Originally Posted by
79pmooney
One thing I don't get - track ends? Why? If they were turned around so they opened to the front (or to the front and down, a sort of "L" shape) pulling the wheel is so much easier. With a chain peg you can pull the wheel, flip it around and remount to change gear ratios is less than 2 minutes using a Pedro's Trixie and never touch the chain.
Track ends are fine on the velodrome where dirt must be checked at the door. But on the road they suck. Yet every road fix gear or single speed I see purpose built for production uses track ends.
Grant Peterson could have any bike he wanted made. Why perpetrate this bad idea?
1. I remember when these were first introduced in 2004! - an acquaintance got his photo in the Rivendell Reader as an early buyer, in fact I saw Grant himself riding one in 2006. The stated intent was that different axle positions wouldn't affect the braking position. I don't know how effective it is at that.
http://www.cyclofiend.com/rbw/quickbeam/index.html
2. Yeah, I think more road fixies should have horizontal forward dropouts, there aren't that many around if you're looking for new frames. Got lucky with this one - I think it was only offered one year.
