Fuji Bicycles 2001 Track

Price Paid:  $430.00 at Beckwith

Favorite Ride:
Critical Mass

Bike Setup:
replaced cheap cranks and bottom bracket with sungio 75 components, and while replacing switched it

Summary:
Nice frame, decent components. good price for someone who wants a fixed gear bike. though switching an old frame over is not that much work.

Strengths:
frame, handling, price, drilled for brakes, road geometry not track

Weaknesses:
cranks, bottom bracket, and cog are all very cheap. you definately want to replace the crank arms as they are mountain bike cranks, and 175mm long, and could pose problems when taking a sharp turn, as you can not stop pedaling and you may eat the crap, dangerous.

Similar Products Used:
surly steamroller

Price Paid:  $499.00 at World Cup Ski and Cy

Favorite Ride:
Camp Hill-Boiling Springs loop

Bike Setup:
58cm Fuji Track. Turbomatic 3 saddle. Look pedals. 48x17 gearing. Single pivot Shimano 105 front an

Summary:
If you don't want to go through the time and effort to build you own fixed gear this is the bike to get. With a few changes and upgraded it becomes a worthy single speed fixed gear road machine. The minimium addition that you need are front brakes. The 48x15 gearing is a bit steep for hills (about 83 gear inches). Changing the rear to a 17 and adding two links in the chain gets it down to about 73 gear inches, a bit easier on the knees when climbing.

Strengths:
The price, for about less than $600, with additions and upgrades you get a real road worthy fixed gear. Just keep in mind that this is a speciality machine it won't replace your other bikes.

Weaknesses:
They should offer the bike with a choice of rear gear combinations. The pedals are worthless. But, anybody that buys this bike is a real cyclist. Most of us have a lot of "spare" parts to throw on this one. If you can get the seatpost adjusted right the first time you are lucky.

Similar Products Used:
None