Test: Kona Paddy Wagon Single-Speed Bike

I, just yesterday, bought a Paddy Wagon. I had been ogling it for some time. I am also 6’1’’, and ride the 58cm. It truly does fit like a glove. Great, well written, review. Go Kona!

I too am a fan of the single speed even though I also ride a higher end Specialized Roubaix and a Scott Reflex MT. The single fixed gear is an excellent training bike in that it teaches and trains the rider to have a “perfect” stoke. This practice on the single speed can be transferred to the other non-fixed speed bikes to greatly improve your pedaling technique…... however a warning and a problem that most reviewers and cycle shops don’t speak about is that the single speed is very hard on the knees especially if the rider uses the pedals to brake and does not have or use hand brakes…..as many couriers outfit their bikes…..these need to be added to the bike and used or you will have serious knee problems….have fun!

I have a mechanical engineering buddy whose family owns a bike shop in West Allis, WI. He has been tricking these kind of bikes out for a couple years now and selling them to people in NYC and LA. He uses old frames and new, great components, rims, etc. – he sells them for around $500 completely tricked out – they are really, really cool. Feel free to shoot him an email for any info – as he knows all there is to know – morateck@gmail.com – good luck!

Watch the rim strips on the paddy wagon. First the front and then the back went out. I replaced with a higher grade than the manufacturer uses

Seeing all the Fixies @ the Tour of Kalifornia reminded me of all the Plaid and Nirvana/KC shirts I saw in 95’. Once it is popular it sucks..but at least they used old steel frames!! (no carbon here..)

how does one learn to ride a single speed track bike.
after years of being able to coast? how do you stop?

Deb,
It sure takes some time. Not sure if there is a technique to learn. But you just cannot forget you are “fixed” to the bike. If you try and coast — bam! — the bike bites back. Fixed is great once you get the hang. A freewheel bike feels broken to me now while riding in the city after being used to the control on a fixed.

I got my fixed gear bike from 2 Wheel Bikes. They have a great deal on their Fixie.

Maybe the next big trend will be walking! lol!

Meh, still don’t get it. If the derailleur drive were still some kind of unreliable, expensive, technology I’d understand. But it ain’t. Even ratchet-based “indexed” shifting systems are within the technical reach of anyone with a screwdriver, a vice grip, a set of allen wrenches and an internet connection, and won’t compete with the marketing budget for your Radiohead cover band. My throwdown commuter bike is almost 20 years old, serviced every other year whether it needs it or not. It’s NEVER broken down. In a hilly area, this is function sacrificed in the name of form. And a true solid-axle fixie in dense, fast-moving urban traffic? Fuhgedaboudit. I’ll hold on to my 6 speed…

how much do this speed cost in the store

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Hi! I live in NYC and am looking for a super light weight (less than 20 lbs) and quick single-speed bike for less than $1000. Ideally a reasonably comfortable/sturdy ride though I understand weight and ride comfort are generally mutually exclusive. (I need it to be lightweight as I commute to work and need to haul it up four flights of narrow stairs.) Any ideas? Thanks! Alex

you could check out the Scadmium Wabi he reviewed here – http://gearjunkie.com/fixed-gear-bike-wabi – 17 lbs

You forget that unless you time your stops, you will have your cranks out of position to start up easily. With the old coaster brakes, you had max control of braking with cranks horizontal so were already in position. With the fixie, you had better watch yourself when cornering too, or you’ll destroy a pedal or dump the bike and yourself. Originally these fixed S/Spds were retro-designed for handicapped individuals unable to lift their legs on the upswing. The old Sturmey-Archer hubs could be ordered with this feature.

Personally, anyone that rides a fixie without brakes, on the street, is a candidate for a proof of the Darwin Principle.