I test-rode a pista yesterday and decided that I wanted a fixed gear bike. My question is, should I buy a new fixie (probably a pista or langster), or should I buy an old road frame and build one up myself. Basically I'm wondering if I'll get more value and quality components if I spend $550 on a stock bike or the same amount on a bike I build myself. I've never built a bike before, but my friend has and said he would help out.

I test-rode a pista yesterday and decided that I wanted a fixed gear bike. My question is, should I buy a new fixie (probably a pista or langster), or should I buy an old road frame and build one up myself. Basically I'm wondering if I'll get more value and quality components if I spend $550 on a stock bike or the same amount on a bike I build myself. I've never built a bike before, but my friend has and said he would help out.


Having built a few, I would buy my next one. No matter how great the deal is on individual parts and a frame it alway seems to cost more to build something nice.

Just note that the langster comes stock with a freewheel...you need to add a track cog.

I test-rode a pista yesterday and decided that I wanted a fixed gear bike. My question is, should I buy a new fixie (probably a pista or langster), or should I buy an old road frame and build one up myself. Basically I'm wondering if I'll get more value and quality components if I spend $550 on a stock bike or the same amount on a bike I build myself. I've never built a bike before, but my friend has and said he would help out.

Buy...you will see some good deals on ebay for complete track bikes.

I test-rode a pista yesterday and decided that I wanted a fixed gear bike. My question is, should I buy a new fixie (probably a pista or langster), or should I buy an old road frame and build one up myself. Basically I'm wondering if I'll get more value and quality components if I spend $550 on a stock bike or the same amount on a bike I build myself. I've never built a bike before, but my friend has and said he would help out.
For what you pay for a new bike you can get a much nicer used bike. The beauty of the fixed is fewer parts so there really is not much that will wear out. I built my first, road bike conversion, and then bought a steamroller complete that had been nicely built as my current ride. That said, after a year and a half on the 'roller I will be building something even nicer. Now that I appreciate the medium as a great part of my riding, along with geared road biking and mountain biking, I think I will be able to benefit from something a little more lively.

Having built a few, I would buy my next one. No matter how great the deal is on individual parts and a frame it alway seems to cost more to build something nice.

I've bought one (2001 Pista), built one (Leader track frame) and am in the process of stripping and rebuilding the Pista with some newer parts. In the end, the stock Pista was the cheapest route and it rides just as well(some ways better) as the Leader I built up.

Buy, and buy cheap. Used can be good, but only a better deal if it's ready to go and not some conversion project.

I test-rode a pista yesterday and decided that I wanted a fixed gear bike. My question is, should I buy a new fixie (probably a pista or langster), or should I buy an old road frame and build one up myself. Basically I'm wondering if I'll get more value and quality components if I spend $550 on a stock bike or the same amount on a bike I build myself. I've never built a bike before, but my friend has and said he would help out.

If you are looking to go the least expensive route, then buy.

If you want to learn how to build a bike and get the satisfaction of riding something you built yourself, then build it. Just a warning on building, even though it is a relatively simple build, it can be a very frustrating process. But it's all worth it in the end!

Either way, it's all good.

No matter how great the deal is on individual parts and a frame it alway seems to cost more to build something nice..Same experience. But only because I could not bring myself to make the same sacrifices when buying parts individually that manufacturers make when putting together their build packages.

I test-rode a pista yesterday and decided that I wanted a fixed gear bike. My question is, should I buy a new fixie (probably a pista or langster), or should I buy an old road frame and build one up myself. Basically I'm wondering if I'll get more value and quality components if I spend $550 on a stock bike or the same amount on a bike I build myself. I've never built a bike before, but my friend has and said he would help out.

I vote for the second option - build an old road bike. Check out sheldon brown and he'll tell you the same.

I bought an early 80's Basso road frame and built it up (had sheldon build the wheels.) It rides smoother than butter. My buddy bought a complete Surly Steamroller from excelsports. He took my Basso for a spin and coulnd't believe how smooth it rides. I spent a little more than he did, but in the end I think a road frame is almost always going to be a bit better "feel." IMHO.

If you think you will enjoy the experience of building then by all means build. The key is to take your time and shop around. You can use medium weight parts and still have a 20 lb. steel frame give or take a pound.

Buy a quality older bike for less than 100 bucks.

These bikes are all over the place.
Tear off what you are not going to use and either

Buy a wheelset or redish the ones on there.
If you switch a 27 to a 700cc wheelset you have to buy a long reach
brake for the front. You will have less than 250 in a sweet ride.
If you buy track geometry it will not ride as sweet as a classic steel bike

Buy an IRO, get a nice set of wheels WITHOUT Suzue hubs (crappy, soft metal threads) pick up a seatpost, saddle (whatever you like, maybe from nashbar) and then get the Deda Magic/Pista bar/stem combo (cheap!) and maybe a BMX or...drool...FSA Vigorelli crankset. Light, stiff, fast, comfy (depending on tires and seat) and not some crap stock bike that every other hipster owns.
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Here in Richmond, track bikes are all over the place, and at first I was kind of surprised but now it's kinda, I dunno, lame. Seriously, the bike racks on campus have 100-200 track bikes or crap conversions. Either that or a Murry or perhaps some richy-rich's Trek dualie that has been rusting for months. Build (or rather, spec) one yourself, it's more gratifying, and besides, you get exactly what you want.