I would totally stop. Actually, unicycles are the new track bike. That's what everyone is messengering on these days anyway.

Whatchu talkin bout "If"? foo? I bet most major manufacturers will have a fixed or flip/flop model with 1 or 2 brakes made for street available in the 2006 lineup, 2007 at the latest.

So you are the sum total of your reactions to everything around you? You don't really like riding fixed? You just do it because you perceive it as not being mainstream? I suppose you still think tattoos are non-mainstream...?

I'm sure I'm one of the guys you all love to hate.

As far as I know there are only 3 of us in my town, me being one, and I know the other two guys. They have KHS's and I have a road conversion. I think if it did ever go mainstream it would become a bit watered down, like both brakes for example, more modern looking designs. One of the things I like about the fixed gear set is the ingenuity and individuality that goes into people's bikes and I think you would see less of that with mainstream popularity. Not that there is anything wrong with buying off the shelf bikes, I would have if I had the money. But I think people coming into it for trend wouldn't be the people converting old bikes or seeking out used frames and parts and piecing their bikes together.

Personally I don't think it will ever hit the way mtb did or bmx, just my opinion. I mean what do you guys consider mainstream, I consider it to mean like back in the day when everyone and their mom off the street was coming into the bike shop to buy mtbs. If you mean mainstream within the bike community then I think it is well on its way if not there. Could you even imagine if it hit mainstream america, I would love to see the Huffy track bikes.

Actually huffy did make track bikes. They were very good, if I remember, and built by serotta.

Do it!
I want to start doing some short touring this summer, 2-3 day trips at first, and am not sure that I want to deal with derailleurs, gears, dishing, etc., so am thinking about building a SA into a 700c rim. We can start a club to rival the People Named Jason With Merciers Club.

Man, I for one would like fixed gear bikes to even become a little popular in Glasgow. There are two shops that I know of within a 20 mile radius of where i live that sell fg stuff and even then its by order only. The only people I have EVER seen riding fixed here are the messengers and it would be cool to have somebody to ride with... :(

The rising popularity of fg definitely has plus points - I just wish it would cross the pond. Even just a little.

sbeatonNJ, fixed gear doesn't have the corner on the weirdo market.

I'm gonna build a 3-speed internally geared mountain bike (assuming the axles on my hub are wide enough). Sheldon Brown has a 63 gear bike. Build a chopper. Ride a unicycle. There's nothing special about fixed, it's just a different type of bike. If you're really getting off on trying something unique (nothing wrong with that), try branching out.

Just be careful what kind of hub you use. A friend of mine did that with a SRAM hub and it didn't hold up at all off-road so he turned it back into a SS.

As for fixed gear going mainstream, it's not gonna happen. I'm still waiting for bicycling to go mainstream!

It's a Sturmey-Archer. I'll beat it till it breaks (hey now), whatever that may be. I'm into the freakshow aspect. The same hub can give me a road-worthy 70", an offroading 52", and a granny 39". Seems awesome enough, eh?

I ride fixed because I want to.

fixed gear isn't "Aggresive" enough to become main stream, no tricks, no jumps.

As far as I can discover, there are three (adult sized) fixed gear bikes in Saint John, NB and two single speed road bikes, all in my shed.

However, I am one of the few at my work who doesn't have a tattoo. (no intention of getting one either)

Would love to be able to buy track parts here, the LBS's don't even want to order parts.


By the way, I thought when surfing hit big it brought us the Beach Boys and Annette and Frankie, oh well, tempos fugit.

What!?!? do shaft driven bikes actually exist? That is my next project if it's possible, my dad and I have been working on BMW cafe racers for as long as I can remember, and now he has an '03 BMW 1100s oh man drive shafts rule!!! hahah that would be so cool to put a black shaft driven bicycle up next to an old beemer! Post pics PLEASE

that's pretty good for NJ, when I lived there everybody drove their fat asses around and never even considered riding a bike past age 16...



anyways, I'm sure we're not too far away from seeing some character on TV toting a FG around like an accessory. Ain't gonna stop me...or maybe I'll take my cog off and go zero gear!

Specialized makes the langster. The sheer fact that people actually run out and buy those things rather than build up fixie from ebay/found parts tells you what? That's right children - MAINSTREAM.

Uh huh....yep....already happened. Cry into your Guinness and lament the demise of all things great.

Thylacine Cycles- Your idol rides one.

what? Mr Karsten's is done?

I have had mine for two years now. Got you beat. 80s 531 cromo, mavic ma2s, shimano 600 everything else.

You know how many fixed gears I see in SF? Answer: More Fixie's than Road bikes. Now What is mainstream?

If fixed went mainstream then all the hipsters would have to sell their bikes.

Perfect. The market flooded with 'only used once' bikes.

Brings it on! I wouldn't mind picking up a nice hardly-used FG for cheap.

I say we all switch from chains to shaft drives. Shaft fixies!

bold talk from a man quoting the shins... :D

according to health and fitness mag anyone who rides a fixed gear, more specifically the Langster or Bianchi is a "messanger-wannabe"

http://www.healthandfitnessmag.com/s...cles_jan05.htm

Even worse, they recommend the Langster.

Shaft-drive is not gonna happen, either. Too much drivetrain resistance, soaking up power to the rear wheel. Us human engines need all the help we can get!

Been there, done that!

There is actually a better transfer of power with a shaft drive

It's not the shaft that kills efficiency, it's the right-angle units at either end.

Jim