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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

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Old 08-19-05 | 12:15 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
But Schiek was saying that the Steamroller has a higher BB and Ira referred to it as a track frame, neither is true. That's all I'm saying.
It's track legal. My buddy raced his at Northbrook all of the time. But you're right about eyelets. I wish they put 'em on there.
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Old 08-19-05 | 12:23 PM
  #27  
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I stand corrected. This always happens when I try to contribute substantive posts.

I will say that the BB on my Steamroller is higher than it was on my road conversion. I can only speak from experience. So I'm not sure my comment was necessarily "untrue." I'll accept inaccurate.

That being said, from now on, 100 percent snarky comments only.

By the way, is it okay to call them track ends? Should I have instead referred to them as fixed-gear-bicycle ends? For accuracy's sake?
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Old 08-19-05 | 12:27 PM
  #28  
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Bikes: Surly Steamroller, GT Pulse, Specialized S-Works E5

Ah gotcha - wasn't paying much attention to the comments about track frame and whatnot. Indeed, the track bikes that I've seen have a [edit: bb] drop between 50-60 mm (generally closer to 50).

You too ride a bike with gears? Oh no you diiiiii'n't! I was thinking of handing my Giant over to my lady, thus snapping my dependence on multiple gear ratios entirely (for the time being, at least). She's 5'9", so I think she'd fit the medium frame just fine. Seems tough to find a decent saddle for girls though. Any suggestions from the ladies on this forum?

And who'd want a vintage bike anyway? Vintage is for geezers... (Just kidding! *gulp*)


Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Nothing wrong with coasting if that's you thing. As some folks are aware, I even occassionally have a predilection for shifting. But Schiek was saying that the Steamroller has a higher BB and Ira referred to it as a track frame, neither is true. That's all I'm saying.

If you want it, get it, it's not a bad price. I just don't think there's anything special about a Steamroller frame that you couldn't get with a vintage roadie with decent fender & tire clearance plus all the eylets you need for mounting them and racks and whatnot.
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Old 08-19-05 | 12:41 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Ira in Chi
It's track legal. My buddy raced his at Northbrook all of the time. But you're right about eyelets. I wish they put 'em on there.
Lots of things are track legal, but to call a bike a "track" bike usually implies a little more than UCI compliant. A fixed gear road bike conversion is UCI track legal.

By the way, is it okay to call them track ends? Should I have instead referred to them as fixed-gear-bicycle ends? For accuracy's sake?
Allow me to get back to you on that, counselor. Meanwhile I'm having the damndest time eating with my fork.
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Old 08-19-05 | 03:59 PM
  #30  
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Bikes: raliegh "too lazy to make my own" rush hour

doesn't the frame alone go for $500 or so?
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Old 08-19-05 | 05:04 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Lots of things are track legal, but to call a bike a "track" bike usually implies a little more than UCI compliant. A fixed gear road bike conversion is UCI track legal.
I thought they had to have rear facing track ends to be UCI legal ...
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Old 08-19-05 | 05:14 PM
  #32  
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Me too, but here's the meat of what UCI says about track bikes:

1.3.021 In track competitions, the freewheel, derailleurgears and brakes shall be prohibited.
https://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin.../ucirules.html
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Old 08-19-05 | 06:00 PM
  #33  
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Bikes: Surly Steamroller, GT Pulse, Specialized S-Works E5

Interesting, UCI's rules only mention that track bikes shouldn't have brakes, derailleur gears, or freewheel, but they say nothing that a road bike *should* have all of those. I know in the USCF rules (section 1J, I think...I could be totally off) that they require two brakes and a freewheel. Do they require multiple gears too?


Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Me too, but here's the meat of what UCI says about track bikes:


https://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin.../ucirules.html
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Old 08-19-05 | 06:06 PM
  #34  
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is it worth it to me NO to you maybe!

If it appeals to you then go for it. Educate your self on the parts and to see if they are really woth it.

Good luck on what ever you decide..

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Life Sucks!!
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Old 08-19-05 | 08:40 PM
  #35  
psn
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Already bought it and rode it home, dude. It appeals to me for sure. Nice ride with no brakes. Hah!
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Old 08-19-05 | 10:19 PM
  #36  
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Bikes: Road and Fix, Tutto Campagnolo, certo!

way to go, man! Ride it like you stole it!

I'm 6 feet with long legs also. The 'chart' says I'm supposed to use a 58cm, but I have found a 56x56 with a 13 stem does the trick.
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Old 08-19-05 | 10:44 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by psn
Interesting, UCI's rules only mention that track bikes shouldn't have brakes, derailleur gears, or freewheel, but they say nothing that a road bike *should* have all of those. I know in the USCF rules (section 1J, I think...I could be totally off) that they require two brakes and a freewheel. Do they require multiple gears too?
Nope, just the brakes and freewheel. Shifting is optional. It's written like that because freewheels and fixed gears corner and decelerate differently. This makes it dangerous to mix them in a tight race.

Congrats on the bike.
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Old 08-19-05 | 11:57 PM
  #38  
psn
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Bikes: Surly Steamroller, GT Pulse, Specialized S-Works E5

sabre - Yeah, it has a 110 stem on it right now, I think I'm going to snag a 120 mm Ritchey WCS stem and stretch it out a little bit. Otherwise, I have to say, the top tube length isn't bad at all, and I'm not sitting insanely high up on it either.

trevor - So my friend/labmate has convinced me to join the MIT cycling team this year. I'm so crappy that I'm sure I'll be in the lowest division at every race, but I digress.... I think it would be hilarious, provided I ever get fit enough, to go out in at least one race with a singlespeed and see how bad I get spanked. Nice to know I can do it legally too.
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Old 08-20-05 | 07:14 AM
  #39  
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Well at least you'll start out racing all Cat 4/5 racers so everyone else will be choking too.
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