anyone into fixed gear bikes?

WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
after a heated discussion I think we found a nice comprimise...

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/bik/1095328309.html

fix up that fixed gear. She's got her friends in her ear telling her that an old road bike isn't cool enough and was telling her about a guy who was selling a used blue frame that is covered in stickers, funny thing is I think it's the same bike as the one in the CL ad I found but it's complete.
 
ger87410

ger87410

How did I get here?
Location
Fort Worth
WAB said:
Weld her up a chopper. The dump is your friend
Click to expand...

Hel ya! :headbang:

pimpmybike.jpg
 
cookerq62

cookerq62

Life's Been Good
Location
Upper Bucks, PA
I converted my mountain bike to a SS for late fall early spring because of all the mud. I have never been so sore from a bike ride. I was still able to get most of the hills. It is almost impossible to get a good chainline when you convert to SS or fixie on a geared bike. You have to do lots of shimming to get it close to perfect. Using a chain tensioner sucks and I doubt it will work for fixed gear so the bike should have horizontal drop outs or an eccentric bottom bracket to get tension in the chain. Surly sells all the parts you would need to convert it. If you end up getting a rear wheel built they make flip flop hubs you can switch between freewheel and fixed or 2 different sprocket sizes by flipping the wheel around. Also if you have a rear wheel built they build them differently for SS so it will be stronger and or lighter.
 
Brenden

Brenden

Location
Altoona Pa
WaveDemon said:
fixed gear as in track bike.

thinking about doing a 10 speed road bike conversion for the wife for on road riding.
Click to expand...

ive got a trek Team discovery edition for sale that i dont ride...about 600 dollar range and it is MINT
i can ship...

its blue and has like 20 some gears

ive had it at around 60-70 mph and she's solid
 
WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
cookerq62 said:
I converted my mountain bike to a SS for late fall early spring because of all the mud. I have never been so sore from a bike ride. I was still able to get most of the hills. It is almost impossible to get a good chainline when you convert to SS or fixie on a geared bike. You have to do lots of shimming to get it close to perfect. Using a chain tensioner sucks and I doubt it will work for fixed gear so the bike should have horizontal drop outs or an eccentric bottom bracket to get tension in the chain. Surly sells all the parts you would need to convert it. If you end up getting a rear wheel built they make flip flop hubs you can switch between freewheel and fixed or 2 different sprocket sizes by flipping the wheel around. Also if you have a rear wheel built they build them differently for SS so it will be stronger and or lighter.
Click to expand...
you know exactly what I'm looking at. horizontal drop outs aren't easy to find in a frame after the 70's, then I need to find one that is sized properly. there are some frames that don't have a true horizontal drop out but may still work. I will not be using a chain tensioner. I do have access to a mill and lathe and can make any sized spacer I need (if it's not otherwise available)

In the end we may end up spending more on the frame than I was hoping to get it sized right since she wants a mens style bike and she's around 5'4.

I really like the idea of a flip flop hub with a shorter gear on the freewheel side she doesnt' respond to that suggestion at all.

I've also read about "true" track hubs falling apart with road use because they wern't designed for that type of abuse. so, I'll have to keep that in mind

I keep hearing about how converting is less safe and can be dangerous. I assume they're talking about shimming the rear hub and centering the rear wheel. I guess if done wrong there could be too much play back there. Maybe they're talking about something else? I should know tonight.


If I ever build one for myself it will be a big POS with slapped together parts and welded drop out. :icon16:
 
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WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
holy elitist ass hole....

my wife ended up with a cheap used track bike frame and all new components. she's happy. I figured I'd play along and get myself a $50 bike and switch out the rear wheel and have cheap fixed gear bike. her friend (who is pushing for me to get one) wont stop giving me grief over it. it's get the best stuff or you suck.

I don't get it. I don't even care that much about it. If it weren't for my wife I'd just walk away from these silly bikes.


are there people like that in jetskiing?
 
cookerq62

cookerq62

Life's Been Good
Location
Upper Bucks, PA
Every time I am get down to the city (philly) I see these at least 5-10 people on track bikes riding IN traffic. At red lights, if they don't just go through them, they pass all the cars on the shoulder and do a trackstand by the cross walk. When the light turns green they smoke all the cars and make the next few lights. I can't image there is a more efficient way to get around an urban area. Most of the bikes you see though are old road bikes that have been welded and chopped up so they can run a fixed gear. I've seen ones that have brakes that have been disconnected still hanging on the frame with no levers or cables. Ugly ass bikes but the people on them are having a blast. I live in a hilly area so I would never get one. If I was it would be steel for the ride and stiffness. With my aluminum single speed mountain bike you can really feel the frame flexing when you peddle. It flexes so much I can see the bottom chain sag when I'm really crankin on it. It will some times slip because there is so much flex that the chain line and slack get so out of whack. Also get clipless pedals and good shoes. It is like riding with footholds vs. lifters compared to toe Cages.
 
KR

KR

www.krlines.com
Location
San Diego, California
Fixed gears are the way to go! I already have a possy going on in Newport Beach. We raid the parking structures at the mall and skid all the way down with no hands!

Backwards circles at school are also fun...
 

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WaveDemon

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
WaveDemon said:
holy elitist ass hole....

my wife ended up with a cheap used track bike frame and all new components. she's happy. I figured I'd play along and get myself a $50 bike and switch out the rear wheel and have cheap fixed gear bike. her friend (who is pushing for me to get one) wont stop giving me grief over it. it's get the best stuff or you suck.

I don't get it. I don't even care that much about it. If it weren't for my wife I'd just walk away from these silly bikes.


are there people like that in jetskiing?
Click to expand...


I have since swapped my parts over to my wifes frame and bought her a smaller one.
 

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