I guess this is off topic, as queerpunk kindly pointed out, but does anyone think that a hub looks kinda naked without the lockring when its meant to have one....? Kinda like unused cable guides or naked brake bosses.....

Just a thought.....

yeah, it always looked weird to me. Things missing bug me a lot, like missing cables and derailers, that's why I don't have a conversion.

Yes, then, we did misunderstand. Anyways, that method of tightening the cog works fine. I have used it. Obviously, you have a huge lever arm (=wheel radius) when you do this, so it would be a bad idea to apply as much force as you would use with a chain whip.

I would not use this technique on a bike with a nice paint job because the chain could scratch the paint on the bottom bracket.

I'm not quite as old as you are, I guess, but I built my first fixed gear up thirteen years ago.

I used a real track hub, with a lockring.

truthfully my second fixed didnt have a lock ring. i rode it for about six months with no problems, BUT i didnt have clips or clipless pedals, and i had a front break so i never skidded or skipped or did anything that would put too much strain on the bike. i was paranoid all the time.

now i have a real track hub and am at peace

after two weeks of riding my first fix i realized i had no lock ring. even though i was skidding and skipping i didn't have any problems. but as soon as i realized i didn't have one, i got one as soon as i could. didn't want to find out if i could continue without a lock ring.

I wouldn't ride without one. Wouldn't suggest anyone ride without one on the street. It HAS however been done by some folks. Good idea? Probably not. That being said if you buy a set of Mavic Ellipse wheels...the newer Mavic set....order the lockring with them cause they do not come with one. Is this stupid for Mavic to sell em with out one?.....yes. Is the lockring a french thread?.....yes. Do the 2 people who I know who bought them want to ride them without a lockring?...yes. Take yer chances.