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How uncool are any of these things on a fixed gear?

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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)

How uncool are any of these things on a fixed gear?

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Old 04-21-06 | 08:18 AM
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How uncool are any of these things on a fixed gear?

Aero bars?
Computer?
Rack?
Rack with panniers?

Just wondering.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:19 AM
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as cool or as uncool as YOU want them to be
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:23 AM
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I'm pretty sure you CAN"T put those things on a fixed gear. I put a rack and a computer on my winter beater and when I came down in the morning they were lying on the ground smashed and my bike just kept glaring at me all day...

Then it came at me with a knife while I was in the shower, so I took off the front brake as well... I think I'm safe as long as it doesn't see any bikes with deep V's now.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:24 AM
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Bikes: some piece of s h i t

As long as you're riding your bike and having fun, who cares?
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by jedi_steve420
I'm pretty sure you CAN"T put those things on a fixed gear. I put a rack and a computer on my winter beater and when I came down in the morning they were lying on the ground smashed and my bike just kept glaring at me all day...

Then it came at me with a knife while I was in the shower, so I took off the front brake as well... I think I'm safe as long as it doesn't see any bikes with deep V's now.
I like that answer.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:29 AM
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If it suits your purpose, then go for it. Aesthetics is one thing, but practicality is really what it is all about.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:30 AM
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The dork factor is directly proportional to your efforts to be a hipster.

Enjoy
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by 1fluffhead
If it suits your purpose, then go for it. Aesthetics is one thing, but practicality is really what it is all about.
Pfft. Says you.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by thelung
As long as you're riding your bike and having fun, who cares?
good answer I agree with this
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by No_Minkah
Pfft. Says you.
Don't worry, I would probably say, "yucky" if I saw the bike all rigged up that way because I am a slave to the look too, but I would rather see the bike being used for a purpose then the OP driving because they couldn't use their bike because they have too much stuff to carry and no way to carry it that was comfortable for them.

Last edited by 1fluffhead; 04-21-06 at 09:43 AM.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by 1fluffhead
If it suits your purpose, then go for it. Aesthetics is one thing, but practicality is really what it is all about.
I'm pretty sure they aren't mutually exclusive. I mean a big part the aesthetic appeal of a bike comes from it's practicality and efficiency.

Edit: not really sure why I quoted No_Minkah originally... I lack sleep
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:39 AM
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well, rack or rack w/ panniers aren't going to look specifically uncool, but if you're putting them on just for the look, you know, to fit in with the touring crowd and you never pack them full of crap and leave town on your bike, then that's pretty uncool.

most people think a bike is a bike and that's awesome. some people will have aneurysms (omg! bullhorns where track drops should be? heresy!) about "improper" setups, but most people will say, hey, if you have it and use it in a way that makes sense, more power to you for riding.

so put those aerobars on, throw the computer on (how fast are those cars going, anyway, when you pass them?), and put your bag on the rack. you're beautiful either way.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:40 AM
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In Davis? Are you kidding, the geekiest bikes are in Davis. Seriously, do what you want or need to get you on two wheels. And post a pic, the fashion nazis here will go crazy.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:47 AM
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I miss Ryan Ingersol right now.
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Old 04-21-06 | 08:59 AM
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um... no you don't
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Old 04-21-06 | 09:00 AM
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Just for a second. I'm so ashamed.

Last edited by the pope; 04-21-06 at 09:10 AM.
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Old 04-21-06 | 09:00 AM
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can anyone point me in the direction of low profile fenders? i have all these eyelits!
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Old 04-21-06 | 09:22 AM
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I did a 170 mile 3 day tour on my track bike, and had a rack, custom panners, and a computer. The only problem with the rack is that there are most likely no mounting brackets on your frame, and you have to ghetto rig it, and that your rear end is super short so your panners might get in the way.

If it's what you want, go for it- we're not in middle school anymore.
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Old 04-21-06 | 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by tehz
can anyone point me in the direction of low profile fenders? i have all these eyelits!

I like my sks narrow road fenders. I had to cut them in front though to make them fit though I think that is probably the case with most.
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Old 04-21-06 | 09:59 AM
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aero bars on a fixed gear = dope
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Old 04-21-06 | 10:08 AM
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Any bike is totally lame without one of these babies.

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Old 04-21-06 | 10:09 AM
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The other issue with a rack/pannier is the extra weight they add. My now-gone conversion had a rack and fenders. When it was loaded down it was tricky to skip on, but it also had a rear brake (extra uncool), so no problem.

As far as aero bars go, they might be tricky with steep geometry and lots of weight at the rear of the bike, but if it works for you...

I don't think computers are uncool, just unnecessary for most situations.
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Old 04-21-06 | 10:14 AM
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What about water bottles, pumps, saddle bags, lights, etc?
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Old 04-21-06 | 10:17 AM
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Sorry, I have to be the lone dissenter here. All of the above are fine, with the exception of aerobars. Unless you are doing a triathlon or other time-trial sort of thing, aerobars are totally lame.

There, I said it.
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Old 04-21-06 | 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Yoshi
What about water bottles, pumps, saddle bags, lights, etc?
I don't think any of this stuff is "uncool", but after a certain point it takes the fun out of having a fixed bike to load it down with a bunch of stuff.
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