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.Best Deals for Retrospec Fixie Saint Urban Fixed Gear Single Speed Urban Road Bike
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.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Retrospec Fixie Saint Urban Fixed Gear Single Speed Urban Road Bike
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.
