Retrospec Fixie Saint Urban Fixed Gear Single Speed Urban Road Bike Review

Customer Ratings:

I just received this bike today in black and red at 57cm. It's my first fixie, so this review will benefit news like me over the veteran fixie riders.

PROS

-price

-seriously, the fixie experience is a dream (more on that later)

-variety of color options

CONS

-If you've never assembled a bike, good luck. Luckily for me I grew up tinkering with bikes, but assembly was still a little more than the anticipated "minimal assembly required" as prescribed on the box. Also, no instruction manual. Figure it out yourself or pay some dude in a bikeshop up to half the price of the bike itself for assembly.

-the seat is about as comfortable as a 2x4. Definitely going to be one of my first upgrades.

-the pedals are plastic. Not sure why I expected metal pedals, but I did, so plastic was a minor letdown.

-valve stems on the tubes are on the shorter side. This is my first experience with presta valves, but luckily a dude at the LBS showed me how to properly pump this puppies up. He commented that the short stems would make it a little more difficult, and I definitely had a difficult time getting the pump to lock over the valve.

-sizing chart is a bit misleading. Retrospec recommends the 57cm frame for anyone 5'9" or taller. Now, I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam and the frame, when straddled, just barely hits the dudes. From what I've read, you're ideally supposed to give those guys about an inch of clearance, so those of you stuck between the 57 or the smaller size, it might be best to err on the smaller size. Your family will thank you.

Many of the components on the bike, tubes and tires, pedals and pedal straps, and seat as previously mentioned are not of the highest quality. The frame itself is a bit heavy, being made out of steel. It goes without saying, but you get what you pay for.

Now why do I think you should pay for this fixie? Simply put, fixies are a blast. I'd never ridden one more than a couple hundred feet before getting my Saint Urban, and the ride I had this afternoon might have been the best experience all year. The ride is smooth, thanks to the efficient fixed gear drive train, the clean lines and simplicity give the bike a beautiful aesthetic, single brake cable and no deraillers mean you can focus on enjoying the ride and connecting with the bike (it's really a thing, I was skeptical too). For those worried about making the transition to a fully fixed gear, just do it. I was concerned about stopping and dismounting, but after half a mile it became second nature. You shouldn't have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to have this much fun, and thanks to Retrospec, you don't have to. The best advice I've read on buying your first bike is to get whatever you can afford and ride it into the ground. Get whatever color you like, you can upgrade parts later down the road. Stop paying too much for gas, and get yourself a fixie and start enjoying your travel time instead of just enduring it.

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Got the Saint Urban as a back up to my racing stable and I have been pleasantly surprised at the nimble response and stiffness of the steel frame. I have begun to ride this more than I had expected and, after a couple of personal tweaks, it has turned out to be a great bike for the city. my only caveat is that there is no option for a lighter gearing straight out of the box and while 81 Gear inches is great for Flat land, somewhere in the mid to low 70's works better in a city like SF with many hills.

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To start off, the design of this product sets the standard for fixed gear bikes. The range in colors can accommodate any customers needs and wants. The bikes are fully customizable and are well made built to last bikes. The ride is as smooth and easy to ride as it gets AND you will by far be the talk of the road. I've had my bike for a year now and I have had 0 problems to date, and not to mention get compliments daily. As far as I'm concerned, retrospecs are the best made, best looking bikes at the best price. There is no other option. Enjoy!

Honest reviews on Retrospec Fixie Saint Urban Fixed Gear Single Speed Urban Road Bike

Lovee this bike! smooth ride, light frame...exactly what I was looking for when I wanted a fixie. it also looks a lot better than any other bike around. I kinda wish I would've got it one size smaller so I could give mine to a friend and buy another, but I'm super happy with it.

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I got the bike a couple days ago; haven't used it yet. Here are my first observations:

1. Welding job is subpar.

2. The plastic brake release switch was broken and the two pieces glued together.

3. The chainring is slightly bent because one of the five spots where it attaches to the crank arm is not seated well. Right now it's not clear to me whether this will affect the chain life or riding quality of the bike.

4. Very difficult to screw in the pedals because of the paint and the softness of the alloy the crank arms are made of.

5. There was debris inside the front rim that was making an annoying noise when turning the wheel.

I spent more than an hour dealing with #4 and #5. I have pictures for #2 and #3 but don't know how to attach them to this review. #1 doesn't matter too much to me.

Reviews of Q-Tubes 700c x 23-25mm 48mm PRESTA Valve Tube 126g

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $4.50
Sale Price: $3.62
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

This is my second order. The tubes are as reliable as any I've used, regardless the brand name or price. Very satisfied.

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For a while until SLIME tubes come with a valve long enough for all the new deep rims out there now, these combined with the SLIME you can add through the removable valve core are the cheap quality answer to all but weight weeny grade puncture sealing tubes in new deep rim wheels. You can but probably won't put these in your Zipp 808s. 48mm is just long enough to fit the Velocity B43 rim(about the deepest there is in metal rims) with enough for the air chuck. You may have to hold it on for the last few psi if yours is loose fitting. Or just leave your little schraeder adapter on instead of the black cap. Anyway:

1. Get the proper size tubes for your tires & wheelset. Remove the removable presta valve cores(these are the only long valve tubes that have this) using a smaller adjustible wrench on the two flat spots ground on the core. Careful if you use pliers not to booger up the threads, over tighten or bend the tiny valve pin by doing this with it open. Don't torque the stem off by holding the other end where the rubber tube joins either. This stuff should only just be finger-tight for good a seal.

2. Squeeze in ~2oz of SLIME for rd, ~3oz for medium commuter tubes, ~4oz for MTB tubes. Please get the SLIME from the hardware/department/auto store by the L instead of by the 8oz in the bike store. Much cheaper and it doesn't 'go bad'. Support your local bike store by buying other things you can only find there instead of bulk marked-up ubiquities.

3. Install your Q Tubes with THE most complete, relevant and all around best instructions anyones ever printed on the back of a tube box. And I worked at bike shops.

Oh and throw out your 5lb 'puncture resistant' tires and tubes, your PITA 'tire liners' and all that other crap. None of that stuff will SEAL a puncture(or multiples) up to 1/8". Nothing PREVENTs them better than vigilant riding with proper tire pressure.

Now go ride safely with manners now that you have piece of mind and more $ left over.

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Delivered on time and I plan to use soon. I like to keep spares just in case I blow a tube.

Best XLC Thorn Resistant Boxed Tube - 29" x 1.9/2.3", SCHRADER Deals

Customer Ratings:

I combined this with some mr.tuffy tire liners which makes a durable virtually flat free tire. would definately recommend them.

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These inner tubes are great at sealing the tire pressure, and are holding up well. I ride about 50 miles per week and dont have a problem with getting small pricks in the tires and causing a flat. I will definitely recommend these to anyone.

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I also bought the Avenir product to compare. Both appear to be excellent products. I use it with a liner between the tube and tire. Wish me luck.

Honest reviews on XLC Thorn Resistant Boxed Tube - 29" x 1.9/2.3", SCHRADER

These tubes are about three or four times the size of any other bike tubes I have used before. I didn't expect them to be so large and heavy two tubes was the size of a standard shoe box full. That's extra weight in the wheels, which will take more energy to move along the path/trail.

Investing in an inner tube liner will probably accomplish the same result, but with less bulk and weight.

Review of Park Tool PT-03 Double Ended Cone Wrench

Customer Ratings:

These hand tools, like most everything Park makes, are extremely well thought out and well made. They give great value to the home bicycle mechanic.

Cone wrenches are required for disassembling, reassembling, and even adjusting loose-ball bearing cones on bicycle wheels.

Often an assortment will be required and sometimes one will need two of the same sized wrenches -most often in the 13mm, 14mm, and 15mm sizes. The Park DCW assortment is sized with combinations with overlap so that only owning 3 or 4 of these wrenches will allow you to cover most any situation when working on common bicycle wheel bearing cones. The wrench comes in 4 sizes and due to the size overlap if you buy only one of each you are covered. There are different common size combinations that one runs into when working on a typical cone and cone locknut -often the combinations are: 13/15, 13/14, and 14/15. If one buys the DCW-1, DCW-2, DCW-3 that will cover most any combination of cone nut flats commonly encountered without having to buy any one single wrench twice. Notice how clever Park was when they created their line-up with built-in overlap of the wrench sizes since one can only use one side of a double-sided wrench at a time.

The tool's coating is a neat non-slip and corrosion-resistant finish that feels nice to hold. The tools nest nicely and have a hole in one end so you can hang them on a hook together on a pegboard if you are into that kind of organization with your tool storage.

Park tools -those guys are thinking so you don't have to!

Pros:

*Excellent value especially considering the very reasonable and low price.

*Intelligent selection of sizes/combinations.

*Long-lasting high-quality wrenches.

*Non-slip, non-corroding finish.

*Hanging hole feature.

Cons:

*Not as much leverage as a long-handled single-sided bench-top cone wrench but Park makes a different professional model too, so it isn't fair to knock these wrenches for what they aren't supposed to be.

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I just used one of these wrenches to adjust my rear hub and it worked all right. No marks on the wrench (yet). They do feel a little cheap though (I used to use Campagnolo wrenches back home). Funny: The German print on the package says that they are for hobbyists, the English label praises them as pro tools.

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This cone wrench is strong and light. Fits in my bag for when I bike ride.

It's great.

Honest reviews on Park Tool PT-03 Double Ended Cone Wrench

I bought this wrench as a poor man's pedal wrench since it can multitask. It does the job, but make sure you keep some gloves handy for use when putting a lot of torque on the wrench. The edges are fairly sharp and the wrench is fairly short so places to grab it is limited. Overall, a good product from Park as usual though.

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It is a fact, that without fail, you will need two cone wrenches of the same size. While I do own several Park cone wrenches, I always find I need to hold the other side. Those who use these type wrenches know that nothing else will work.

Razor EcoSmart Metro Electric Scooter Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $314.99
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

I used to ride my bike 2.5mi. from public transportaion (BART) to work. I injured my right knee a few weeks back and was having to drive in to work which I despise for; traffic, bridge toll, parking fee... So I was looking for something that was; cheap (cause I only planned to use it for a few months), Portable (I need to bring it on a public train) and reliable (don't want to be stranded with a hurt knee). This is a great vehicle, it does what it says a far as going around 18mph (on flat ground) and run time is roughly 40 min. depending on the terrain you are riding on. I weigh 240lbs. and carry a backpack but it dosen't seem to mind. I do kind of help it going up two of the bigger hills I have to climb but it still makes it, I do not have to get off and push and the motor dosen't overheat or anything. Overall it was a great purchase, the price can't be beat for what it does, and I save about $10 a day vs. driving so I will have it paid for within two months!

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The Razor was very easy to assemble (my wife put it together) and, after charging the battery, the kids were off and running. The scooter is strong and fast. A helmet is a must with this scooter. The only problem was with the power not really turning off. After the first couple of weeks, I went to move the scooter with the power off and it nearly jumped out of my hands. This could potentially be a serious situation.

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The pictures don't show it, but the EcoSmart comes with a large luggage rack/basket that can be mounted on the rear fender.

I also have an eZip 500 which is a 24-volt scooter. The increase in power and speed from the extra 12 volts on the EcoSmart is very noticeable. Plus the larger 16" wheels and larger deck of the EcoSmart makes for a far more stable ride. The eZip feels a little wobbly while the EcoSmart feels solid at their top speeds. The EcoSmart's seat height is also adjustable for tall or short riders unlike the fixed eZip seat and the EcoSmart's seat has two shock absorbing springs for an overall smooth and comfortable ride. The EcoSmart's kickstand is also placed under the deck instead of on the rear tire axle, which seems much more stable.

The freewheel (which the eZip lacks) makes the heavier EcoSmart scooter much easier to push around too. The EcoSmart has a plastic two-piece chain guard that almost totally surrounds the freewheel, gears, and chain. The guard is easy to remove to clean and lube the drivetrain and should keep dripping chain oil contained.

The only things I like better on the eZip are the cage around the motor which helps to keep a hot motor from burning the rider and protects the motor in case the scooter falls over, the easily removable battery pack, the steel wheels (vs the spoked wheels on the EcoSmart), and the folding handlebars which make the eZip easier to place in the trunk of a car without busting out the toolset. I'm not sure if the larger EcoSmart could even fit in the back of an SUV without putting the rear seats down.

Honest reviews on Razor EcoSmart Metro Electric Scooter

I purchased the Razor EcoSmart recently as my daughter' Christmas Present. It was easy to assemble except it was missing several bolts, the stickers were pealing and it had rust on the frame. The quality was not there. This was my 3rd razor purchase. I am highly disappointed. I contacted razor and they told me I had to discuss my problems with the retailer, they told me to call razor. After calling razor a 3rd time and asked to speak with a supervisor I was connected to the supervisors mailbox and she never called me back. This is my last razor. They do not care about their customers or reputation. Buy at your own risk.

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I got this a couple days ago (delivered) and basically it's... it's an okay scooter. I needed a scooter because I was tired of riding to work on my bike (15 minuteish ride on my bike going about 5-9 mph). But it goes nowhere NEAR what the box says it does, or the description. I'm roughly 200 pounds and it carries me like a dream though. It takes bumps really nicely, just be careful going over speed bumps or the bottom will hit the ground. I rode to work and back on roughly one charge (charged it for 30 minutes at work), pretty much rode full speed all the way back to my house and the battery's still good. I highly doubt it goes for 40 minutes on one charge but if you take it slow instead of full blasting it, it probably goes for awhile. I rated it 4 because it has a squeaky noise coming from the scooter, and I can't figure out where it's coming from and it makes me concerned.

Overall it's a nice scooter and a recommended buy, especially for an adult because it is a bigger scooter, not meant for kids. (ages 16+ is okay)

Edit 2 weeks later: The main concern for this scooter for me was the tires. I live in Arizona and everyone knows about goatheads. Basically they're thorns that come off of plants around here and are strewn across the ground and were the problem for me for many bike tires I've had. However I've not had a problem with them yet, but I haven't had one stuck in my tire either but I think it's safe to say the tires are fairly thick. Also when riding... the tires have a very long life. I've carried 10+lbs (up to 20) additional on me and I made it home from work (about 15 minute ride) and there's little to no air out of the back tire.

I'm changing my review to 5 stars because this is definitely a quality product. Just be careful on gravel for sharp rocks, and it does slip n' slide on gravel so be careful braking!

Review of SRAM Chainring Red ,53T 130mm ,Black

Customer Ratings:

Compact cranksets are hugely helpful for hill climbing. I am not a super-thin rider, but I more than hold my own in the peloton. But my power's been lacking. I decided to experiment with this upgrade, and could not be happier. I've seen this set-up (52/36) referred to as mid-compact, whatever that means! All I can say is that it definitely gives you a lot more deep power, and still feels super-nimble on the rollers. Haven't been out on 9-12% pitches yet, but I do know that when I head to Marin and Sonoma I can really easily switch out the rings. I'm sold.

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