To those who understand, no explanation is neccesary.
To those who don't, no explanation is possible.

Why not just commute to work in a CAR? It's air conditioned, you've got a radio, you can drive faster, etc. Why on earth spend all that extra effort riding a bike?

Oh, and the car is soooo much easier on your knees!

ROFL!

You mean like Scientology or Hare Krishna? Try it and you'll like it and never go back? Uh Huh, yea that's the ticket. One of the participants of this discussion wrote a sensible response, the rest go on as before about their special relationship with their magical fixed steed, and it's "unique" capabilities allegedly not found/known elsewhere in the cycling world.

Or as one so eloquently put it you either sing along with the trendy mantra or you are a no-nothing dud who should be driving a car.

Nah I just wanted to post more "elitist" garbage so that you'd have something to spew your ignorance at. Peace out.

Somebody started a 3 speed thread, you should go spew there. [edit: I spoke too soon!]

Now, flip the wheel around and try Fixed Gear! It's even more fun!

Sheldon "Coasting Is Bad For You" Brown
Santa Cruz, California (this week)

Nice circular argument. Post doo-doo and claim any negative response is ignorant. Perhaps you really meant to chant, "ahnahl nathrak, oothvas spethood, doCHiel nienvay."

Funny, coming from someone who poo-poo's people who spread the fixed gear love, who has never even tried one. That is the ignorance I speak of. You have NO room to talk about fixed gear. You have no room to talk about those who profess their appreciation for them. You have no room to talk! Why am I even talking to you. You're a waste of my time.

I've heard that this man knows what he's talking about. I forget where I heard it, but I heard it somewhere. ;)

Fixies are fun. Geared bikes are also fun. I'm looking for a geary right now to serve as my "hill rider with built-in knee savers". And one of these days when I have a garage, I might even get a recumbent. Why? Cuz they look like fun too. And if I can ever lay my hands on a Ross Polo Bike w/ a banana seat and coaster brake, I'd get one of those too.

Yeah, imagine how life would be if you didn't try anything...:rolleyes:

Redline 925, when I actually ride the 1+ mile to my office.
Its a great town bike too - post office, credit union, coop.

Love it. SS. Haven't tried it fixed. I should... maybe tomorrow.

Yup I get it. Only those blessed with the spirit are welcome to the house of fixed gear to converse about worshiping the unique special qualities attributed to their esoteric choice for commuting. No one else has "room" to discuss UNLESS they agree or are willing to be baptized in the faith.

He sure does. He provides one of the best (if not THE best) sources for good information about internal geared hubs on the Internet. You should read some of it.

I have. And I'm contemplating an internal hub for a folding bike. Clean lines and less clutter to get in the way when packed. It weighs more, but there have to be some tradeoffs. And w/ horizontal dropouts, I can convert it to SS/FG. :D

Since this thread has been hopelessly derailed, I might as well add this.

I don't see how I-Like-To-Bike's repeated and redundant posts in this thread are anything but disruptive.

Here is the current measure of disruptiveness in bf.net policies:

"Posts which intend to disrupt the topic of conversation or steer the topic away from the focus of the forum and related news. Disruption can include harassment, multiple user profiles, multiple posting of the same post and posting completely off topic messages. Please do your best when it comes to grammar, punctuation and spelling. Excessive use of "AOL'ese" and "hAx0r" talk can be very disruptive so please keep it to a minimum."

It would be one thing if I-Like-To-Bike posted once or even twice in the thread mentioning that fixed/ss might be over hyped and that people should regard claims about riding these types of bikes skeptically.

However, he is not content to leave it at that and instead trolls repeatedly with the same type of personal attacks. Post after post with the sole intent of calling fixed gear riders or single speeders deluded, blinded by faith/fashion/machismo, or members of a cult, cannot be seen as contributing to a respectful debate.

Though I am doubtful that anything will change, I'd like to ask nicely that the back and forth stop. Make your point and then back off. I see this in meetings all the time and it is a horrible communication technique. If you are not heard the first time, or the second time, or the third time, don't expect that the 4th, 5th and 6th repetitions will be any more convincing.

Note, I am not speaking here of the merits of gears and their different forms, because that is not what this thread has become.

I've thought about a ss or fixed gear, but my commute crosses over too much rough trail and steep hills, the worst being leftovers from the Good Friday earthquake. I don't need too many gears, but three are essential. I certainly use them every day.

Great thread! I've had my CrossCheck built as a SS/fixed in the past. I've also got a fixed project that I've been working on since before God knows when. I'm a lazy pigman. I miss my fixed wheel.

BTW. The Fixer's bike is the $hit. Super sexy.

Yes that might be one thing; in fact it is the exact thing. But one post as you suggest brings down the wrath of the same individuals who apparantly cannot bear to read that one "thing' about the subject of hype and the object of their affection. And then they bombard the skeptic with insults and hypocritical wailing about personnal attack or troll (i.e who/what else would question their susceptibility to hype and fashion), followed by a dozen variations of repeating the hyped special attributes that could be applied to almost any bike that has a single rear cog.

You tell me - who is guilty of hijacking every thread about single speed or non derailler equipped bikes for commuting (which are common around the world for commuting) with relentless hyping of the special joy of jury-rigged fixed gear bikes used by a relative handful of cyclists for commuting.

ILTB:
You're starting to sound like the Fundamentalist who rails so violently about *****ecshuls. You're protesting a little too much. Why do you care? At all?

not again ... not again ..... my head is about to explode

There are lots of different kinds of bikes. I have lots of different kinds of bikes. I like riding them all, at different times, in different ways, for different purposes. Some of them are more naturally suited to commuting than others, perhaps, but I might well be prepared to put up with some less-than-optimalism on the commuting front, in order to get a little of a different type of fun.

If fixed gear or SS sounds like a good idea to you, on the basis of what you've read, why not try it? You might like it, and if you don't, all the other types of bike in the world will still be there. If you don't like the sound of it, then why try it? Why even think about it? If you've found your nirvana, and it's internal geared hubs, fenders, and flat bars, then I rejoice to the universe for you. May you ever enjoy your perfect bike, and leave others to enjoy theirs.

ride what ya can. if ya can ride a fixed gear you'll be happy!!:)

Q: Who Commutes on a single speed?
A: At least four complete strangers I saw on the West Side Hwy MUP this morning. Dunno if they're BF'ers.

i rode in to work today (as on all days) on a fixed gear. i have 2 of 'em. they are my sons.

. . .but i want a "3-speed". yo i like to bike! what's the best one?

me too
 

42 * 16 (hills). 13 miles each way on a fixie.

So, is everyone still angry or can we be friends now?

I've been riding a 1989 Cannondale criterium conversion with a 42x16 ratio. Known as "Son of Crackbike," this bike is a fun snappy ride and nicely complements the Lemond steel bike I split my commuting time with.

I know you're thinking what about the elder "Crackbike," so I will tell you. Crackbike doesn't get used much for commutes but is almost solely relegated to restaurant/bar/grocery riding. It's an old Raleigh hybrid frame, beat up and stickered. The wheels are a bit fat and slow and the 42x15 makes the overall package more work to ride. It was also a stubborn conversion. My expert bike buddy almost gave up on it.

I tried this a few weeks ago. My knee was sore for several days after one 10 mile round trip commute. It was the pressure of resisting the pedals during the downhills that hurt. I think I made all the mistakes possible.

Seat too low.

Crank arms too long (175mm). I'm 5'6" and according to most crank length formulas should have 165mm cranks.

No form of attaching feet to pedals.


The bike was a 17 inch rigid MTB. Gearing was 38x15 with 26x1.5 tires. Crank arms are 175mm. Platform pedals. Seat about 2 inches lower than optimal. I rode this bike as a single speed as my main commuter for the past year without knee problems.

I have since bought a 350mm seat post to fix that problem. I might try the fixed gear experiment again with a lower gear ratio. I don't really want to change the pedals or cranks, though (mostly for economic reasons).

I had 175mm cranks and went down to 170mm because I literally had them laying around. MUCH better. So the shorter cranks will be much nicer. Did I mention I'm 6'2"? Also don't sweat having platform pedals. I ran those for a good year both fixed and single speed and had no problems except at the higher rpm's. That's what a brake is for ;)

Have fun :)

"Also don't sweat having platform pedals"

Thats the set up I run and like !
170's and big BMX platforms.
I think the chubby BMX pedals effectively make my
cranks 165's tho'................