Mr. Shadow

I hope you don't mind me cross-posting these fixed-gear bike pictures.
I've had a few of you ask me about them, so here they are (plus one of my sweetie Ginger.)

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9658

Lotus Elan (being reworked, so lacking rear tubular and getting a gear change.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9662

Miyata OneTen (52x19t)

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9659

Other side of Miyata for a better view of the fade.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9660

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9657

Close ups of Miyata's custom rear wheel--gold anodized Mavic OR-10 tubular rim and Dura Ace track hub.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9663

Schwinn Le Tour (42x16t...commuter)

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9665

Mirage gets new bottle holders (secured with radiator clamps,) a new stem, and lots of fiesty attitude.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9655

Full view of updated Mirage.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9654

Ginger, crashing on her sofa, after a walk at the lake.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9656

New bikes on the block.

Mr. Shadow

I fixed the broken links.

Mark4

Pardon the seeming flame-worthiness of this reply... but I wince a little when I see a bunch of otherwise nice old lugged bikes made less-rideable. On the small scale it doesn't bother me at all... but done in large numbers, it's slightly (if ever so slightly) disturbing. Like the guy who hacks up many old Nishikis, then sells them as fixies on ebay . Perhaps I'm alone at seeing things this way, but I feel I must speak out against the "Cult of the Fixedgear." This would be a great thread for the Fixed gear section... but in "Classic & Vintage?" To me, this section's more about in-tact bikes... not the neutered variety.

Please do not take this as a personal flamey-attack against you... it's more a build-up of all those unwarranted (in my opinion) "That would make a nice fixie" comments that fixed-gear enthusiasts seem to make when someone post about an older geared-bike.

That said, I think those are otherwise really neat old bikes. I envy your collection.

USAZorro

Mark - You aren't alone. I subscribe to live-and-let-live, so you won't catch me flaming fixies, but it does seem that, with a few exceptions, they're taking them a step backward. I understand the value of a fixie in training, and in certain extreme riding conditions, but having gears has always (and will always) seemed more desireable to me.

lotek 

I can't build a fixie for the simple reason I cannot bear
to strip off the old parts. The bike was designed for a specific
purpose and well, let it be.
There are a few nice old 'nagos etc. in the fixie forum and it
kills me to see them as such. That isn't a judgement, just the
way I'm wired. I'd rather see them with full campy gruppo and sewups.

have a retrogrouchy day,
Marty

stumpjumper

stumpjumper= 17 bikes + 2 fixie/ss's

Thats a good enough ratio for me. I love my fixies, but I love gears even more.

pjbaz

I have a pile of bikes and one fixie because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I built a 1983-4 (ser #83- components spec'd as 84) lugged frame Trek 500 into a nice fixie and it's cool. I like riding it around town...especially when I need to hit the post office of LBS. I don't ever fear of locking it up because most thiefs can't figure out how to stop...or would crash when trying to coast anyway. And I'm into it for cheap $.

I have No problem with people converting their old rides. Yes, some of them I would like to own as classic geared bikes but I don't own them so I appreciate the fact they are still ridden and loved, even as something other than originally designed.

I'm not saying it will convert you but riding a bike with so basic a setup is kind of liberating. No noise, just the wind in your ears. Plus, a TRUE track stand is always cool, even though I can't do it too well, yet.

PJ

H23

I have to respectfully disagree, Mark4.

Fixee conversions bring back life to old rides. In many cases, the person doing (or buying) the conversion already has a very nice modern geared bicycle. Although bikes from the 70's and 80's can be excellent (I ride a 6-speed bianchi myself), they don't in most cases measure up to equivalently good new stuff. Combine that with limited availability and high cost of retro mechanisms, and you have a strong case for making a fixee.

In addition to the usual training benefits, a converting an old machine into a fixee creates something that is often ridden much more than it would be if it were left in its "period correct" condition. Also, you get a light frame, superior retro geometry (my opinion), and a unique look. Its hard to match that with an off-the-shelf fixee.

For many bikes, the fixee state, is the AFTERLIFE.

Poguemahone

I have two fixies, both by age classic. One is a 1973 PX10e, the other a 1973 UO8. The PX was a wreck when I found it, just a frame,fork, and a shot headset and an even more shot bottom bracket. Had it been a complete bike, I would have kept it, but I wanted a fixie on a nice frame, so there it is. The original set up cost me under 150$. I have since upgraded to a Phil Wood setup.

The UO was bought complete for five bucks at auction. It would have gone to the crusher. I frankenbike fixied it for the cost of some time, some stuff out of the basement, and the cost of a track cog. There was no way I was going to deal with the cottered crank and steel rims, and if I want to ever take it back to stock, I'm pretty sure I can find another UO8. The resulting bike is much too nice for the crusher, and a great urban beater.

Long ago, I used to take my PF during the winter, slap on a track cog, and use it for training cadence. Although I wonder at the current fascination/cult of fixed gear/singlespeed (if I see one more student riding a single speed freewheel setup with no brakes around here I may have to slap them on the head with a board), they are excellent urban rides.

On the other hand, if I find a complete classic bike in my size with nice stock parts, I'll keep it so. If it's not my size, tho, I'll strip it, because I am a philistine. Sorry, Lotek.

moxfyre

Thanks for that photo, Mr. Shadow! You've inspired me to finally get off my butt and start working on my own Lotus Elan. It looks almost the same as yours, only black, and I picked it up for $10 but have yet to beging fixifying it.

Mr. Shadow

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry if I offended anyone here. It certainly was not my intention.

Mr. Shadow

"...nice old lugged bikes made less-rideable..."

Not if the motor still has the heart of a child to make them go.

TheOtherGuy

They're all good if you enjoy them! I think as long as you don't cut off a rear derailleur hanger, then a frame can always be made into a multi-geared bike again; right? No harm, no foul. Would be a shame to cut the drop-out off on a classic Masi or Cinelli though...
Enjoy the ride!

Mark4

Firstly, let me apologize for being a jerk. You guys bring up excellent points, and I had no reason to write so negatively about fixies. I really don't have a set opinion on such things... just a fuzzy one at the time. Who knows, maybe I'll have a fixed-gear of my own some day. The 'motor' is probably in good enough shape for riding one (though it sounds like there's a definite learning curve), and it should be a fun project. It was wrong of me to hijack this thread. I'm not a jerk offline, and I shouldn't be one here. I mean, it's a fun hobby/sport... and should really be 'live and let live' which I wasn't living up to. I've never been personally offended by peoples' choice of rides... just took it a bit too seriously is all... could be the cabin fever. Cycling's really about getting out there, and riding where and what you enjoy... geared, fixed, mountain, road, bent etc.

moxfyre

I sometimes have a similar reaction to yours, when I see old ten speeds abandoned or in an awful state of disrepair. I think a lot of the old ten speeds are really cool and I would love to own a nice Schwinn in its original geared state.

But I think there are enough old bikes available to keep everybody happy, whether they want a geared bike or a fixie or want to rip it apart and make some strange clown bike or whatever

lotek 

FWIW I don't mind fixies, nor converting old bikes
(unless its some memorable marque like Pogliaghi etc.),
I just have a problem in that I would perfer to restore it
and ride it as it was supposed to be ridden.

Marty

mswantak

I just have a problem in that I would perfer to restore it

Heheh; that preference causes problems for all of us, doesn't it?

manboy

I don't know if this is the case here, but what about the fact that old brakes and shifting mechanisms tend to degrade with time? If you find a nice bike with components that are shot, that seems to me like the perfect candidate for a nice road fixie. Besides, if you keep all the old stuff in a box, you can always throw it back on.