Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Specialized Langster / 230lbs

Two questions really. Just getting back into biking after being out of the loop for over 10 years. Plus, back then I was all into serious mountain biking...now I have neck problems that require I not get bounced around that badly anymore. lol

First, I'm looking for a simple, reliable bike to get around in an area like Tokyo. Not so much the downtown area but in the Fussa area (if you're familier with the Tokyo area). What do you guys think of the Specialized Langster fixie for someone who's 230lbs these days?

Also, just in general how would you rate the Langster as a fixie?

Link to the Langster,
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=38444&eid=109

Also looking at cheaper options like this Schwinn.
http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Road/Road-Specialty/Details/1221-S9CUT-Cutter

The Langster is a nice bike. Geometry is similar to the Allez Road bike, but that's not a bad thing. It'll do you well, I think.

As to the weight, remember, no dishing on SS/FG wheels, so they are stronger by default than a road bikes wheels, and 230 isn't THAT heavy.

I'm just relearning all this lingo. What is SS/FG?

Nevermind, Single Speed / Fixed Gear

SS/FG is Single Speed/Fixed Gear. You can get the langster either fixed only, or with a flip flop hub on the rear. The cog on one side is fixed, and the cog on the other is a freehub single speed, just flip the wheel around. The other option is Fixed/Fixed, which wuld allow you to run a couple of different ratios of gearing when you flip the wheel around.

I like the idea of having two different fixed gear setups depending on what I was after on that ride. I've got some learning to do on what gear ratio would be good for me though. I'm out of shape compared to my biking days before so I'm sure that will factor into it. Mashing up hills would wear me out fast now. lol

About 70 or so gear inches is a good ratio. 44:16 will give you:

74.3 Gear INches with 700X28's
72.3 with 700X23


That'll give you enough gear that you won't spin out too fast, and a small enough gear that you will be fairly snappy on acceleration and won't low the knees trying to back pressure the pedals to manage speed or stop.

Now, if you have massive leg power and are going to ride absolutely flat ground, you could run 52:P12, which would give you ~~116 GI.

Here's a list of the cogs available for the rear, from Harris, at least for the Phil Wood cogs.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed-sprockets.html


There's a great calculator at:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

Aren't ya glad I ride Fixed? :p

Aren't ya glad I ride Fixed? :p

Indeed. :) 44:16 means 44 teeth on the front sprocket and 16 on the rear, correct? That sounds appropriate enough for me. One of the reason I like the idea of fixed is not having to rely on the brakes to slow down.

I'm not sure I'd be so ready to actually remove brakes but at the very least, I wouldn't have to use them unless I really needed to stop in a hurry.

Correct. Don't remove the brakes, by the way, or at least leave the front brake. If you're going to use a flip flop fixed and free hub, keep both brakes on.

You could also get the new Sram hub, no flipping required just 7 turns with a screwdriver and feewheeling single speed away.

You could also get the new Sram hub, no flipping required just 7 turns with a screwdriver and feewheeling single speed away.

I think the reasoning behind a flip flop hub, is that you essentially get 2 gears, by putting a different tooth cog on each side. You can also "cheat", you put a taller gear on the fixie side, and a shorter gear on the freewheel side, for use on those good old Ontario rollers, coast down, then pedal on the way up. :D

Hi Mike,

I have the stock '09 langster and love it. Very comfortable on longer spins and perfect around the city. The roads in Dublin can be very rough and the wheels are holding up well.

I'm 270lbs, so you should be fine.

A.