Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My four newest fixies (seven total, so far)

Schwinn Le Tour 42/16 (http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10368)

Free Spirit 52/18 (http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10370)

Miayata OneTen 52/19 (http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10371)

Lotus Elan 52/20 (http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10373)

This is the most recent and Rev. Chuck built the rear wheel: Alex Tubular 1 laced to an Iro hub.

i dont get it.... i think you should sell them all and get one nice one

How do you chose which one to ride?

i dont get it.... i think you should sell them all and get one nice one

I'm with this guy, applecart those badboys (except for maybe the lotus) and get something even nicer.

I like the Lotus. The others have too many things on them for me....

Six of the seven are geared differently. I grab to best one for the particular route.
All seven have been riden this year. They all seem to be happy, and will look forward
to meeting the next one. :D

(That makes twelve bikes total...it's easier since I'm single.)

The ones with the "stuff" are for commuting on.

As for having different gearings, the Lotus and the Schwinn are nearly identicle. However, I also choose my bike based on what kind of riding I'm doing too, 45x14 Walker for the track, 49x18 KHS Aero for commute or riding around the city like a madman (neither have any stuff on them, but that's just me).
:)

(I like the Lotus a lot)

I guess it's as much fun building them as it is riding them.
I'm aware that some of the gearing is similar, but the bikes all feel different.

I still have an extra Zipp tri-spoke track wheel that needs a frame.
Maybe an Iro frame would look good with it. :)

Six of the seven are geared differently. I grab to best one for the particular route.
Hmmm.......wouldn't it be more practical to have one bike with say........multi-gears??? :p

(That makes twelve bikes total...it's easier since I'm single.)

sometimes being single isnt a good thing.... case in point.. i think what judah and I are saying is.. if you bought one really nice ride instead of another 44 dollar in parts fixie..these would all be gathering dust.. maybe not.. but i have a feeling that one of these days youre going to build a bike that gets all the atttention.. maybe an iro with a trispoke wheel.. who knows.. but 12 bikes? cmon dude.. get it together here.. youre slippin

p.s. the use of "applecart" as a verb is hilarious

But being single is a lot less complicated. My dog would get jealous if I got a life. :D

sometimes being single isnt a good thing.... case in point.. i think what judah and I are saying is.. if you bought one really nice ride instead of another 44 dollar in parts fixie..these would all be gathering dust.. maybe not.. but i have a feeling that one of these days youre going to build a bike that gets all the atttention.. maybe an iro with a trispoke wheel.. who knows.. but 12 bikes? cmon dude.. get it together here.. youre slippin


With the exception of my new Specialized Epic XC mountain bike, it's my geared bikes that are gathering dust. I have a big house and there's room for at least another dozen fixies. :eek: :rolleyes: :D

well have your fun now.. one day youre gonna take a look at all the bikes and think "man.. what was i thinking..."

I'm 48 years old and I'm entering my second childhood.
I got tired of being a responsible adult all the time. ;)

It's really hard to find fault with Mr. Shadow's ownership of twelve bikes. Clearly each one makes him happy in some special way, and that's all that matters.

I still have an extra Zipp tri-spoke track wheel that needs a frame.
Maybe an Iro frame would look good with it. :)

I have a frame that needs a Zipp tri-spoke track whell :D

what is this an intervention?

we should open a therapy forum

what is this an intervention?

we should open a therapy forum

Nah, I just need to pose in my undies on all seven fixies one day and get on your web site.
:rolleyes:

what is this an intervention?

we should open a therapy forum

wouldn't work, we're all a bunch of enablers :rolleyes:

Rehab is for quiters!!!!!!

Rehab is for quiters!!!!!!

Or people who blow their knees out riding brakeless...

I really like the "look" of the Schwinn LeTour. Grant Peterson recently made some comments in the "Rivendell Reader" about why some bikes just look "right". And, the LeTour, with its long wheelbase, long chainstays, and the top of the seat about level with the top of the stem, has the "balanced" look of the classic road bikes.

And, for some reason, to my eyes, a 42 x 16 looks "right", much like the classic single speed track bikes of 1900 or so. A 52 x 20 provides about the same 71 gear inches, but seems "out of balance" when looking at the bike in profile.

What sort of hub and cog are you using on the LeTour? The best LeTour's (the Super LeTours) had nice frames and so would make sturdy, reasonably light single-speed bikes at a reasonable price. Some of the "thrift" shops in my neighborhood have had "like new" LeTours for under $50 with nice wheels with alloy rims. I suppose a good rear hub might cost more than the LeTour.

I'm 48 years old and I'm entering my second childhood.
I got tired of being a responsible adult all the time. ;)

I'm fifty, complicated life, and too many bikes. Therefore, I'm scaling back in all aspects of my life, including my bikes, to lead a simpler life.... :)

Hey, Shadow - I'll be happy to take one of those bikes off your hands...

Is Chuck the only guy in the area you've had build wheels for you?

Hmmm.......wouldn't it be more practical to have one bike with say........multi-gears??? :p
Wow, what'll they think of next?

I really like the "look" of the Schwinn LeTour. Grant Peterson recently made some comments in the "Rivendell Reader" about why some bikes just look "right". And, the LeTour, with its long wheelbase, long chainstays, and the top of the seat about level with the top of the stem, has the "balanced" look of the classic road bikes.

And, for some reason, to my eyes, a 42 x 16 looks "right", much like the classic single speed track bikes of 1900 or so. A 52 x 20 provides about the same 71 gear inches, but seems "out of balance" when looking at the bike in profile.

What sort of hub and cog are you using on the LeTour? The best LeTour's (the Super LeTours) had nice frames and so would make sturdy, reasonably light single-speed bikes at a reasonable price. Some of the "thrift" shops in my neighborhood have had "like new" LeTours for under $50 with nice wheels with alloy rims. I suppose a good rear hub might cost more than the LeTour.

The Le Tour has a Campy track hub that's smooth as butta.

Hey, Shadow - I'll be happy to take one of those bikes off your hands...

Is Chuck the only guy in the area you've had build wheels for you?


No, Frank Jones built two Dura Ace hubbed wheels, and a friend built the Campy wheel.
Several others were bought on eBay, as were most of the front wheels.

Nah, I just need to pose in my undies on all seven fixies one day and get on your web site.
:rolleyes:

ZING.

Its easy to get sucked into building fixies all the time. I had a bunch of them for a while but finally decided I was going overboard. Scaled my bikes back to "a bike for different occasions." 1 track bike, 1 fixed gear cyclocross, 1 road bike commuter, 1 BMX destroyer, 1 bar bike.

The thing about building fixed gear bikes is you end up with a bunch of spare parts laying around, and eventually you look at all the parts and go, "Hey, I could build another one with these parts".

I have lots of vintage geared parts left over...that's for sure.

The thing is I learn a little more with each build and apply that to the next build.

I do have one ultimate goal in mind. That will be a sub-eight pound, street worthy fixed-gear.
It has been easier to spend a few hundred at a time, and that project will run closer to three grand.
I'm waiting for my health to improve first. I have no plans on selling any of them, but will loan them
out to anyone local.

Sub eight pound streetworthy is probably not a reality. Good luck though, I'd liek to see it happen...

Hey, Shadow - I'll be happy to take one of those bikes off your hands...

Is Chuck the only guy in the area you've had build wheels for you?

I'd be more than happy to loan you one while you're building yours is the sizing works.

Do you have any 60-62s?
LOL... I really just need a wheelset. Thanks anyway, Shadow...
Have fun with your herd... We should ride - check your PMs

You know if you had seven cats everyone would think you are strange.
I have 3 bikes plus a frame that begs to be built up, my wife has 3 bikes and we both agree that we just don't have room for more.
To get my build up a new fixie fix I help my friends build their first fixies. There is nothing like spreading the love. Besides like everyone else here I have more extra parts than I know what to do with.