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07-29-02, 12:19 AM
Tonight I was out on my fixie. We had gone for this long commute tonight, in a huge storm, where there was so much water the manhole covers were boiling with the water under the street. It was a cool ride.
But the weird thing has been my feelings for the fixie. It is an old Schwinn steel "World." I've given it new life from taking it off the dump pile, and putting new wheels, new BB and the Surly flip/flop hub. It is almost like the bike is grateful for being given a new lease on life. It isn't a pretty bike, but I have a strong love for this bike. I feel almost as if there is an understanding between the bike and myself. I can't explain it.
I was told that there would be a difference in riding fixed gear bikes, that I'd realize more about bikes, the road, the ride, my stroke, control... etc... They didn't tell me I'd feel the bike was talking to me.
There are things about this bike that I have noticed that aren't there on my commuter, or my road bike, or even my MTB. There's the turn of the drops, the way the paint is thin in places, and the name wearing off. Okay, then there is the way it preforms on the streets, the way it seems to want to run hard and take me with it. And when I rein it back in it responds to my desires without a problem. It has yet to complain or whine, or clunk, or develop some ailment that needs attention, loose spokes, a noticeable tick as the chain runs its course. It sits in the corner of my bedroom, or office, waiting for the next ride.
I think of this bike when I'm on my other bikes. Like out on the road bike I realize how easy the ride has been, I ask myself why I didn't choose the fixie. On the commuter I often think that what ever it is I have in the panniers would fit in the messenger bag, so why aren't I on the fixie. And the other day when I was at the LBS and one of the mech dudes was bragging on his single speed(free wheel, not a fixed gear) I had to brag on my fixie.
Okay, this is a love affair with a bike. I know there are those of you out there who can relate, even if your affair isn't with a fixed gear. What is your affair like? Is it thinking of riding all the time? Is it thinking about buying something special for your bike, a new chain, BB, wheel set, bar tape, blinkie?
My friends are tired of hearing about this bike.
But the weird thing has been my feelings for the fixie. It is an old Schwinn steel "World." I've given it new life from taking it off the dump pile, and putting new wheels, new BB and the Surly flip/flop hub. It is almost like the bike is grateful for being given a new lease on life. It isn't a pretty bike, but I have a strong love for this bike. I feel almost as if there is an understanding between the bike and myself. I can't explain it.
I was told that there would be a difference in riding fixed gear bikes, that I'd realize more about bikes, the road, the ride, my stroke, control... etc... They didn't tell me I'd feel the bike was talking to me.
There are things about this bike that I have noticed that aren't there on my commuter, or my road bike, or even my MTB. There's the turn of the drops, the way the paint is thin in places, and the name wearing off. Okay, then there is the way it preforms on the streets, the way it seems to want to run hard and take me with it. And when I rein it back in it responds to my desires without a problem. It has yet to complain or whine, or clunk, or develop some ailment that needs attention, loose spokes, a noticeable tick as the chain runs its course. It sits in the corner of my bedroom, or office, waiting for the next ride.
I think of this bike when I'm on my other bikes. Like out on the road bike I realize how easy the ride has been, I ask myself why I didn't choose the fixie. On the commuter I often think that what ever it is I have in the panniers would fit in the messenger bag, so why aren't I on the fixie. And the other day when I was at the LBS and one of the mech dudes was bragging on his single speed(free wheel, not a fixed gear) I had to brag on my fixie.
Okay, this is a love affair with a bike. I know there are those of you out there who can relate, even if your affair isn't with a fixed gear. What is your affair like? Is it thinking of riding all the time? Is it thinking about buying something special for your bike, a new chain, BB, wheel set, bar tape, blinkie?
My friends are tired of hearing about this bike.