If it aint fixed its broken

[robotsimon]

Pretty sure the surlys are £300ish for just the frame. building your own isn't so hard (or expensive if you find a suitable donor bike ie 5 speed racer from the 70's - then all you'll need is a whee, sprocket and chain and off you go.

I think you'd probably need a few more bits than that if you're using a 70's racer to pinch parts from. Surly forks are 1 1/8th threadless for a start (well mine are) so you'd need an aheadset, stem, maybe bars.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I think you'd probably need a few more bits than that if you're using a 70's racer to pinch parts from. Surly forks are 1 1/8th threadless for a start (well mine are) so you'd need an aheadset, stem, maybe bars.

I meant buying a 5sp racer and simply remvoing the rear wheel / derailleur / cables and fitting a fixed wheel and chain instead.

 

[richtea]

Bear in mind the drop-outs though - if they're vertical you'd need something like an ENO hub to take up the chain tension.

 

[robotsimon]

I meant buying a 5sp racer and simply remvoing the rear wheel / derailleur / cables and fitting a fixed wheel and chain instead.

Sorry, I read that wrong - that makes perfect sense. Good idea!

 

[han]

This guy's made loads of homemade fixies

 

[richtea]

Whatever happened to that bike porn thread? Can't find it.

In the meantime, phwoar

 

[han]

ooh that is luvverly

 

[han]

Whilst we're on the subject of track bikes, does anyone here go to any velodromes or tracks on a regular basis to ride their fixed-wheel?

 

[alfajobrob]

Whilst we're on the subject of track bikes, does anyone here go to any velodromes or tracks on a regular basis to ride their fixed-wheel?

Hi Han

Not yet, but the season has just started down Herne Hill velodrome & am thinking of giving my baby a run out.

I just need to swap the cog, take the front brake off & its ready to roll..

Check out the site below, they do beginners sessions, coaching & everything....

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.co.uk/

 

[han]

Oooh Herne Hill velo! Didn't know they did courses and all. Wow.

We went through there on an U75 walk once (many moons ago - before it was under threat). Fab place.

Do you just turn up there and jump on yer bike, Pickles?

 

[alfajobrob]

Oooh Herne Hill velo! Didn't know they did courses and all. Wow.

We went through there on an U75 walk once (many moons ago - before it was under threat). Fab place.

Do you just turn up there and jump on yer bike, Pickles?

Really pleased it was saved from closure, I went to the last Good Friday meet there was an excellent day.

Pretty much, I think the beginners sessions are on Saturday mornings.

If you get your Fuji , you can do the same, just take the front brake off & swap your cog if necessary & your ready to go. If not they lend you a bike for the session which is only £6. (you will need a helmet though...)

see below

http://www.vcl.org.uk/calendar

 

[han]

Pickles - super (and ta for the info)! Oooh I'm gonna go down there for a beginner's session now the summer's coming out. Anyone urbanites reading this who fancy coming along for a larf?

Excellent way to burn a bit of bumfat...

*eek!*

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

This is probably a good time to mention the bike jumble that'll be at the good friday track meet at Herne Hill velodrome - if you're after some fixie bits this is the place to go.

richtea - sorry mate but I think that red lo-pro fixie looks horrible.

this is more my cup of tea

 

[han]

ooh that's nice too....

Though my fave-looking ones are plain matt black ones with no logos (and no brakes)

 

[Crispy]

Might pop along on Good Friday. I'll have a rummage through bike bits for sale (might get some proper clip pedals) and try out the banked curves

 

[Reg in slippers]

mmm

 

[han]

wot's a banked curve?

 

[han]

mmm

yummm

 

[Crispy]

wot's a banked curve?

The curved bit on a velo circuit where it's not flat. Like a bank. (not the financial sort).

Please let me know if this post was not patronising enough for you

 

[han]

No, it wasn't patronising enough. What's a curve?

Nice to know a new fact!

<plans to hang out at Herne Hill Velo in lycra talking about banked curves>

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Though my fave-looking ones are plain matt black ones with no logos (and no brakes)

I'm really tired of that look - its almost ubiquitous these days...all looks a bit 90's now I reckon

Give me proper shiny aluminium wheels with gumwall tyres, shiny aluminium handlebars and el classico Italiano paintjobs...basically give me back the 1970's

 

[han]

I'm really tired of that look - its almost ubiquitous these days...all looks a bit 90's now I reckon

hark at you!!!

Yep the 1970s stylee ones are lovely...

 

[richtea]

This is probably a good time to mention the bike jumble that'll be at the good friday track meet at Herne Hill velodrome - if you're after some fixie bits this is the place to go.

It's a very good time to mention it! Am starting to convert a Mercian frame into a fixed/ss, so will pop along for some bits.

richtea - sorry mate but I think that red lo-pro fixie looks horrible.

Meanie

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

ah yes, read your hub question on C+

 

[huxley71]

I recently bought a a fixed gear, rather than fixed wheel. My main concerns about fixed gears are... a) what happens if the chain comes off (I know it shouldn't) and you have no brakes? b) don't your pedals hit the floor on tight corners? c) (of most concern) if a car hit you, couldn't the driver claim your bike wasn't road worthy? Especially if you're brake-less?

Apologies if someone's already pasted this... http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

 

[richtea]

ah yes, read your hub question on C+

I see!

Am going to go with the low flange IRO's I think. Want it to look classy, but not overly-bling

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I recently bought a a fixed gear, rather than fixed wheel. My main concerns about fixed gears are... a) what happens if the chain comes off (I know it shouldn't) and you have no brakes? b) don't your pedals hit the floor on tight corners? c) (of most concern) if a car hit you, couldn't the driver claim your bike wasn't road worthy? Especially if you're brake-less?

Apologies if someone's already pasted this... http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

Hi

Fixed gear and fixed wheel are the same thing - americans seem to prefer fixed wheel whereas we seem to go for fixed gear more - both mean a singlespeed bike with no freewheel.

a)chain coming off and no brakes - then you have no brakes. If it goes outboard you will coast to a halt, if it goes in it'll tear your spokes out / destroy your wheel / lock the back end instantly...stopping won't be a problem!

b)Track frames have higher bottom brackets than standard road bikes so theres more room for pedal strike. Regular road frames sometimes use 165mm cranks ie slightly shorter to get more clearance. You can't heel right over like you can on a geared bike but generally its ok.

c)if you have no brakes at all you're not road worthy. law states that a fixed wheel bike needs a front brake only as your legs qualify as rear brakes. If a motorist hits you on a (legal) fixie then you have exactly the same redress as a normal bicycle.

hope that helps

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I see!

Am going to go with the low flange IRO's I think. Want it to look classy, but not overly-bling

The On-One large flanges look good value though.

 

[richtea]

I recently bought a a fixed gear, rather than fixed wheel. My main concerns about fixed gears are... a) what happens if the chain comes off (I know it shouldn't) and you have no brakes? b) don't your pedals hit the floor on tight corners? c) (of most concern) if a car hit you, couldn't the driver claim your bike wasn't road worthy? Especially if you're brake-less?

Apologies if someone's already pasted this... http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

What's a fixed wheel??

Re: brakeless - it's illegal to ride with no brakes (apart from on a track). If you're fixed then you need at least a front brake to be roadworthy. Have seen some brakeless couriers in the past - was not impressed, they rode like absolute tools. Dangerous as hell IMO. But hey, it looks cool

 

[huxley71]

Thanks for the advice. Especially on point c. I didn't know that you could legally get by with just a front break. My bike's a road bike with just one gear, but I can free wheel. I thought that officially made it a fixed gear rather than a fixed wheel. Not that it matters.

Just to reiterate what everyone's been saying about Brixton Cycles too. When I bought new handle-bars, stem, etc on Tuesday they undercharged my credit card by seven quid. I offered to make up the difference in cash, but was told to forget about it.

You don't get that in Evans Cyles...