10 Ways To Soup Up Your Fixed Gear Bike

Last week we hit you with the 10 Best Fixed Gear Bikes Under $500. Although we promised you savings, we said you might be sacrificing some quality parts. The important thing is you at least have a solid frame and decent components to work with. Now comes the fun part — pimping it out!

There's a variety of parts that go into a bike, and a few cosmetic changes you can make to personalize it even more, but the sheer customization options available for fixies is part of the reason why so many people swear by them. Find out how to take your fixie from "chill" to "trill." Here are 10 Ways To Soup Up Your Fixie.

Related: The 10 Best Bike Helmets for Urban Commuters

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Your chain is one of the most important components of your bike. It is literally the only thing between you, your bike, and control. If it breaks, or the tension is off, you very well may be freewheeling into a disaster. That's why we would cop one of SRAM's durable PC-1 chains. They're affordable, built to last, have double corrosion resistance, and a snap-lock connector that makes it easier to clean.

SRAM PC-1 Single Speed Chain
Buy It Now at Performance Bikes, $15

Chances are, the stock pedals on your bike are crap. These Shimano pedals are dope because they give you the option of riding clipless or with cycling shoes. Yes, they're pricey, but they're essentially two pedals in one. If you don't want to make the splurge, these colorful platform pedals will add a nice pop of color to your ride as well, and cost much less.

Shimano Platform Pedal
Buy It Now at UBC Bikes, $85

Colored Pedals
Buy It Now at Road Bike Outlet, $25

Riser bars and drop bars are pretty standard on single speed and track bikes, so switch it up with a pair of bullhorns. These Nitto bars are heat treated and perfect for a track-inspired feel in the big city. Gussy 'em up with some sweet bar tape in a bright color or on-trend camouflage.

Nitto Bullhorn Heat Treated Bars
Buy It Now at Tree Fort Bikes, $70

Singleworks Cork Tape
Buy It Now at Speedgoat, $9

Your crankset needs to be super strong and durable, and you should usually get a chainring from the same brand to ensure maximum compatibility, and make sure you have a great bottom bracket too. On eBay you can often get decent cranks like the SRAM Omnium with the bottom bracket included, but as far as good cranksets go, you can't go wrong with Campognolo. Built for the track, these luxury cranks will have you turning the city to your own personal velodrome. Too rich for your blood? The Soma Hellyer cranks will get the job done at almost half the price.

Campognolo Record Pista Crankset
Buy It Now at Total Cycling, $275

Soma Hellyer Crankset
Buy It Now at Cambria Bike, $150

You're gonna spend a lot of time in this seat, so better make it a good one. Brooks England has made its durable leather saddles for years, and the B17 Narrow is perfect for fixed gears, because it's built for speed and will develop a nice patina. If racing's more your forte, you can't go wrong with Selle Italia, whose saddles are vented and feature padding for comfort. This particular model, the SLR Gel Flow, is infused with a silicon gel.

Brooks B17 Narrow
Buy It Now at Brooks England, $114

Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow
Buy It Now at Bikeman, $172

You're definitely gonna need to upgrade your hub, and when it comes to the best ones, Phil Wood is definitely up there. Quality has its cost, but if you've got the cash, by all means make that investment. For a decent alternative that'll save you some cash, Surly hubs will offer you above average performance at under a hundred bucks.

Phil Wood High Flange Flip-Flop Track Hub,
Buy It Now at Joyride Cycles, $215

Surly 1-Speed Rear Hub
Buy It Now at JensonUSA, $56

Your bike is only gonna go as far as your wheels take you, so cop a better set of rims. Velocity's Deep V rims are double walled and super thick for durability, and come in an array of colors and patterns for customization. Alternately, the Vuelta Zerolite Track Pro wheels are solid, have a good repuation, and often machined for compatibility with brakes.

Velocity Deep V Wheelset
Buy It Now at Pricepoint, $110

Vuelta Zerolite Track Pro Wheelset
But It Now at Outside Outfitters, $144

When you're commuting to work by bike, the last thing you want are grease stains on your nice pants. Avoid that with the SKS Chainboard. Easily adaptable to just about any bike, it'll keep your legs stain-free. Unlike other chainguards, it's made of plastic and has hollow elements, keeping it relatively lightweight while still looking attractive when installed.

SKS Chainboard
Buy It Now from Bike Somewhere, $25

Biking in the rain can suck, especially when your wheels throw up mud and other grit while you're pedaling. Avoid that mess with fenders. Planet Bike makes these rad Speedeez road fenders which come on and off without the use of any tools, and are pretty sturdy when they're installed correctly.

Planet Bike Speedeez Road Fenders
Buy It Now at Cambria Bike, $40

If you're just starting out on a fixie, you're gonna need a front brake. And even once you get the whole skid-stop thing down, it doesn't hurt to have one in case of an emergency. So why not get a damn good one? Shimano makes some great and affordable calipers and levers. The BR-5600 has proven to have some pretty durable pads and is easily adjustable depending on your riding style. Since you don't need shifters, you can skimp on a lever, like Shimano's compatible BL-R550 levers.

Shimano BR-5600 Brake Caliper
Buy It Now at Tree Fort Bikes, $55

Shimano BL-R550 Brake Lever
Buy It Now at Cambria Bikes, $30