Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Chicago??

Who else is from Chicago, how long have you been riding fixed gear, is biking business or pleasure for you?

I don't really get out that often, and I just have my bike to tool around on now and then. A friend who is a messenger got me into track bikes. I think fixed gear is perfect for traveling around the city. Sometimes I will meet up with him at Cals, which I guess is a messenger hang-out; Other than that I don't really see many other people on fixies.

-Jason

Well I'm not from Chicago now but I'm moving there in August to go to grad school. My summer project is to build up a single speed with a freewheel hub and a front brake.

Where is Cals?

I'm from Chicago too! I've been riding fixie for about two or three months and LOOOOOVE it. I use my bike every day, ride everywhere, love every second of it so I guess it's a little business and a mostly pleasure.

If you ever want to ride I'm always happy to meet another fixie. I'll see them every once in a while, but not as often as I'd like (though there is something nice about being the only one with no shifters and no brakes).

Repp5, I want to say Cals is by Wells and Van Buren. There is also a place called Handlebar near North Ave and Western that is supposed to be for bikers. I haven't been there though.

Dumpstervegan, if I haven't seen you in passing I probably will soon enough. I will usually talk to other fixed gear riders or at least say hello if there is the oppurtunity. Though it is a little strange to be like, "Hey aren't you the guy from the internet??" so who knows.. :D

-Jason

Come out to Critical Mass. Tons of fixies. Chicago is a great place for it too, being pretty much flat.

Jason: If you see me definitely say hi. I always like to meet other fixie riders. And yeah, I'm sure that would be totally creepy to be like "dude, don't I know you from the internet?!" Ha ha.

Absntr: I tried CM but didn't like the slow pace all that much. It's really relaxing and empowering but I honestly like moving at a good clip and dodging cars on my bike. I also have Dungeons and Dragons every Friday night so there is a little schedule conflict. Ha ha! ~Ian's nerd-dom bubbles to the surface~ Mebbe sometime soon though.

Oh, the Handlebar is NICE NICE NICE. It's a no smoking bar too so it's really nice and not stifling like most bars, and the BBQ Seitan sandwich is EXXXCELLENT (as is most of the food I've had, rippin' Vegan Pecan Pie). I really like it. I've never been to Cals though. Sounds interesting though!

Ok, I'm hijacking the thread- Handlebars?

Is it one of those bars where you go in and all the cyclists are in their clicks and they're gonna look at me crazy when I walk in, or is it one of those friendly neighborhood "Cheers"-like bars? Can I just bring a book over there and hang? What's the interior like?

Currently, I hang at Borders (Michigan Ave) or Starbucks (the Starbucks around 1000 N. State is cool with good seating). Sometimes I like to chill at the Barnes & Nobles by the Kozy's on Webster. I'm always looking for new hangouts.

What's the 411 on this place?

..

As a matter of fact... if you're free tomorrow, I'll be riding up to the Botannic Gardens and leaving in the morning... IF you're available, and you don't mind staying at my speed. I try to go fast, but from time to time, I can be on the slow side if you're someone who likes to go fast all the time.

Send me a PM if you're interested. Otherwise, I got other rides coming up I'm planning- some long hauls that can be quite interesting.

Koffee

P.S. Not a big fan of CM, so you'll not likely run into me with the CM crowds or CM activities either.... sorry.

Koff

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
Ok, I'm hijacking the thread- Handlebars?

Is it one of those bars where you go in and all the cyclists are in their clicks and they're gonna look at me crazy when I walk in, or is it one of those friendly neighborhood "Cheers"-like bars? Can I just bring a book over there and hang? What's the interior like?



Handlebar is totally Cheers-esque. Absolutely chill and wonderful. As for the Botanic Gardens ride, I TOTALLY want to go but I have work until 4:00PM. We should most definitely ride up there sometime, I love the BGs. Especially the Japanese Gardens (even though idiots walk all over the rock-gardens, mofos)!

I'll be at the Holiday Cafe (I think that's what it's called) tonight if anyone wants to drop by. I'm keeping some friends company at a birthday party for some girl I don't know so feel free to drop by and sheild me from the mindless WickerParkian drones (cranberry juices are on me)! Address is: 1471 N. Milwaukee (just South of Damen, North, Milwaukee intersection on Milwaukee). Plus it's right down the street from the Handlebar!

Dang, boy!

I wish I'd known about this earlier in the day! I would have met you, but I've gotten back from my ride, I'm not wearing very much right now, and I'm comfy right now just where I am!

Next time, gimmie some notice!

Koffee B.

Sorry K! I totally understand though. Once I get home from the ride and outta my clothes (and into some comfies) I'm not going ANYWHERE. My house could start on fire and I bet I'd sorta shrug and maybe call the fire department if the phone wasn't too far away...

Well then, you ought to put that phone next to your remote control or something- otherwise, you're gonna burn, baby burn!

The roof, the roof, the roof is on FIRE!!!

;)

Send me a PM next time in advance, will ya?

alrighty...
I just moved from the WP/UV area and never saw anyone with a fixie (oh, except this hipster...but that is a different story). Guess I should look around for more than randomly opening doors. So, I am now up in RP near Loyola, so I miss the good bar locale I once lived in. I travel the LFP to and from work. Anyone else ever feel like jousting people off the path near North Ave beach? I almost think rush hour on LSD is safer...HA!
Another place that WAS once popular with messers is GoldStar, east of Wood on Division. Nice and dumpy...no hipsters. I used to see the occasional track/fixed project chained up outside there, but not so much anymore.
See you on the pavement-

There's quite a few people with fixies and SS in WP and the surrounding hoods more than anywhere else. More people bike in this area as well. I don't livethere though but go there quite a bit and have friends who do live in WP. Also, Dumpstervegan was at the Holiday tonight, the girl's birthday party is my roomie and I know DV from mutual friends. We all got the SS flava.

Oh, and Goldstar can be quite hipster some nights. I used to go there quite a bit because my friend's father owns the place.

yeah, "Goldstar of the past" was what I am referring to, but I digress.
Glad to hear more people are out there...ALWAYS nice to know. Holiday is always a good time, a friend of mine runs it so it is always good in my mind.
Any one know of good places up north? I have seen people occasionally at Moody's, but not sure of anything else.

The Chicago bar I like the most is probably Parrots on Clark and ?? (School maybe). It's just this dank pit. I like dive bars with nobody in them. 'Cept last time we had to fight for a good table near the window.

Abs: Yeah, we rocked Holiday and I actually knew all the folks there (except PJ and that one other girl with glasses and "girl" tattoos [literally]) so it was pretty cool. I had a lot of fun! Who said bars aren't fun for people who don't drink?!! Where are those pictures, you should post some of them on the thread!

Another good bar out that way: InnerTown Pub. I see a coupla old messer friends there now and again, but I am sure it is becoming a 'cool' bar to the writhing horde that is slowly taking over UV. Glad I moved to Rogers Park.

..

Prodigal Son is a pretty cool place, my band has played there many many times.

Okay...so anything on the Far North as far as bars go? Like the Rogers Park area...I know of Moody's, and a few others, but nothing with the same atmos as everything else discussed no this thread. Oh yeah, anyone interested ina set of Campy track wheels? A friend of mine is surrendering them to me. Not sure of the condition, but will get photos to send via email once I get them. If you are interested, email me at josra68@attbi.com
I prefer Chicago-only transactions. If you live outside the city (i.e.-burbs), that is cool-if you want to make the trip. :)

165: Could you post photos/specs/price for the wheelset in this thread?

As far as bars go, I dunno anything in the Rogers Park area. I basically go to bars with friends and don't particularly care where I go so it's usually some dive around here (Lincoln Park-ish). If it's quiet enough to hear each other it's not a problem for me. I always have cranberry juice so my tab is never more than five or six bucks.

And I honestly don't really like places like Prodigal Son, it's a bit too hip for me and the jukeboxes always suck. I want MADONNA on the box dammit, not The Hives....

Not to mention I don't want to go to a bar where I'll be looked down on because I didn't spend ten minutes waxing my hair into some faux-messy-bedhead-poof-thing (and I don't particularly want to be around people who've spent that kind of time on their hair unless they are named Naz in which case it's alright!).

Rogers Park bars: Heartland Cafe is a great place, on Lunt, just west of Sheridan

its a restaurant / bar, but great stuff all around

Hey Vegan-
Here's the post for my Campy wheels:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3616107607

WickerParkian ?

Explain this term?

In the ways/attitude/styles of Wicker Park.
This is/may be/can be a generalization. And I would concur with all generalizations, except this one.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 165-48:17
[B]In the ways/attitude/styles of Wicker Park.
[\QUOTE]

I take it this is a geographical/cultural term, akin to "valley girl" from Los Angeles?

Lincoln Park actually has two nickname/stereotypes here in Chicago:
Trixies and Chads. What are these?
Go here: http://www.lptrixie.com/index.asp

As far as Wicker Park goes, it still has some diversity, but is rapidly losing it to over-gentrification.

I read the web site and all I can say is.. wow.

And I thought that LA was all to.. plastic~ized.


Are these people for real about them selves?

The military isn't so stringent about lifestyle..

Yeah anyone who drives a Jetta and/or lives in Lincoln Park is such an idiot.

(That was sarcasm.) I'd say everywhere probably has stereotypes and the trendy places that no one wants to admit to liking. I just want to know why the stupidest people somehow get the money and us brooding intellectuals seem to remain poor (at least I know I am). :confused:

-Jason

I never want to live anyplace but right smack-dab in the middle downtown.

I don't even want to venture into south loop... I could never see myself living in these other places. It's yuppieville totally...

Hey if I could afford a $1.2 mil highrise condo I wouldn't lower myself to a $700k Lincoln Park brownstone or a pesky $500k south loop loft either.. :D :beer:

-Jason

Hey, there's a 2 bedroom, 2 bath going for a measley $845,000 with north views a few stories up from me- you interested?

:D

Buy on the south-side. It's cheaper and you get a good community instead of a bevy of ****ty Starbucks-sipping yuppie mother****ers.

I almost got hit by the Starbucks-sipping yuppie mother****er today, and then they yelled at me to be careful, so I'm a little pissed....

Jaded, we are all so forcibly jaded. I was thinking of yuppie-polo, but Assault with a deadly weapon is kind of illegal. I still chuckle everytime I think back to when this rollerblading Trixie deciding it was her path and she HAD to be on the cell phone. I took it upon myself to inform her of her mischevious ways (I think my exact words were, "Hey ****head, call from home."). To this, she cheekily responded "You ****ing d**khead" and the proceeded to careen off the path and damn-near yardsale. Karma you say? Well, I would argue that her rollerblades were smarter than her. But that's just my 2 cents...
I am NOT looking forward to the Air Show tomorrow AT ALL. I think I will build a lance to joust the fat, drop-mouthed gawkers looking up at the planes, all while singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart." I love my overactive imagination.:roflmao:

Avoiding the lakefront this weekend at all costs- going to Downers Grove as of Saturday for the bike races! I'll be out there Saturday and Sunday- VegasCyclist is in town, and hopefully we will hook up there on Sunday and maybe a ride on Tuesday or Monday....

Koffee

I'll be out in Naperville this Saturday being a damn fine hooligan at the Fire game...
No Crit for me> I was going to ride out to Naperville on Sunday and then convince my bud to go to the Sunday races, but he wants to DRIVE! What the frick? And he does duathalons on a track bike...ugh.
But he made his point about 10 minutes ago: he wants to have the car to get home in case his wife/son need anything. +100 points for being a great dad!

the lptrixie website is a spoof (im 99% sure) - however... the stereotype does hold true.

proof...
the other day, my girlfriend and i were driving (on our way to get my teeth pulled) down diversey - and in front of us are two trixies in a convertible beamer, both girls on their cellphones, both in white designer caps, the driver is DOING HER NAILS on the stearing wheel (still on her cellphone). the light turns green, and instead of going through the intersection - the start waving and flirting with some construction workers!

i have now moved to ravenswood - which is wonderful - does anyone take ravenswood (the street) to commute? there are absolutely 0 cars, i highly recommend it!

You guys have to much pent up agression... I have to deal with the same ideal with the civic-coffee-can-muffler-30000hp-so-i-have-to-be-in-front-with-my-bad-ass-self crowd. I don't sweat 'em...

Of course on the bike, it's a different story.

I don't sweat them...I despise them like cockroaches. But they are only .5-2% of my time, so it is nominal at best. I just love venting about the 'Oblivious' people

I'm in Evanston finishing up school so all this talk about yuppies is particularly appropriate to this area. I just recently started riding an old english fixed gear I bought off some guy in Andersonville. It's heavy as all hell, but it makes a great commuter ride. I am still getting used to fixed gear riding, though the learning curve isn't as steep as I previously thought.

I only know one other person here in Evanston who rides fixed gear. I am working on converting others to the joys of fixed gear though.

Here's a picture of the bike I recently purchased. The tires though are 26 x 1 3/8. Anyone know a good source for replacements in this odd size?

http://pubweb.northwestern.edu/~ahh457/bike.jpg

evanston, eh? my friend goes to uh...that big school there....northwestern...eastern....something...i dunno.

his name is mark and i think this is his last year. he does a lot of stuff with the radio station and stuff...he's from freeport. i doubt that you'd know him, but he's my friend, and one never knows...

i've used regular mountain bike tubes for a 26 x 1 3/8 before...but i don't know about replacing the tires. specialized makes a tire called the trisport. they're kevlar, and my girlfriend has them on her cruiser. they seem to work pretty well. she's gotten like two flats in a little over a year, and one of them was the result of over inflating the tire. fssssPOW! not fun.

Originally posted by 165-48:17
I don't sweat them...I despise them like cockroaches.

But how do you really feel?


I get what you're saying.. we just have less yuppie factor in San Diego, up north there's more. But, I dunno, they seem less an issue than they did when I lived in the Bay Area.

I used to have a Liscence plate frame that said "Die Yuppie Scum!"..

Course, me being military and all, I can't get away with that type of statements or comments.

Military, eh?
91-94, Ft Campbell, 101st, A co 2/187 ARCT, and HHC (Scouts).
RAKKASAN!

USN 92 to present.. Looks like I'm going to go the whole stretch. Can't complain, I've been a lot of places: Singapore, Thialand, Hong Kong, Guam, Hawaii, the warm pond, Muscat Oman (which was cool).. Lived in Iceland for two years.. Alaska.. Pays for my school at night, medical for me and family.. Not for everyone, but given my options I had built myself into at my age when I joined (dropped out of college, no money, wanted to get married..).. it was a better choice. I still haven't grown up, and I don't know what I want to do if I ever grow up, so it's good for me.

Little hard to be a "free" spirit.. but as you know, you manage...

i am looking for a fixed gear bike looking to spend 200$
leave a message via my PM and we can exchange numbers. :beer:

i might be able to spend a lil more