Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - I am now one of you

A nice little Saturday project.

Went to one of the local shops and found a used wheel with a fixed hub. After unceremoniously removing all that shifting crap and a little fiddling, I'm now a proud owner of a fixie (though I still have my "trainer brake" on the rear fork). :)

There are still a few things that need to be done with it. Rear wheel needs to be better aligned and I'm thinking about getting a new crankset/chain ring since the road bike gearing isn't letting me get a completely straight chain. Plus, I'm not too comfortable with the quick release rear... the shop owner said I can drop off my bike during the week and get a solid axle instead.

I'd be out riding, but it started to rain as soon as I had finished. Though I rode around the block a couple times just to see what I'm getting myself into. I'm looking forward to my first wreck. ;)

Anyway, just kinda rambling and a little excited. Though I'd share. :)

Um, okay. Get back to us in a month or two and we'll see if you really are one of us, or just the owner of a fixie...

You got it, booster. :)

welcome to the club. :D do you know the secret handshake yet?

I'd be out riding, but it started to rain as soon as I had finished. Though I rode around the block a couple times just to see what I'm getting myself into.

riding in the rain is a good way for you to learn how to properly skid in case of emergency. if youre uncomfortable riding brakeless, id suggest you remove the rear brake and replace it with a front brake--youve already got all the rear brake you need in your legs. have fun and ride safe!

welcome to the club. :D do you know the secret handshake yet?
Oh, crap. Maybe I spoke too soon. :o



Okay, so I went for a quick little rain ride and I can't skid (btw, thanks for the suggestion modmon). I don't know if it's my complete lack of experience (most likely) or my gear ratio. I might try out the smaller chain ring tomorrow to see if that's more cooperative.

welcome to the club. :D do you know the secret handshake yet?

dood ur spillng the beanz0rz!

He didn't ask about stash pockets...

Welcome to the masses.

Is it a secret handshake or that you can't shake a stick without hitting a guy on a fixie?

Don't be one of us, you never want to limit yourself to such things.

All secret handshakes are taught by [165].

Ustjay on'tday artstay imhay onway iepay

mmmm! iepay!

Man what I wouldn't give to be healthy on a Saturday night instead of sitting around sick, reading pig latin, and listening to Willie Nelson on the Internets.

Ok, Willie's cool, but the rest is pretty lame.

Hmmm. Pie.

So did you buy the raleigh or the specialized and convert to fixed?

Welcome to the world of ??>? You will be sorry!!!

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHa!!/

S/F,
CEYA!

Wow... all this funny talkin'. Does this mean I should invest in a good helmet?


Hey, here's a question you folks might be able to answer. Can you drink and ride? Other than public intox, what can the coppers get you with?

/Orval!

Depending on where you live, they can hit you with DUI just like if you were operating a motor vehicle.

Ouch.

Not in Washington. There was some thread about how the cop has to give you a ride or something over in advocacy for awhile.

Just remember they have to be able to catch you. Learn your alleys.

A nice little Saturday project.

Went to one of the local shops and found a used wheel with a fixed hub. After unceremoniously removing all that shifting crap and a little fiddling, I'm now a proud owner of a fixie (though I still have my "trainer brake" on the rear fork). :)

There are still a few things that need to be done with it. Rear wheel needs to be better aligned and I'm thinking about getting a new crankset/chain ring since the road bike gearing isn't letting me get a completely straight chain. Plus, I'm not too comfortable with the quick release rear... the shop owner said I can drop off my bike during the week and get a solid axle instead.

I'd be out riding, but it started to rain as soon as I had finished. Though I rode around the block a couple times just to see what I'm getting myself into. I'm looking forward to my first wreck. ;)

Anyway, just kinda rambling and a little excited. Though I'd share. :)

I started working on number seven and it's still as exciting as the first one.
Welcome--your life will never be the same.

my condolances..... :p

Just don't ever move to Greenpoint or Williamsburg.

He didn't ask about stash pockets...

...or pie

Well, this morning I went from my 52 chain ring to my 40 to see if I could manage to do some skids in the gravel behind my apartment. First thing I do is ride around the block just to get the feel of my new ratio (16 on the back). Second thing I do is strip my f-ing hub.

Is this usually due to a cheap hub or bad installment? The guy at the bike shop hand tightened it and said as I ride it, it will tighten and to adjust the holding ring (what's the correct terminology for that?) accordingly.

So now I'm drinking a beer, nursing my bruised crotch, and trying to figure out if there are any bike shops open on Sunday that would have a fixed hub.

Is this usually due to a cheap hub or bad installment?

Yes.

It can be either. Some hubs will feature strip-away threads for your amusement, even if you do it all by the book. Misinstalling a cog can also F you up. Some cogs when properly installed still cause problems. We hates them, my precious.


The guy at the bike shop hand tightened it and said as I ride it, it will tighten and to adjust the holding ring (what's the correct terminology for that?) accordingly.

And did you? He's right, but basically it means you should go out, take a quick half-block sprint, then walk back and tighten down the lock ring. Others have suggested bracing the front against a wall and pedal against that to torque down the cog.


So now I'm drinking a beer, nursing my bruised crotch, and trying to figure out if there are any bike shops open on Sunday that would have a fixed hub.

Good luck with the beer and the beans.

And did you? He's right, but basically it means you should go out, take a quick half-block sprint, then walk back and tighten down the lock ring. Others have suggested bracing the front against a wall and pedal against that to torque down the cog.
Sounds like operator error to me, then. When I got it home, I rode around a bit and let it tighten. All I had to tighten the ring was a set of needlenonse pliers, so it probably wasn't as tight as it should have been. I guess I can chalk this one up to experience.

Frankly your LBS is a little negligent too, leaving you to do it without making sure that you had a lockring wrench. But as you say, mark it up to experience.

Hey, here's a question you folks might be able to answer. Can you drink and ride? Other than public intox, what can the coppers get you with?

Yup...you can definitely get a DUI on a bike. Not something I ever hope to accomplish, personally. Running into the back of a Ford Explorer and smashing its taillight was good enough for me.

And yes, buy a helmet.

Damn. Don't these bike shop people have chainwhips anymore?

What are these "chainwhips"? Sounds kinda kinky.

http://www.parktool.com/images/tools/HCW_14.jpg

That is a chainwhip, used to tighten and loosen cogs along with many other "kinky" uses.

[jerkmode] Is google broken or what? [ /jerkmode]