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So this is the first fixie bike I would have owned. I am unsure if I want a freewheel one or not so I won't have to constantly pedal. But I was wondering or seeking help for how I could build one by buying the bike piece by piece. Any suggestions? I was gonna buy one already made but a friend with a lot of experience with fixies said not to because they are cheap. So some help please? Suggestions on parts to buy and other things? I would mainly use this bike in NYC

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  • Do you mean your friend wants you to spend more, or that the bikes are of low quality? If you go to a shop, you can solve both problems by getting them to build you a nice bike.
    – andy256
    Oct 15, 2014 at 6:25
  • NYC has a lot of bike shops from low end to very high end. Getting a custom job of equal quality is likely more than just buying a bike at the desired quality.
    – Batman
    Oct 15, 2014 at 16:13
  • I know this will be flagged, but I believe the first step to build a fixie is to grow a mustache and have some tattoos done on your hands.
    – cherouvim
    Oct 16, 2014 at 4:43

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I think you're confusing a fixed gear with a single speed.

A single speed bike can have a fixed gear (the cranks must (things the pedals are attached to) turn whenever the rear wheel turns), or a freewheel (you can coast, i.e. not have the cranks turn when the rear wheel turns). Luckily, a lot of fixed gear bikes have so called flip-flop hubs, where one side is fixed gear and the other side has a single speed freewheel.

For a single speed freewheeling setup, you can take any frame, put on a single speed wheel and if it doesn't have horizontal dropouts (or eccentric hubs), attach a chain tensioner to it. For a fixed gear setup, you need horizontal dropouts or an eccentric hub since you'll snap a chain tensioner in a fixed gear setup while braking.

Generally, the economical ways to do a fixed gear are starting with an old road bike (say 80s, which has horizontal dropouts) and putting a flip flop hub wheel or fixed gear wheel in, and adjusting the chainline, or buying a bike which is already fixed gear (or has a flip flop hub). Since fixies have become fashionable these days, the latter is usually the easier option.

Building a bike from a frame and components is possible, but you need to check compatibility and sizing and everything on your own, which judging by the wording of the question, you do not have.

I would recommend getting an already assembled single speed bike with a flip-flop hub. That way, if you find you don't like fixie-ness, you can flip the wheel and get a usable single speed with freewheel. You can also have two gear combinations (though a bit hard to switch between them given that you have to swap the wheel) this way. You can also probably walk into one of many bike shops in the NYC area and figure out a single speed which fits you well easily this way. I would also recommend having a front and rear brake installed on the bike, even if it is fixed gear only -- it may not look "cool", but it can easily save your life in NYC.

Also, these links from Sheldon are essential reading, especially if you go the build your own route.

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    This pretty much sums it up. To be honest, unless you're after the experience of curating all the parts and the frame, just buy one from a reputable bike shop and be done with it.
    – Dan
    Oct 15, 2014 at 8:23
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Like all bikes, single speed and fixie bikes come in all differing qualities, from cheap, to reasonable to expensive. I think the only advantage if building one yourself is that you could save a lot of money on the frame and spend more on things like rims, hubs, and other components that will give you much more bang for your buck. That's not to estimate the importance of a good frame, but it's often possible to find an old steel frame in good condition, put some good wheels on there, and get a really good ride without spending a whole lot of money. If the frame and forks are already assembled, and you buy a pre-built wheelset, assembling a fixed gear or single speed bicycle can be done quite easily.

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  • Well, you still need to know how to adjust your chainline, which is far less important on a derailleur bike than on a fixed/single/igh bike. But other than that, re-using an old horizontal dropout frame is not too hard. I doubt you will net save money though even if you do build it yourself unless you have access to all the tools and stuff for free (unless its old frame+new wheel).
    – Batman
    Oct 15, 2014 at 14:31

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