2014 Fuji Single Speed/Fixed Gear

2014 Fuji bikes are beginning to be stocked by dealers in many places. I'm looking for a steel (non-hi-ten) single speed bike. Fuji has three models of single speed bikes: Feather (MSRP: $554), Declaration (MSRP: $489), and Track Classic (MSRP: $489). Please do not assume Feather is the best just because its MSRP is the highest.

So what's the benefits of each model? The Feather and Track Classic are made of 4130 cromoly steel making them lighter than the Declaration's frame which uses high tensil (hi-ten) steel good enough for kid bikes. Almost bomb proof if I'm not mistaken. Feather being expensive has the best looking pedals by far (alloy instead of plastic). The Feather and Declaration both come with flip flop hubs for versatility if you're into flipping wheels. Track Classic comes only with a fixed cog but I'm a full time fixed rider and the lack of free wheel and cog makes it lighter for me. Maybe the objective of Declaration is fixed gear free style (FGFS) because it comes with thicker tires (28mm) and made of the very strong hi-ten steel. Feather is by far the classiest in terms of stems. It comes with a quill stem instead of the more common stem + steerer.

	Feather	Declaration	Track Classic
Sizes (cm)	49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61	49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61	43, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
Colors	Black, Orange, Red	Black, Purple	Black, White
Main Frame	Custom Elios 2 (outer-butted seat tube)	Elios 1	Elios 2, custom-butted Cr-Mo
Rear Triangle	Elios 2	Elios 1	Elios 2, custom-butted Cr-Mo
Fork	Elios 2, crowned	Elios 1	Elios 2, custom-butted Cr-Mo
Crankset	Pavement, 44T	Pavement, 46T	Fuji alloy track, 46T
BB	Sealed bearing	Sealed bearing	FSA, sealed cartridge bearing
Pedals	Alloy w/ steel cages	Nylon platform w/ plastic cages	Aero Road platform w/ clips and straps
Cassette	16T fixed cog 16T freewheel	16T fixed cog 16T freewheel	16T fixed cog
Chain	F-410	F-410	KMC Z-510
Wheelset	Vera Corsa DPM27 rims 32h, alloy hubs, stainless spokes	Vera Corsa DPM27 rims 32h, alloy hubs, black spokes	Formula alloy hubs w/ 32H double-wall high-profile alloy rims
Tires	Vera Helios, 700 x 25c, 30tpi	Vera CityWide, 700 x 28c, 30 tpi	Vera Helios, 60 tpi, 700c x 25mm, wire bead, (XXS Vera Invictus 650c x 23mm)
Brakes	Tektro, road caliper, alloy (Silver)	Tektro, road caliper, alloy (Black)	Alloy dual pivot (Black)
Brake Levers	Alloy, 2-finger	Alloy, 2-finger	Alloy 2-finger
Headset	1" threaded, caged bearings	FSA, 1 1/8", caged bearings	FSA 1 1/8" threadless
Handlebar	Drop Bar, Pavement, alloy, 25.4mm	Straight Bar Oval Concepts, 6061 alloy, riser, 25.4mm, 6° sweep, 10mm rise	Drop Bar Fuji track, alloy 26.0mm
Stem	Pavement, quill, -18° rise	Oval Concepts, melt-forged alloy, 25.4mm, +/- 20°	Fuji 3D forged alloy w/ 7 degree rise
Tape/Grip	Pavement, keirin style	Oval Concepts 200, single density	Fuji cork wrap
Saddle	Pavement w/ steel rails	Oval Concepts P300 w/ steel rails	Oval R300
Seatpost	Pavement, alloy	Oval Concepts, alloy, 27.2mm, double-bolt micro-adjust	Fuji alloy, 27.2mm
Weight	22.572lbs / 10.26kgs	23.98lbs / 10.9kg	23.5 lbs / 10.68 kg

First thing to note is the frame material, i.e. Elios 1 and Elios 2. These are two types of custom steel. Elios 1 is a "straight-gauge steel tubing, made with high-grade, high-tensile steel. This frame material offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio for bikes that are built to last." Elios 2 is a "certified CrMo (chromium molybdenum) blend that is cold-drawn and custom-butted. Two wall thicknesses provide strength in high-stress areas and allow for decreased weight in other parts of the frame."

A customer at the bike shop I work at brought in his Fuji Track Classic. The red decal on the top tube is really noticeable. The bottom tube actually comes with eyelets for a water bottle cage. Although the rear hub comes with a single cog, the other side of the hub is threaded. This implies one can attach a free wheel and Fuji just didn't bother with "flip-flop" hub to keep the cost down.