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College Commuter Bike Advice

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supersquid
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 2,545
Looking for a summer commuter. Most used fixed gears on KSL are sitting between $100 - $200.

I don't want something flashy or something that people would want to steal. I also don't want junk, just something reliable.

I guess Im not really sure how much I should be paying for a bike like this. The concept of a fixed gear seems inherently simple, and I could see how the lack of a coasting hub and multiple gears would make it cheap. Im just not sure how cheap haha.

Im sure once I get on and ride it, I will be able to tell if its a POS or not. I used to ride bmx so I know the difference between a solid bike and a bike with issues.

Is there anything I should be looking for in particular though?

Also, any tips for owning a bike in a big city, besides locking it up in a place that is in your view?

**This thread was edited on Mar 24th 2019 at 10:38:44pm
Mar 24 2019 6:15PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2826 - Karma: 5,367
I bought a single speed city bike with flip flop hub for 300 off the house boardshop brand new. Low profile and basic. I leave outside bars all the time and no one touches it. Not living in the cities.
Never understood the need for a fixed. Seems like a hipster thing.
I ride my bike after a few - lots of drinks so I want a bike that can brake.
Mar 24 2019 8:45PM
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supersquid
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 2,545
50KalI bought a single speed city bike with flip flop hub for 300 off the house boardshop brand new. Low profile and basic. I leave outside bars all the time and no one touches it. Not living in the cities.
Never understood the need for a fixed. Seems like a hipster thing.
I ride my bike after a few - lots of drinks so I want a bike that can brake.


The more I research them, the more hipsterish they seem. Its not a fixed gear im after but a single speed. Fixed gears seem to be all around cheaper though. If I bought a fixie I would probably switch out back wheels for one that can coast later on.

I dont need to shift gears when going uphill as I can just make use of the train system that runs through town. Riding that up is easy. Riding down a hill with pedals that have to keep moving seems rather annoying/scary af.

**This post was edited on Mar 24th 2019 at 10:41:27pm
Mar 24 2019 10:27PM
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special-J
Posts: 1572 - Karma: 4,477
Fixies seem a bit like tele. Way harder to ride for the sake of it being harder to ride. Actually fun for a sadistic few, but "hey look at me make things harder and a huge pain in the ass for no reason because I'm hardcore" for most. A relatively light and stiff freewheeled single speed though is about the most bombproof and reliable commuter around as long as going up and down hills isn't a big part of your commute.
Mar 24 2019 10:54PM
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Roberto907
Posts: 65 - Karma: 208
Troll craigslist or look at the Surly steamroller or Kona paddy wagon
Mar 25 2019 12:06AM
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Youngm_IPCME
Posts: 1082 - Karma: 2,848
Get a fully rigid mtb from the 90s. They’re usually less than $100, not desirable to steal, and super tough. There used to be a time when the collective in SLC would sell them at a reasonable price, but they really jacked up prices after changing management.

Fun tip on pricing though. Check out bicyclebluebook to make sure you’re not getting ripped off. You will have to do some sleuthing to find the paint job that corresponds to the correct model year.

**This post was edited on Mar 25th 2019 at 12:52:57am
Mar 25 2019 12:22AM
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neleson
Posts: 386 - Karma: 1,092
special-JFixies seem a bit like tele. Way harder to ride for the sake of it being harder to ride. Actually fun for a sadistic few, but "hey look at me make things harder and a huge pain in the ass for no reason because I'm hardcore" for most. A relatively light and stiff freewheeled single speed though is about the most bombproof and reliable commuter around as long as going up and down hills isn't a big part of your commute.

Once you get used to it it's quite nice if your area is pretty flat but in no way is it harder to ride. If there are a lot of hills then it sucks.
Mar 25 2019 9:42AM
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2561 - Karma: 4,135
bombing down a hill on a fixie is fun and terrifying at the same time.
Mar 25 2019 10:37AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6792 - Karma: 23,519
Where are you going to be riding? 90's mtb are probably a good way to go. Lot of people back then were buying a 26" bike that would last their whole lifetime and then they moved on to other bikes or quit riding.
Mar 25 2019 3:00PM
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ATRAT24
Posts: 58 - Karma: 132
SE bikes has some pretty sick fixie/single speed bikes for about that price im looking into getting one rn as well
Mar 25 2019 7:06PM
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