While at Interbike this year I had the pleasure of riding a 2010 Wazee, offered by Spot Brands from Golden, Colorado. I was interested in riding this bike not because it is a fixed gear bike, but because it is a belt drive, fixed gear bike. Spot utilized the Gates Carbon Drive System with this fixed gear bike and came up with what might be the quietest bike on the market.
I was amazed at how quiet the ride of this bike was and the positive feel of the belt drive system. There was no slop in the chain when backpedaling and after being ridden by countless people at Interbike, the belt was clean. The frame uses track geometry, which made the bike handle very quick and nimble.
Though probably not a concern of most urban riders and couriers, one minor drawback is the lack of a rear brake mount. One can ague that your legs act as the rear brake, but others may want that rear brake for emergency situations. If you decide that you must have a rear brake mount, Spot does offer a custom frame program for an additional cost.
New for 2011, Spot is offering the Wazee with their vertical slider-style dropout (aka Kobe Slider Dropouts). The beauty with this style of dropout is you can not only remove and replace the rear wheel without readjusting the belt tension, but you can actually change out the dropout to allow you to add a derailleur. This is illustrated below in the photos of the Spot Mod/Mod SS cyclocross frame. Other features of the Wazee frame include True Temper OX Platinum tubing, track/urban geometry (steep angles and quick steering) and even one water bottle mount.
The Wazee is made in Golden, Colorado is available directly from Spot Brand or your local Spot Brand dealer. The frame retails for $1,349 and a complete bike is $2,249. This is a bike that is Spot on quiet.