You have all sorts of issues. Let's see: gearing: 38X20. Pretty good to climb all the hills around town. I could get away with a higher gearing, but in the winter when you're fighting through snow, this makes a lot of sense.
Fenders: ummm... do I really need to argue for fenders? In the winter? In Finland?

I know, lots of issue but with lots of medication and therapy I'm working through them.

Finally got around to making it fixed
 

Catamount dual-suspension; it's been a singlespeed since I first built it up, but when I heard Sheldon Brown had died it finally gave me the kick I needed to fix it.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8123/catamount1yj2.jpg

Details: Catamount frame, olde bomber z4 forks, avid sd7 levers/brakes, xtr crank/chainring, surly cog, purple kmc chain, parts box for the rest.

Gearing: 32:18, firstly because I am a huge wuss and my commute home has a big hill to get up, and secondly because studded tires/4" of snow on the ground right now makes me want all the extra help I can get.

How do you keep the chain tension?

EDIT: ambiguous wording. I meant to ask: how is the chain tensioned?

As I see it the control armis a fixed length, bottom bracket, and rear axle move together. It appears to have a dogbone link that connects to the shock.

I guessed that. I meant to ask, how is the tension in the chain created in the first place? EBB? Or... the horrible magic ratio?

Yup -- it's an old style URT design, so the back wheel and bottom bracket are a constant distance apart. 32:18 and a tiny bit of grinding to move the axle back in the dropout, and the chain tension works out just fine. (credit goes to itsdoable on this very forum for the original discovery)

I'm tempted to switch to 34:16 for fixed, because while uphills would be harder, downhills _really suck_ with 32:18..

Magic ratios suck. For one thing, the chain is tensioned for a very short period of the chain's lifespan. As soon as the chain elongates even a tiny bit, the chain will be too slack.
And for another thing: you can forget about switching to 32:16.

Sure, but that period has been last winter, a summer of riding singlespeed, and half of this winter, which is long enough for me. The little bit of ground-out dropout gives me enough room to take up a bit of slack, and the bashguard seems to help keep the chain on over roots/ice lumps/whatnot.

Yup -- but, like I said, for singlespeeding 32:18 was working out fairly well. The flats are a bit spinny, but as rides around here involve a lot of uphill, I'd don't have a problem with the climbs being easy at the expense of the flats.

What I meant when I said that you can forget about switching to 32:16 was that the magic ratio for sure won't work - not that you wouldn't be able to climb with it.

It's good that the ground dropouts can take up the slack from the elongating chain. If at all possible, could you post a pic of the dropout after the grinding? Did you go in the horizontal direction with that grind?

too rad for the BMX forum

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...7/DSC00902.jpg

how has no one mentioned saddle angle?

I really like it like this. Any higher (closer to horizontal) feels way too uncomfortable. And perhaps it's safer, too.

I dont see how it's any safer. in fact, it's probably putting extra stress on your hands and arms which could easily lead to tennis elbow. but whatever.

it's a better angle for wheelies

But how about this:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...0000442273.jpg

I never knew bad saddle angles give you cancer.

That's not a cow -- horse**** baby

Bad saddle angles AND skittles both give you cancer.

Hey,

Wait a sec. I am no pro, but I am pretty sure poor blood flow doesn't cause cancer. I thought it causes e*ectile dysfunction. Besides cancer cells will undoubted to consume more oxygen (and what-nots) so it may be totally unrelated.

But from the picture, I think people who already has prostate problems may be quite uncomfortable with certain saddle positions. I am a noob so I just make sure my pelvic bone is nearly vertical on the saddle.

It should be near horizontal with a minor adjustment right?

T

P.S. Hey I finished my SS bike. It ain't pretty but it's mine.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...i/KC280065.jpg

my **** gets deleted in less than half an hour but wroom's gets to stay up for 1.5hrs+?

That's because you suck and I don't.

EDIT: for what it's worth, I wasn't OK with the mods deleting your ****. I am generally against intrusive moderation.

was it the finger?

Do you really think there's method to the modness?

Photos from the 2008 Toronto Ice Race:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/...48cdbb.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2012/...50a162.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2242/...8b56f3.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/...269c83.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/...df682f.jpg?v=0

The full gallery is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shapeli...7603929754794/