Search
Notices
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)

Track ends, why?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-27-06 | 07:13 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
Track ends, why?

What is the point of having track ends rather than forward facing horizontal dropouts on a fixed gear bike, particularly one intended for road riding? Sheldon "Right About Everything" Brown favours forward facing dropouts because you don't have to derail the chain every time you take off the rear wheel. So what are the arguments for track ends?
mander is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:14 PM
  #2  
cab horn
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28,353
Likes: 30
From: Toronto

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Your wheel can't fly off even if the nuts are undone
operator is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:17 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
Track ends are kind of the fixed gear equivalent of lawyer lips then? Hmm.
mander is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:21 PM
  #4  
humble_biker's Avatar
so much for physics
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
From: over there

Bikes: Scott CR1 team, Fuji track pro, NYCbike, Cannondale, Free Spirit, GT Edge

nothing remotely close. If your wheel slips it's going to be because of assymetrical tension on the axle nuts. In which case the tire slams into one of the chain stays bringing the rider to a screeching halt. Regardless of which direction they face.
humble_biker is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:35 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
I'm guessing tradition has a lot to do with it. track ends also allow the geometry of the frame to remain constant no matter where the wheel is.
potus is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:41 PM
  #6  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
Originally Posted by potus
I'm guessing tradition has a lot to do with it. track ends also allow the geometry of the frame to remain constant no matter where the wheel is.
Because the slot is perpendicular to the ground?
mander is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:43 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mander
Because the slot is perpendicular to the ground?
horizontal
potus is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 07:46 PM
  #8  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
oops "parallell". OK I see what you mean anyhow.
mander is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:21 PM
  #9  
dustinlikewhat's Avatar
Bow$$
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 0
From: Bodymore, Murderland

Bikes: Surly Instigator '02, Schwinn Traveler fixed conversion, '02 Fuji Track

less drag.
dustinlikewhat is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:24 PM
  #10  
sloppy robot's Avatar
like, really sloppy
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 0
From: calipornia
someones got to say it.. they look better
sloppy robot is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:37 PM
  #11  
rustang's Avatar
how i roll
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
From: dirty
Originally Posted by dutret
...
dutret has not replied, but i agree with whatever he says on the matter.
rustang is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:44 PM
  #12  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
Come on guys, is there a good reason? I'm interested because it was just brought to my attention that BikeForums'er jacobs builds rather nice track frames with optional 1010 style dropouts, and it sounds like such a no brainer that I'm having trouble seeing why this isn't the norm.
mander is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:49 PM
  #13  
SingleSpeeDemon's Avatar
Team Sohoku
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: Not where I want to be.

Bikes: BMC, Cannondale, '87 Nishiki Modulus, 3Rensho Keirin

Maybe some folks just prefer rear entry?
SingleSpeeDemon is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:49 PM
  #14  
br995's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 0
From: New York

Bikes: Makino (have the parts; not yet built), EAI Barekuckle, Unknown Japanese fixed conversion, Centurion Dave Scott Ironman road bike (frame), Secret project bike, 2007 Trek Madone 5.2, Cannondale Caad3 mountain bike

Well, what is the advantage of having a single speed bike with 1010 style dropouts?
br995 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 10:53 PM
  #15  
Cynikal's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,357
Likes: 167
From: Sacramento CA

Bikes: Too Many

Being able to adjust your gearing without adjusting your brakes.

You can have the best of both worlds, track ends at an angle. Just ask the folks at Rivendell
__________________
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
Cynikal is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 11:38 PM
  #16  
spud's Avatar
i am sure that i hate you
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,230
Likes: 0
From: 703

Bikes: 'Cha-ruzu Fosuta Orusan Kein' Fuji Track (2005), Schwinn Tank MTB (?), Fuji Royale (1979)

Originally Posted by Cynikal
Being able to adjust your gearing without adjusting your brakes.

You can have the best of both worlds, track ends at an angle. Just ask the folks at Rivendell
you ride track bikes with brakes?
__________________
putting the pi back in pirate!
It’s an upstanding member of the solar system
Apply the laws of earth and make it a victim
Of Proposition 187
spud is offline  
Reply
Old 10-27-06 | 11:40 PM
  #17  
dustinlikewhat's Avatar
Bow$$
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 0
From: Bodymore, Murderland

Bikes: Surly Instigator '02, Schwinn Traveler fixed conversion, '02 Fuji Track

I ride your mom with brakes.
dustinlikewhat is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 02:15 AM
  #18  
MasterHalco's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Boston

Bikes: Van Dessel CRB, IRO Angus

Originally Posted by dustinlikewhat
I ride your mom with brakes.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!11

SNAP!!!!!!11!!1!one
MasterHalco is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 02:45 AM
  #19  
Sammyboy's Avatar
The Legitimiser
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 6
From: Southampton, UK

Bikes: Gazelle Trim Trophy, EG Bates Track Bike, HR Bates Cantiflex bike, Nigel Dean fixed gear conversion, Raleigh Royal, Falcon Westminster.

It's actually really simple. Track frames tend to have very tight clearances, and with the rear wheel so close to the seatpost, sliding it forward to remove it would normally be impossible. Hence, backwards. I've had battles getting 27" wheels to install on a road bike designed for 700c, and with a track bike, it'd be worse.
Sammyboy is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 04:57 AM
  #20  
18 dog baby
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu

Bikes: 2008 crosscheck complete, 1984 Pugeot fixed conversion

makes sense. although why would i need to change a tire if it wasn't flat? and if it's flat, the clearance issue is gone.
just curious.
2mtr is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 05:45 AM
  #21  
Sammyboy's Avatar
The Legitimiser
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 6
From: Southampton, UK

Bikes: Gazelle Trim Trophy, EG Bates Track Bike, HR Bates Cantiflex bike, Nigel Dean fixed gear conversion, Raleigh Royal, Falcon Westminster.

Changing tyres isn't the only reason to remove a wheel. Changing cogs, changing wheels.
Sammyboy is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 06:07 AM
  #22  
travsi's Avatar
i don't stop
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 0
From: basel, switzerland

Bikes: soma rush, giro

here's another reason:

track ends are usually on track frames,
which have track geometry, which in
most cases equals a higher bb shell,
which allows for better cornering clearance
when riding on the streets.

...and as sloppy said, they look better.
__________________
velospace
travsi is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 07:25 AM
  #23  
Sammyboy's Avatar
The Legitimiser
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 6
From: Southampton, UK

Bikes: Gazelle Trim Trophy, EG Bates Track Bike, HR Bates Cantiflex bike, Nigel Dean fixed gear conversion, Raleigh Royal, Falcon Westminster.

Travsi - that doesn't explain at all why they face backwards.
Sammyboy is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 07:32 AM
  #24  
TRACKMAN's Avatar
hide not your essence
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 160
Likes: 28
From: WDC nations colony

Bikes: Airborne,DeRosa,Guerciotti,Jamis,Merckx,Paris Sport,Raleigh,Vitus

For those in the know

the correct answer is........WHEELBASE.. yes, just like cars shorter wheelbase quicker response in turning. Sure, you may argue whats a few milliseconds in a race. HAH! Ever play shake and break on a velodrome? They ( milliseconds ) count..
__________________
May you find the joy and peace you long for.
Life is a journey ... NOT a guided tour.
.......__O
.......\<,
....( )/ ( )...
TRACKMAN is offline  
Reply
Old 10-28-06 | 07:43 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 1
From: Pleasanton Tx

Bikes: old,older.and very old

Track ends are for flip/flop hubs.You have more chain adj. with track ends so you can have a greater verance in the two cog sizes
frameteam2003 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.