Changing a Flat
 

I am looking to buy a fixed gear (Pista?) for the road. I ve notice that the way the rear dropout is positioned is that you can only take the rear wheel off is by taking off the chain. Is this correct????
If so how would you fix a flat on the road.

In addition since my LBS knows squat about fixies is it better to order one over the internet
(Harris Cyclery???) or have my LBS order one for me.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

1. No, you don't have to take the chain off completely. Just slip it off the rear cog, then off the front chainring. You should plenty of room to take the rear wheel off if you do this.

2. Depends on if you know what you are looking for. If you don't need much help with sizing and parts selection, order it yourself and put it together. If you don't know your frame size and don't know how to do basic bike assembly, go with your LBS.

No silly! You do have to loosen the headset though.

Whether you have to remove the chain or not depends. On my frame when I was running 48/16, my axle was nearly all the way forward in the ends. Adding another chain link caused it to fall out the back in order to get the chain taut. In that case I actually had to break the chain to get the wheel out, there just was no other way. Now that I've dropped down to a 47/16 for reason of better tire wear, it sits further back in the ends and I can get enough slack by pushing it all the way forward to just work it off the cog and over the nut. In other words, whether you need to or not is a function of your gear sizes, chainstay length, and track end length.

For that and other reasons, you should get a chain with a master link.

I always slide my wheel up in the dropout, and then take the chain off from the front chainring. That gives me enough slack to take the rear wheel out...

About ordering, you might have a problem with frame size. I ride a 55cm bianchi road bike but a 53cm pista.

Consumption of alcohol will make the whole job quicker, or at least more entertaining.

Oh, and don't forget to retighten your headset after you're done.

Not to get off topic but...
Yes it is not that difficult to remove the chain in that way, but why do track bikes have track ends and not horizontal drops? Is it the hopes that if you really crank and the wheel slips that the wheel won't fly out?

That's the general idea. And they look cool.

Don't forget to carry a wrench or similar so you can get the wheel off (makes fixing a flat much easier).

I quite like the Surly Jethro Tool - http://www.surlybikes.com/stuff.html - but as a bottle opener it ain't all that.

Old crank bolt tools work really well. Park, Campy etc all made them at one point.

While small, it ain't all that as a wrench either -- hard for me to get it on the nuts, not long enough to get any torque on it to wrench the wheels on tight. I just carry a standard 15mm wrench.

sometimes, if it is obvious and i am in a hurry...i wont even pull the wheel. leave it in, skin half, remove crap from tire, light glue on fire, slap on patch, stuff and inflate.

pulling the wheel is for at home while drinking pbr

as for the chain thing...ive never been a big fan of master links or breaking the chain on a fixie. so much stress goes on down there...i fear cresting a hill and having the chain ditch on me!

WHOA. CAREFUL HERE...lest you tempt Skitbra to release his Dogs of Beer Metrosexuality. PBR is not up to snuff for him. He'll make some expensive and stylish recommendation if you ask nicely though.

My sentiments exactly. The Jethro tool sure looks cool, but I get worried about my nuts being too loose.

oh, the options here...

ON TOPIC:
I never had a prob with the Jethro and loose tracknuts. Skitbra can probably state the same on this as he has one of his own.

yeah, but you're huge, you push the plates (just look at those muscles bulging in your blog pic, you big showoff) so you can crank that tiny tool down. What about those of us who are weaker, less fine examples of manliness.

shaved legs, too? hmmmn.

hardly...call it borderline albinism.

Well then young lawyer, you should be accustomed to cranking tiny tools.

Trouble making, here, too, huh?

It gives me purpose.

yeah, i addressed the whole elitest beer thing in the other thread...i dont make a habit of asking nicely, so i guess i will have to make do with my lowbrow tastes that match my attitude.

MKRG...is hudepohl still making solid cheap brew. that was a southern ohio cheapie fav for sure! does hudy/shoenling still do the top hat beer thing. god we used to drink that in school, a case was like six bucks, and the bottles were returnable. what wonderful rotgut that was...makes high life seem, well, like champagne!

Jethro Tule rules. Reg'ler wrenches don't. They slip and crap up the bolts. Plus it's a work of art.

you are joking, right?

two words. chain tension.

Chain tension could be adjusted with horizontal drops as well. Tensioners would work with horizontal drops, too.