I have read that but they sell as a pair ;)

I do like the symmetry idea and the fact that I can adjust both sides of the hub in the drop-outs.

igloo - what shop did you get the redline at? I'm interested in checking one out.

i first stumbled into it on a whim and checked it out at Cambridge Cycles on Mass Ave in Central Square. They didn't have any larger than 54cm. I'm glad, because I wanted to do a bunch of research 1st. I would up buying a 58cm at Harris Cyclery in Newton - - where Sheldon Brown is a mechanic.

Grolby, Im sure you are much wiser about this stuff than
I am but from my own experience Ive owned two bikes
that the quick releases wouldnt hold the wheel straight. One
was a Viscount that needed to be recentered on every ride.
I eventually put nuts and bolts through the drop outs in
front of the axle so it couldnt move forward. The second bike
is my Early model Motobecane that is my winter beater.
Despite its age and appearance this bike hasnt seen too many
miles and I have to recenter the back wheel about every 80-100
miles or every week for me.....This is what lead to my initial comment
about wheels moving in the drop outs.
I prefer nuts just because I have no need to take wheels off.

Well, the thing about the quick-releases is that they must be tightened securely, and they must be well-made and still in good condition. If the serrations are worn off, if it's not a good QR, etc, it's likely that it won't work as well. The thing that really is nice about the nuts is that you know you can rely on them. A handy feature! Certainly in recent years, with the move to vertical dropouts, inferior quick-releases have become common, especially the open-cam type from my second link above. Blech. Those are no good, stay away from them for any purpose! In any case, given that the nuts take maybe a few seconds longer to remove or reinstall, I don't see any reason not to use them, in any case. There's nothing wrong with them, it's just that a QR really can and does work, in spite of common belief to the contrary.

I installed a CatEye MC100W wireless cyclometer tonight. Nice model -- groovy backlight. Naturally, there are more options on this thing than I need, but I'll survive. Since the bike is new, the odometer will be pretty accurate. I'll be able to know how many freakin' miles I've put on the bike in the course of a year. I realize I may be the only one excited by that right now, but I'm having a party, and any one of you can join me whenever you like! :)

Realizing I should've posted the above in the appropriate thread (that I started!)....

Hi igloomaster,

I'm interested in acquiring a 925 myself and was curious about the sizing of the compact frame, what were your considerations on getting the 58 cm? By the way, I'm 5'11" with an inseam of 32.5 and from the charts provided by Redline I extrapolated that I would possibly need a 56 cm.

Thanks
Tim

I test rode a 54, and while I loved it, and it was too small. But that's all this particular bike shop had in stock at the moment. I'm just over 6' tall; 6' 1" on a good day, and both the bike shop pros and myself both felt that the 58cm was the best fit for me.
You might do fine on a 56cm - but try both to be sure.

Incidentally, I did my first commute back and forth to work today - just over 30 miles, and I highly recommend this bicycle.

Great commute!! Are there many hills in your route? Are you stretched out on the hoods? I assume that you used the 42X16-SS instead of the fixed.

Here in Athens I’ve a few hills to deal with during my commute. I’ve got a Olmo Pista with a 42X15 fixed and have no problem riding other than dodging the Ohio University Students during class breaks. It’s amazing, they look right at you and still walk right in front of you then are startled.

This is one of the reasons that I’m interested in the 925 SS, BRAKES!

What do you really like about the 925, the handling?

Running fixed does not preclude the use of brakes. All of my fixies have had atleast a front brake and most have had front and rear brakes. I know many people run fixes brakeless but I couldn't imagine going without.
Craig

I run a front brake on my Olmo. After 30+ years of commuting I want a single speed with two brakes to save my knees from sudden deceleration.

Hi - - Yes, I'm riding S/S not fixed. There are indeed hills, especially going TO work, and what I refer to as pain-in-the-a$$ long gradual inclines. Sometimes my legs feel like I'm pushing a tank up a hill. Last night I stopped by a LBS on the way home (not the shop I bought this bike from) and put lights and a rack on my 925. The owner had just received a new 925 and they were putting it together. It was literally 30 minutes old. While he was very impressed with the hubs & design of the bike, he said he thought the 42X16 gearing might be too tough. Is 42x15 easier going up hills? As this is my 1st adult SS bike, I'm still learning about this stuff.

This morning I timed my commute. The cyclometer said 15 miles. My Casio wristwatch timer said 66 minutes. That is almost the EXACT amount of time it used to take me last summer to do the exact same commute, but on a Trek 4500 aluminum, GEARED mountain bike (with Surley straight fork.) What does that tell me? I guess it means that while the gears on the Trek made it easier to climb hills, (certainly felt a little easier) it still was not faster than a cromoly S/S Redline 925.

42x15 would be harder than 42x16 (Same Chainring upfront, smaller cog in the back). Brush up over at Sheldon Brown's site: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gain.html

I'm running a SS right now at 42x18 (of course, once you read Sheldon's article you'll find that this is meaningless unless I also tell you my wheel size and crank length - 26" and 175mm, I think). I find it to be pretty easy and want to get down to 15 or 16. You might want to give an 18 cog a try. Take it into Harris and they'll do the switch for you, I'm sure. I'd hang onto the 16 though, because you'll likely want to go back to it eventually.

Does anyone know if the seat tube size on the 925 is measured center-to-center or center-to-top.
Wondering how big the 60 really is. If it is center-to-center then it is like a 63 or 64 in most other bikes.

I wanted to look at a 9-2-5 in person so I checked out who the dealers in my area are, through the Redline website. I called each one that was close to where I am. The listing in the website need to be updated. Most of these dealers don't carry Redline. And those that do, have not heard of the 9-2-5 and do not even have it in their price list. By the tone of their voices, none of them were even excited to check their price list. Is it because it's Monday? :D

It seems like lots of people have trouble finding shops that stock Redlines. About a year ago I was in my local Redline dealer asking about a Monocog. They basically gave me a blank stare and said I would be better off getting something else. I got a similar response at another shop. Pretty stupid advice considering its the best low-cost singlespeed MTB out there (according to www.MTBR.com). At any rate, I gave up on that LBS and found a nearly new one on ebay.

Yeah! Another 925 rider!
And how do you like it?

This is exactly the same as I have experienced.

Sorry igloomaster, I think he's talking about buying a Monocog. :)

I 'bought' a 925 on ebay for $360, but I think that the guy found a better deal elsewhere, b/c he claimed that his wife hit the bike, and refunded my money. I'm undecided at this point on what to do.
In the mean time, I bought a baby trailer for my converted mtb, so that I can tug the dog to work. That ought to keep me entertained for a while. I've also been watching and bidding on some used bikes on ebay (old steel road bikes with horizontal dropouts) for riding as is or converting to ss.
The redline dealer around me focuses on bmx (redline is strong in bmx). The guy didn't know what the 925 was, but was happy to call redline and get a date that it could be shipped. I'm not sure what there policy is on getting a good fit.

Very nice. I noticed the 9*2*5 on Sheldon's website as I was looking for a chainring for my fixie commuter. It looks like an excellent commuter bike. With this, the Bianchi San Jose, and the Surly Crosscheck, it looks like there's finally some choice for this market: the bombproof ss/fixed commuting machine.

I really dig those mustache bars. I may have to get some for my Trek.

200+ miles on mine so far; highly recommended. I don't claim to know much, but the freakin' thing seems to be just too good for the price.

igloomaster, how's the 9-2-5 after riding in the rain, if you have done so? i'm interested in how it turned out, maintenance-wise.

Hello all!

Really like the Redline 925 from the reports and discussions. I finally found one to test ride last weekend and I was extrememly disappointed that the clips hit the front fender/tires when I turned. Seems kind of a goofy design flaw for a commuter bike. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I AGREE - but that's the only thing I found fault with, and as I described earlier - I replaced the pedals IMMEDIATELY (before leaving the store with the bike on day 1) with Shimano clipless. The Shimano pedals are working out just great (I'm not a big fan of those extended toe things anyhow.)

My toes don't hit the front wheel at all when riding, and I'm a size 10.5 foot. Most turns slight with leans anyhow; I don't turn the wheel that far when I'm out there.

I wiped it down and oiled the chain. No issues! Planet Bike fenders are great too.

That actually happens with a lot of road bikes and commuter bikes with 27" or 700c wheels. It's generally accepted that at the speeds required to safely turn the wheel that much, you probably won't be pedaling. I only encouter it occasionally when I'm doing a tight, low-speed turn on a bike path or in a parking lot.

I picked up a 925 a few weeks ago. I removed the toeclips before I left the shop, and replaced the pedals with some spd ones when I got home. My feet just barely touch the fenders if I am turning sharp when moving slow. (been practicing trackstands) I have a 160mm crank on order cause I have short legs, so that should cure that problem.
This is my first fixed gear, (aside from the one I had when I was like 4yrs old) and I love it. The handlebars are perfect for when your standing and pedaling on the uphills. The full fenders are great in the rain. The frame has nice long chainstays, which make it easy to ride "no hands"
The only issue I am having with it is that I seem to keep having to readjust the chain. That may be just because it's new and is breaking in, or maybe its just normal for a fixie ? In any case I went and got some cheap bmx chain adjusters for it last night, maybe that will cure the problem.

Oh yeah, I had a pinchflat last Friday. My fault due to low air pressure. The tires it came with are nice but I may just look into getting some 700 38 Armadillo Infinitys.

Yeah, and perhaps a Honey colored Brooks team profession with some matching bar tape. That might look good against the two tone gunmetal and grey fade paint job Redine put on it.

Unless the bike is being used in fixed gear mode. In which case as long as the bike is moving, you're pedaling. :eek: