Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Are we worrying too much about parts?

More riding less spec’ing…

As a free thinking group of folks we seem to have avoided many of the pitfalls of mainstream marketing but spend a lot of time discussing parts. Cost of, quality of, etc. This wouldn’t be bad, but I don’t get the impression that any of us are far from high levels of Ramen consumption and yet we spend small fortunes on parts that are perhaps a few percent better than cheaper parts.

That isn’t to say they are all bad, but for every IRO there is a Suzue.

Like the man said, its better than Meth, but we seem to be spending a lot of time hot-rodding our bikes. It’s a way to participate when you can’t ride but I can’t help but feel it increases the same kind of consumption we try to avoid.

Fer example, Phil hubs and Chris King headsets are great and you are paying for greatness. But are they worth it?
Track front wheels, Track specific cranks and other overly specific stuff is great for aesthetics but rarely necessary.
The Surly Steamroller has a great geometry but a Taiwanese bike of 4130 steel, on a decent size production run should not be $430.00.

At our recent Critical mass there were loads of college kids with cobbled together beater bikes having just as much fun. I know I am faster, but I also know that little of that is the bike. I can build a great conversion bike for very little, and it will look ****ing cool.

So, why do I pursue fancy parts, scour CL, rack up a tab with the neighborhood LBS?

Anyone want to join in?

For the sake of full disclosure this author has a golem-like love of his 1977 Cuevas-built, all Italian, Paris Sport track bike, so he understands and needs support.

Precious…

Wow, I didn't read any of that.

computers + bikes = broke and endless happy = give in you know you wanna

I've thought about this plenty before. Excellent explication, though.

I'm currently sore from the amount of riding I've been doing, so I'd like to pretend like I'm already doing all of the riding that I can. I have long since dropped the weight weenie demeanor in favor of the buy-it-once argument. That said, I still have trouble rationalizing certain premium items. In fact, I'm selling off some of my gear that I thought would last me the rest of my life. It's nice to know that this stuff has resale value.

Investment is the counter-argument. I work in a shop and my job is, very frequently, to read people and figure out if they just want to sink more money in a POS walmart bike, or if I can actually convince them that they need to invest. Sometimes I get people in the shop that actually want to go the long haul and I know that they'll benefit from quality parts.

All of that said, the worst thing in my world is someone with a $3000 whip that rides 40 miles/week or less. If that's you and you're reading this, get on your bike right now. If you ride hard and can rationalize dropping $300 on some campy record cranks-- go for it. Ride them to hell.

I just stripped a ****ing thread on my ****ing stem. Out of all the threads to strip on a ****ing bike

fancy parts get you laid, and that is all that matters

I'm ashamed of my old 105 cranks on a bike with campy drops.

No.

Quit talking like we all think exactly like you, I for one hope to god I'm not a flipping clone, so I don't say things like "us the group, went for a ride today."

Quit talking like we all think exactly like you, I for one hope to god I'm not a flipping clone, so I don't say thinkgs like "us the group, went for a ride today."

+18

sick-ass parts is what makes planning your build/dream bike fun.
nobody ever thinks like...

"aww shiznit, I'm worrying too much about the phil hubs, i'll just go withe the quandos and be done with that part."

instead, everyone thinks like...

"aww dang, is sugino 75's all I can afford!?WTF!? I'll get laughed at so hard on FGG and nobody will ever remember my bike! I think I can take a few more weeks of wonderbread and ramen to upgrade to the campys or D-A's."

sick parts, cheap parts, big rides, commute, bling, beater, fun, hooray!

y'all just jealous

Why do I lust after nice bike parts?

Because about seven years ago I inherited a high-quality MTB from the early 80s-- and I instantly noticed the difference between riding "good" parts vs. the wal-mart crap I'd grown up with. It was a revelation-- almost 20 year old thumbshifters that still worked. Metal brake levers that didn't threaten to crumble at the mere suggestion of sunshine. There was no way I could ever go back. I bought a used $2k mtb for $500 and experienced a similar revelation. It all adds up. It makes sense to like your bike; to believe in the components and know they're worth overhauling rather than just pitching into the nearest landfill. It brings you closer to the bike. It turns what would otherwise be a yuppie-friendly spending / oneupsmanship oddessy into a personal relationship with materials, craftsmanship, absolute quality and a sense of accomplishment.

Dude, I worry my skinny little ****ing head off about parts. Then I get on my bike and don't worry about parts anymore.

We're also a self-selecting bunch. The people who "worry," post.

And then there's the whole dayjob thing.


I really wouldn't worry much about it.

Form over Function. Function over Form. Who cares, it's all good. Do I think it is silly that someone will pay more for something that says NJS? Yeah but who cares. Everyone has to have interests and if your interests lie in Japanese race bikes, great. My uncle wastes a lot of money collecting ever worthless piece of Star Wars memorabilia he can find. What ever makes you happy. And honestly if you invest two grand into something that is you main source of transportation and you never have to pay for gas or insurance, well hell you can't even get a cheap car for that. So I say pimp that *****. Get the tires to match the wheels to match the hubs to match the frame to match your shoe, etc. Me, I'll stick with my surly - she's ugly, but she loyal.

frankly, on a fixie, it could be your life. don't think $100 double straps are worth the money? snap a christophe heading downhill into 4 lanes of traffic..think that $10 chain from nashbar works fine? ditto. some parts may be fashion over function, but if you ride fixed/brakeless you've already gotten rid of pretty much everything you don't need.

so the real question should be not if we are spending too much on parts, but are we spending enough? don't you love your life enough to dura-ace it?

you guys need to get re-aquainted with peanut butter jelly time...its cheap as hell and way more filling/ better tasting than ramen (granted im a cheap noodle mongrel myself, nothing does the trick better than an old PBJ)

you guys need to get re-aquainted with peanut butter jelly time...its cheap as hell and way more filling/ better tasting than ramen (granted im a cheap noodle mongrel myself, nothing does the trick better than an old PBJ)
i like to make ramen with a big spoonful of PB added.

this is all unreadable

Make no apologies for buying quality.

Buy what you can afford.

Shut up and ride.

Life's too short to drink cheap beer.

"for every IRO there's a Suzue"?

phalse.

suzue jr's may fail, and have poo for bearings. IROs will not, and have smoothe beatinrs. and cost just a bit more. you picked a terrible example.

but other than that i generally agree. beaters are cool.

Do we worry too much about parts? Well, considering this is a bicycle discussion board, all my other worries in life (which vastly out-rate my bicycle worries) aren't really on-topic. Since all you hear are bicycle-related worries, it makes it sound a lot more frenetic and life-impacting than it is.

"For every IRO there is a Suzue" - I have no idea what this means. That there are both good and bad quality budget hubs available? That there are both sellers of inexpensive fixed-gear frames and makers of a range of bicycle components?

As for the steamroller, (which you've slandered NUMEROUS times), it fits a niche. It sells well. It's a quality frame. If it's so overpriced, how come other people aren't making the same thing and selling it for less?

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! i have a good job, make plenty of money, don't eat ramen or drink pbr, and am gettin' a custom frame which i will procede to bling to the n'th degree (phil wood, chris king, etc etc etc). hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!! hardeeharhar!!!!!!!:D :D :D

a am also an a$$hole. wealthy. but an a$$hole nonetheless.:beer: :roflmao:

"for every IRO there's a Suzue"?

phalse.

suzue jr's may fail, and have poo for bearings. IROs will not, and have smoothe beatinrs. and cost just a bit more. you picked a terrible example.

but other than that i generally agree. beaters are cool.

this is exactly what Red is talking about, suzue juniors have a bad reputation here because it is the cheapest track hub available, and lots of new fixed riders use them incorrectly/fail to maintain them and then post on here how bad they are; IRO is a rebadged formula hub, but everyone here talks about them being IRO hubs. His point is to stop worrying about brand name and get out and ride. to add my own 2 cents on that statement, if you can afford it and like it, great go buy it; if you can't don't worry get what you can and enjoy it. As far as being worth it, yes i think Phils are totally worth it, lifetime warranties are great.

in regards to the quoted text, what is a/are beatinrs? and please explain how IROs (formula hubs) will not fail.

More riding less spec’ing…

As a free thinking group of folks we seem to have avoided many of the pitfalls of mainstream marketing but spend a lot of time discussing parts. Cost of, quality of, etc. This wouldn’t be bad, but I don’t get the impression that any of us are far from high levels of Ramen consumption and yet we spend small fortunes on parts that are perhaps a few percent better than cheaper parts.

That isn’t to say they are all bad, but for every IRO there is a Suzue.

Like the man said, its better than Meth, but we seem to be spending a lot of time hot-rodding our bikes. It’s a way to participate when you can’t ride but I can’t help but feel it increases the same kind of consumption we try to avoid.

Fer example, Phil hubs and Chris King headsets are great and you are paying for greatness. But are they worth it?
Track front wheels, Track specific cranks and other overly specific stuff is great for aesthetics but rarely necessary.
The Surly Steamroller has a great geometry but a Taiwanese bike of 4130 steel, on a decent size production run should not be $430.00.

At our recent Critical mass there were loads of college kids with cobbled together beater bikes having just as much fun. I know I am faster, but I also know that little of that is the bike. I can build a great conversion bike for very little, and it will look ****ing cool.

So, why do I pursue fancy parts, scour CL, rack up a tab with the neighborhood LBS?

Anyone want to join in?

For the sake of full disclosure this author has a golem-like love of his 1977 Cuevas-built, all Italian, Paris Sport track bike, so he understands and needs support.

Precious…

I just check out the chainring. That usually tells the whole story.

I worry about parts all winter when I can't ride much. When it is nice, I don't think about them unless they fail. I am riding again, who cares about the parts. Such is the seasons of a cycling fan in New England.

I think it's a sickness. We can't just "get a bike", we have to get the best bike we can get. And then, when we have the best bike we can get, we have to get better parts. And when that's not enough? It's time for a new bike.

My personal sickness is themed. On my roadie, I went all Tiagra. Why? Because the RD was Tiagra, and I thought the name sounded cool. So I upped to Tiagra/Mavic wheels, Tiagra calipers, Tiagra brifters, Tiagra FD, etc., etc., etc. On my son's roadie, I went all Shimano 600 and Suntour Cyclone (I was feeling the "vintage" bug when I built that) and spent WAY more than I should have on eBay for 600 and Cyclone stuff. Although I did snag a NOS set of Suntour Cyclone brakes and levers, which I'm quite proud of.

My fixie doesn't follow a theme, though. I'm just putting on it what I can -- an Alex front wheel, an IRO/Mavic rear wheel, Shimano 600 cranks and pedals, Zoom stem, Velo seat... I'm sure, though, that once it's fully functioning I'm going to want to pimp it out.

It's normal. Take it from a former audio and video fanatic...

I just check out the chainring. That usually tells the whole story.
Oh wow, it took me a while, but I got it. +1.

Thanks Spud,

I have had the honor of meeting Mr. McKenzie on numerous occasions which is probably why he is able to parse my ramblings into a coherent argument, even when he is too busy pimpin in the hottub with his ladies. I am not a very clear writer and can easily be misunderstood. The Steamroller is a great, great frame. But it is too expensive. Get a deal or go to IRO. Lots of people are making the same frame, but they don't market it as well. And that is the problem, believing that the same thing in the different package is worth so much more. 4130 is the same steel as a base model Jamis coda. It is a great bike but the whole thing is $530, rather than just the frame. Buying a Steamroller equipped at more than a grand is simply a ripoff.

Formula hubs are great, they are cheap and work well. Suzue hubs have problems. The same is true of so many things.

Investment parts are great, as they last a long time and often work better. However loads of stuff costs a ton more and is marginally better. Also cheap stuff can often last longer, it is heavier and wears slower. High end parts, built for lightness shave away the same material that makes them durable. Thus a dura-ace cog won't last as long as a cheaper one.

This is not a track phenom, roadies pull this **** all the time. My buddie finally got sick of it, repainted his old RB-3 and told everyone it was German road frame, confused everyone, got stupid respect and continued to kick ass.

I get the dayjob thing and much respect to all of you. Why do you think I have time to write now? Temping gets things written. Jonny Foer wrote "everything is illuminated" when he was temping, I write this silliness.

The reason why this is important comes from my years of working retail. When you insist that bling is important it demeans those bikes that might cost half of yours but in reality are nearly as good. This makes others feel that their bikes are inferior and thus they are less inclined to ride. This is unforgiveable. You are hurting the cause of cycling, hurting the cycling community and advancing the cause of consumption. Which is a zero sum solution.

I just think we ought to focus less on trackstanding and shopping than on riding and getting others to ride.
Chimbly and I started riding together about a year ago, through BF she pulled others along. I got busy when I transferred to a youth-run non-profit bike shop, but she, tink, spud, LBK, poopncow, dynarider, etc. kept it going. They got others riding, helped connect riders and built a community of dayjob urban riders. Together this rotating crew rides once or twice a week, welcomes new riders and encourages the cycling communtiy here in dc.

This kind of thing ought to be the focus.

It isn't about how you ride, what you ride, how fast you are etc.
What is imortant is that you ride, that you encourage others to ride and build a community of support that keeps us all riding.

fancy parts get you laid, and that is all that matters

Crap, was I suppose to register somewhere to get this benefit?

**** bikes, if you have seen mine you would already that i spend ALL my money on booze

I used to worry, then I found _______.

This thread needs some cleansing, as an OCP member posted here!

Quit talking like we all think exactly like you, I for one hope to god I'm not a flipping clone, so I don't say things like "us the group, went for a ride today."

Well played sir...well ****ing played.

When you insist that bling is important it demeans those bikes that might cost half of yours but in reality are nearly as good. This makes others feel that their bikes are inferior and thus they are less inclined to ride. This is unforgiveable. You are hurting the cause of cycling, hurting the cycling community and advancing the cause of consumption. Which is a zero sum solution.

I just think we ought to focus less on trackstanding and shopping than on riding and getting others to ride.
Chimbly and I started riding together about a year ago, through BF she pulled others along. I got busy when I transferred to a youth-run non-profit bike shop, but she, tink, spud, LBK, poopncow, dynarider, etc. kept it going. They got others riding, helped connect riders and built a community of dayjob urban riders. Together this rotating crew rides once or twice a week, welcomes new riders and encourages the cycling communtiy here in dc.

This kind of thing ought to be the focus.

It isn't about how you ride, what you ride, how fast you are etc.
What is imortant is that you ride, that you encourage others to ride and build a community of support that keeps us all riding.

dude. don't take this the wrong way--but who ARE you? really. just ride your bike dude. for real.

Bling is part of any activity that involves hardware, and some that don't, like writing....unless you count fancy pens which can be very nice. I have a yen for fancy stationary myself.

Rest assured your fancy bikes don't demean other bikes. I've been observing bicycle behavior in the wild for years and years and I've never seen a group of fancy bikes spread out so there's no room at the rack for a Huffy or throw a rider for wearing low grade chamois. In fact the bicycles themselves rarely communicate directly prefering to keep their inanimate secrets close.

How you ride, what you ride, how fast you are, all part of riding and they add to it's enjoyment. Individuals that see expensive bikes and are shamed by their own have issues Entirely unrelated to cycling and their enjoyment of the activity. This goes for individuals with expensive bike that shun & insult those riding less expensive bikes too. Or those that goad others and mock them for their choices in equipment, attire or riding styles/practices.

Red, it's good that you're focussing your efforts that way, but the ability of many to appreciate form AND function is not your enemy.

Quit talking like we all think exactly like you, I for one hope to god I'm not a flipping clone, so I don't say things like "us the group, went for a ride today."

+ 1,000,000,000

There is a certain irony when those who have a significant presence on this forum, quote "just ride your bike", when they are spending more time and money and attention than me.

We are not all the same, we are not clones. Yet there is often a certain amount of groupthink. There is a kind of uniform and there are a lot of sacred cows. The popularity of black columbus hats on bearded young men on chrome track bikes is a testament to the uniform, and the enduring partisan defense of the steamroller is as well. (again good but heavy and overpriced frame).

I ooccasionally bring up serious topics that are alien to this forum, because they are serious to me.
I've been selling bikes, working in advocacy and promoting biking for more fifteen years. It gives me a different perspective.

This is my world and I care about it. If anyone else is serious about it show your support.

There is a certain irony when those who have a significant presence on this forum, quote "just ride your bike", when they are spending more time and money and attention than me.

you need to keep in mind that most of the people who post here do so because they're stuck behind a computer for 8+ hours a day. we would be riding if we could be (and some of us even ride over lunch hour.) so we have the time to dunce out about this that and the other thing, and it's sorta odd to have someone who's here call us out for duncing out about our components. why? because we obviously have nothing better to do with our required time-in-front-of-computer, and by posting here, you've joined this flock.

There is a certain irony when those who have a significant presence on this forum, quote "just ride your bike", when they are spending more time and money and attention than me.

If anyone else is serious about it show your support.

"irony"? where's the irony? do you really think folks who see a bike "better" than theirs feel "inferior" and therefore don't ride as much? c'mon man! that's absurd! everyone loves their own bike! i currently ride an iro i paid around 600 bucks for complete. i love it like a son! and when i see a blinged out custom it doesn't bother me in the least. i LOVE seein' 'em. i would've loved to go to the handmade bike show and look at a bunch of 'em!! you may know a lot of stuff, but i have to say here you sound absurd.:eek:

bottom line is people love their bikes, no matter.:)

There is a certain irony when those who have a significant presence on this forum, quote "just ride your bike", when they are spending more time and money and attention than me.

We are not all the same, we are not clones. Yet there is often a certain amount of groupthink. There is a kind of uniform and there are a lot of sacred cows. The popularity of black columbus hats on bearded young men on chrome track bikes is a testament to the uniform, and the enduring partisan defense of the steamroller is as well. (again good but heavy and overpriced frame).

I ooccasionally bring up serious topics that are alien to this forum, because they are serious to me.
I've been selling bikes, working in advocacy and promoting biking for more fifteen years. It gives me a different perspective.

This is my world and I care about it. If anyone else is serious about it show your support.

Oh well, see there, you aren't Wrong, I coulda told you that. However you are limiting your different perspective by concerning yourself with the direction that others take. That doesn't get people on the road.

Example: OCP Roadies

Despicable, I know (j/k all you OCPs) They concern themselves with all sorts of things you would have a problem with in the stance you've taken.

Now try to estimate how many cyclists were created with the recent BLL epidemic. I'd guess many tens of thousands. They may not ride the way you'd like, or me. I'd rather they rode for transportation the way I say people oughta. The fact is they are riding, or even just buying, it all helps in the end.

I deal with plenty of folks on the frontier of riding, they have perhaps a hybrid bike or an old road or mountain and have started to ride to work. It is great when those folks get commited to riding and get more involved in cycling. A communtiy can do this. Most folks are friendly but just as roadies can go all Cinzano on you, so can cutters. All I am saying is that we spend too much time functioning as a fashion and not enough time promoting cycling.

Fashion, by definition is cyclical and creates a hierarchy, promoting demand, encouraging consumption.
Nice stuff is nice, but the popularity of carrharts and dickies isn't because they are the hot thing at the gap. It's cause they save us from fashion. (ironically creating a fashion, but a very accessible one).

BTW, IRO is my favorite company. Tony gives you a great bike with no bling for a good price. Nuff said.

All I am saying is that we spend too much time functioning as a fashion and not enough time promoting cycling.

who the **** is this "we" you keep talking about?

why don't you use "I" instead? you don't know me; please stop insinuating that i think just like you.

I'm worried about my parts because I blinged 'em when I hit one of those small deep potholes today.

we all had a decent day at work today. we've been very proud of ourselves because we've been bike commuting to work every day this year, even through all the rain that's been brought to the bay area, our home.

this is our first time building a wheel (IRO hubs to Velocity Aeros). we're all asking ourselves, are we tensioning the spokes enough? maybe we should bring it to a shop to make sure. we don't have a built-up 2 cross wheel to compare the tension with.

i can't believe we still have to do our taxes! anyway, we gotta go for now! we'll check back on the boards later today! man, aren't we getting hungry?!?

Bikes represent a ride, an art statement, and a contribution to the culture.

I loved my Bianchi Pista as the cheapest real bike a person could buy, and I love it now with $1500 in parts on it.

When I see another fixied chained up outside a store, I particularly like really ratty beaters.
Something about making-do on the cheap earns my respect and admiration.

Gold-plated or rust-encrusted, I like 'em.

fancy parts get you laid, and that is all that matters

+100

I do it for the poon. SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT PROUD.

i wish i were straight edge so that my beer money would go into my bike