Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - To lock ring or not to lock ring?

Is a lock ring really necesary? My 2 track stars (self proclaimed) friends arnt using them and I was wondering if I should put one on my Langster that I ride the road with. thanks

yes, they really are necessary. the "rotafixa" method of securing a track cog without a lockring is meant for the track, meaning it's not going to experience the reverse-stress that riding on the road generally subjects a track cog to.

but the best reason in the whole entire world to use a lockring is that there's absolutely no reason not to, and it just might prevent your cog from spinning off (which in turn, of course, would either send you into the ground--bye, teeth!--or under the wheels of the car that's bearing down on you).

there are ways to secure a track cog onto a non-track hub--with a bottom bracket lockring and red loctite, or with jbweld--but if you have a track cog, use a lockring.

nope - leave it off.

Then when you skid and end up eating your own ass because your cog spins off, you can tell us all about what it is like to be fed through a tube.

for the street - use one for sure.
for the track - I have heard that a lot people go without a lockring. makes sense to me as there is no reason to apply sudden backward pressure in order to skid to a stop while racing.

Lockrings are for girls and losers.

Commando, it's the only way!

so are saddles and handlebars!

The laidies always like a guy that knows how to use a .....
Oh, wait you said LOCK ring.
Nevermind

Enjoy

Hey.....I just might be a girl or loser!

']nope - leave it off.

Then when you skid and end up eating your own ass because your cog spins off, you can tell us all about what it is like to be fed through a tube.

for the street - use one for sure.
for the track - I have heard that a lot people go without a lockring. makes sense to me as there is no reason to apply sudden backward pressure in order to skid to a stop while racing.

i guess you could, i just don't understand WHY you would, unless it's a weight thing, in which case you're probably riding $250 silks, are at least 3 times faster than i'll ever be, and i have no business telling you anything about track racing.

i ride just a frame, it's very minimal

keep it simple. no lock ring, no chain or pedals....just fred flintstone it.

i guess you could, i just don't understand WHY you would, unless it's a weight thing, in which case you're probably riding $250 silks, are at least 3 times faster than i'll ever be, and i have no business telling you anything about track racing.

From http://www.bcf.uk.com/features/2003/track/00_track_bikes.shtml


http://www.bcf.uk.com/features/2003/track/rear_sprocket.jpg

An example of a sprocket without a lock ring on it.

" Rear Sprockets: Because the rear sprocket is also used to help you stop (by the rider putting backward pressure on the pedals), some riders use what is known as a lock ring. I asked Bryan Taylor what the pros and cons were. He says "lock rings aren't compulsory (or if they are, no one checks), though according to my other half they used to be compulsory for sprogs (thats Bryan's description of all young riders!). There are two views on them, and even experienced riders are fairly divided over which is best.

With a lock ring, the sprocket won't come off if you have to kick back in a hurry, so in theory you will be afforded the best chance of stopping in a hurry. Without one (something my wife - an ex tracky - swears by) providing you have tightened the sprocket properly to start with by always giving it a hard 'kick' on the pedals and not just relying on a chain whip (pictured below) when you change a sprocket, if you need to stop quickly, the sprocket will provide enough resistance to help you stop without coming unscrewed. However, there could be an instance when you actually don't want to be 'locked' in because it could do you more damage by stopping very suddenly, either by damaging your knees or by being jolted off the bike by the sudden movement.

Recalling a slightly poor example, the son of a well known rider who has moved to foreign parts, crossed the finish line of a race, well chuffed with himself, and decided to look across to the crowd. In doing so he forgot he was supposed to keep pedaling and in trying to stop pedaling, he was suddenly thrown straight off the bike and onto the track. Luckily, being small, he bounced rather than broke...

In a race situation, the thing that should always be firmly in your mind, is if there is a crash in front of you, don't kick back hoping to stop, coz you wont! GO UP THE TRACK IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. The natural instinct is to want to get down because its safer on the ground, but that's where the rider who has just fallen will be going. At Calshot about 10 years ago when it was even smaller than it is now, there was a crash on one banking. One guy dived down the track to avoid it. The speed he picked up in doing so saw him go straight across the track and up the other banking, taking out most of the riders who avoided the 1st crash! I kid you not... "

Thanks, JoseR for the text, but as mentioned, that is a poor example.
The rider tried to "freewheel" and thus got tossed. The chance that he would not have been tossed if he was riding lockring-less is pretty small....

Poor example or not, a lot of experienced trackies don't use lockrings.

For further discussion see thread over at Fixed Gear Fever (http://http://www.fixedgearfever.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=872&highlight=lockring).

oh, btw, I use a lockring...

yeah, but it seems like the question here is whether or not to use on onthe road, and that text you put up there refers only to the track, as far as i can tell.

a lot of experienced cyclists and motorcyclists dont use helmets. not trying to go through the pros and cons again, just sayin.

right, right....i see what you're getting at.

if you use the rotafixa method there is no way you'll be able to get the lockring on there as tight as the cog. i use a lockring and the rotafixa method, but i think if your braking with a brake and not through skids it should never be a problem

i guess you could, i just don't understand WHY you would, unless it's a weight thing, in which case you're probably riding $250 silks, are at least 3 times faster than i'll ever be, and i have no business telling you anything about track racing.
i forgot to add a grain of salt...