my introduction to fixed gear
 

Hi FG/SS. I'm a C&V reg who has finally turned to the dark side. I've been riding vintage steel road bikes for a couple years now, and just picked up my first fixed-gear two weeks ago. It's a brilliant frame, built up with a mish-mosh of nice parts and mediocre parts. the only thing i've changed so far is the pedals; it came with some crappy plastic pedals, which i've switched out in favour of some MKS GR-9s with Cristophe clips and straps.

To do list for right now is swapping the stock saddle out for a lighter/smaller/stiffer one, replace the el cheapo chain with something less stretchy, and perhaps getting some real bullhorns to replace the flop-n-chops. I also want to get a proper reverse/time-trial lever to mount on the end of the bullhorn, instead of the ghetto-rigged drop-bar lever I currently have.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../centurion.jpg

If anyone has a nice white saddle, some nice bullhorns, or a spare reverse lever that they want to sell/trade/donate, let me know.

Personally I prefer the way flopped and chopped bars look in comparison to the $50 Nitto bars. However, I've only ridden the flop/chop style bullhorns, which I love, but I don't know which are more comfy.

I don't like bullhorns with a drop, but bullhorns without a drop feel a lot like flop & chop, and you may like.

I used to think dropped bullhorns were an eyesore, but now i love mine. I got a pair of Profile Design Air Wing bars that are soo comfy. the curve is a great hand position that you can't use as well w/ non-drop bullhorns.

If C&V catches you posting here you'll be excommunicated!

Nice looking bike. Glad you are enjoying it.

im not really a fan of how bullhorns look, but stratos work second to one. the tops would be hoods and drops of course!

Shhhh, don't tell.

Thanks, it's definitely been a blast so far. I've put over 200km on it already!

Just googled those Stratos bars. They look like exactly what I want, and they come in a zero-drop, super-narrow (39cm) version! ...then I scrolled down and saw the price...70 ****ing euros. Pass.

$29
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...-NCL-ANGLE.jpg
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200276_200389

$19

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...-NCL-ANGLE.jpg
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...00_10000_17005

i think the zero drop ones look odd. the 200s look and function better. nearly everyone that uses them got them for 13 usd. you missed the gold rush.

How the **** did you guys get them for $13!?!?!

jakerock: I've seen the nashbar ones, but I live in Canada, so the shipping is like $20, plus exchange. $19 bars end up costing close to $50.

I prefer the deep drops, you can get in a better aero position while still having the tops to use as risers/flat bars. They simulate having drops and hoods and those are one of the most versatile setups you can have.

I orignally wanted the Nitto 009s but got the 21s instead and they work great for in the saddle climbing.

Originally I wanted the Syntace Stratos 800 but couldn't find them anywhere for a reasonable price.

Ah, so there IS something bad about living in Canada? ;)

Buying things online is a total ****show, unless you happen to find an online store that ships from within Canada, which is almost non-existent. I can pretty much expect to pay double the pricetag for anything I buy online.

Other than that, yeah, Canada is pretty awesome. I definitely want to get out to your neck of the woods, though. NYC courier scene is bananas.

I have some Ritchey Biomax Comp ergo drops with aero levers with hoods and haven't gotten a chance to ride them yet because I'm waiting for a stem adapter to come in the mail. But I'm currently running some flopped and chopped steel bars with an old steel lever set up like the one in the OP picture. I love the ones I'm riding from a comfort and look standpoint. I think I'll soon be in a dilemma about what bars to run.