Old Fixed Gear
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 749
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 110 Times
in
61 Posts
Old Fixed Gear
I saw this video about a really old F.G.
My question is this, why doesn't have F.G. dropout on the rear? I thought you needed that on all F.G.
#2
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,189
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)
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3691 Post(s)
Liked 2,183 Times
in
1,374 Posts
#3
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 11,462
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3553 Post(s)
Liked 2,881 Times
in
1,927 Posts
I saw this video about a really old F.G. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBDDzHcKYGg My question is this, why doesn't have F.G. dropout on the rear? I thought you needed that on all F.G.
I like he didn't really restore the bike to pristine. I do love to see everything polished and nice but I also like to see the patina and looking more properly aged.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,533
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 119 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4010 Post(s)
Liked 2,889 Times
in
1,879 Posts
The rear facing slot on fix gears is a track end, not a dropout. The dropout was invented (of at least became common) when derailleurs came along because it made removing the wheel much easier and faster.
That said, dropouts work very well for fix gears and have the same benefit of faster wheel removal. There are no drawbacks inherently to dropouts as long as you have nuts that properly grip the dropout and you tighten them sufficiently. I've never owned track ends. All my many miles of fix gear riding have happened on dropouts.
A tip if you run dropouts and want to use a flip-flop hub for on the road (but stopped) gear changes - use a chain peg; the peg usually brazed onto the chainstay of steel race bikes to hang the chain while the wheel is off. No peg? Got fender eyes? Make one. It's easy. Get a screw to fit the eye. Nut also. thread the nut then run the screw from the inside so about a cm protrudes. Tighten the nut against the eye. Now, the easy,clean hands wheel flip. (The Pedros Trixie is the perfect tool.) Loosen nuts, slide wheel forward. Pick up the chain with the spanner and drop it on your new peg. Flip wheel and reverse the process. Done; with clean hands. You can use the peg for flats also. Just lay the bike down on the drive side.
I frankly do not understand why anyone would want track ends for road fix gears. Yes, it's the deal if you start with a track bike but a bike built specifically for the road?
That said, dropouts work very well for fix gears and have the same benefit of faster wheel removal. There are no drawbacks inherently to dropouts as long as you have nuts that properly grip the dropout and you tighten them sufficiently. I've never owned track ends. All my many miles of fix gear riding have happened on dropouts.
A tip if you run dropouts and want to use a flip-flop hub for on the road (but stopped) gear changes - use a chain peg; the peg usually brazed onto the chainstay of steel race bikes to hang the chain while the wheel is off. No peg? Got fender eyes? Make one. It's easy. Get a screw to fit the eye. Nut also. thread the nut then run the screw from the inside so about a cm protrudes. Tighten the nut against the eye. Now, the easy,clean hands wheel flip. (The Pedros Trixie is the perfect tool.) Loosen nuts, slide wheel forward. Pick up the chain with the spanner and drop it on your new peg. Flip wheel and reverse the process. Done; with clean hands. You can use the peg for flats also. Just lay the bike down on the drive side.
I frankly do not understand why anyone would want track ends for road fix gears. Yes, it's the deal if you start with a track bike but a bike built specifically for the road?