what are peoples thoughts on a ‘complete’ fixie?
i had planned on restoring my dads bike and keeping as many vintage parts as possible and ride it as a commuter. after about a month of it sitting there gathering dust because of my inability to choose parts, i have been looking at buying a complete. something that i wouldnt have any worries about leaving locked up out the front of a pub.
any suggestions?
i was looking at the fuji team track bikes. very standard. no bling parts, just simple and i definitely would have no issue leaving it somewhere due to its low price. and its drilled for a front brake, which is something else i want as well.
id be looking at around hte same price up to about 1000 or so depending on what i can get, but id prefer standard and less appealling to a thief than street cred.
thanks
With $1000 you could go either way. For that much you could build up something really nice or you could buy off the shelf.
I would’ve thought that something new, whatever the quality, would look more thievable than something old. But then, maybe $1000 is too much to spend on something you don’t want stolen.
Are you particularly worried about theft or do you have to lock it up for long periods at a Uni or something?
If it were me (and I don’t have to lock bikes up for long periods usually) I’d find a nice frame and build it up. Otherwise, make sure you ride with people that have much nicer looking bikes, then theirs will get stolen first 
this will be something that will be locked up out the front of work when i ride on ‘casual fridays’ and also itll be locked up out the front of places at night.
im not that worried about theft, but it is an issue.
i would be painting the bike matte black or primer grey as soon as i get it, so it wont look ‘new’
the main reason why i was looking at an off the shelf one was that everything is there, its working and i see it as good value for money. especially seeing as i see this as my ‘buy and ride and not think about it ever’ bike as itll be my second bike.
Second bike?
You do realize you’re embarking on a very slippery slope here… once you’ve got more than one, it’s much easier to convince yourself that another one is justifiable, and then another, then another… and so on. 
Personally I like the idea of a new, completely working, fixie aswell, Allegro do a bike called an “Onya” which looks pretty good value, bullbars, front and rear brakes, very YELLOW paint.
OK in that case, get a 2007 Fuji track bike. It’s cheap, durable and the parts will get the job done fine.
Then you’ll have ~$400 to start your next fixed
yes i know the ‘second’ bike is a very ‘dangerous’ area, but i can control it i swear i can!!!
the fuji looks like the best value for money, so ill see what i can sort out with one of them. ill keep you posted 
Kona’s Paddy Wagon will be landing on our shores in the next month or so, and is projected to retail at about $999. I’ll be getting one as soon as they come in, and I can’t wait to try it out. The spec looks good, the hubs are formula (which is good), it comes with two brakes and is a fixed/free flip flop.
Beyond that, I’ll have to wait and see. I will submit a full report after week one.
- Joel
What brakes fit onto a track frame (Fuji) that’s drilled for them?
Standard road brakes?
Yep standard road brakes.
Is that all? Looking at the Kona website, their RRP is similar to the Unit. So I would have thought the price would be around the $1300 mark.
Des
was at the bike show on sat and SE bikes are doing a 700c flat bar street bike with flip flop hub in matte black. will retail for $350 and available from march next year if you can wait. apparently goldcross cycles will be selling it
it’s a tensile frame and fork with average stuff but looked pretty good
and it’s called the draught - how appropriate
sounds like a bargain to me!
Saw the SE Draft as well. It’s cheap. But it’s pretty shit. Not even worth upgrading if you’re going the “I only have this much $$$ now, so this will do till untill I can upgrade bits” route.
But it’ll be a great bike for just short commutes and running errands.
Do you mean this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66744020@N00/271212874/in/set-72157594317704780/
The one at the show had a CRAP crankset on it and a free only hub, and it weighed in a touch on the heavy side… for a few more 100s, and a can of black - the Fuji seems to beat it in so many ways… I just think that if you were to fix something like the Draught, it would break in no time. Discuss?
Those two bikes were a POS. Would not touch them. They were also a ripoff as well.
The Fuji is the way to go.
Tristan - you rode your Fuji on Saturday to Brunswick?
How is the stock saddle on them?
I think i’m sold on them. n+1 is kicking in
Yeah. I have no problems with the stock saddle. The saddle is a personal thing, so YMMV.
eeew. that’s awful.
SE Bikes are pretty good at BMX stuff and they’ve got a few other single speeds, not sure if they’ll make it to Aus though
The “Lager”
http://www.sebikes.com/2007/bike-detail.asp?id=20
The “Stout”
http://www.sebikes.com/2007/bike-detail.asp?id=21
Lager, Stout, DrAFT? what’s next? The AIL?