Fuji Bicycles Track

Price Paid:  $500.00 at local shop

Favorite Ride:
the road

Bike Setup:
39/15 gear, spinning is your friend!
track bars froma Bianchi Pista; junk find road quill stem. Fuji seatpost (not stock) with the black polished off, dual bolt; black perferated ti rail Flite saddle; stock RPM crnaks and stock chain, Tektro brake with cyclecross lever, Origin8 track grips, Planet bike rear light and two front lights which I detatch unless it's dark or foggy. Stock front tire; red and black Specialized rear tire.

Summary:
The term "recreational rider" might not be right but since I'm not a racer, and I do commute, although it isn't a long commute (less than 10 mi. each way) it's the only choice that fits. Some weeks between the roadbiek and the fixed gear, I do about 200 miles. Some about 100. I ride in the rain if I feel like it. Sometimes I ride in snow. I have found the Fuji a swell bike for the dough and though I don't intend to ride it in snow (I have a crappy old bike for that due to salt risks) It has held up in rain and shine, and even on a gravel road i had to traverse when I took a not-so-short shortcut one day...

Strengths:

I chose the fuji because though I prefer steel to aluminum I am worried about it being resistant to rust. The fuji has a drilled bottom bracket. I also prefer an old-style quill stem; the fuji came with a threaded headset. I like strudy dropouts; the ones on the fuji are okay. Lastly, I wanted a bike that was a little less flashy than my Bianchi Pista's chrome -- and more water resistant (chrome can rust if you aren;t very carefult ho it hasn't happened yet). I have dropped an allen wrench on it and not chipped the fuji paint yet, nor did it chip when I wiped out on fake brick the idior town put across the street at the intersections. Indeed, though my 170 lbs and a full pack of gear landed with the bike it was not harmed at all beyond torn grip tape.
In short: It is well thought out (the drilled bb shell to shed water) traditional in spec (the quill stem) and rather sturdy.

Weaknesses:
A bike is a frame. Much of the weaknesses attributed to the Fuji are actually weaknesses of parts spec. The stem had a rise which would be fine with a sloping frame but the fuji has a traditional level toptube so there is little point; I replaced it with a traditional quill stem. The bars: well, they are track bars. They are also ergonomic and look ugly. But they ride fine, I put them on another bike. They just weren;t right for this bike. The rest is style points; the black cranks are sturdy but look ugly; the black seatpost was replaced with a seatpost I'd polished the black off of. The only other functional issues: The seat was swapped for a Flite and the angles necessitated using a dual bolt seatpost to get the saddle level... Really the biggest beef is the tires. After less than four months I shouldn't have to replace the tire as I do not skid. Yet after my last flats the guy at the LBS looked at it and showed me all these little cuts and holes. The tires (Kenda Koncepts) are not very good from my experience.

Similar Products Used:
Several converted road frames, Bianchi pista, a fixed gear mountainbike.

Price Paid:  $350.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
2003 Fuji

Bike Setup:
I replaced the rear wheel with Compagnalo rear hub that makes the ride alot smoother. The tires have to be replaced. I prefer the Continental Gator Skins, especially for skidding.

Summary:
My Fuji is a solid ride for a good price, especially since I bought it used. I replaced the rear wheel with a vintage Compagnalo hub, Paul Wood spokes, and Mavic rim that makes for a super smooth ride. The large gear differential (49/15) was a pain at first, but once I built up leg strength and learned how to skid, it's all good. The paint job is beautiful which can be dangerous in rough neighborhoods, so I've considered having it powdercoated black.

Strengths:
Solid, smooth frame. Components are mostly a good deal for the money. Nice cranks, gears, and steering.

Weaknesses:
Handlebars look weird and are way too flexy. The tires are garbage.

Similar Products Used:
I also ride a centurion fixed gear conversion with pursuit bars that is geared much lower at 41/14 for most days.

Price Paid:  $600.00 at trophy bikes, philly

Favorite Ride:
commutes/pineland roads

Bike Setup:
everything is stock except for:
-surly rear hub
-saddle
-sora front brake/tech-99 bmx lever

In the works:
-new bars
-open pro's
-45t rocket ring

Summary:
I purchased this bicycle in February 03, and it has been my main rig since. The bike is cheap, and that fact can be seen in some of the components, but you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, the rear hub failed and locked up on me, which caused my only major bicycle accident to date. I replaced the oem hub with a surly, and haven't had problems since. I also added a front brake at the behest of my safety-conscious lady-friend. And i changed the saddle out for a purple selle-italia from my roomie's cyclocross bike, b/c it looked cool and he liked the saddle on my fuji. There wasn't really a comfort issue.

Basically, this bike allows you to get a decent fixed gear, fully built, for a reasonable price. Also, buying a complete bike at a shop allows you some leverage on future deals on replacement parts/maintenance. still, as i save up cash, i am likely to replace the cheap stuff that came stock with better components. I can recomend this bike, but only if you pay careful attention to that rear hub.

Strengths:
price, good frame, workable components

Weaknesses:
rear hub(perhaps only for me, though), website graphics on chainstays, ppl will laff at you

Similar Products Used:
several homegrown fixies(vintage road conversions), bianchi pista