I agree with 65'er on the suicide hub and can take it even one step further. I've used them for years without any kind of loctite and have never broken one loose. I run a front brake and skid occasionally. When I install a cog, I thread it on by hand then go ride up my favorite steep hill very slowly. I wait until I've ridden it a week or so before I skid, but I haven't had one come loose yet. Even if it does there is that magical contraption called a brake.

Now that's something you don't see at Starbucks every day, Columbia?

-Bandera

I bow to the majority, but not on my bike.

-Bandera

Yeah, that. ^^^^

Couldn't agree more, Sixty-Fiver. My 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee was built that way, it's not a conversion. I bought it off the original owner and the only non-original part was the tyres. I have changed the brake levers as another member really needed a pair of GB's, bar tape and removed the clunky old lights. Rims are Conloy Constrictors on Solite hubs. The rims have convex curved side walls, so the rim brakes aren't too bright - good thing I've got that fixed wheel at the back! Here are some really bad photos.

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/t...02-09_1304.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/t...Fixedwheel.png

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/t...02-09_1305.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/t...02-09_1310.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/t...02-09_1311.jpg

The rear hub is fixed/fixed, not a 'flippy floppy' or whatever kids call a double threaded hub these days. One cog is 1/8" and the other 3/32" - go figure! The original Brooks saddle has a terminal split in the leather at the front of the cantle plate rivet on the right - shame, so I'm hoping some day to find an aged Swallow by Brooks or Lycett to replace it. Yes, I DO have a Carradice Nelson canvas saddle bag AND a pair of wheel carriers I could put on it - and I'm about to build up a pair of tubular rims on high flange track hubs that I COULD carry around all day!

Elegant machine!
With the wheel carriers & sprints installed you'll take authentic to a new zipcode.

-Bandera

I recently built my first fixed gear bike. I took a mid 80s Benotto Modelo frame and stripped it, painted and and went with a 46/16 ratio. It now weighs 21.5lbs and its VERY enjoyable to ride. Here in louisville the elevation goes from 425-750ft so riding fixed around the whole town is totally doable seeing as how I do it quite often. I ride to work 7 miles and home every day on my fixed gear bike. I average around 19mph on the "Fixie" which is probably about the sweet spot for the gear ratio it has on it, sometimes I have to mash going uphill but it makes it every time.

lots of fixed gear riders in San Jose. We even have a bike shop that caters to fixed gear riders and sells nothing but fg/ss bikes

i like getting an aero position and coasting down hills at high speeds while fixed gear folks are spinning like crazy :lol:

Love it!

I can't help it… I don't like the term fixie and, like the OP, think it sounds infantile. I also associate it with all the 'Make a perfect fixie' ad-spamming on eBay. I like fixed gear machines from the 30s to 50s.

[IMG]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5215/5...cd9a372c9a.jpg IMG_5261 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

Or even from 2009 - the legal heat (which some might remember) has faded and I've reconverted it back to fixed from automatic 2-speed Torpedo coaster brake:

[IMG]http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4011/4...fcdd95bb22.jpg IMG_3027 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

Someone mentioned how fixed gear riders can spin… I went for a ride on the Chesini with a bunch of lads in their 20s a few Saturdays ago, lots on 54/16 ratios, and they left me standing. I started out in the first 5 and when the other 10 or so passed me it really was like being overtaken by motorcycles.

Oh, and this is my next fixed gear - I just have another couple of things to do on my latest road machine and then the work will begin:

[IMG]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/9...e65646d363.jpg Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

Kitten > Bike.

Everyday of the week.

http://i.qkme.me/35g60c.jpg

I prefer to use tug backs, then you KNOW the wheel won't go forward. And I'm a bit concerned I might over torque the nuts...

I think I've seen this shot before and I still love the machine...

Whoah!! This thread is getting SERIOUS...

I reckon so, some slick stuff there.

What are the rectangular fittings on the fork & seat stays of "next project" for, mudguards?

-Bandera

A few years ago, I was fixated (get it?) on the idea of finding an English grass track race bike. It seemed like a cool, but obscure niche bike. Now, with the popularity of SSCX, you can find a lot of modern frames that have the same functionality. See my On-One, for example. Still, they don't have the same STYLE as a Carlton path racer.

Yes, mudguards. You use special square headed bolts that fit into the holes and are secured with little butterfly nuts. They're quite common on 50s English frames. I'll take a picture of some and post it later.

Grass track racing as an organized thing, not just some drunks turned loose on a football pitch on a Friday night?

The British never fail to amaze me cycling wise.
That has to be much more pleasant than the cyclo-cross muddy/shoe-losing/suffer fests we used to "enjoy".
And what pray tell defines a cutting edge Grass-Track-Racer: Peter Rabbit guards, grass gearing & turf clearance?
Any pics anyone?

-Bandera

(This has to be a Slag.....)

This is one from Mark Stevens, the Gillot guy - I think they have lower gearing than tracks machines, fatter tyres and possibly more relaxed geometry... but I'm not sure:

[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/7...d556791ca4.jpg Bates Volante Grass racer 1951 by Mark`Stevens ModelCrafter, on Flickr[/IMG]

Thanks!
Lovely grass track machine that.

I'm suitably mortified, amazed and amused.
Grass track racing w/ dedicated FG machines: Good on you Blighty!

I need a stiff drink, and I'm sure about that.

-Bandera

Those really are some bad photos.

Back to the shed with you... the bike demands better than this.

:)

Morris? Early 40's or post war? The stem is great! Did you have the restoration done on the frame or did you acquire it as such? Ah, ya see, a bike boom conversion will never...ever...in a million years have the appeal of a proper fixed gear purpose built frame....which reminds me, I have a Mclean that I hung a IGH on, I should fix it.

Agree - love that track look. But, conversions will always appeal to the "repurposing" of the scads of near valuless '70's & '80's bikes that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

I really have no problem with running a road bike with a fixed wheelset... you get better geometry for the road and get to enjoy riding fixed.

It was done like this for decades where your racing bike got fixed for winter riding and spring training and then the gears went back on when the legs were ready... it saved what were some pretty expensive components from being prematurely ruined.

Not to mention brake holes and bottle cage bosses.

I am going to be building up some retro styled road frames with track ends for a fixed, SS, or IGH set up... am looking at relaxed angles, accommodation for much wider tyres, and provisions for creature comforts like water bottle cages, brakes, fenders, and racks.

Would be modelling these after some late 30's Raleigh bicycles I have seen that were filet brazed, probably done so to preserve materials during wartime.

I also have another '51 CCM coming to me from a friend and will probably add some bottle cage mounts and improve the track ends before it gets re-painted and built up.

I Heart Fixies
 

Mmmmm, fixies..... I try not to get too hung up on words, they're just the finger pointing at the moon, and all that. Some stranger yelling: "Yo, fixie!" at me brings a smile.

Purpose-built, neo-retro 2008 Waterford with stainless Sachs Newvex head lugs and sparkly purple paint:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/9...567bca42_b.jpg

Fixed/650b converted '80ish Peter Mooney, with vertical drops and Philcentric eccentric bb:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/8...2273668e_b.jpg

'95 Riv Road fixed conversion:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8...8d0e3915_b.jpg

Had a real C&V fixed gear, a '70s MKM Path Racer-ish machine, sold it a few years back, wish I hadn't:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9...598f2d33_c.jpg

It's from 1956, when Dick Morris started making frames under his own name. This is one of his first… not sure but 3rd or so. I'm the 3rd owner and I got it already re-enamelled. Lovely paint and lug lining but the transfers were poorly applied. The stem (certainly) and bars (I think) are original to the frame. I'm not sure if it was originally fixed or geared. I've sent a letter to the original, now elderly, owner asking but haven't had a reply. I've also got a trike he had built by H.R. Morris and just had it re-enammelled. The enamellers sent me some pics yesterday. When I get that and the bicycle frame both built I'm going to send him some photos and hopefully he'll reply then.

A Maclean? Very nice!