If you are looking into buying a new single-speed racing bike in the £500 range, you are most probably looking at the following five options, from left to right, in alphabetic order:

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  1. Bianchi Pista (photo)
  2. Kona Paddy Wagon (photo)
  3. Lemond Fillmore (photo)
  4. Ridgeback Genesis Flyer (photo)
  5. Specialized Langster (photo)

All of them, except for the Bianchi Pista, are ready for the road. The Bianchi Pisa is a pure track bike, so it dosen’t come with any breaks and the frame is not drilled for a rear break. The Bianchi Pista is also the only bike that comes as a fixed geared bike as default, a freewheel/fixed gear flip flop hub can be installed.

Obviously I bought the Bianchi Pista.
Mostly for it’s beauty and simplicity.

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Two questions I had, until I actually rode it home from the store today, was:

  1. Is only a front break good enough?
  2. Fixed gear… is it dangerous?

The answers are:

  1. Yes
  2. No

A lot of people I have asked about riding fixed have said it’s pure idiocy and a death wish. Obviously these people have never been on a skateboard, snowboard or rollerblades. Because if riding a fixed geared bike is a death wish, skateboard is suicide.