Bianchi USA Inc. Pista

Price Paid:  $499.00 at Pacific Bicycle

Favorite Ride:
Golden Gate Park

Bike Setup:
MKS GR-9 Platform Pedals $29.95
Leather Toe Straps
MKS Steel Toe Clips $14.95/Pair
shimano brake lever $10.00
Used Break on the front

Summary:
money than my loaded road bike for shooting around the park. I will be taking it on the Velodrome in San Jose next week. Cool dual-purpose street/track bike. I have a quick release front break and lever, put it on for the street, pop it off for the track.

Strengths:
dual-purpose street/track bike.
Cool leopard pattern seat.
Nice paint color, I got the green one.

Weaknesses:
For this amount of money! - none.

Similar Products Used:
Road Bike

Price Paid:  $500.00 at gift

Favorite Ride:
seacoast new hampshire

Bike Setup:
I took off the drop bars and added mtn bike straight bars. Gone, too, is the break. Gives it a very "urban warrior" kinda feel. Not exactly sleek and effortless, but f-ing diesel looking. Mad Max would ride this thing

Summary:
great bike for the price. With fixies, it's tough. My initial instinct was to build up an old steel frame vintage road bike. Once you factor in all the parts, though, the costs are comparable. With this little guy, you open a box and are ready to go.
I sinc ehave built up a peugeot to "my specifications" and only did slightly better for a lot more money.
Think of this as the Miller of the bike world, never the best, but never dissappointing.

Strengths:
great value.
terrific responsiveness
cool look
rugged (i give mine hell and it hasn't so much as chattered)

Weaknesses:
nagging sense you could have done better if you would have built it yourself

Similar Products Used:
peugeot custom fixie

Price Paid:  $550.00 at City Bikes DC

Favorite Ride:
Daily commute

Bike Setup:
Stock pedals, gear, saddle, etc. Replaced drop bars with Nitto pursuit bars.

Summary:
This is the smoothest ride. The steel frame has great geometry and is a terrific fit. The bike handles beautifully -- the fixed gear setup is fantastic and gives great control. *** Get a 15mm box wrench to do the nuts on the axle when changing the tire.***

Strengths:
The frame is excellent -- the geometry of the frame provides excellent control. The fixed gear allows great control for accelerating and braking.

Weaknesses:
Stock drop bars are inconvenient and difficult to navigate. Stock clipless pedals may be difficult for riders new to fixed-gears.

Similar Products Used:
None.

Price Paid:  $550.00

Favorite Ride:
Commute

Bike Setup:
Bullhorn handlebars, 105 front break, clips.

Summary:
This is a city riding dream machine. Solid parts for the price and a lot of fun to ride. The CroMoly frame very comfortable and pretty stiff. Nimble and quick. At this point, I really think Bianchi and Fuji and whoever else is making low end track bikes ought to go ahead and build them for city riding: make a front break standard, and outfit with handlebars geared towards dealing with traffic, not sprinting to the finish line. Maybe a 17 or 18 tooth rear cog (though I kept the 16, I like to push).

Strengths:
Great frame, nice looking, decent wheelset, great price. I, unlike the other posters, love the saddle.

Weaknesses:
Track handlebars, pedals, tires. Can be pretty cheaply switched out.

Price Paid:  $550.00 at Velociti, Seekonk, M

Favorite Ride:
Rehoboth, Ma

Bike Setup:
22 rear cog/48 chainring (stock chainrg), Campy profit pedals, Shimano Sora brake/lever, San Marco Era pro saddle, vittoria rubbino pro tires

Summary:
I got a chrome '04 version- great ride quality, great looking, and great price for spec. Changed out rear cog to 22 tooth (like to spin!), new saddle, Campy pedals, and added a front brake. Great build quality for cheap price (made in Taiwan- but so are Alu Litespeeds/ all Giants). Frame alignment is excellent, solid parts spec, good chrome job (love the low maintenance!), and overall worth every penny.

Strengths:
Ride quality (gotta love steel!), build quality, price, ease of maintenance,

Weaknesses:
Saddle is ridiculous, as is gearing for the street with any hills (IMO). Pedals and tires are lousy, too, but these are easy swaps.

Similar Products Used:
Has a Cinelli track bike in the 70's I rode around NYC. Also had a chome Atala track bike then, too. I have always loved fixed gear. Kick myself daily for selling the Cinelli (I won't say how little I got).