Cheaper single speed options

[stephenmarklay]

I want to get a cheapo single speed for about 500 or less. Obviously nothing special. I am wondering if there are any next step up options from the state bicycle, retrospec etc. These bikes are all cheaper steal and it would be great to at least get a chromoly frame.

I am ok with a drop or flat bar but would like to get a bike that can at least tale a 32 tire.

Do any options come to mind?

[seanile]

get one of the mercier kilo WT models from here:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/trackbikes.htm

[mt2u77]

I want to get a cheapo single speed for about 500 or less. Obviously nothing special. I am wondering if there are any next step up options from the state bicycle, retrospec etc. These bikes are all cheaper steal and it would be great to at least get a chromoly frame.

I am ok with a drop or flat bar but would like to get a bike that can at least tale a 32 tire.

Do any options come to mind?


Find an early-mid 80s era Reynolds 531 or even 501 frameset with semi-horizontal dropouts. Many of these can fit 32s, especially if they were originally designed for 27" wheels. The early sport model Treks will do the job, and they can be found for way, way less than $500.

[stephenmarklay]

get one of the mercier kilo WT models from here:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/trackbikes.htm

Thank you. I was unaware of these.

[Gummee]

I have a tendency to say that the new cheap bikes will ride ride like the old cheap bikes: like they're made of plumbing pipe.

I've SSCXed a former race bike with a tensioner.

I just finished building a pair of Paul SS/DT Swiss X412 wheels for my SIR9. That should be a fun one. Got the SIR9 for free cause a customer hosed the DT. Had a buddy fix it. I'm in to the bike for a grand total of about your budget.

So... My advice: skip the cheap stuff and get something older and nicer and repurpose it. Doesn't take much!

M

[jtbadge]

Used All-City Big Block or Nature Boy is the ticket. Much nicer tubing, paint, and parts than a mail order fixie. Big Block will fit 32c tires (35s without brakes), Nature Boy 40c easily.

[Gummee]

Used All-City Big Block or Nature Boy is the ticket. Much nicer tubing, paint, and parts than a mail order fixie. Big Block will fit 32c tires (35s without brakes), Nature Boy 40c easily.

I can vouch for the 40s on the Nature Boy. Had an 853 disc that I sold to fund other projects. Great little bike for the $$

M

[tctyres]

I just went through this search, and it is a tough one.

Aside from the All City offerings and the Soma Rush, all the decent road-fixed style stuff is gone. Even the Big Block and the Rush have steeper angles. The Cinelli frames are low and long.

If you can handle 28s instead of 32s, then you might look for a Bombtrack Needle. It has a Euro-style high bb.
The Cream City Track Frame is a smoking deal, if one of those sizes works for you: https://www.benscycle.com/milwaukee-bicycle-co-cream-city-track-frameset/mkepackage_milwaukeebicycleco_creamcity_20834/product

Every now and again, something else made by Waterford shows up.

Also, if you look through Luwabra's posts, he made a SS out of a Black Mountain MonsterX.

I wound up getting a large version of a Cooper Sebring NOS from 2014. The same seller has a Monza, which is the same frame as the Sebring: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Cooper-T100-Monza-fixed-free-singlespeed-57cm-Reynolds-520-Brooks-2014/183596586505
I'm surprised at how well it rides. It will only handle a 28 up front. It looks like a 32 will fit in the rear. I think the tires I have on mine now measure 29.

[Jere]

Hi

I would spend a little more and get one of these.
https://wabicycles.com/collections/ssfixed
The ride and can order the gearing you need is great.
JB

[stephenmarklay]

Used All-City Big Block or Nature Boy is the ticket. Much nicer tubing, paint, and parts than a mail order fixie. Big Block will fit 32c tires (35s without brakes), Nature Boy 40c easily.

For sure. They are a little harder to come by at the price but that would a nature boy would be great.

[stephenmarklay]

Hi

I would spend a little more and get one of these.
https://wabicycles.com/collections/ssfixed
The ride and can order the gearing you need is great.
JB

I like these but at $900+ it is a bit steep for this bike for me.

[tctyres]

Hi

I would spend a little more and get one of these.
https://wabicycles.com/collections/ssfixed
The ride and can order the gearing you need is great.
JB

If you look at the tech specs, the ht/st angles change. This is not uncommon, but the larger sizes are more "trackish" with a steeper hta and the smaller sizes are more "slackish" with lower hta. If you're in the middle, the angles are standard road.

[Buzz Killington]

Jamis Beatnik. Cheaper hi-ten steel I think but I wouldn’t sweat that at the price.

[twin]

I love my affordable Fredward! It doesn’t all!

[pbarry]

What size frame do you ride? I've got a steel Trek 400/420 something frame in a 57 or so that needs a new home. Cheap

[Tandem Rider]

I'm with mt2u77, I have always used an older sport touring for SS and winter. I get the ones with 27" wheels, usually at a yard sale, always for cheap. Current one is a Fuji with forged dropouts,and butted ChroMoly for $25. 28's fit fine with fenders, without fenders probably 35's or 38's. At that price you can ride the living snot out of it and when/if it breaks just get another one. :cool:

[mtechnica]

Best case scenario you find a decent old road bike with horizontal dropouts for 200-300, sell what you don't need, get a set of ss/track wheels for 100-200, get track cranks/chain/freewheel for 100-150.

[KarlC]

https://www.retro-gression.com/

.

[stephenmarklay]

What size frame do you ride? I've got a steel Trek 400/420 something frame in a 57 or so that needs a new home. Cheap

Thanks so much. There is a Trek 660 in my CL I thought about. But the cost of conversion (wheels, WI hub) and updating makes it less appealing.
Then there is the max tire size...

[stephenmarklay]

Jamis Beatnik. Cheaper hi-ten steel I think but I wouldn’t sweat that at the price.

And maybe that is the answer. Not caring if it is Hi-ten

[stephenmarklay]

I love my affordable Fredward! It doesn’t all!

These are nice. I like the swept bar.

[chiasticon]

I just snagged one of these: https://www.raleighusa.com/carlton

super cheap, was on my porch in less than 48 hours (via Amazon/365 Cycles) and out of the box and riding in less than half an hour. I wanted a cheap bar/coffee shop bike that I wouldn't mind locking up and leaving unattended. something I can leave in my garage and not stress about. this should work great.

I considered the SSCX conversion route as I basically have enough parts to build that, minus frame. but looking around for a few weeks, a frame would've cost this much. and probably wouldn't have been as fun. I mean, this came with a basket and a bell! :banana:

edit: forgive me if this isn't the style of bike you're after at all. it's not entirely clear if you're after an around-town bike, a track bike, a SSCX bike, etc... you just said single speed.

[stephenmarklay]

I just snagged one of these: https://www.raleighusa.com/carlton

super cheap, was on my porch in less than 48 hours (via Amazon/365 Cycles) and out of the box and riding in less than half an hour. I wanted a cheap bar/coffee shop bike that I wouldn't mind locking up and leaving unattended. something I can leave in my garage and not stress about. this should work great.

I considered the SSCX conversion route as I basically have enough parts to build that, minus frame. but looking around for a few weeks, a frame would've cost this much. and probably wouldn't have been as fun. I mean, this came with a basket and a bell! :banana:

edit: forgive me if this isn't the style of bike you're after at all. it's not entirely clear if you're after an around-town bike, a track bike, a SSCX bike, etc... you just said single speed.


Actually I looked at that. I like the Raleigh bikes. They are not high end but they are making nice functional bikes.

One thing that concerns me with the cheaper ones like this are the quality of components. Not that I care if they are light but that they actually will hold up to riding! How is the carlton in that respect?

[chiasticon]

Actually I looked at that. I like the Raleigh bikes. They are not high end but they are making nice functional bikes.

One thing that concerns me with the cheaper ones like this are the quality of components. Not that I care if they are light but that they actually will hold up to riding! How is the carlton in that respect?can't say yet as I just got it. I'm 150lbs though and I'm mainly looking to just cruise around on it. so I'm not really going to be abusing it much. and with SS, there's not that many components to start off with. feels very solid overall though, for what it is. welds look competent, but not pristine of course. wheels seem solidly built. one-piece bar/stem combo is even one less thing to screw with. BB and headset turn smoothly, etc. it's nothing boutique or incredibly interesting, but should be well-suited for my intended purpose. I was quite impressed with how well everything showed up though. comes with all tools needed to build it, seat tube and crank arms pre-greased before installing post and pedals, etc. the chain guard kinda sucks, but I'm not using that anyway.

[mtechnica]

Thanks so much. There is a Trek 660 in my CL I thought about. But the cost of conversion (wheels, WI hub) and updating makes it less appealing.
Then there is the max tire size...

You don't need special hubs just throw a track wheel in there and crank it down.

[RFC]

You don't need special hubs just throw a track wheel in there and crank it down.

or, cheaper yet, convert the existing rear wheel with spacers.

[Ruimteaapje]

Why not stick a track wheel and chain on any old garage sale bike which has horizontal dropouts?

[NHAero]

Nice older Peugeot converted to SS. Kept both chainrings and the freewheel, just set the chain length correctly.

[Ruimteaapje]

This is my old racer which I bought in 1996 and recently converted to a singlespeed setup. Used an old wheelset with old Record freewheel hub, a Shimano DX Freewheel and a Miche track chain. Don't think the conversion parts cost me more than 60 euros

https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54516627_10219009048842995_5358591989526822912_o.j pg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.xx&oh=4e445d3cec2b701ca4ff76c28147b05d&oe=5D807A04

[RFC]

Thanks so much. There is a Trek 660 in my CL I thought about. But the cost of conversion (wheels, WI hub) and updating makes it less appealing.
Then there is the max tire size...

Here is a 1989 Trek 660 I converted to SS a few years ago. I have converted about 20 old racers as SS bikes for me, family and friends.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48134265266_f95c28d495_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gksG6h)Trek 660 (2)r (https://flic.kr/p/2gksG6h) by Robert Copple (https://www.flickr.com/photos/161536771@N04/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48134357617_595972f8f5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gktaxx)Trek 660 CX (https://flic.kr/p/2gktaxx) by Robert Copple (https://www.flickr.com/photos/161536771@N04/), on Flickr

[stephenmarklay]

Cool! So what exactly do you do and what size tire is that :)

Here is a 1989 Trek 660 I converted to SS a few years ago. I have converted about 20 old racers as SS bikes for me, family and friends.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48134265266_f95c28d495_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gksG6h)Trek 660 (2)r (https://flic.kr/p/2gksG6h) by Robert Copple (https://www.flickr.com/photos/161536771@N04/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48134357617_595972f8f5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gktaxx)Trek 660 CX (https://flic.kr/p/2gktaxx) by Robert Copple (https://www.flickr.com/photos/161536771@N04/), on Flickr

[RFC]

Cool! So what exactly do you do and what size tire is that :)

First, the 660 does have room for larger tires. In the second photo, those are 30mm Ritchey cyclocross tires.

Now, how to do it.

There a number of good articles on the subject, for example:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

Basically, what you do is this:

-- Strip the shifters, DRs and chain.

-- Pull the right crank and remove the small chain ring

-- Pull the rear wheel and pull the cassette or freewheel. This one has a cassette hub.

-- If you have a cassette hub, order a spacer kit or you can make spacers out of PVC pipe. Order a couple of different sized SS cogs. Get the cheap ones. They work just fine. By adjusting the spacers and cog, you try to get chain line that is parallel to the center line of the bike.

-- If freewheel, you can replace it with a single speed freewheel. the Shimano's are about $25.

-- Gear ratio. Use this calculator to select the right cog size. A 70 inch gear is a good place to start.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html


-- Chain tension. If you want to use the existing chain, it will need to be shortened for the new configuration. Contrary to what some think, the chain should not be pulled tight, but should have a little play. If the bike you get has long horizontal dropouts, tensioning is easy. This Trek has semi horizontal (or vertical) so there is a little play for tensioning. A half link will help you achieve the gear ratio you want.

[Jaq]

Hi

I would spend a little more and get one of these.
https://wabicycles.com/collections/ssfixed
The ride and can order the gearing you need is great.
JB

Holy smokes. I've been planning (and saving) for a new SS ever since my last one got ripped off (grrr). Was thinking aluminum; maybe a used Thunderdome or a State Undefeated, built up over time...

But the Wabi Lightning looks great. And all the reviews I've found about Wabi are terrific.

Anyone else have any input on Wabi?

[mtechnica]

Why not stick a track wheel and chain on any old garage sale bike which has horizontal dropouts?

Exactly but it's best if

1.) you use a track crankset so the chainline is good and

2.) you use a decent road frame so it rides good and is fast

[n1ey]

I want to get a cheapo single speed for about 500 or less. Obviously nothing special. I am wondering if there are any next step up options from the state bicycle, retrospec etc. These bikes are all cheaper steal and it would be great to at least get a chromoly frame.

I am ok with a drop or flat bar but would like to get a bike that can at least tale a 32 tire.

Do any options come to mind?

Still riding my converted Raleigh. It is an older frame with a long head tube. Steel! I used an adapter to change the stem. This was essential for the fit.

Purchased for little money. Never touch a thing. Only apply a bit of lube. Works fantastic. I live in a flat area and I bring out the Raleigh every so often.

Bill

[MilanoTom]

https://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/road/competition/track/track

[stephenmarklay]

https://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/road/competition/track/track

Thank you. I like this one and the feather. I am not sure of the max tire size. I really prefer a bit more rubber for this bike.

[12snap]

I have an older Salsa Casseroll set up single speed as my townie/commuter. It fits 37s easily and rides great.

I found this on a craigslist search. Not sure if it's big enough for you, though.
https://helena.craigslist.org/bik/d/fort-harrison-56-cm-salsa-casseroll/6877411910.html

[RFC]

Here's another option. My Surly SS.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48146609876_21d2d7e426_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gmxXHo)IMG_4512r (https://flic.kr/p/2gmxXHo) by Robert Copple (https://www.flickr.com/photos/161536771@N04/), on Flickr

[stephenmarklay]

I have an older Salsa Casseroll set up single speed as my townie/commuter. It fits 37s easily and rides great.

I found this on a craigslist search. Not sure if it's big enough for you, though.
https://helena.craigslist.org/bik/d/fort-harrison-56-cm-salsa-casseroll/6877411910.html

Thank you!

[stephenmarklay]

Here's another option. My Surly SS.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48146609876_21d2d7e426_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gmxXHo)IMG_4512r (https://flic.kr/p/2gmxXHo) by Robert Copple (https://www.flickr.com/photos/161536771@N04/), on Flickr

I had a Cross Check. Love it. It was not a single speed but it was a great bike. If I could find one I would jump on it.

[zennmotion]

Bianchi San Jose was a decent SS CX bike with cantis and wide tires, you could watch for one of those in the usual places as well

[Bisquik]

Find an early-mid 80s era Reynolds 531 or even 501 frameset with semi-horizontal dropouts. Many of these can fit 32s, especially if they were originally designed for 27" wheels. The early sport model Treks will do the job, and they can be found for way, way less than $500.
I second this strategy and checking Craigslist. Sugino cranks and tektro brake(s).

[stephenmarklay]

I wanted to follow up on this as I did get a cheapo single speed. After weighing the options I decided to keep it cheap and if I enjoy it next year I will invest in something nicer.

I chose the raleigh after looking at most of the cheaper options. It it has a more track/messenger geo but comes with 32c tires. I am hoping I can even get a little more like a 35. It comes next week so I will play with it. It was also the only one that came with a 175mm crank which I like. Some came with a 165 even in large sizes.

I actually like the look but I sized it so I can use drop bars. For now I will ride it and when and make it fit well but I will likely spend a bit to add some niceties as well.

These are $175 right now so even if I ride it the remainder of the season I am cool with that.