What makes you do it?
07-16-14 | 03:52 PM
#27
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 187
From: TX Hill Country
07-16-14 | 06:40 PM
#28
Grumpy Old Bugga
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 9
From: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Bought a new bike. The Europa was left sitting in the shed. Heard about fg so converted her. Loved it. Stopped riding the new bike. It gets a bit complicated after that but I loved fg enough to commission the Hillbrick which was designed and built as a fg all rounder and the Europa was eventually converted back to gears.
I love the feel of fg. I love the skill set (broader and more subtle than relying on gears). Can't say I'm impressed with long, steep hills.
I love the feel of fg. I love the skill set (broader and more subtle than relying on gears). Can't say I'm impressed with long, steep hills.
07-16-14 | 06:40 PM
#29
Grumpy Old Bugga
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 9
From: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
07-16-14 | 08:31 PM
#30
i'll probably break it
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 2
i havent had a fixed gear bike in two years. still have my sscx. im probably going to put together a fixed conversion roadie in the near future as i have been missing it lately.
the people talking about cost effectiveness should know that with roadies going 11spd, 'old' 10spd groups are cheap as eff. if you take your time and make some friends at the LBS you can build a nice aluminum frame craybin fork roadbike for about the same cost as a middle of the way track setup.
the people talking about cost effectiveness should know that with roadies going 11spd, 'old' 10spd groups are cheap as eff. if you take your time and make some friends at the LBS you can build a nice aluminum frame craybin fork roadbike for about the same cost as a middle of the way track setup.
07-17-14 | 08:32 AM
#34
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,005
Likes: 1,546
From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
For Variety, Fun and Challenge...
Built up my first fixed gear conversion three falls ago for a winter riding treat. It turns out that I loved the change, after having ridden geared bikes for many years.
Fast forward to today, and I still enjoy the simplicity and experience of riding fixed. It's fun, plainly said. I also enjoy the challenge of mastering new skills, so riding fixed has given me opportunities in that way.
Finally, having a fixed gear bike among my others offers variety any time I want to change the ride that day. Have a standard rolling hilly ride that you enjoy? Do it one day on a racing bike, the next on a touring or utility bike, and the third day on a fixed gear. Three completely different experiences, but on the same basic course.
Want to tour the city? Why not on a fixed gear?
Errands to run? Using a backpack offer enough storage? Use the fixed gear instead of one of the others.
That sort of thing...
Fast forward to today, and I still enjoy the simplicity and experience of riding fixed. It's fun, plainly said. I also enjoy the challenge of mastering new skills, so riding fixed has given me opportunities in that way.
Finally, having a fixed gear bike among my others offers variety any time I want to change the ride that day. Have a standard rolling hilly ride that you enjoy? Do it one day on a racing bike, the next on a touring or utility bike, and the third day on a fixed gear. Three completely different experiences, but on the same basic course.
Want to tour the city? Why not on a fixed gear?
Errands to run? Using a backpack offer enough storage? Use the fixed gear instead of one of the others.
That sort of thing...
07-18-14 | 05:03 AM
#38
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, Va
Bikes: 2013 leader 721. 2015 leader 725. 2012 fuji feather
I wanted to start riding a bike again, and I'm pretty sure I stumbled across some clips from Macaframa and Keo Curry.
That pretty much did it.
That pretty much did it.
07-18-14 | 09:10 AM
#39
Not actually Tmonk
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 17,288
Likes: 6,075
From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: road, track, mtb
07-20-14 | 02:53 AM
#41
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Eindhoven the netherlands
Bikes: cube reaction 29er, xtrail slx 26er, cannondale R500 fixed gear, haibike speed RC, orbea sherpa.
Sheldon Brown's website inspired me to ride fixed gears. I never stopped riding them.
07-20-14 | 03:37 AM
#42
Cool Guy
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: Jamis Sputnik, Leader 722 Heritage Edition, Brompton, Bianchi Via Nirone, Robinson SST, Diamondback Sorrento
They're just fun man. And wasting a grip of money on a nice build is pretty damn fulfilling.
07-20-14 | 06:21 PM
#44
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 437
Likes: 3
From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: Surly Steamroller FG, Trek 800 SS MTB, Omega Tandem Sport
Maintenance...
My first commuter had something jam in the chain and rip the derailleur off during a pedal stroke. My second commuter had the derailleur cables and other parts corrode during the winter of commuting. The cable broke one day. Then I went SS. After that bike got stolen I went FG. Now I have a FG road bike (Kilo WT), a SS MTB for the winter, and a SS folding bike for errands and other odd jobs. My wife's winter commuter just had the cables corrode and she had to ride it around SS for a day. After that she is thinking of converting it to SS this winter. You just can't screw something up that is so simple.
My first commuter had something jam in the chain and rip the derailleur off during a pedal stroke. My second commuter had the derailleur cables and other parts corrode during the winter of commuting. The cable broke one day. Then I went SS. After that bike got stolen I went FG. Now I have a FG road bike (Kilo WT), a SS MTB for the winter, and a SS folding bike for errands and other odd jobs. My wife's winter commuter just had the cables corrode and she had to ride it around SS for a day. After that she is thinking of converting it to SS this winter. You just can't screw something up that is so simple.
Of course I will forget the pain, remember the good moments and do it again but not until it cools down. This was outside of Houston-hot/humid.
07-21-14 | 01:09 PM
#48
Warehouse Monkey
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 7
From: Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania
I am training for a mult-day loaded tour this fall and wanted a training tool to build my legs. Bought the Kilo for exactly that purpose. Now I enjoy commuting on as much as I can.
__________________
'10 Specialized Hardrock
'10 Specialized Hardrock
07-23-14 | 12:50 PM
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 648
Likes: 39
Bikes: Canyon, Bowman & Colnago
Sometimes the cool kids on my block pick on me about my "geared" road bike, with all the cables hanging off it and weird parts stuck to it, so that's when I whip out the fixie and I become cool, again.