I don't get it (ss/fixie conversion mania)
05-28-10, 05:55 PM
#51
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I always had something to mess with on my geared bike, but I have almost zero maintenance on my Fixed.
I basically lube/clean the chain and keep the tires pumped up. I rarely even need to adjust chain tension.
I basically lube/clean the chain and keep the tires pumped up. I rarely even need to adjust chain tension.
05-28-10, 06:19 PM
#52
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Also, I was so distracted by the "seat" that I didn't even notice the almost non-existent crankset.
05-28-10, 08:47 PM
#54
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There are 2 kinds of people .
Fixed gear riders who fly, .....until they hit the big mountain...
Multiple gear riders who keep flyin up and down the mountain....
Fixed gear riders who fly, .....until they hit the big mountain...
Multiple gear riders who keep flyin up and down the mountain....
05-28-10, 09:26 PM
#55
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king koeller,
I think you hit the nail on the head. If speed is the sole/overarching reason for being on a bicycle then despite what some might argue (and prove with their own physical prowess and moxie) geared bicycles are faster. But, it is my opinion that once we get past the fact that we are not being paid to ride our bikes and the vast majority of us (vast majority defined as 99.99%) never will be paid to ride then what is left is the joy of making circles. For this old guy, the experience of cycling fixed is a much more enhanced, enjoyable experience. Compared to folks on geared or single speeds I'm so butt naked slow on descents you would actually get pissed waiting for me. Also, if a significant grade sticks around for too long someone who can drop into a more appropriate gear will also get the better of me. Now, that's just me. I don't have a problem with that because cycling restores me. My ego isn't in it. I have no need to understand what my average speed is on any given loop or if I broke the sound barrier on that last descent or if I spent my time within my projected training heart rate. On and on. To me, it's just noise. Nothing against it - but it's not why I ride. I'd rather meet you, pull over into 7-11 and chew on a Cliff bar while listening to you than find out who can get to the top and then the bottom of the mountain first. The ride is what is important. It is its' own end. For me, fixed is the better means to that end. I'm happier. I guess I'm also slower. I can live with that.
I think you hit the nail on the head. If speed is the sole/overarching reason for being on a bicycle then despite what some might argue (and prove with their own physical prowess and moxie) geared bicycles are faster. But, it is my opinion that once we get past the fact that we are not being paid to ride our bikes and the vast majority of us (vast majority defined as 99.99%) never will be paid to ride then what is left is the joy of making circles. For this old guy, the experience of cycling fixed is a much more enhanced, enjoyable experience. Compared to folks on geared or single speeds I'm so butt naked slow on descents you would actually get pissed waiting for me. Also, if a significant grade sticks around for too long someone who can drop into a more appropriate gear will also get the better of me. Now, that's just me. I don't have a problem with that because cycling restores me. My ego isn't in it. I have no need to understand what my average speed is on any given loop or if I broke the sound barrier on that last descent or if I spent my time within my projected training heart rate. On and on. To me, it's just noise. Nothing against it - but it's not why I ride. I'd rather meet you, pull over into 7-11 and chew on a Cliff bar while listening to you than find out who can get to the top and then the bottom of the mountain first. The ride is what is important. It is its' own end. For me, fixed is the better means to that end. I'm happier. I guess I'm also slower. I can live with that.
05-28-10, 09:40 PM
#56
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king koeller,
I think you hit the nail on the head. If speed is the sole/overarching reason for being on a bicycle then despite what some might argue (and prove with their own physical prowess and moxie) geared bicycles are faster. But, it is my opinion that once we get past the fact that we are not being paid to ride our bikes and the vast majority of us (vast majority defined as 99.99%) never will be paid to ride then what is left is the joy of making circles. For this old guy, the experience of cycling fixed is a much more enhanced, enjoyable experience. Compared to folks on geared or single speeds I'm so butt naked slow on descents you would actually get pissed waiting for me. Also, if a significant grade sticks around for too long someone who can drop into a more appropriate gear will also get the better of me. Now, that's just me. I don't have a problem with that because cycling restores me. My ego isn't in it. I have no need to understand what my average speed is on any given loop or if I broke the sound barrier on that last descent or if I spent my time within my projected training heart rate. On and on. To me, it's just noise. Nothing against it - but it's not why I ride. I'd rather meet you, pull over into 7-11 and chew on a Cliff bar while listening to you than find out who can get to the top and then the bottom of the mountain first. The ride is what is important. It is its' own end. For me, fixed is the better means to that end. I'm happier. I guess I'm also slower. I can live with that.
I think you hit the nail on the head. If speed is the sole/overarching reason for being on a bicycle then despite what some might argue (and prove with their own physical prowess and moxie) geared bicycles are faster. But, it is my opinion that once we get past the fact that we are not being paid to ride our bikes and the vast majority of us (vast majority defined as 99.99%) never will be paid to ride then what is left is the joy of making circles. For this old guy, the experience of cycling fixed is a much more enhanced, enjoyable experience. Compared to folks on geared or single speeds I'm so butt naked slow on descents you would actually get pissed waiting for me. Also, if a significant grade sticks around for too long someone who can drop into a more appropriate gear will also get the better of me. Now, that's just me. I don't have a problem with that because cycling restores me. My ego isn't in it. I have no need to understand what my average speed is on any given loop or if I broke the sound barrier on that last descent or if I spent my time within my projected training heart rate. On and on. To me, it's just noise. Nothing against it - but it's not why I ride. I'd rather meet you, pull over into 7-11 and chew on a Cliff bar while listening to you than find out who can get to the top and then the bottom of the mountain first. The ride is what is important. It is its' own end. For me, fixed is the better means to that end. I'm happier. I guess I'm also slower. I can live with that.
But oldfixguy, the whole point of having a fixie is so that it matches your girl jeans and v-neck shirt! Duhhhh.*
*Before I get flamed, I am obviously referring to very specific, small subset of fixie riders, not all of them.
05-28-10, 10:07 PM
#57
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Guys in tight pants is disgusting. There are exceptions. If you are currently (by currently I mean at this very second) doing a full gainer with a twist off the 20 meter platform in the Olympics then feel free to wear whatever you need to to make that happen. Or, someone is measuring your cycling time in .001 increments you should go for whatever advantage you can get. Form fitting and tight are not the same things. We should all wear clothing that reasonably conforms to our figures. Tight on the other hand is reserved for women. They look good that way. We (guys) don't. V-necks are cool.
But, I do see your point. Damn. No wonder I don't have the experiences so many seem to have of people making any sort of comment about the type of bicycle I'm riding. No one seems to notice me unless I do something stupid like piss on their car tire while waiting at a red light (Hey, when you gotta' go - you gotta' go.) Now I get it - I need chick jeans.
But, I do see your point. Damn. No wonder I don't have the experiences so many seem to have of people making any sort of comment about the type of bicycle I'm riding. No one seems to notice me unless I do something stupid like piss on their car tire while waiting at a red light (Hey, when you gotta' go - you gotta' go.) Now I get it - I need chick jeans.
05-28-10, 10:19 PM
#58
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05-28-10, 10:21 PM
#59
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Fixed my knee problems riding a SS (I wonder if the Biopace changed anything? 
), hope it will improve even more when I'll finally build my fixed wheel... I can do a 35km ride three days in a row without any knee problems right now, three or four years ago I would have cut my leg off just to stop the pain I felt after riding a bike for such a long (cough cough) distance!
Edit: oh and I've got a pair of chick's jeans...... but I have a very nice butt when I wear them so my girlfriend says it's ok!
), hope it will improve even more when I'll finally build my fixed wheel... I can do a 35km ride three days in a row without any knee problems right now, three or four years ago I would have cut my leg off just to stop the pain I felt after riding a bike for such a long (cough cough) distance!Edit: oh and I've got a pair of chick's jeans...... but I have a very nice butt when I wear them so my girlfriend says it's ok!
05-28-10, 10:35 PM
#61
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05-28-10, 11:19 PM
#62
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I hope my butt never fits into chick jeans...
05-29-10, 06:29 AM
#64
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king koeller,
I think you hit the nail on the head. If speed is the sole/overarching reason for being on a bicycle then despite what some might argue (and prove with their own physical prowess and moxie) geared bicycles are faster. But, it is my opinion that once we get past the fact that we are not being paid to ride our bikes and the vast majority of us (vast majority defined as 99.99%) never will be paid to ride then what is left is the joy of making circles. For this old guy, the experience of cycling fixed is a much more enhanced, enjoyable experience. Compared to folks on geared or single speeds I'm so butt naked slow on descents you would actually get pissed waiting for me. Also, if a significant grade sticks around for too long someone who can drop into a more appropriate gear will also get the better of me. Now, that's just me. I don't have a problem with that because cycling restores me. My ego isn't in it. I have no need to understand what my average speed is on any given loop or if I broke the sound barrier on that last descent or if I spent my time within my projected training heart rate. On and on. To me, it's just noise. Nothing against it - but it's not why I ride. I'd rather meet you, pull over into 7-11 and chew on a Cliff bar while listening to you than find out who can get to the top and then the bottom of the mountain first. The ride is what is important. It is its' own end. For me, fixed is the better means to that end. I'm happier. I guess I'm also slower. I can live with that.
I think you hit the nail on the head. If speed is the sole/overarching reason for being on a bicycle then despite what some might argue (and prove with their own physical prowess and moxie) geared bicycles are faster. But, it is my opinion that once we get past the fact that we are not being paid to ride our bikes and the vast majority of us (vast majority defined as 99.99%) never will be paid to ride then what is left is the joy of making circles. For this old guy, the experience of cycling fixed is a much more enhanced, enjoyable experience. Compared to folks on geared or single speeds I'm so butt naked slow on descents you would actually get pissed waiting for me. Also, if a significant grade sticks around for too long someone who can drop into a more appropriate gear will also get the better of me. Now, that's just me. I don't have a problem with that because cycling restores me. My ego isn't in it. I have no need to understand what my average speed is on any given loop or if I broke the sound barrier on that last descent or if I spent my time within my projected training heart rate. On and on. To me, it's just noise. Nothing against it - but it's not why I ride. I'd rather meet you, pull over into 7-11 and chew on a Cliff bar while listening to you than find out who can get to the top and then the bottom of the mountain first. The ride is what is important. It is its' own end. For me, fixed is the better means to that end. I'm happier. I guess I'm also slower. I can live with that.
05-29-10, 10:07 AM
#66
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05-29-10, 10:12 AM
#67
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if novice rider A buys a track bike, and novice rider B gets a geared road bike, B would need to know about everything A needs to know on top of everything ive previously mentioned. and i think its safe to say gears/derailleurs/shifters are some of the more complicated components on a bike.
05-30-10, 04:23 AM
#68
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if novice rider A buys a track bike, and novice rider B gets a geared road bike, B would need to know about everything A needs to know on top of everything I've previously mentioned. and i think its safe to say gears/derailleurs/shifters are some of the more complicated components on a bike.
05-30-10, 06:08 AM
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I find your post a little difficult to understand but I think I get enough of it to disagree with you. The appeal afforded fixed gear bicycles is universal. It is not limited to new-be's. Beauty transcends any status of the viewer. Fixed gear bicycles are beautiful because they are beautiful. As for the true, hardcore rider - I don't think I've ever met one. It seems you have. Can you provide a complete listing of what they need and don't need? I ask so I can readily identify them by these attributes when/if I ever come across one. My thanks in advance.
05-30-10, 06:17 AM
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are you kidding me? maybe not for you considering you are 16 thousand posts deep and have been on here for 6 years, but front/back gears and both derailleurs on top of the shifters are a bunch of components that you would need to be knowledgeable about in order to install on your build yourself on top of maintaining and tuning.
if novice rider A buys a track bike, and novice rider B gets a geared road bike, B would need to know about everything A needs to know on top of everything ive previously mentioned. and i think its safe to say gears/derailleurs/shifters are some of the more complicated components on a bike.
if novice rider A buys a track bike, and novice rider B gets a geared road bike, B would need to know about everything A needs to know on top of everything ive previously mentioned. and i think its safe to say gears/derailleurs/shifters are some of the more complicated components on a bike.
Changing a flat rear tire for example - probably the most commonly needed service on either style of bike. With a SS you have to deal with chain tension and aligning the wheel straight in the frame and keeping the right side of the wheel from walking forward when you tighten the axle nuts. On a geared bike with vertical dropouts you have none of that.
I'm thinking that the issues we're used to aren't problems because we're comfortable dealing with them but the ones we aren't so used to are big deals.
