Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Got my first fixed gear bike...

So, I bought a Vilano SS. I know it's not a popular choice on here, but I just got it as a tool to help me get in better shape to ride farther distances and to have fun. I figured this bike was good place to start. :thumb:

Here's some pics....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_IMG955916.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=IMG955916.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_IMG957352.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=IMG957352.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_IMG958976.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=IMG958976.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_IMG951993.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=IMG951993.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_2011-06-28_20-00-00_228.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=2011-06-28_20-00-00_228.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_2011-06-28_19-17-16_43.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=2011-06-28_19-17-16_43.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_2011-06-28_19-17-30_292.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=2011-06-28_19-17-30_292.jpg)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/th_2011-06-28_19-17-38_765.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Generalms02/Bikes/?action=view&current=2011-06-28_19-17-38_765.jpg)

Thanks.

make sure you tighten everything down.

Have fun!

make sure you tighten everything down.

Have fun!

Yes, I'm sure their are some things that need to be tightened. Enjoy!

make sure you tighten everything down.

Have fun!

Will do! Thanks.

Yes, I'm sure their are some things that need to be tightened. Enjoy!

Thanks.

I got the blue Vilano about two weeks ago. Took a lot of setup, and adjusting but bike seems okay. The cranks needed to be tightened, and the spokes needed some adjusting. Go get a new seat, and new tires right away. I had lots of flats. I went with 700x35 continental gator skins. I now have almost as much money in the seat and new tires as I do in the bike.

Sorry I meant 700x28 gatorskins.

Cool! ride hard, do 'er well brotha

Take off the back brake.

So, I've go about 65 miles on the bike now. I like it! I had to take it in to have the wheels trued and they checked the bike out for me. The lockring was so loose it was about to fall off. I changed pedals, but I'm just borrowing them from my roommate. I have been thinking of getting the SPD clip in type. Any thoughts on those?

What I've done while I've been working graveyards is waking up early to ride, stop at the gym and get a workout in and then ride a little longer before work. I'm having fun with this bike. Looking forward to getting some longer rides in when I have a day off!

Take off the back brake.


If I do, can my buddy use it as his front brake on his fixed gear?

If I do, can my buddy use it as his front brake on his fixed gear?

Mostly no, the bolt that holds the brake on is much shorter for a rear brake, and its a real pain to switch them. Its possible but usually not worth it. But why are you taking off your rear brake?

Because someone told him to.

Ride the heck outta that thing and let us know how it holds up a couple hundred miles from now.

All you need to do is get a longer bolt, right?

Because someone told him to.

Ride the heck outta that thing and let us know how it holds up a couple hundred miles from now.

Orrrr because a back brake on a fixed gear is double redundant? All your stopping power comes from your front brake anyway.

Orrrr because a back brake on a fixed gear is double redundant? All your stopping power comes from your front brake anyway.

double redundant = quadundant

double redundant = quadundant

Ultimate stopping power!

You need to buy a special bolt specifically for this job. Take the brake completly apart, change it out, put the brake back together, and totally rebalance it. Almost never worth it.

The majority of stopping power comes from the front brake, but no where near all. And its much easier to adjust speed, especially when learning to ride fixed, by feathering a rear brake. They arent totally nessisary, but not a bad thing to have.

You need to buy a special bolt specifically for this job. Take the brake completly apart, change it out, put the brake back together, and totally rebalance it. Almost never worth it.

The majority of stopping power comes from the front brake, but no where near all. And its much easier to adjust speed, especially when learning to ride fixed, by feathering a rear brake. They arent totally nessisary, but not a bad thing to have.

I always figured that using a rear brake on a fixed gear would completely mess up your pedaling and throw you off. Last thing I want is to seize up my back wheel and get tossed off the pedals..

Take off the back brake.

Or leave it till you can skip/skid stop easily.... so you don't have a single point of failure.

I always figured that using a rear brake on a fixed gear would completely mess up your pedaling and throw you off. Last thing I want is to seize up my back wheel and get tossed off the pedals..

Only the opposite is possible. If your back wheel locks up your legs will naturally coninue pedaling, and if you have enough power it will just pull the wheel through the brake.