Commuting - Antithesis of simplicity.

Everyonce in a while I'm at a light and there's some guy next to me with cargo shorts, t-shirt, bandana, and a big black messenger bag on a fixie, no brakes, no lights, sneakers and toe clips.

And we're staring at each other cause here I am, shorts, bright orange jersey, bright orange messenger bag, bright green helmet with 2 blinkers on it, 27 watts of light on my handle bar, 19 LED niterider on the back, huge seatpack with battery, disc brakes, fenders, ultegra STI shifters, mtb shoes, spd pedals.

And we're both thinking, "huh... so that's what it's like to be on the other side."

That's not really "the other side' The other side is driving an H2. You guys have much more in common with each other than motorcyclists. It's just people tend to express themselves differently. I mean, it's the same ballpark, you both ride for work-related reasons...

I meant between bikers. There seems to be the fixed gear guys who plain have nothing more than a frame + 2 wheels. I think I'm just about the opposite, it seems excessive but I like having options...

there are those who like some gearing but would still look at you that way-too much expensive bikey stuff

Funny you mentioned...... I am either, depending on the day of the week... The only thing I'm missing when I'm on my fixie are tattoos. :D

Both ways are fun. Riding a fixie for the simplicity of a basic bike with nothing extraneous (I still like a front brake) and on the other hand riding with lights, computers, Polar, GPS, etc. for the high tech geek factor. It depends where you're riding and what you're doing.

Yeah I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible but I have a soft spot for the people with the lights, panniers, geeky practical, often self-invented stuff because those are often the guys out riding rain or shine and the ones who stop to help if you have a flat or have an accident. an H2 is truly the other side.

I commute on my fixie and have the rack, panniers, lights, etc. on it. What does that make me other than confused?

No one set up is right for everyone. I can see a fixie being good for bike messengers and for people riding and from school or work over short distances. I can also see it working well for people who ride regularly is extreme cold (below 0F). Sometimes, riding a fixie may not be a practicle as a geared bike with a freewheel, but it's worth it nonetheless because some people just enjoy riding a fixed gear.

On the other side, all those other "extras" we non-fixies use serve a purpose (if they don't on your bike, you should take them off).

In the end, it's all a matter of what fits the way you ride, and what makes your ride fun.

The only thing I'm missing when I'm on my fixie are tattoos. :D
:eek: You mean you can't have a tattoo unless you ride a fixie???

:eek: You mean you can't have a tattoo unless you ride a fixie???
Or is it that you can't ride a fixie without tattoos?

That is funny. I used to be that guy. Both times.

Or is it that you can't ride a fixie without tattoos?Bingo!

Both ways are fun. Riding a fixie for the simplicity of a basic bike with nothing extraneous (I still like a front brake) and on the other hand riding with lights, computers, Polar, GPS, etc. for the high tech geek factor. It depends where you're riding and what you're doing.

I agree, I have my rain bike loaded with fenders, rack, lights, bags, gears. Its kind of my work truck and I'm starting to build a single speed for warm sunny days and of course pub crawls. :) I like the option of both. :)

I agree with Atombob, my comuting bike is sort of a workhorse. Its not glamorous or sexy, but its dependable and serves my needs well. I think commuters should put on their bikes those accessories and dewdads that make riding easier, safer and more comfortable for them. That will vary tremendously from one rider to another and from one area to another, but the same idea undergirds them all -- make your bike work to your advantage so you can use it as a real alternative to a car. Take off the stuff you really don't need, and just enjoy the ride.

Everyonce in a while I'm at a light and there's some guy next to me with cargo shorts, t-shirt, bandana, and a big black messenger bag on a fixie, no brakes, no lights, sneakers and toe clips.

And we're staring at each other cause here I am, shorts, bright orange jersey, bright orange messenger bag, bright green helmet with 2 blinkers on it, 27 watts of light on my handle bar, 19 LED niterider on the back, huge seatpack with battery, disc brakes, fenders, ultegra STI shifters, mtb shoes, spd pedals.

And we're both thinking, "huh... so that's what it's like to be on the other side."


Why would you have all that lighting set-up when it's already daylight saving time, and doesn't get dark until 8pm or later ?

Corsaire :rolleyes:

Why would you have all that lighting set-up when it's already daylight saving time, and doesn't get dark until 8pm or later ?

Corsaire :rolleyes:

I do it in case I get stuck somewhere and must ride in the dark to get where I'm going. You never know, and I carry enough stuff to cover most all contingencies.

I think the fenders, rack, panniers, and locks/tools I lug around, as well as the 21 speeds, make my bike simpler to use. It would be more complex to have to decide when I could/couldn't ride, where I could/couldn't ride, and what I could or couldn't take with me.

I use my Voyageur for commuting, pleasure rides, and major grocery shopping rain or shine, and that makes by life very simple. :)

Why would you have all that lighting set-up when it's already daylight saving time, and doesn't get dark until 8pm or later ?

Corsaire :rolleyes:

If I go out to have dinner, go for a long ride, leave work pass 7, go to someone else's place to hang out, go to the golf driving range, etc. I can think of a ton of reasons why someone would be riding outside pass 8pm.

If I go out to have dinner, go for a long ride, leave work pass 7, go to someone else's place to hang out, go to the golf driving range, etc. I can think of a ton of reasons why someone would be riding outside pass 8pm.

Oh! I was just thinking in terms of purely and solely commuting to and from work. But if you don't just commute, then that explains it.

Corsaire :)

Everything I need & wear on my many geared bike I need on my fixed. I don't really see the difference. Getting rid of derailers, gears, rear brake isn't really that huge a difference, especially to the casual observer.
Al

I ride home at midnight - 3 miles one way, so I have no choice but to have 2 lights on the bike.

im about to build a single speed but its not gonna be bare by any means . ill probably hook it up with fenders and a rack .i think fixie would be cool to ride but i dont really want to own one

Oh! I was just thinking in terms of purely and solely commuting to and from work. But if you don't just commute, then that explains it.

Corsaire :)

Come on man, it's not just about commuting, it's a lifestyle. ;)

fixies are so low in maintenance they work perfectly for commuting and messengering, but yes, it's funny how we get all the sub-groups but that's what makes biking fun. I have been on both sides and enjoy them both.

Come on man, it's not just about commuting, it's a lifestyle. ;)
And all this time I thougth cycling was a lifestyle. I kinda look at cycling like religion, you got a whole lot of denominations. I wear cargo shorts, t-shirt, got tats, and ride SS mtb. I have thought about trying fixie for something different. But then again where I live cycling is not so popular. I sometimes think that those of us that have many bikes of varied styles should be either termed as misfits, bike geeks, or Connoisseurs. No prejiduce here on someone riding a bike different than mine, just to the ones that give cycling a bad rep.

fixies are so low in maintenance they work perfectly for commuting and messengering.
Is there really that big a difference? Maybe in terms of abuse they can take as in banging up derailers when locked up, etc. But I don't find there to be much in they way of maintenance for a derailer, some fine adjustment once in a while, just like watching tire pressure and an overhaul every year or two.

Fixies can really wear out BB and rear hub bearings as well as they get more abuse than on a freewheel bike.

Al

Why would you have all that lighting set-up when it's already daylight saving time, and doesn't get dark until 8pm or later ?

Corsaire :rolleyes:

Some people leave home at 4:30 to get to work.

Is there really that big a difference? Maybe in terms of abuse they can take as in banging up derailers when locked up, etc. But I don't find there to be much in they way of maintenance for a derailer, some fine adjustment once in a while, just like watching tire pressure and an overhaul every year or two.

Fixies can really wear out BB and rear hub bearings as well as they get more abuse than on a freewheel bike.

Al

well yeah, derailleurs are pretty easy but then fixies don't have them, or shifters or cassettes and sometime no brakes either so you don't have to adjust anything, change out cables, remove gunk from the sprockets/derailleur, replace levers if they get broken or old etc. Chains last forever, sprockets too, no shifting means much less wear on parts so no replacement costs. Sure hubs, headset and BB but they can go for quite a while without maintenance.

In poor weather especially, fixies go on and on for much longer whereas gears can get gunked up easily and stop working properly, get poor shifting etc.

Why would you have all that lighting set-up when it's already daylight saving time, and doesn't get dark until 8pm or later ?

Also, we could get a thunderstorm, which makes it dark. In summer, I generally leave my big, bulky HID at home. I use a 10 W halogen with an NiMH battery that hangs off my tube.

In poor weather especially, fixies go on and on for much longer whereas gears can get gunked up easily and stop working properly, get poor shifting etc.
I think this is the main factor. It rarely rains and never snows here, so derailers, brakes, cables, etc. all work better for longer with less maintenance. I can see how a deralier and brakes in snowy nasty weather could be a nightmare.

Al

Is there really that big a difference? Maybe in terms of abuse they can take as in banging up derailers when locked up, etc. But I don't find there to be much in they way of maintenance for a derailer, some fine adjustment once in a while, just like watching tire pressure and an overhaul every year or two.

Fixies can really wear out BB and rear hub bearings as well as they get more abuse than on a freewheel bike.

Al

Having commuted through the winter on a geared bike, I can definitely tell you that you are over-simplifying. Sand and salt wreak havoc on derailleurs and brake pads. I was going through almost a full set of brake pads per month through the winter. And fine adjustment doesn't begin to describe what you have to do to the drive train. Every single time you ride in winter, (above 20 degrees anyway) your entire drive train will get coated in a nice slush/sand/salt cocktail. Throroughly cleaning it every day would take prohibitively long. Most people end up applying liberal amounts of lube and hoping for the best. Then overhaul it when the snow melts. If I have to commute through winter again, I may use a fixed/ss.

Also, we could get a thunderstorm, which makes it dark. In summer, I generally leave my big, bulky HID at home. I use a 10 W halogen with an NiMH battery that hangs off my tube.

I'm a minimalist, likes to travel light but w/o sacrificing the basics. I also follow th weather forecast closely day by day to see how should I dress or what equipment to take with me. Light equipment never come with me in the summer.

Corsaire