest of your life so a bit of variation is nice.
I just moved to a precursa from years on a pompino and appreciate the change. Suits my flat 5 mile blast of a commute.
Paddy Wagon is a nicer ride than the Langster. The deep drop Tektro brakes will accomodate proper P35 mudguards. You'll need a P clip or a seatpost adaptor clamp for a rack. The stock wheels on all these bikes are all far too heavy, and the Genesis is heavy full stop. PW geometry is a little more slack than it used to be, but is a lovely ride.
Obvious disclaimer: I own a highly modified PW (sub 8 kilos with guards and rack), a langster (the pooh brown one) and a Dolan Pre Cursa (undrilled FXE).
I absolutely love my genesis day one decade... Nicer I think than my old langster.. anything genesis is a win
My Langster is an alloy frame carbon fork and has a similar head angle but slacker seat tube 72.5/73.5 vs 73/75 for the Dolan
I went for a Paddy Wagon and it's happily running 30mm tyres with SKS guards.
I love the thing, great commuter bike, comfortable and fairly cheap. It's not the lightest but I'm sure it'll get lighter as things break and get swapped!
The best single speed commuter I ever had was a Surly Steamroller. Light, fast, comfortable, lovely. Plenty of room for mudguards and 28mm tyres. Again, needs P-clips for pannier rack. In fact, it might need P-clips for mudguards! 🙂
The best single speed commuter [b]I[/b] ever had was a Surly Steamroller as well 😀 . Rode really sweetly.
Thats compared to a Genesis Day one, Pinacle Arkose SS and a Cotic Escapade. The Escapade comes second, but because of the long and low geo I have to run it flat barred. Obv you would be different.
Sorry to jump in on this but i have a 56cm langster frameset im looking to trade as i really should be on a 52/54cm
looking to sell but idealy swap for correct size.
O-O Pompino?
Pompino
Vastly under rated
Does everything well
You won't cry if you get it stolen.
Transition Rapture on Merlin….reduced from £1k to about £550….been thinking of one myself but got lured into an eBay bargain instead so I've passed on one!
https://www.merlincycles.com/transition-rapture-cyclocross-bike-2016-97529.html
Voodoo Marasa for £300
Singlespeed conversion kit, stainless chainring, singlespeed chain for £20 delivered from PX (possibly a tyre upgrade too while you are there, like the Voyager Hypers or maybe even the BSC Type 1s if the Marasa has clearance for 2.3" tyres)
I loved my Flyer, was very upset when it got pinched.
That transition rapture looks like a right bargain! 🙂
Condor Tempo worth a look. Pricey but beautiful to ride and all good quality components so not expensive in the long run.
Have been riding mine several times a week for two years and only just had to replace chain and tyres. Other than brake blocks everything else is original parts.
Pompino and Steamroller, both fine rides. The more practical is the On One, although it was sold to fund the Steamroller, which is the road / tow path bike of choice.....
I had a Paddywaon for several years, over 7000 km commuting, loved it. However this year I bought a Dayone SS, it is a fantastic bike for commuting. I currently do a 27mile round trip, four days a week. The Dayone just eats up the mileage. Really fast on the flats and the downs. Not quite as nimble as the Paddywagon on the climbs. Extremely comfortable bike to ride. I have full length mudguards on the bike which I never had on the Padfywagon, it does make a huge difference in the crappy Edinburgh weather.
This looks pretty good:
https://www.brothercycles.com/shop/allday/
Brother Cycles Allday, track-ish frame with braze-ons for mudguards
[img] 
[/img]