Hey All,

I'm new to the forum. I wanted to drop in a quick introduction to say hello and let you know a little about me so if I post up you have some idea of where I'm coming from.

I've been actively cycling for about 25 years. I've never been a racer of any sort and actually have never belonged to any sort of riding club. I typically ride alone. Cycling has long been a lifestyle choice for me and is the chosen way I exorcise my demons. I commute, shop, kick around and of course ride for enjoyment. I sort of chose oldfixguy as my handle as I'm 43 years old which seems to be a little long in the tooth to start fixed gear riding.

I found fixed gear riding a few months ago when a man I work with mentioned he had a friend that was selling an all but new Surly Steamroller. The guy purchased the bike, didn't feel the love and was looking to get rid of it. I got it at a good price and started riding it. The first week or so things felt a little weird. No dangerous as it appears some who don't ride fixed gear claim but definitely different. As I got past that initial break in period an amazing thing happened - I didn't want to ride my geared steed anymore. It felt overdone, clunky, detached and just plain wrong. I was done with cycling on anything but a fixed gear bike. There is some ongoing adjustments as I enjoy getting out for 100km or so rides at least once a week and I'm incrementally improving on the routes I can take through the foothills and mountains. It is a new way of doing things for me so I'm taking baby steps.

I ride with 38c tires, a front brake, full fenders (modified a bit because there was just no room with the fatty tires). During the week when I'm commuting I use regular flat pedals (TruVativ Holzfeller's) and when I head out for longer strolls I tend to take a minute and swap over to a set of SPD's. I may go clips and straps eventually but for now I'm comfy with the 2 choices I'm using.

I find fixed gear riding to be totally absorbing. Not in a "I have to pay attention every second or die" sort of way rather in a totally attached, totally part of what I'm doing sort of way. I'm picking up some of the little "stupid human tricks" such as ejecting off the back of the bike without stopping (very easy by the way) and am working on track standing. I seem to do my best (longest) track stands on slight inclines where if Mars is in line with Venus I can actually track stand through an entire red light. I'm getting better. I've yet to skid stop. I want to practice that sort of thing but want another set of rims first so if something happens and I muck up my rims I can just swap them out and still commute. All in time.

So, that's about all. Thanks for having me.

welcome!

always good to see a fresh face. hopefully you make it though the week.

thats a very valid concern.

Hey..!

Now if you really want to feel at home here, post a pic of your bike and let the rest rip on you!

Ha ha. It's just a stock, sort of diarrhea colored Steamroller that I put black bar tape and pedals on. Oh, yea, black Planet Bike fenders. But, OK, I'll get a pic up soon.