it's time to go fixed

Peter said:

I've decided it time to buy a fixie.

I've spotted three possible:

Fuji track bike @ £300 or £280 discounted
Langster @ £400 or £320 discounted
Pompino @ £450 (doesn't seem tyo be discounted)

The Pompino is the upper price range for me.

Thoughts or alternatives, anyone?

Cheers

Peter

I looked at a Fuji a couple of years ago, looked good. I am not sure how
well the hubs are sealed for outdoor use. They do have drillings for
brakes, no cable guides though. Pomps look more industrial, nice though.

Peter said:

I've decided it time to buy a fixie.

I've spotted three possible:

Fuji track bike @ £300 or £280 discounted
Langster @ £400 or £320 discounted
Pompino @ £450 (doesn't seem tyo be discounted)

The Pompino is the upper price range for me.

Thoughts or alternatives, anyone?

A diy job to give an old horizontal dropout Ernie Clements Falcon frame
a new lease of life was my preferred way of getting into fixed. The
initial reason was to keep costs down on something I wasn't sure I'd get
much use out of, but it turned out to be so good I wouldn't part with it
(so far not even to get it a decent paintjob).

I didn't realise you could get a Langster for that little.

The Fuji I looked at came without brakes as standard, but looked good.

I'd get the Pompino if I had the money and the choice limited to those
three, but I would be worried that I wouldn't like it any more than my
Falcon.

--

JimP

" " - John Cage

Quoted message said:

I didn't realise you could get a Langster for that little.

The Langster for that little depends a bit on Edinburgh bikes and their
offer at:
http://www.leedscyclists.org.uk/

Peter

Peter said:

I've decided it time to buy a fixie.

I've spotted three possible:

Fuji track bike @ £300 or £280 discounted
Langster @ £400 or £320 discounted
Pompino @ £450 (doesn't seem tyo be discounted)

The Pompino is the upper price range for me.

Thoughts or alternatives, anyone?

Surley you could pick-up a Steamroller for about £350?

Peter said:

Thoughts or alternatives, anyone?

You can get a 2005 Fuji for £199.99 if you want it in a 43cm frame:
<url:http://www.climbonbikes.co.uk/products.php?plid=m3b82s191p1213>

I'm very tempted myself...

d.

Peter said:

I've spotted three possible:

Fuji track bike @ £300 or £280 discounted
Langster @ £400 or £320 discounted
Pompino @ £450 (doesn't seem tyo be discounted)

The Pompino is the upper price range for me.

Thoughts or alternatives, anyone?

I have a 2005 fuji, I'm quite happy with it but I think I'd go for a pompino
now as it's about the same price as the fuji once you've added brakes and
expensive clip-on mudguards. The pompino can also take wider tyres than 23mm
(clearance on the fuji is very tight) which makes it more versatile.
OTOH the pompino is probably a bit heavier than the fuji and IMO doesn't
look as nice, but that's not really important 🙂

I found that the rear wheel of the fuji wasn't very strong and after 3 or 4
spokes broke I got the wheel rebuilt with stronger spokes. Everything else
is still going fine after 3000-4000 miles.

disclaimer: I've never actually tried the pompino so I can't tell you which
one is better to ride.

Alternatively you can try to build one yourself if you buy an old frame with
horizontal dropouts. Probably more fun if you have the time and technical
inclination!

A fixed gear is really fun to ride, especially in town where it gives you
much better control than a freewheel and brakes!

Cheers,
Arnaud.