Some nice, and fun pictures - thanks!

I like the Raleigh 20 fix. Those things weigh an absolute ton - I'm not even sure the frames were made from hollow tubes...

Another fun analogy to the fixed trend is that of the increasing amount of music available on vinyl records. There's an odd pleasure derived from using old or simple methods and devices.

Ed

I should confess, despite my occasional jabs at the easy targets of the fixed gear scene, I bought a bike not too long ago (from C&V member sailorbenjamin) with the intention of converting it to fixed gear. Well, a path racer, really. It's not high on my list of bike projects, but eventually I'll be riding a very sweet 1971 bronze green Raleigh Record** path racer. So I'm definitely not against fixed gear, or conversions. I am against mindless destruction of a dwindling supply of C&V bikes for the sake of following a fashion trend, and I will continue to jab at those idiots. For what it's worth, I think poguemahone's post is the best statement I've seen on the subject.











** This model was my first adult bike, bought new in 1971, when I was still in high school...

I think the frames and fork weigh about 9 pounds and they are hollow... :D

I had it down to 24 pounds (from a base weight of 36) before I reinstalled the stock fenders cause a proper bike needs fenders.

I volunteer at our bike co-op and we see a lot of so called "hipsters" and they are a really nice bunch of guys and girls who seem have a growing appreciation for all these lovely old bikes... although they ride a lot of conversions most of them would not ever drew a classic frame.

Mebbe I have had a small influence and a number also ride some beautiful road bikes ()both old and new).

The conversion seems to be king here and I see every few tarck bikes (they are still an oddity)...even the local shops sell more nice road oriented fixed gear and ss models as this fad had really become mainstream here.

Perhaps it has something to do with our climate and fact that if you choose, you don't have to ride up massive hills here and the biggest issue is high winds, snow, and cold.

Simple can be a good thing.

Single speeds are very pleasing aesthetically, but after using one, no, no way. Frustratingly limited, even in a flat area.

My first experience riding a single speed was exactly the opposite, I was surprised at how small those limitations were, even on my hilly route to work, halfway to the next town. Until then I couldn't understand how a single speed could even be rideable.

I think I cracked today, though. Did the local loop again (26 miles, almost 3000 ft of climbing and descending) and my desire for a steed with downtube friction shifters to complement my fixed conversion was knocked up a notch.

Agreed, there is nothing wrong with that style of bike. Destroying an otherwise cool bike to make one is distressing. And the ignorant rhetoric about how different they are from ordinary bikes can make you want to punch someone. But the bikes are cool. And, yes, singlespeeds and fixed can rock.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...corcher006.jpg

Here are some often, and less often mentioned reasons to love fixed gear bikes...

- they are quiet, no annoying clicking when coasting, in fact no coasting at all
- it's just fun; I find that I spend 90% of my time on my fixed gear bikes
- it's a great way to re-use an old bike that would otherwise end up at a dump
- not everyone can afford a modern $3000+ bike (and yes, much of that $3k is drive
train related)
- not everyone can afford to lovingly restore a 40 year old bike to it's ten-speed
glory, and even if they have the means, at some point it becomes very difficult
to aquire drive train parts
- brand new carbon everything bikes with gears are not recycleable, except for the
gears :)
- sometimes you just want to get on your bike and ride, in street shoes (and horror,
street clothes)
- while keeping a steady cadence might be faster, riding fixed is much better exercise
- geared bikes require much more maintenance, and believe it or not, not everyone
can afford that
- imho it's cool that there is a sub-culture of cycling that pays homage to the very roots
of cycling history and track racing

- I am able to coast on ym single speed, now a fixie or track is different.

but what I really need to know is how many grinder wheels does it take to use a dremmel to cut the shifter bosses off my Ti frame so I can 'Fixie' it?

That's easy, and here are instructions for cutting off parts of your Ti bike to make your fixie.

1-Cut off the shifter bosses first, 2 or 3 wheels.
2-Cut off the FD tab next, 1 or 2 wheels.
3-Cut off the RD hangar, or simply remove the dropout, 3-4 wheels.
4-Be sure to cut a hole in the head tube, you don't need no stinking badges...5-6 wheels.
5-It's a fixie, so cut off the brake bridge, too. 4-5 wheels
6-Now, cut some cooling slots in the fork, maybe 2-3 on each side, 2 wheels.
7-You may want a long seat post, so cut the top of the seat tube off (it'll look longer), 3-4 wheels.
8-Don't forget the brake cable guides - 2 wheels
9-And the RD cable stop - 1 wheel.

Let's see, oops, I forgot you need to cut out the bottle cage bosses, too. 2-3 wheels.

OK, now that you've got everthing cut off, do a little rattle-can work to cover any scratches on that Ti.
Mount some wheels and the rest of your components, and have fun!!!

i dont hate gears. plotting out my first fg/ss build. doin it cuz id like the exp, cant afford a "real" off the shelf fg/ss bike, and no i have no plans to cut anything (even cable mounts) even if it looks strange or in the way.
i love my mtb, but i want variety in what i choose to ride 'pon the daily. im fairly new to the "world of biking" and im just choosing to try each different flavour of the bicycle rainbow.
edit: dont get me wrong, WHEN i find the bike i choose for my project ill post pics cuz i dont know a px-10 from a bunch of steel tubes with tires :p

A lot of folks come to the shop and are surprised when they find I am riding a geared bike... :lol:

The geared bikes still outnumber the fg/ss bikes and I just added another gearie and added some speeds to that one.

gears are only evil when I've sliced open my knuckles on one.

Yeah but FG bikes can remove fingers. Look at the FG article on Sheldon's web site, if you have the stomach to do so.

I have and I still retain all my fingertips, cause I don't mess much with FG drivetrains (still have functioning knees, too) ;)

thanks Robbie I am bit short I better go get a pack or three LOL

I do'nt see the problem, if someone's riding a bike I'm all for it.If unicycles come into some big fad I'll like them too(i will never own one of them either).All that been said ,deraileurs have been around for around many years(when did they first appear?).I have had VERY few problems even the cheap lousy ones seem to work pretty well.

I can't believe this thread is still around. It was stupid when it was started and just getting worse. Must be dog day boredom.

Maybe we should make it a sticky. Then, whenever you guys get a wedgie, you can go to the sticky to work it out.

That's it guys, time to wrap it up...he's on to us. :cry:

Damn straight! ;)

wrap it up? we were just starting to have fun!

Go for it!:thumb: