Fixie for winter?

don't buy a fixie if you're not comfortable using a fixed gear in busy traffic - you'll have too many issues.  you may be better off with a singlespeed where you can freewheel - and fit it with a flip-flop hub so you can used it fixed as needs be.

there are loads of good fixed/SS bikes out there - Spesh Langster, Planet-X, Charge etc.   or get an old frame and build it yourself as it's easy enough - that's what I did with an old frame of mine.  resprayed it and then built up with a mix of 2nd hand and new parts.

they're good fun for pootling around on in winter and easier to maintain

You can pick up a Fuji track now for about £350 new from Evans - I notice they now have front mudguard eyes - not sure about rear -but I'd make sure there is sufficient clearance before buying.   Also the hubs are listed as track hubs - not sure if that implies they aren't well sealed against the kind of abuse a commute will throw at them.    There are loads of other options though - for me mudguards would be an essential and I'd be looking for a relatively low gear - maybe 65" or thereabouts.   

Spesh now only make the track Langster.  The more sturdy one has been discontinued.  The geometry on the track one is somewhat more aggressive, it only comes fixed but it is drilled for brakes.  Not supplied with any.  I think the cogs are quite aggressive too (ie number of teeth more suited to track than pootling around town).

Having just done a bit of research myself, if I were in London and I had sufficient funds I'd go and have a look at Condor but they're not particularly cheap.

Charge do seem to be the choice of many people on fixies around town.

not the newest of articles, but may be worth a read through.

http://www.burls.co.uk/media/C+fixe.pdf

Read this when i was picking out a frame for my new bike, which should with a little luck be being delivered today. First road bike, first bike i'm building, first Ti bike and first custome frame, the anticipation of the phone going to say there is a parcel for me in reception is killing me.

I've not used them, but happened to be browsing http://www.fixedgearfrenzy.com/ yesterday- some cheap as chips options there

I'm with pops - get full guards on it.  You can also go to town with reflective tape all over the guards - and the frame if you want to make it less attractive to steal. 

WOW!!  http://www.fixedgearfrenzy.com/no-logo-black-red-59cm-single-speed-bike-flip-flop-hubs

and only £199

very tempted!!

I think it would have cost £25-£30.

Thanks for all the advice, I now know the difference between fixed and single speed and that flip flops are not just for my feet.

I'm leaning towards this one: 

http://www.fixedgearfrenzy.com/viking-racemaster-53cm-retro-single-speed-fixed-gear-bike-2011?sort=ps.price&order=ASC&page=4

But it looks like it only goes down to 53cm. I'm a mere 5'1 and according to google should be riding a 50cm bike. Boo.

It appears to be sold with a pink flange....it's on the spec list, well the flange is anyway. That's orsum value. Flip flop SS as well! Buy, buy, buy!

May I suggest this as an alternative to no gears at all, which in my opinion is a little silly. All the do da's are internal so no maintance. Its Sturmey so it will out live the bike, you and your kith and kin.

SEF - The beauty of fixed is the simplicity and low weight though - as soon as you stick a 3 speed hub gear in you add weight and something to go wrong - not just the hub but you'll need some kind of shifter too.   I used to ride round the Peak District on my fixed and I know Cougie has been on long rides in the Welsh Hills on one - choose the right gear and you would be surprised how easy it is to get by without gears.   

I used to love my Sturmey 3 speed, one for up, one for down and one for flat. But single speed is quite a nice change. I find fixed a bit too scary as I am far from a skilled cyclist.

What ratios do people use? I am running a 42/17 on cyclocross knobblies. Found a 16 just that bit too much to push and keep the cadence up. It's fine for anything up to about Boxhill gradient (6%) but can't quite manage a 10%. 

Note to aspiring fixie riders, Cougie is well hard on the fixie.