Help... Scared for my safety!!!
#26
!Newbie, !Senior Member

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: IRO Mark V Track Bike, 1976 Schwinn Sprint Fixed Gear Conversion, 1975 Alan Aluminum Lugged Road Bike, Cannondale Touring, GanWell Road
I'm late on this thread too, and what I'm about to say might be of absolutely no use, but...
You said that this is a recent conversion; are you new to fixed gear altogether? Was this your first time riding in the rain? Are your tires thin and/or slicks? If so, you might have just been skidding.
I've got two fixed gear bikes: an IRO Mark V and a converted Schwinn Sprint. For some reason (probably due to the differences in geometry (the Schwinn is really big on me (I found it in the trash))), my Schwinn will skid with very little backpressure on the pedals in the rain. I can even skid with ease while seated. It feels a lot like coasting, especially if one has become used to riding fixed and hasn't actually ridden a free-wheeled bike for a while. Longer cranks, which are probably what you have on your conversion, will also make skidding easier.
My suggestion: once you make sure everything is mechanically sound, dry reproducing the coasting when it's dry. Also, try locking the cranks the next time it rains and see if the resulting skid is the same coasting sensation that you're talking about.
You said that this is a recent conversion; are you new to fixed gear altogether? Was this your first time riding in the rain? Are your tires thin and/or slicks? If so, you might have just been skidding.
I've got two fixed gear bikes: an IRO Mark V and a converted Schwinn Sprint. For some reason (probably due to the differences in geometry (the Schwinn is really big on me (I found it in the trash))), my Schwinn will skid with very little backpressure on the pedals in the rain. I can even skid with ease while seated. It feels a lot like coasting, especially if one has become used to riding fixed and hasn't actually ridden a free-wheeled bike for a while. Longer cranks, which are probably what you have on your conversion, will also make skidding easier.
My suggestion: once you make sure everything is mechanically sound, dry reproducing the coasting when it's dry. Also, try locking the cranks the next time it rains and see if the resulting skid is the same coasting sensation that you're talking about.
#27
I am an incurable.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 993
Likes: 0
From: Champaign, IL
Bikes: IRO Mark V pro (RIP), Bianchi Giro, Giant Xtc1, Redline Conquest Pro, Kelly Deluxe singlespeed.
Originally Posted by jedi_steve420
how would i check that?
Or you already stripped it.
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#28
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 107
From: Scranton, PA, USA
Bikes: '77 Centurion "Pro Tour"; '67 Carlton "The Flyer"; 1984 Ross MTB (stored at parents' house)
Originally Posted by jasonsan
Aaron, too funny
I like the fact that, although this question seems to come up often, the threads they spawn are still usually fairly long. At least the answers seem to stay consistent.
Why is is so hard for people to believe that their lockring may actually be a loose-ring? Denial this powerful should be reserved for more important things......like cancer and alcoholism.Or, for that matter, a poorly planned and illegal invasion of Iraq.
I like the fact that, although this question seems to come up often, the threads they spawn are still usually fairly long. At least the answers seem to stay consistent.
Why is is so hard for people to believe that their lockring may actually be a loose-ring? Denial this powerful should be reserved for more important things......like cancer and alcoholism.Or, for that matter, a poorly planned and illegal invasion of Iraq.

Thanks a ton! I spat coffee all over my monitor at work.
#29
jack of one or two trades
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 0
From: Suburbia, CT
Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB
Originally Posted by jmgorman
Would some JB weld help?
#30
get it tight? ROTAFIX!!!
https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm
https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm
#32
need a snarky comment? SHANTS!!!
as for rotafixing... golly... i GUESS, just MAYBE, MAYBE it would be possible to tweak the procedure JUST a little bit. i mean, I'm not sure if it would even be POSSIBLE to put a handkerchief or a piece of tape on the BB shell so that you don't scratch it... MAYBE. aaaaahhhh, no, i'm not even going to try. who's ever heard of there being even a remote possibility of ever protecting a paint job anywhere on a bicycle???
as for rotafixing... golly... i GUESS, just MAYBE, MAYBE it would be possible to tweak the procedure JUST a little bit. i mean, I'm not sure if it would even be POSSIBLE to put a handkerchief or a piece of tape on the BB shell so that you don't scratch it... MAYBE. aaaaahhhh, no, i'm not even going to try. who's ever heard of there being even a remote possibility of ever protecting a paint job anywhere on a bicycle???
#33
Originally Posted by SyntaxPC
You said that this is a recent conversion; are you new to fixed gear altogether? Was this your first time riding in the rain? Are your tires thin and/or slicks? If so, you might have just been skidding.
#35
Traffic shark

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,612
Likes: 0
From: California
Bikes: 2 fixies, 1 road, 29er in the works.
Originally Posted by jasonsan
Or, for that matter, a poorly planned and illegal invasion of Iraq. 

Twas not illegal. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day.
#36
無くなった

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 0
From: Sci-Fi Wasabi
Bikes: I built the Bianchi track bike back up today.
Originally Posted by queerpunk
who's ever heard of there being even a remote possibility of ever protecting a paint job anywhere on a bicycle???
Great for the paint, but it does make it a little hard to ride. But we all know the bike is to be looked at, not ridden, right?
#37
Thread Starter
Rolling the Hard 6
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: The Flip Side -- Ottawa/Toronto
Bikes: not enough
Sorry i've been lax on the responses but here we go:
1. no denial on it being the cog/lockring... just ignorance and an interest in exploring all possible causes of the problem to correct said ignorance :-)
2. I am new to the fixie revolution but have been riding for almost two months now rain and shine (and snow) and have been skidding in all types of weather and this was definitely not a skid... complete loss of power transfer to the back wheel was what it felt like
3. managed to lossen and tighten the cog without touching the lockring so either the lockring is not tight enough or the cog is too small... I'm off to purchase a lockring tool right now to see which it is
4. Hoping like hell its just a need to tighten everything down. The wheel is under warantee (spell?) and the guy who owns the shop is super cool, but i don't wanna miss even a day riding my fixed.
I'll update again once i've tried tightening the lockring...
1. no denial on it being the cog/lockring... just ignorance and an interest in exploring all possible causes of the problem to correct said ignorance :-)
2. I am new to the fixie revolution but have been riding for almost two months now rain and shine (and snow) and have been skidding in all types of weather and this was definitely not a skid... complete loss of power transfer to the back wheel was what it felt like
3. managed to lossen and tighten the cog without touching the lockring so either the lockring is not tight enough or the cog is too small... I'm off to purchase a lockring tool right now to see which it is
4. Hoping like hell its just a need to tighten everything down. The wheel is under warantee (spell?) and the guy who owns the shop is super cool, but i don't wanna miss even a day riding my fixed.
I'll update again once i've tried tightening the lockring...
#38
Thread Starter
Rolling the Hard 6
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: The Flip Side -- Ottawa/Toronto
Bikes: not enough
Originally Posted by William Karsten
First part, perhaps true. Second part, not.
Twas not illegal. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day.
Twas not illegal. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day.
Oh and I'm not touching that one with a 40 foot pole. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day.
#39
'possum killer

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 13
From: Ames, Iowa
Bikes: mountain bike (Litespeed Pisgah), touring bike (Giant Frankenbike), tandem (Burley Samba), fixie (Raleigh Rush Hour)
Good luck sorting it out jedi_steve. Even the simplest of setups can have their quirks, but it sounds like you are on the right track...bike.
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#40
Originally Posted by queerpunk
get it tight? ROTAFIX!!!
https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm
https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm
#42
無くなった

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 0
From: Sci-Fi Wasabi
Bikes: I built the Bianchi track bike back up today.
Originally Posted by 46x17
I demand public hanging of proponents of the ROTAFIX method.
Hang me if you must.
#43
It is the lockring part that annoys me.
"Use this method so you don't need to use a lockring!"
This can't be good advice to anyone.
If it was touted as the ultimate way to get a cog on and off I have no issue with it.
"Use this method so you don't need to use a lockring!"
This can't be good advice to anyone.
If it was touted as the ultimate way to get a cog on and off I have no issue with it.
#44
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Steamroller, Jonnycycles Track, 80's Schwiinn Voyager SA 3 speed conversion/fixed, Schwinn Voyager SA 3 speed conversion standard. 1973 Schwinn Twinn Deluxe
Originally Posted by William Karsten
First part, perhaps true. Second part, not.
Twas not illegal. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day
Nice! Jedi, All sarcasm aside, I hope ya solve the problem quickly and easily.
WK. Wow. It's hard to argue with such compelling evidence, so I won't. This is hardly the place to do so anyway. Not nearly enough room here to re-write history.....................
Seriously, have a nice day
First part, perhaps true. Second part, not.
Twas not illegal. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day
Originally Posted by jedi_steve420
Oh and I'm not touching that one with a 40 foot pole. At all. Period. End of story. Have a nice day.
WK. Wow. It's hard to argue with such compelling evidence, so I won't. This is hardly the place to do so anyway. Not nearly enough room here to re-write history.....................
Seriously, have a nice day
#45
Originally Posted by 46x17
I demand public hanging of proponents of the ROTAFIX method.
Originally Posted by 46x17
It is the lockring part that annoys me.
"Use this method so you don't need to use a lockring!"
This can't be good advice to anyone.
If it was touted as the ultimate way to get a cog on and off I have no issue with it.
"Use this method so you don't need to use a lockring!"
This can't be good advice to anyone.
If it was touted as the ultimate way to get a cog on and off I have no issue with it.
#47
無くなった

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 0
From: Sci-Fi Wasabi
Bikes: I built the Bianchi track bike back up today.
Originally Posted by 46x17
It is the lockring part that annoys me.
"Use this method so you don't need to use a lockring!"
This can't be good advice to anyone.
If it was touted as the ultimate way to get a cog on and off I have no issue with it.
"Use this method so you don't need to use a lockring!"
This can't be good advice to anyone.
If it was touted as the ultimate way to get a cog on and off I have no issue with it.
#48
[QUOTE=HereNT]I believe the people that originally came up with it were saying you don't need a lockring on a track. Perhaps we should come up with a new name for using the method while still using a lockring on the street? [QUOTE]
That be good! Or a warning label!
Or, as previously mentioned, a public hanging to serve as a deterence!
That be good! Or a warning label!
Or, as previously mentioned, a public hanging to serve as a deterence!
#49
Barbieri Telefonico
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bikes: Crappy but operational secondhand Motobecane Messenger
Not true ... the spectacle of punishment only made the masses more resentful towards the cruelty of the whole thing, just to awaken sympathy for the punished person. Moreover, once the novely of knouting or flogging wore off, people stopped percieving the spectacle as the ceremony it was supposed to be to just be another usual spectacle. Another factor that has to be taken in consideration is that the lack of trained experts to give torment made the punishment less effective, and not even the punished was impressed after the administration of the torment.
Ok ... I got it down now ...
Back to write my presentation
Ok ... I got it down now ...
Back to write my presentation
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#50
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by queerpunk
get it tight? ROTAFIX!!!
https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm
https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm




