A moment of bizarre nostalgia...
#1
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A moment of bizarre nostalgia...
...for the early days of the fixed gear craze! I drank pretty deep of that particular kool-aid, riding fixed exclusively for a few years. Last night I got to thinking about all those bikes, the obsession with horizontal dropouts, chain line, neon colours and the whole bit. Anyway, my brother gave me this purple Gardin frame for Christmas. I wasn't sure where to go with it until this little, distant voice from the past cried out "that would make a cool fixie!"
So here it is! Excel tubing, unknown model of Gardin. I guess if I was going to make it "period correct " it should've had flop and chop bars, but I didn't have any bars I wanted to do that to. Enjoy! Or not?
So here it is! Excel tubing, unknown model of Gardin. I guess if I was going to make it "period correct " it should've had flop and chop bars, but I didn't have any bars I wanted to do that to. Enjoy! Or not?
Last edited by devinfan; 01-26-15 at 03:14 PM.
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How do you like the TA as a single? I have one currently set up as a triple, but I'm parting that bike out and considering moving the crank to my new 1x8 build. Any thoughts on spindle length?
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Yep, great fixie. My fixie bug is still going strong after 5 years. Now with more brakes, locks, bells and fenders though.
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Now we need pictures of you with thebike in our skinny jeans. Hopefully with some spray paint graffiti in the background.
My fixie stage only lasted about a week, the hills around here killed me.
My fixie stage only lasted about a week, the hills around here killed me.
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#7
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I went through a brakeless phase too, but found that I just ended up riding really slowly, which seemed pointless!
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Yeah, riding with a front brake makes my antics worse. Btw the more I look at that frame the more I love it. Real 90's Italian chic, so sharp with that straight fork and all. Your brother has an excellent taste in bikes!
#10
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Thanks - I love the frame too. I've never had a frame made of Excel tubing, it's actually very light. The whole bike weighs 16.5 lbs., which is not setting any records but not bad for a 58cm frame. My brother has excellent taste in everything, with the possible exception of women.
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I rode my fixie to work today, still love that thing. Mine has been "drewed" and rattle canned, so I don't even know what it originally was, a Sekine I think. Yours is gorgeous!
#12
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Thank you! Looking forward to riding this on the street - I just put it together a couple of hours ago so it's only done circles in the living room so far. Last year I rode a fixed gear for a lot of the Winter and found it actually gave me more control when the roads were slippery, although riding through the ice-storm on 21mm tubulars had its hair-raising moments...
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I can appreciate your need to build a single speed bike. Takes me back too. I used to love riding an old track bike and enjoyed many years of commuting on one. No brakes, just your wits and a little luck. I still have 3 track bikes that take me around the block to relive my past. I will always have a track bike.
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...for the early days of the fixed gear craze! I drank pretty deep of that particular kool-aid, riding fixed exclusively for a few years. Last night I got to thinking about all those bikes, the obsession with horizontal dropouts, chain line, neon colours and the whole bit. Anyway, my brother gave me this purple Gardin frame for Christmas. I wasn't sure where to go with it until this little, distant voice from the past cried out "that would make a cool fixie!"
So here it is! Excel tubing, unknown model of Gardin. I guess if I was going to make it "period correct " it should've had flop and chop bars, but I didn't have any bars I wanted to do that to. Enjoy! Or not?
So here it is! Excel tubing, unknown model of Gardin. I guess if I was going to make it "period correct " it should've had flop and chop bars, but I didn't have any bars I wanted to do that to. Enjoy! Or not?
Front brake is sine qua non, and I assume the gearing is optimised for your typical mission profile, or else modified as needs dictate.
#17
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I can appreciate your need to build a single speed bike. Takes me back too. I used to love riding an old track bike and enjoyed many years of commuting on one. No brakes, just your wits and a little luck. I still have 3 track bikes that take me around the block to relive my past. I will always have a track bike.
Thanks! Gearing is 44/16, which is fairly low, but I prefer it that way in the Winter. I like spinning when it's cold!
#18
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You could put a leather saddle and a TA crank on a turd and C&V would fawn over it.
But yeah, it's a nice ride you have there.
But yeah, it's a nice ride you have there.
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Here is a quick pic of my current track bikes - love 'em.
#20
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Yes, still brakeless but much more careful now. I could never skid and I had few near misses. I remember living in Christchurch NZ in the mid 70's and riding a fixed wheel. If I went flat-out down the main street of Christchurch I could get all the green lights but If I was a little slower that morning I would hit a changing light and had to do a pretty tight turn to enter the crossroad just ahead of the traffic crossing my original path. Stupid and scary.
Here is a quick pic of my current track bikes - love 'em.
Here is a quick pic of my current track bikes - love 'em.
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Thanks devinfan.
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Made me smile then sigh! I read "early days of the fixed gear craze" and I'm thinking Ephgrave, Hetchins and Hobbs when a Flamboyant green or red paint job was...well flamboyant! And your thinking Neons and Graffiti, skinny jeans and PBR! Nice to see the tradition continues on.
Beautiful conversion, now as they say, "ride it like you stole it!"
#24
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Oh, it's not going to happen. It was basically a trade that didn't work out. Not the seller's fault, he's a good guy, he just changed his mind. Anyhow since I'm not going to be the owner, maybe someone else will. It was a beautiful custom Cyclops frame in amazing condition, with a raised head and seat-tube. It's still for sale. I don't need it anyway, I always have to remind myself that happiness is about appreciating what you have. Here it is if anyone is interested, it looks even better in person:
CUSTOM 55cm CYCLOPS FRAME & FORK
CUSTOM 55cm CYCLOPS FRAME & FORK
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That's one fancy commode.