Single speed bicycle for commuting

[Cookie Monster]

What do you guys think of the 6KU bikes?

Never heard of them and just looked at their site. I'd stay away. I think there are a lot of bike companies like those that just market to hipsters and people who want a singlespeed/fixie at any cost. I was looking at Pure Fix bikes when I got my Mercier and I'm pretty sure all these bike companies are just rebranding the same shitty frames.

The 6KU and Pure Fix bikes are all high tensile steel frames, which is weaker and more prone to bending than chromoly frames. Chromoly frames are generally lighter too, but are more expensive. I only got the Mercier from BD because of the Reynolds 520 chromoly frame.

 

[fast4d]

single speed? we are in kansas?

 

[NorCalAthlete]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products...t-bar/vanquish-discbrake-fixie-track.htm#size

 

[UDRider]

Looks like it has attachment points for a rack.
Although the disk brakes are questionable. At that price point how good are they, and how long will they last?

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Not worried too much about a rack. I have no idea on the longevity of the disc brakes, I just know that with the regular shitty pads I've had some close calls where I wasn't even able to lock the wheel up and they were always a bitch to keep tuned. People running red lights and stuff.

Is the aluminum vs steel vs chromoly frame really that big a concern? Why? I don't plan on off-roading or downhill, I'm not bunny hopping curbs or anything...just commuting. Yeah it can get kinda bumpy but...

 

[UDRider]

Rack just makes things live easier. You can attach pannier to it. Chugging backpack with books/laptop gets old fast.

Could be brake calipers also. With Rival/Ultegra brakes and koolstop pads had no issues emergency stopping.

No opinion on frames.

 

[originalsturge]

Don't forget your skinny jeans and wallet chain. Gonna look funny when you grow out your "beard".

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Not gonna catch me growing out a beard anytime soon.

As for skinny jeans and wallet chain. No. Just...no. I'll leave that to the other Dan

 

[squid vicious]

I have a single speed you can have for free (or maybe a six pack). It's not a fixy, it will coast. It's in good working shape, it belonged to my father in law who didn't ride it anymore so I took it as a bar hopper. It's too big for me, I'm 5'8".

Looks like this one

 

[Zerox]

Don't forget your skinny jeans and wallet chain.

Bicycles are awesome, in any form.

 

[UDRider]

I have a single speed you can have for free (or maybe a six pack). It's not a fixy, it will coast. It's in good working shape, it belonged to my father in law who didn't ride it anymore so I took it as a bar hopper. It's too big for me, I'm 5'8".

Looks like this one

If Pete doesn't take it, I will take it off your hands.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

I have a single speed you can have for free (or maybe a six pack). It's not a fixy, it will coast. It's in good working shape, it belonged to my father in law who didn't ride it anymore so I took it as a bar hopper. It's too big for me, I'm 5'8".

Looks like this one

Shit, free works. Slight problem though - how to get the bike from Concord to San Jose I just sold my truck. Nothing but my motorcycle for now.

edit - you said it "looks like this one"...and I see this picture in your photobucket:

It's not this one is it...?

 

[squid vicious]

Shit, free works. Slight problem though - how to get the bike from Concord to San Jose I just sold my truck. Nothing but my motorcycle for now.

edit - you said it "looks like this one"...and I see this picture in your photobucket:

It's not this one is it...?

Ha, no that's not my photo bucket. I have a similar sized collection though


I'm close to Pleasant Hill BART, go full on commuter style. OR Uber up and pedal it home!

 

[louemc]

I wouldn't have a Single speed bicycle. Multi gears are so low cost on so many bike sources... And we have hills, and needs to move our pedal powered ass's in traffic.

 

[UDRider]

I wouldn't have a Single speed bicycle. Multi gears are so low cost on so many bike sources... And we have hills, and needs to move our pedal powered ass's in traffic.

1) There are no hills where OP lives. Overpasses don't count.
2) Gears == more complexity/maintenance. For short commutes single speed just works.

 

[louemc]

1) There are no hills where OP lives. Overpasses don't count.
2) Gears == more complexity/maintenance. For short commutes single speed just works.

There are No hills bordering the South bay?

Complex Maintenance? You're talkin to a guy that commuted daily for years, and also rode his bicycle from
Portland Oregon, -to Guatemala- and back.

Your talkin like a total incompetent.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

My commute would be about 15-20 minutes through downtown San Jose or Mountain View/Santa Clara. No SF style hills. Too much traffic and intersections to worry much about shifting gears usually. Single speed works just fine.

 

[RRR70]

There are No hills bordering the South bay?

Complex Maintenance? You're talkin to a guy that commuted daily for years, and also rode his bicycle from
Portland Oregon, -to Guatemala- and back.

Your talkin like a total incompetent.

Stick to talking about Scots, handle bars and hunting dinosaurs. Leave more complicated stuff to people who know what they talking about.

 

[UDRider]

There are No hills bordering the South bay?

Complex Maintenance? You're talkin to a guy that commuted daily for years, and also rode his bicycle from
Portland Oregon, -to Guatemala- and back.

Your talkin like a total incompetent.

My commute would be about 15-20 minutes through downtown San Jose or Mountain View/Santa Clara. No SF style hills. Too much traffic and intersections to worry much about shifting gears usually. Single speed works just fine.

There you go Lou. I am actually talking from the point of you know knowing where OP lives and what commute will be like.

Having gears is more maintenance then just single speed. That's not me talking from "incompetence" but basic mechanics of how derailures and shifting mechanism work.

Once again Lou you are making assumptions about me, and you don't know anything about my experience. You attacking anyone who disagrees with you and calling them clueless/incompetent is getting old. I hate to break it to you, but you are not the well of knowledge and wisdom that you think you are.

 

[louemc]

Once again Lou you are making assumptions about me, and you don't know anything about my experience. You attacking anyone who disagrees with you and calling them clueless/incompetent is getting old. I hate to break it to you, but you are not the well of knowledge and wisdom that you think you are.

And if you were smarter, you would know that you're wrong...