Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Retire early and ride more!!!

Greetings Fixies,
I am writing an article for an art/pop culture magazine regarding fixed (not track) gear. This article will be about how fixies are made, e.g. what people go through to get parts and how riders make their fixies, not only into bikes, but works of art.

The cool thing about this new magazine is that it doesn’t pander to corporate America… hence me getting paid $20 for the story… WHICH I will donate to any person here who will send me the best story (I’ll be the judge) of what they went through to create their fixed gear and a pic of it. I will also send to the mag 5 other fixed gear photos (with credit of the owner) as samples...Im sorry but you'll only get braggin rights.

I will be writing the generals, but the winner of the life-altering amount of $20 will be the example of the article. So if anyone wants to make the $20 and ride off into early retirement… let me know. Ill contact the winner of the financial win fall when the editor-in-chief sends me the published sample and the money. Then I will send you the cashiers check via the brinks truck… or a personal check in the mail, whichever you prefer.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

so this is for conversions only? just to clarify.

Hey, if you built it... send it but it has to be a fixed gear.

regarding fixed (not track) gear.
So are track bikes not allowed? I'm confused.

exactly - confused.
Fixed (not track)
means what? A conversion? A bike that has track ends but not track geometry? Something someone found in the trash and used loctite and an applecart special for the rear wheel??

Sorry, conversions only as long as you built them personally.

Does an IRO Mark V count as conversion? Some people have told me that it was a road bike with no braze ons and high bb. Others have said that it is a track bike with relaxed angles. I went through a lot to put it toghether too - including stabbing 2people, running from a two headed pitbull, and a hundred dollar bill found in an abalone.

Yeah, 53-11alltheway said my keirin bike was a road bike with track ends, does it count? I battled four ninjas and outran pirates on the high seas to bring it back from Japan...

So...this sounds like it's going to be a GREAT article. An article on fixed gear bikes, but not track bikes.....

I have pondered exactly what my bike would be considered. It's a Rivendell Quickbeam, sold as a singlespeed (albeit with two chainrings) for all practical purposes, with front and rear brakes. I've since thrown on a fixed gear wheelset...is it now a "conversion"? I see it as purpose-built for one gear (at a time) and not at all like a (formerly)geared bike that's been converted to a single/fixed.

I'm building one (slowly) as we speak.

EDIT: A conversion, not a Quickbeam.

wait - all track bikes are fixed gear bikes, right.

Main Entry: con·ver·sion
Pronunciation: k&n-'v&r-zh&n, -sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin conversion-, conversio, from convertere
1 : the act of converting : the process of being converted -- compare GENE CONVERSION
2 : an experience associated with a definite and decisive adoption of religion
3 a : the operation of finding a converse in logic or mathematics b : reduction of a mathematical expression by clearing of fractions
4 : a successful try for point or free throw
5 : something converted from one use to another
- con·ver·sion·al /-'v&rzh-n&l; -'v&r-zh&-, -'v&r-shn&l, -sh&-n&l/ adjective


See items 1 & 5.

You're gonna be the new guy selling conversions on Ebay?

Okay, last one:

If I buy a brand new roadframe and build it up with the intention to have a fixed gear road bike items one and five don't apply.

If I buy a track frame that was built for and ridden on the track and build it up as a fixed gear street bike with (with riser bars maybe) items one and five apply.

So a track bike can be a conversion, and a fixed road bike might not be one.

So, now I will stop. ;)

hahahaha - all this is very funny

You're gonna be the new guy selling conversions on Ebay?+

Damn...instead of sending me the pics...just send me the bike and Ill take the pic myself. AND Ill be sure to get your bike right back to you!!! :D

P.S. not to get too far off the subject but does anyone know how to set up an online account?? Anyone?

Um, online account for what?

Um, online account for what?

j/k

if i promise that my conversion has never seen a track, am i then eligible for that 20 mill? i swear it was hard stripping it and installing the new wheel.. PROMISE for real..

(i thought this was gonna be about ned overend, but hes not a conversion, is he?)