Raleigh: Rush Hour

FLIP-FLOPPER: The tight, racy frame geometry will make this bike feel at home cutting through packs of riders on a track. But it's also equally suited to weaving through downtown gridlock--and front and rear hand brakes keep it sane on the streets. Moreover, the rear hub has a fixed 15-tooth cog (no coasting) on one side, but take the wheel out and flip it around, and you can use the 16-tooth freewheel cog to coast. Steel Steal: The all-steel frame and fork aren't the lightest, but stay in flat territory and you'll never notice. The no-frills ferrous frame keeps the price for the whole bike lower than that of a nice pair of road wheels.

Reader Reviews:

Average Reader Review I have been riding my Rush Hour as a fixie for fitness and for interval training for the road. The frame takes every bump like a champ. It is not light, but for what I use it for, fitness, that is ok. The 15 tooth cog on the fixed side may be a little too big for some and is certainly not a good fit if you ride on hills of any size, but that is easily remedied. You can get a 16 or 17 tooth cog for $10. You may also want to invest in a different saddle. Those minor complaints aside, I ride this bike at least a couple of days a week and have a blast with it. It is a bargain at $600.