This isn’t a lame “which should I buy” thread, it’s just my observation. I commuted on the Pista for a while in Austin Texas, when I moved to Australia I needed cheap transport so I bought a Giant Bowery while I waited for my shipment from the US to arrive. Now I that I’ve commuted ~2000km on the Bowery I find that I don’t want to ride the Pista any more. While the Bowery isn’t a hipster fixie dream bike, it is an awesome commuter/city bike. The geometry actually suits city riding quite well. I’ve got the mashup version with the flat bar, yes I know it’s lame, and I lost all street cred with that bar and F/R brakes but dammit it just works. The Pista also lacks bottle holders which I really dig on the Bowery. So, I’m easy, a rear brake and some bottles have won me over, although the Pista is much more hip, I just don’t see myself riding it any more. I think I have enough posts for the “for sale” section now, see you there.
i had a Bowery too ,and loved it.
Sold it to make way for something else.
As a fixed S/S OTR bike they seem to be scorned by the steel frame riding fashionbois.
But if youv’e actually ridden one you find out they are exactly as you described, a great ride for urban commuting/training.
i’d have one again, money permitting.
Sorry to threadjack but if you want an awesome stand, at a reasonable price, check out the Feedback Sports stands at AVT. (They were formerly known as Ultimate Stands).
My third fixie was a Pista, and whilst I’ve always shuddered at the thought of riding the Bowery, a good mate recently picked one up rather cheap.
Admittedly, the price cut was attributed to the fact that it was the ‘Vegas’ edition, with some tacky gold parts and transfer dice/playing cards.
I always found the drivetrain excessively noisy and managed, after only a few rides develop a crack in the left crank arm. The pista also felt like a bit of a semi trailer, took alot of power to get it going and just as much to keep it up.
I’m not all that sure on the specs, but after having a muck around or five on the Bowery, it seems to be an all rounder of great quality. smooth, quiet, and the geometry, as mentioned in other posts, is clearly more suitable for commuting.
I’d prob stick with the bowery, but i’m also somewhat intrigued by the paintjob on your pista, I’d have it over the oh so subtle exposure of the chrome dome pista
