Hello from Dublin, Ireland
11-04-10, 05:19 PM
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Hello from Dublin, Ireland
Hey everyone,
I live in Dublin, Ireland. Back in June, I was visiting New York for work. My American colleagues had organized a bike trip around Manhattan. The only bike available was a fixed gear. I hadn't been on a bicycle for more than ten years, and I had never been on a fixed gear before. I first thought my last day had come... but I turned out to be an interesting and fun experience!
I enjoyed it so much that, once back in Dublin, I decided to buy a bike and attempt to commute with it. I live 25km (15.5miles) from my office, and I was pretty unfit. My wife probably thought I'd lost it.
I bought a Giant Defy 3 at the end of July. The first commutes were rough but the more I cycled, the more I enjoyed it. I've been averaging about ~150km (~95miles) a week since, and I'm now completely hooked!
Towards the end of September I bought a second hand bike (Allegro Subito) that I intend to convert to fixed gear for two purposes: 1. getting practice maintaining a bike (without messing up my commuter), 2. having fun. This project is still in progress. The most interesting task so far has been lacing and truing my own wheels.
I'm married, and father of 3 adorable kids. I'm a software engineer by trade.
I'm looking forward to participate on the forums!
I live in Dublin, Ireland. Back in June, I was visiting New York for work. My American colleagues had organized a bike trip around Manhattan. The only bike available was a fixed gear. I hadn't been on a bicycle for more than ten years, and I had never been on a fixed gear before. I first thought my last day had come... but I turned out to be an interesting and fun experience!
I enjoyed it so much that, once back in Dublin, I decided to buy a bike and attempt to commute with it. I live 25km (15.5miles) from my office, and I was pretty unfit. My wife probably thought I'd lost it.
I bought a Giant Defy 3 at the end of July. The first commutes were rough but the more I cycled, the more I enjoyed it. I've been averaging about ~150km (~95miles) a week since, and I'm now completely hooked!
Towards the end of September I bought a second hand bike (Allegro Subito) that I intend to convert to fixed gear for two purposes: 1. getting practice maintaining a bike (without messing up my commuter), 2. having fun. This project is still in progress. The most interesting task so far has been lacing and truing my own wheels.
I'm married, and father of 3 adorable kids. I'm a software engineer by trade.
I'm looking forward to participate on the forums!
11-05-10, 02:19 AM
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Hello cyclinoliv, welcome to Bike Forums.
Working on your own bike is fun, and around here it's also pretty much the only way to guarantee your commuting vehicle is in working order when you need it. During peak seasons, local bike shops frequently give estimates of "about one week" for any kind of maintenance job.
--J
Working on your own bike is fun, and around here it's also pretty much the only way to guarantee your commuting vehicle is in working order when you need it. During peak seasons, local bike shops frequently give estimates of "about one week" for any kind of maintenance job.
--J
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To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
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11-05-10, 02:53 AM
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GONE~
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Welcome to the forums! We also have a singlespeed/fixed gear dedicated sub forum as well, you're free to drop in there anytime. You better have a sense of humour to survive in there. 
Very impressive for truing AND lacing your own wheels for a conversion.
Very impressive for truing AND lacing your own wheels for a conversion.
11-05-10, 10:09 PM
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Lacing was quick, despite getting the rim handedness wrong at first, but truing took me the good part of a weekend. I think all I need is practice
