Compact Geometry, great finish (looks anodized red), nice lithion tires, solid drivetrain

mismatched brakes (but who needs them), heavy fork and extremely heavy saddle.

Picked up a Bowery from LBS last week. It is a 2009 model. Found the frame to be stiff and compliant. Handles like my TCR Advanced since the compact geometry is similar. Components are ok. Wheelset is basic Alex. Changed out the handlebars for bullhorns. The "brooks" clone saddle was the heaviest 500+g, changed it out for a Richey Streem V2.

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Specialized langster, custom built fixed.

Good geometry, light as hell, strong, ok rims not the best but theyll do, everything is sealed, aluminum never gets rusty or corode, pretty comfy thats why i bought it too.

Ok first start from the front end, front wheel is a good beginner wheel but i dont think itll last with my weight, i like that its sealed and double walled and has nuts instead of quick release (good for the city). Forks, really tough and light but too stiff. Headset, internal not to great for city riding but for racing its ok (the bearings are too skinny and weak). Stem, too long had to change it. Bars, there alright. Brakes, the goofiest thing i have seen on flat bars there good for bullhorns, but ya i threw them away. Ok back end, back wheel is like the front kinda sucky. Freewheel (screw fixies), not the greatest gearing but good for hills, its kind of unresponsive sometimes like when im mobbing it takes 1/4 crank turn to engage. Cranks, there not shabby, BB, sucks makes a clicking noise all day even tho is sealed its weird. Clips and pedals, Clips haves screws and bolts loose and gone all day, pedals needs better ones, Seat makes a sound likes it cracking everytime i sit on it or move in a weird spot. Seatpost it has a shim in the seatpost tube why couldnt they make it so it will fit with out one (its kinda a fix it and and hope it works solution).

Its acuatly 2009 model. But ya this bike gets me around and does it fast and effeciently. I would say the frame is stiff my dad hoped on it the other day and said he has never been on a bike so stiff, it might be my 160psi back tire tho. But what can you expect from aluminum its the strongest and lightest metal that you can get out of a bike. I wouldnt suggest buying this bike tho it has a pretty good frame geometry, light and strong but its all the components that make it not the greatest. Im thinkin about getting another frame and building up a better bike that has top end stuff and is cooler than this. I bought this on a whim cuase i needed a bike and didnt want to wait any longer but now i know. But over all it gets me from place a to place b

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Havent used anything like it, but i heard the specialized langster is like it but its probably better cuz specialized are my homies and make sick bikes

solid commuter and once you get it going, it does go!!! this bike has made me a fixed gear guy. I own three other bikes, and this is my fav, though it is the least expensive one.

heavy, and some of the components are the reason it is.

I wanted a fixie and this just happened! overall it's a good ride except it weighs a bit much. the handlebars are heavy, causes the front wheel to turn by itself. also the crank does look cheap and the wheels are heavy. but it doesn't mean i don't enjoy this bike, I do!!!

> Really nice ride (smooth, quiet, rolls well)
> Wheels bearings run really smoothly
> Under stated styling
> Excellent value for money

Technically the bike isn't gonna win any awards in the workshop, and GIANT could easily make some small improvements to the Bowery to make it something really special. Issues I have with it include

1)The cranks are pretty cheap, drilled at 165mm from centre, but cranks arms are quite a bit longer, suggest cost cutting. Plus chainring appears very cheap.

2) 3/32 not 1/8 pitch (although probably easier/cheaper to change ratio as chainring is 130 PCD (Shimano) and 3/32 rings are cheaper than 1/8)

3) The chain doesn't appear to be a proper single speed chain, but just a length of 8/9 speed chain - how long it will last on a fixie I will find out.

4) Fixed/fixed NOT fixed/free hub (not too clever for using the freewheel)

5) The use of the 26mm tyres means very difficult to fit mudguards, I've changed to 23mm tyres so I can fit guards.

6) No mudguard or rack mounts on the rear of the frame, although mudguard bosses on front forks (go figure??).

7) I'm not relishing fixing a rear wheel puncture on the road, with all those adjusters and nuts. I've fitted kevlar belted tyre and slime tubes.

8) The stearing is a slow, but as stated it aint no track bike

Having ridden fixies on and off for about 20 years, I do really like this bike. GIANT have done an excellent job with this machine. Being a single speed means its essence is in its simplicity, this is complimented well with its under-stated styling that GIANT have bestowed upon it. The ride is very smooth and quiet, with the forks and tyres (although budget items) complimenting the focus of the machine as a robust no frills about town bike / winter trainer. This is most definetely NOT a track bike and rides very differently from my GIANT Omnium. It is a great road fixie for the price.

I've rated the bike as a 4 as I think there is room for improvement, although the Bowery is greater than the sum of its parts.

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Arthur Caygill 853 track bike (miche / campag components)
Giant Omnium track bike (miche / campag components)
531c coverted to fixie (components: what I could find)

Great, solid FG, feels durable, exactly what you need for winter training. Road angles for road training, 2-3 hrs on a FG with track angles is not comfortable.

The only thing that I could think of is maybe the cranks, functional but ugly.

Bought to replace a converted road bike FG. It was between a new frame with old components or this. I've ridden 20 hrs on it already and it's a solid choice- I was able to dial in my setup and it's comfortable and stiff. My longest ride has been 2.5 hrs on it and no roblems. My only changes to it were my saddle and pedals.

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Bianchi pista, converted road bike

Great, solid FG, feels durable, exactly what you need for winter training. Road angles for road training, 2-3 hrs on a FG with track angles is not comfortable.

The only thing that I could think of is maybe the cranks, functional but ugly.

Bought to replace a road bike converted to a FG. It was between a new frame with old components or this. I've ridden 20 hrs on it already and it's a solid choice- I was able to dial in my setup and is comfortable and stiff. My longest ride has been 2.5 hrs on it and no roblems. My only changes to it was my saddle and pedals.

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Bianchi pista, converted road bike

Great value for the money. Fun to just cruise around or commute on. No-name entry level components work just fine.

Slow handling. A little heavy. Not super responsive. If you want lightning quick responsive track bike handling, get a real track bike.

As stated earlier reviews, this is not a track bike; My crit bike has much quicker handling. It is however an excellent value and a solid, fun, competent fixed-gear road bike.

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1970's Paris Sport track bike (mucho fun).

- Affordable
- Good geometry (same as Giant road bikes)
- Chain tugs included
- Comes with brakes and levers
- Comes with freewheel and fixed cog
- Water bottle mounts
- 48:18 makes a good commuter gear
- Burly 700x26c tires, smooths out the pot holes nicely
- cromo fork makes curb hops feel doable
- Solid 36h wheel/rims

- Only weakness is the weight really, but like I said it's a 21 pounder commuter city rig, not a racer
- Wish it had rack mounts like the Langster, but that's me, not everyone will care about that

Solid commuter rig. Essentially a single speed road bike or fixed that is practical as a daily rider because of the road bike geometry and conveniences like dual water bottle mounts. It's NOT a track racer, it's more like a single speed commuter, so don't be disappointed by the 21+ pounds that this rig weighs in at. The Giant website photo is deceiving because this bike looks different in real life: has f/r brakes and levers mounted, lame chainguard installed, and fork blade is straight not curved like in photo. I bought this as a commuter rig for my daily 16 mile roundtrip commute and it's been solid and smooth. Parts are super heavy, but I'll take the durabilty and low bling factor for what I need it for. Bike cleans up nicely once you strip off the chainguard and stickers.

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Bianchi Pista

Intial impression is its a solid bike. Time will tell if this holds true but for $500.00 bucks I can not complain alot.

I do not like the plastic change guard this has to go!!!!

Just got bike seems to be great value for what I have paid. On my first ride I actual was 3 minutes quicker than my Trek 1200 over sixteen miles. First change was for shoe clip pedals we will see as time goes on what else gets changed. I have only gotten this bike as a alternate for my single speed mountain bike on days I can not make the trails.

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Only bike I can compare it is my two single speed mountain bikes. So its hard to say.