Originally Posted by
Scrodzilla
Lots of helpful links there. Thank you for that.
Originally Posted by
caloso
Remind yourself that a fixed gear is merely a single speed that cannot coast. The most important times to remind yourself of this fact is when going around a corner and when going down a hill. Fortunately, all FG bikes are equipped with an instant feedback mechanism that will remind you when you do forget.
Gearing is very personal. Mine is 39x16 because: 1) my knees are old; 2) the bike is my SSCX and I like 39x17 or 18 on the freewheel side for CX racing; and 3) I already had a 39t inner ring from a standard road double lying around.
Bars are personal too. I like road drops because of the greater variety of hand positions. But many like bullhorns so that is fine too. Be aware that your current brake levers may not fit the bull horns.
Whatever you do, set your bike up for riding in the manner that is most comfortable, efficient, and pleasing to you. Not for fashion.
I agree with much of this. I have come to like drop bars a lot as well- I can't even function well on risers now, even though I grew up with them since i got my first bike at 5. I will have to spend a little extra on a caliper and compatible lever. I was thinking of a standard side (or maybe dual?) pull road caliper with a CX type lever mounted on the end of the bar. I was also considering randonneur drop bars (the kind where the drops are bent slightly outwards). I'll decide that stuff later though.
Sorry to the rest of you for a redundant thread. I'm guilty of mean replies in common threads as well, but chain lube/life/maintenance threads do get pretty annoying. With scrod's post, I don't think I'll need to ask anymore really common questions. Once again, I apologize. I hope we can all get along, lest I ask about anything more.