Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - first 2 days riding the fixie

well, i finally converted over, although not officially, but its still a fixie. i ripped off all the derailers, got a new chain, took off the extra chainwheel on the front, and ran the chain around a selected back gear (17T) and the big front one (we were trying to figure out the size of it today, the guy at the LBS estimated it anywhere from 46-52). then, i zip tied the back cluster of gears to the spokes, all the way around, so it doesnt move independently of the hub anymore. first day of couriering on it was yesterday (tuesday), and it is alot more fun than riding a regular geared bike. less braking, because you can control it with your legs. the only downfall was when i sprinted across beacon st, and forgot it was fixed on the other side, so the pedals were still spinning, but my feet lost their places. it was scary for a second, but i finally slowed down, and got back on the pedals. i guess i should buy some toe clips/ straps. today was much better, im fully used to the fixed concept, although im still not able to skip/skid, i think its because theres still some play in the back gears. the day started off ****ty though, riding to work, i decided to hop a curb because a commuter bicycler in front of me was blocking the space in between the 2 cars, so i couldnt get through. i hit the curb alittle too fast, and the back tire went flat in about 4 seconds. i called up the dispatcher and he told me to go to a shop near south station, called "garage de velo". my first instinct was "we have a velodrome in boston?", but once i walked all the way there from court square, i found it to be a small shop, mostly carrying all fixed gear stuff, alot of nice frames and used bikes. the whole store is run by couriers too, so its really a cool place. the guy rob helped patch the tube, and did it free of charge, which really helped, although i still threw him a couple of bucks for having to deal with my ghetto custom work on my bike. i would reccommend that bike shop over any other in the city, as rob put it "any bike shop that doesnt let you use their tools is a bunch of snobbish *****es". most other shops in boston are full of ******* people, im suprised that they even do business. Back Bay Bicycles is the worst of them all, once i was using an allen wrench there, and the owner came over to make sure "it was the right size", as if i don't know what size to use on my own damn bike. another time they were tuning up a langster, and i mentioned that it was a nice bike, when one of the employees goes off on a rant "well, you can't have it, its the last one, and the other one won't fit you, besides, its too much of a bike for you anyway." i was pissed, but contained my anger since i was somewhat acquainted with the mechanic, however i won't do business there ever again.

sorry, to run off the topic i originally started, but to sum it all up, im fixed on riding fixed. it should only be a couple more days before my suzue hub comes in, then i can lace it up to a rim, and have a proper fixed rear wheel. also, for anyone looking for truly quality service, and great prices, or just a selection of fixed/SS bikes in general, check out "garage de velo", across from the bus terminal at south station, on atlantic ave. ( i think the address is like 797 or something).

i zip tied the back cluster of gears to the spokes, all the way around, so it doesnt move independently of the hub anymore.
hmmmm

hey go4broke44-
I would agree with lucklust on the sketchiness of your set-up - busted spokes, popped zip ties, etc...
too many little things waiting to happen. Hopefully you can situate yourself on a proper fixed ASAP. ..for safety's sake

yeah I don't see how zip ties would be sturdy nuff...

Phil

sorry, to run off the topic i originally started, but to sum it all up, im fixed on riding fixed. it should only be a couple more days before my suzue hub comes in, then i can lace it up to a rim, and have a proper fixed rear wheel. also, for anyone looking for truly quality service, and great prices, or just a selection of fixed/SS bikes in general, check out "garage de velo", across from the bus terminal at south station, on atlantic ave. ( i think the address is like 797 or something).

I am going to check this garage de velo out. The only other fixie friendly stores I found are harris cyclery (quite a ways away and very expensive) and cambridge cycles (near MIT). Here is an experience I had at harris cyclery. I went there to pick up a surly tiggnut. The guy gets friendly and we were talking for a while. He takes me downstairs where they have a warehouse and lets me check out whatever I want (nice of him). Another guy walks up to him and asks him what parts he installed on some customer's bike (a repair job). The guy (who was talking to me) mentions a bunch of parts and the time he spent installing it. Then he tells the other guy to pad up the bill by 10 bucks. I was dumbfounded. He already accouned for labor and parts and now he is asking the other guy (the customer was waiting outside to pick up the bike) to pad the bill! I was standing right next to him. He realizes that I was listening to the converstion and then grins sheepishly at me. Didn't know what to say!

that is kinda ackward, that he would say that right in front of you. i've been to cambridge bicycle too, but all they really have is a couple hubs and wheels, the same with boston bicycle (its sister store, on beacon st, west of kenmore sq, right over the masspike bridge). this place is actually dedicated to couriers, and fixed gears, its pretty cool, and they have a bianchi frame/fork and some other stuff attached, prolly used but in awesome condition, mint green, for around 100-300 i think it was, don't remember, but it was an awesome deal

as for the sketchy fixed hub, i doubled it up all the way around, so its double tied, at 6 points around the hub. still sketchy, but it works for now. i think the track hub is coming in on friday anyway, so its only another day or 2 i'll be riding it.