Fixed Yet?
09-17-13 | 10:23 AM
#1
Thread Starter
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
Fixed Yet?
All,
I enjoy riding my Fixed Gear bicycle; it is simple and uncompromised by multiple gears or the slacker’s ability to coast. You pedal it and it pedals you right back, fair is fair.
Being both old and out of touch, as well as living in a rural cultural backwater, I have little to no contact with younger people other than to shout “Get off my lawn!” at them.
This spring I was riding my old fixed gear road bike on a favorite route when I chanced upon the start of a Serious Group Ride. I could tell just how serious by the sparkling pile of plastic aerodynamic wunder-bikes and the fact that they were waiting for one of their number to finish droning on and on about his hydraulic shifting system and electric brakes so they could all start off in the wrong gear, un-clip and fall down in a $$$$$$$ heap of bloody scratched plastic.
Here’s a snippet of conversation overheard as I turned onto Chip Seal Loop:
A)“Dude, check out the Fixie!”
B)“Yo, I Totally remember those.”
Two things here to think about:
1) I assumed that speaker A) was a mentally challenged person whose linguistic abilities were permanently frozen in the Infantile mode of a toddler. By referring to my Fixed Gear as a “Fixie” I assumed that if asked to describe a bowel movement he would refer to it as a “Poopie”.
2) Since speaker B) was of an age to be chewing on a Barney plush toy in his crib when I converted my road bike to fixed gear he must possess the rare gift of Photographic Memory.
“How wonderful that two young men of such disparate abilities can enjoy the camaraderie of cycling together.” I mused.
In assuming that these young folk were Idiot Savants I was only partially correct.
-Bandera
I enjoy riding my Fixed Gear bicycle; it is simple and uncompromised by multiple gears or the slacker’s ability to coast. You pedal it and it pedals you right back, fair is fair.
Being both old and out of touch, as well as living in a rural cultural backwater, I have little to no contact with younger people other than to shout “Get off my lawn!” at them.
This spring I was riding my old fixed gear road bike on a favorite route when I chanced upon the start of a Serious Group Ride. I could tell just how serious by the sparkling pile of plastic aerodynamic wunder-bikes and the fact that they were waiting for one of their number to finish droning on and on about his hydraulic shifting system and electric brakes so they could all start off in the wrong gear, un-clip and fall down in a $$$$$$$ heap of bloody scratched plastic.
Here’s a snippet of conversation overheard as I turned onto Chip Seal Loop:
A)“Dude, check out the Fixie!”
B)“Yo, I Totally remember those.”
Two things here to think about:
1) I assumed that speaker A) was a mentally challenged person whose linguistic abilities were permanently frozen in the Infantile mode of a toddler. By referring to my Fixed Gear as a “Fixie” I assumed that if asked to describe a bowel movement he would refer to it as a “Poopie”.
2) Since speaker B) was of an age to be chewing on a Barney plush toy in his crib when I converted my road bike to fixed gear he must possess the rare gift of Photographic Memory.
“How wonderful that two young men of such disparate abilities can enjoy the camaraderie of cycling together.” I mused.
In assuming that these young folk were Idiot Savants I was only partially correct.
-Bandera
09-17-13 | 10:56 AM
#2
__________________
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
09-17-13 | 11:02 AM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Bikes: 87 Bridgestone 550 (Shocking Electric Metallic Pink)
NICE looking "FIXED GEAR BICYCLE"! I have not even considered FIXING a road bike, though I am toying with making a SS (Single Speed) out of one project. Had an interesting experience as I was enveloped by a Club Ride...MOSTLY on their plastic rockets, as I was riding my 70's Torpado-12 speed with chrome fenders and rack....One called out "Nice Ride". I latched onto the back of a group of 8 who got spit off the back by the pace (which was about 20mph) and rode with them for a few miles. Chatted a bit with tail-end-charlie who kept calling me PROFESSOR....then turned right when they turned left. BOY those cassettes BUZZING were annoying!!!! My old Suntour was silent by comparison.
09-17-13 | 11:28 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,977
Likes: 5
From: Knoxville, TN
Bikes: Schwinn Paramount P15, Fisher Montare, Proteus, Rivendell Quickbeam
I like fixies and have to take a poopie.
Everyone knows that fixies are over: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOXsmNhvPEU
Everyone knows that fixies are over: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOXsmNhvPEU
09-17-13 | 11:46 AM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,641
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
I still announce when it's "poopy time" to anyone present.
09-17-13 | 12:05 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
We have a couple serious trackies who come out to the local hammerfest on track bikes. They have brakes of course, but I don't think they ever use them. Man, those guys can spin.
09-17-13 | 12:06 PM
#12
Thread Starter
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
Thanks! I've owned it since new, built it up from a bare frameset.
It was a great road bike in the day and has performed yeoman service fixed gear for a long time.
-Bandera
It was a great road bike in the day and has performed yeoman service fixed gear for a long time.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 09-17-13 at 06:16 PM.
09-17-13 | 12:11 PM
#15
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
All,
I enjoy riding my Fixed Gear bicycle; it is simple and uncompromised by multiple gears or the slacker’s ability to coast. You pedal it and it pedals you right back, fair is fair.
Being both old and out of touch, as well as living in a rural cultural backwater, I have little to no contact with younger people other than to shout “Get off my lawn!” at them.
This spring I was riding my old fixed gear road bike on a favorite route when I chanced upon the start of a Serious Group Ride. I could tell just how serious by the sparkling pile of plastic aerodynamic wunder-bikes and the fact that they were waiting for one of their number to finish droning on and on about his hydraulic shifting system and electric brakes so they could all start off in the wrong gear, un-clip and fall down in a $$$$$$$ heap of bloody scratched plastic.
Here’s a snippet of conversation overheard as I turned onto Chip Seal Loop:
A)“Dude, check out the Fixie!”
B)“Yo, I Totally remember those.”
Two things here to think about:
1) I assumed that speaker A) was a mentally challenged person whose linguistic abilities were permanently frozen in the Infantile mode of a toddler. By referring to my Fixed Gear as a “Fixie” I assumed that if asked to describe a bowel movement he would refer to it as a “Poopie”.
2) Since speaker B) was of an age to be chewing on a Barney plush toy in his crib when I converted my road bike to fixed gear he must possess the rare gift of Photographic Memory.
“How wonderful that two young men of such disparate abilities can enjoy the camaraderie of cycling together.” I mused.
In assuming that these young folk were Idiot Savants I was only partially correct.
-Bandera
I enjoy riding my Fixed Gear bicycle; it is simple and uncompromised by multiple gears or the slacker’s ability to coast. You pedal it and it pedals you right back, fair is fair.
Being both old and out of touch, as well as living in a rural cultural backwater, I have little to no contact with younger people other than to shout “Get off my lawn!” at them.
This spring I was riding my old fixed gear road bike on a favorite route when I chanced upon the start of a Serious Group Ride. I could tell just how serious by the sparkling pile of plastic aerodynamic wunder-bikes and the fact that they were waiting for one of their number to finish droning on and on about his hydraulic shifting system and electric brakes so they could all start off in the wrong gear, un-clip and fall down in a $$$$$$$ heap of bloody scratched plastic.
Here’s a snippet of conversation overheard as I turned onto Chip Seal Loop:
A)“Dude, check out the Fixie!”
B)“Yo, I Totally remember those.”
Two things here to think about:
1) I assumed that speaker A) was a mentally challenged person whose linguistic abilities were permanently frozen in the Infantile mode of a toddler. By referring to my Fixed Gear as a “Fixie” I assumed that if asked to describe a bowel movement he would refer to it as a “Poopie”.
2) Since speaker B) was of an age to be chewing on a Barney plush toy in his crib when I converted my road bike to fixed gear he must possess the rare gift of Photographic Memory.
“How wonderful that two young men of such disparate abilities can enjoy the camaraderie of cycling together.” I mused.
In assuming that these young folk were Idiot Savants I was only partially correct.
-Bandera
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
09-17-13 | 12:14 PM
#16
Thread Starter
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
-Bandera
09-17-13 | 01:45 PM
#18
Get off my lawn!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,035
Likes: 118
From: The Garden State
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
So....a lot has changed since March....I mean...street cred and all......ahhh...errr.....fixie fixed fixie thing there?
Bandera
Join Date 03-11-13
Current Activity Viewing Thread
Bringing street cred down am 54 and just bought my first fixie
Last Activity 09-17-13 03:42 PMAvatar
Join Date 03-11-13
Current Activity Viewing Thread
Bringing street cred down am 54 and just bought my first fixie
Last Activity 09-17-13 03:42 PMAvatar
Last edited by Velognome; 09-17-13 at 01:48 PM.
09-17-13 | 02:00 PM
#19
Thread Starter
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
????
Not so much has changed for the last couple of decades fixed gear bike wise, thanks for kinda asking.
The pic you reference is my avatar, the International town bike is as it is: AW 1956 hub and all.
My Trek has been ridden as pic attached in #1 since '92, a fixed gear road bike. See pic below, or see it live and in the wild on TX roads. I've been riding fixed gear on the road for >40 years, this one is my favorite.
Oh, and thanks so much for commemorating my forum join date! We all have them but you make mine Special, I guess.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 09-18-13 at 12:32 AM.
09-17-13 | 03:15 PM
#20
Cisalpinist
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 18
From: Holland
Bikes: blue ones.
ha, funny how they refer to FG's as yesterday's trend. It's still picking up speed here in Euroland.
I've been riding my FG all summer, it has been a lot of fun, but with the autumn rains, it's time to replace it with something fenders and fat tires. 23 mm tires and wet tram tracks are a recipe for disaster and arriving at work with a mud butt is too.
I've been riding my FG all summer, it has been a lot of fun, but with the autumn rains, it's time to replace it with something fenders and fat tires. 23 mm tires and wet tram tracks are a recipe for disaster and arriving at work with a mud butt is too.
09-17-13 | 04:16 PM
#21
Thrifty Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,639
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Hopefully not over just quite yet. I am building one right now. I just could not resist. Got a nice set of FG/SS wheels at a garage sale (at an incredibly low price) last week off a guy that just had to have white rims on his Bianchi Pista. Putting together a pretty interesting one with left over parts from prior projects.
I still see plenty of them here, despite all the hills.
I still see plenty of them here, despite all the hills.
Last edited by wrk101; 09-17-13 at 04:23 PM.
09-17-13 | 04:26 PM
#22
Thread Starter
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
Flip/Flop is so much better than Wishy/Washy.
Your World Voyager would be a very fine fixed gear project, nice to have a resilient and supple frameset when getting butt-off-saddle isn't always an option.
-Bandera
09-17-13 | 06:07 PM
#24
Thread Starter
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
At a certain point in life a fixed-gear bicycle ride, a proper bowl movement, a few fingers of Wild Turkey and the company of the retired librarian next door are all you need, and "Gunsmoke" re-runs on the tube.
-Bandera