Inspired by Ravemore's fixie (and others) and necessitated by my recent Matrix crits crash-n-trash of my main ride - I converted my track bike to a fixie. Been commuting on it and hitting the calmer group rides with it. Run it with a 48x15 but I found out that's too big with a 20 pound pack on my back on a 35 mile commute. Will try it again with the stock 48x16 this Friday.
It's noisy with the 1/8" track chain but bearable. I have it setup so I can swap out the fork and track bars with the fixie fork/brake and bullhorns. Running Continental Sprinter tubulars on stock Cane Creek Volos. Takes about 5 minutes and it's back to track legal.
Wondering if they'd crucify me if I cross-post in the SS/FG forum. I'll post it anyway and watch the 'hipsters' go at me.
Looks like I made the same mistake here... claiming I converted a fixed geared bike to a fixie - shameful. It's not like the SS/FG guys need any more ammunition to roast my lamb chops. They're worse than the road weenies, but I knew that going in.
So, my apologies. I should have said I converted my track bike to a more suitable road worthy fixie.
jsharr
08-02-07, 07:42 PM
nicey nicey nice nice!
kevinmcdade
08-02-07, 09:46 PM
The bike is awsome!!! That's exactly how I'm going to setup my Fuji Track Pro. Thanks for the idea!
Doggus is being modest by saying he rides it on the "calm" rides. He rode that on the ride tonight where we averaged 20.1 MHP for 37 miles. He's a beast on that thing!!!
Paniolo
08-03-07, 11:26 AM
Yeah, I think I heard him cackling as he flew by me at 25+ as he made the final selection for the homeward dash on Renner! Or maybe that was just his chain! :D
Very nice bike. I had a friend in Austin who commuted on a custom Ti fixie set up very similarly.
Doggus
08-03-07, 12:36 PM
Yeah, I think I heard him cackling as he flew by me at 25+ as he made the final selection for the homeward dash on Renner! Or maybe that was just his chain! :D
That must have been Tuesday when I forgot to lube the chain the evening before when I washed it in solvents. My intent was to drive everyone insane...but I inflicted myself.
Last night I pretty much stayed on the back of any breakaway group cause I developed a nice rattle that I couldn't figure out. We once had a guy whose crank came apart and his pedals fell off mid-ride. That's what I was imagining was about to happen to me, so I wanted to stay out of anyones way in case something catastrophic happened. Turns out it was the CO2 cartridges in the seat pack hitting the seat rails.
My new frame arrived yesterday, so I should be back on gears soon. I like riding the fixie but it's pretty tough keeping up on the downhills when the group goes over 35. It also gets real dicey in close quarters too when you can't see holes etc (think Bunker Hill road). It'll make a great recovery ride, occasional commuter toy, exercise the wife bike and of course a track bike.
Which one are you Paniolo?
tfro
08-03-07, 12:58 PM
The bike is awsome!!! That's exactly how I'm going to setup my Fuji Track Pro. Thanks for the idea!
Doggus is being modest by saying he rides it on the "calm" rides. He rode that on the ride tonight where we averaged 20.1 MHP for 37 miles. He's a beast on that thing!!!
Who/Where is a 37 mile group ride during the week? Everything I've found so far has topped out at 30 miles.
Doggus
08-03-07, 01:51 PM
Who/Where is a 37 mile group ride during the week? Everything I've found so far has topped out at 30 miles.
Be advised the rider turnout on this ride is LARGE and in my opinion, it is a bad accident waiting to happen - so use caution.
There are two groups. The advertised average of 17-18 MPH is really only relevant for the people who roll off the back of the second group. The second group will come in with averages around 20 sometimes. The first group, depending on whose feeling wiley can come in with averages close to 22. I call them dumbed down averages cause there is tons of stopping and slow rolling through neighborhoods. I once clocked just the fast parts of the rides and weeded out the neighborhoods and they were rolling around 24. Last night they didn't do much faster than the front of the second group, it really just depends on how many testosterone patches were applied the evening before.
RahTx
08-03-07, 01:55 PM
Who/Where is a 37 mile group ride during the week? Everything I've found so far has topped out at 30 miles.
Just guessing, but it sounds like PBA's Tues/Thur Popsicle Ride (http://www.planobicycle.org/pba/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=25&year=2007&month=08&day=07&Itemid=27) - haven't been on it, but I see them leaving (Custer & Renner) occasionally, and it says they build up to 36mi in the summer...
EDIT - See above, I'm too slow ;)
kevinmcdade
08-03-07, 02:09 PM
Like Doggus stated, this ride is good but you really need to be carefull and protect your front wheel. It's as fast or as slow as you want it.
tfro
08-03-07, 02:09 PM
Thanks for the info, might be worth a try one of these days.