t-t-n often doesn’t know anything factual.
“What impact does an additional 1/2 lb of frame material have on ride quality, frame durability, or speed?”
Umm, a lot… actually.
My experience was with their cross bike, which was heavy and overrated. Surly hubs and cogs have a good reputation, but their frames are only average. My point was you pay extra for that Surly-coolness, while still getting an average frame. If it’s for ss training on the road the OP would be better off building their own out of an old 12spd they pick up somewhere. You can get as much coolness factor out of a conversion you do yourself and you don’t have to pay for the Surley name. If I were to pay for a stock bike I would get a true track bike, but thats me.
*If it’s for ss training on the road the OP would be better off building their own out of an old 12spd they pick up somewhere. *
for me, the issue there is that it’s hard to find an old frame that has horizontal dropouts but takes 700c wheels. not that either is necessarily a requirement - there are certainly 27" wheels and tires still around, or you could get an eccentric hub - but you’re limiting your options.
hey super-D. jokes about enslaved laotian schoolage factory workers are . . . you know, jokes. lighten up there, pardner.
nasty riding chinese aluminum bikes with fancy upper end hyper-marketed decals are less funny, but more factual ( as you know ). rock on.
P.S. according to its distributor henry james, true temper tubing is USA made, BTW. i would tend to think they would know, but are you saying maybe you know better?
If it’s for ss you don’t need a true track wheel because there is no need for a reverse threaded lockring. So go ahead and re-dish that 27’ wheel and throw a freewheel on it.
If you want to go fixie with it later you can always put a 700c wheel on it. The rear brake won’t line up right but just take that off. Then throw a 700c fork on it to make the front brake line up and you are good to go.
Or as a jerry-rigged measure use an old bb lockring and loctite as the ring on the old 27" wheel.
if y’all are saying chinese=bad, does taiwanese=ok? the pista has a made in taiwan sticker right on the head tube but has gotten quite a few good reviews. good=price/value. i had planned on dropping the $$ for a bianchi pista this weekend but s-dave has done his job, i’m going to wait till the end of the month and see what felt has to offer.(the pressure is on dave, i hope it’s good. are you a rep? just curious) 
i’ve been wanting a ss for so long but can’t decide on best $$/value/quality ride. IT’S ALL SO CONFUUUSSSSIIIINNNNGGGG!!!
Dave
The cats out of the bag…
"Could you be more specific than “a lot”?
How does that 1/2 lb of extra steel affect ride quality?
How does that extra 1/2 lb of steel affect frame durability?
How does that extra 1/2 lb of steel affect speed?"
1/2lb lifted over 3 to 5 cyclocross barriers for approx 10 laps = 15 to 25 unnecessary lbs lifted. 10 hill runs shouldering the bike adds another 5 lbs gives you 20 to 30 lbs of wasted effort. But more important than that is the fact that a bike can feel heavy and sluggish to a rider.
IMOP there shouldn’t be any EXTRA 1/2 lb of material on a bike. A bike weighs what it should weigh. A well made bike takes many more factors than just weight into account. If a bike doesn’t feel sluggish you don’t think about the actual weight.
I can confirm that the industry as a whole will have lots of new single speed options next year. I suspect dozens of them. I am sure Bianchi, Surly, and Redline will still make theirs, and Raleigh made even ad another Rush Hour type options. Giant and Specialzied either already have or just released their new single speed stable.
I think anyone looking for this type of bike in this price range should wait until August 1st regardless of whether they think plain guage small diamter steel tubes ride better than butted, hydroformed, tapered aluminum tubes.
I do work for Felt Bicycles but my recommendation is for anyone looking for a single speed, not just those looking for a Felt single speed.
Regards,
-SD
How much do I need to budget to convert my old Basso TTretubi that has Shimano 600 7-speed ! and Campy tubulars on it? It has horizontal dropouts with adjustment screws.
surley.
The Specialized Langster is a great Fixie/SS for about $650. Decent components and it is the only bike in that price range that I know of that comes with a carbon fork…
“How much do I need to budget to convert my old Basso TTretubi that has Shimano 600 7-speed ! and Campy tubulars on it? It has horizontal dropouts with adjustment screws.”
You need a minimum of a freewheel (3/32) OR a cog and bb lockring OR a bunch of 7spd freehweels to take apart (for making your own SS freewheel.) Everything else is extra… These links have probably been posted before, but are worth emphasizing.
http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html (on the cheap)
http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html (a lot of good links)
http://www.fixedgearfever.org/ (good for trackie info)
Thanks Remnfa! I’m not versed in fixie building but know that site is good for lots of info.
No rear brake stops.
The steamroller, according to this page: http://www.surlybikes.com/steamroller_comp.html, but perhaps I read it wrong.
Actually, I retract that statement because I just talked to a guy at my LBS who said the steamroller will take a rear brake. So now I’m looking at a surly…and waiting for SuperDave’s omen to manifest itself.
Dave,
Are these singlespeed / Fixies? also are they more aimed at track, Road, or commuting?
Another option, only slightly above your price range, would be the Van Dessel “Country Road Bob”, with Carbon forks and a flip-flop hub:
http://www.vandesselsports.com/crb.php?bike=9
Featured in GQ magazine: http://www.vandesselsports.com/PDF/GQ_CRB.pdf
.
That bike looks like a Heineken!
LOL!!! HAHAHA!!! Thats exactly what I was thinking, Im seriously cracking up right now!!!