Finally fixed

Bob Downie said:

I believe the uk.rec.cycling etiquette is to show pictures of your new
bike in the kitchen so here they are.

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

Congratualtions, it looks beautiful. What about the rear brake, do you
find yourself using it at all?

"note Russell Hobs kettle for scale" Ho ho. Intentional pun?

--
Dave...

Bob Downie came up with the following;:

Quoted message said:

I believe the uk.rec.cycling etiquette is to show pictures of your new
bike in the kitchen so here they are.

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

That looks seriously cool, in a very understated, retro stylee ...
compliments to the chef ... 😉

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

Congratualtions, it looks beautiful.

Thanks a lot

Quoted message said:

What about the rear brake, do you
find yourself using it at all?

Yes but its just habit. I'm still learning about breaking with the
wheel.

Quoted message said:

"note Russell Hobs kettle for scale" Ho ho. Intentional pun?

(Shame-faced) I wish it had been but coming from a soft-water area it
never crossed my mind. Lets just pretend I meant it.
--
Bob Downie
Downie GeoScience Ltd.
please remove #n0spam# to reply directly

Bob Downie said:

Finally I've done it.

Having just entered a decade starting with a number >4

I've heard of Number 1's and Number 2's but curious as to what a Number

Quoted message said:

4 is and why you would want to enter a new decade with one of those ;-)

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

In message <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I've heard of Number 1's and Number 2's but curious as to what a Number

Quoted message said:

4 is and why you would want to enter a new decade with one of those
;-)

You just can't get away from them. They are one of those messy facts of
life.
--
Bob Downie
Downie GeoScience Ltd.
please remove #n0spam# to reply directly

In message <[email hidden]>, Paul - [censored]
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Bob Downie came up with the following;:

Quoted message said:

I believe the uk.rec.cycling etiquette is to show pictures of your new
bike in the kitchen so here they are.

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

That looks seriously cool, in a very understated, retro stylee ...
compliments to the chef ... 😉

A gentleman, I thank-you.

--
Bob Downie
Downie GeoScience Ltd.
please remove #n0spam# to reply directly

Bob Downie said:

Finally I've done it.

Having just entered a decade starting with a number >4 I have finally
got myself fixed, err, a fixed wheel bike that is.

I did it when my number became >3.

Quoted message said:

Gearing was an issue and after a couple of trials I am running 66" with
the option of dropping to 62" free-wheel with a flip-flop hub.

I'm running 42x16, which gives me about 70", but that may change when I
move somewhere less flat. My hub only has flop, but not too much as it
is a NOS Maillard.

<snip description of fixed enjoyment>

I enjoyed mine so much I started using it for everything, so it has
ended up with mudguards and panniers. And dirt.

Quoted message said:

I believe the uk.rec.cycling etiquette is to show pictures of your new
bike in the kitchen so here they are.

Apologies for the iffy quality of the picture, but here's mine. Its an
older Falcon frame whose vintage I have not been able to work out, but
it has "designed by Ernie Clements" on the head tube, so I would guess
1960s/70s - probably 70s as I think the union jack started appearing by
the Falcon transfers later BICBW. It sports an original "battered
stealth" paint job, and a mixture of new, eBayed and "just lying around"
components. I did the build myself, including the wheels (2 cross at the
front due to the availability of spokes in my personal parts store). I'd
estimate the outlay was about £70, not including panniers, lights and
lock. In the tradition of Falcons of that era, I'd have to say it rides
well above its price.

http://www.jimprice.dsl.pipex.com/falcon.jpg

I must get a proper camera.

Quoted message said:

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

That is superb. You should put that on www.fixedgeargallery.com.

Quoted message said:

Conclusion? Should have got a fixie years ago but better late than never.

I couldn't agree more. The only problem is now I want another one. Like
yours, in fact, or one of the other Reynolds 531 ones, but definitely a
Falcon. The sound you can hear in the background is eBay being scoured.

--
JimP
--
"We don't have a plan, so nothing can go wrong" - Spike Milligan

Jim Price said:

Bob Downie said:

Finally I've done it.

Having just entered a decade starting with a number >4 I have finally
got myself fixed, err, a fixed wheel bike that is.

I did it when my number became >3.

Likewise, but I haven't dared ride it for real yet. It really is a
mutant machine.

Quoted message said:

I'm running 42x16, which gives me about 70", but that may change when I
move somewhere less flat. My hub only has flop, but not too much as it
is a NOS Maillard.

Not sure what I am running.. see below for why ;-)

Quoted message said:

Apologies for the iffy quality of the picture, but here's mine. Its an
older Falcon frame whose vintage I have not been able to work out, but
it has "designed by Ernie Clements" on the head tube, so I would guess
1960s/70s - probably 70s as I think the union jack started appearing by
the Falcon transfers later BICBW. It sports an original "battered
stealth" paint job, and a mixture of new, eBayed and "just lying around"
components.

Mine is a raleigh Arena frame with a 531 label! [1]
Originally 5 speed, I have removed the rear wheel and put in an old MTB
wheel wiht the freehub brazed up (that fixed it !) and a city jet rear
tyre (1.5"😉. That is a 559 BSD wheel. The front wheel had a 590-32
tyre[2] (interestingly the rear was 597-32 and the two are not
interchangeable.. go figure), so the angles aren't too strange.

I'm using the original cottered crankset but have put a spare pair of
pedals on. The pedal spindles were slightly longer thanthe thikness of
the cranks and started to foul the chainstay. This was easily resolved
as the metal is somewhat malleable[3]

I've kept the front brake and the hoods for the rear, for what they are
worth[4].

Must ride it soon. Might take it to the park sometime and ride it
around on grass for a wee while before daring to ride on tarmac. Time
to find my lid ;-(

...d

[1] OK, it is a cloakroom ticket taped to the frame but I haven't been
bothered to take it off.
[2] one of the old money 24"
[3] 'cold set' by hitting it gently with a big hammer untill the dent
was big enough to let the cranks turn without going click.
[4] on chrome rims?

In the referenced article said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

Congratualtions, it looks beautiful.

Thanks a lot

Quoted message said:

What about the rear brake, do you
find yourself using it at all?

Yes but its just habit. I'm still learning about breaking with the
wheel.

Don't take the brake off. It's very useful for feathering your
speed at high pedal revs. It's also a useful safety measure if the
front brake cable snaps or wears through -- this DOES occasionally
happen.

If you did decide to remove the rear brake, you'd probably want the
brake lever left on the bars. It's useful when climbing out of the
saddle. Short "stub" levers used to be available for this purpose.
They may be difficult to find now. I've probably got one in a box
of old bits somewhere. Never did use it as I decided to leave the
rear brake on my fixed bikes. Even when time-trialling on one. Now
that *was* a long time ago!
--
Dennis Davis, BUCS, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
[email hidden]
--
Dennis Davis, BUCS, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
[email hidden]

David Martin said:

Jim Price said:

I did it when my number became >3.

Likewise, but I haven't dared ride it for real yet. It really is a
mutant machine.

Mine is a raleigh Arena frame with a 531 label! [1]

v

Quoted message said:

[1] OK, it is a cloakroom ticket taped to the frame

^
Cloff!

Quoted message said:

Originally 5 speed, I have removed the rear wheel and put in an old MTB
wheel wiht the freehub brazed up (that fixed it !)

I welded one like that for a friend of mine recently, only a singlespeed
freewheel, not a block.

Quoted message said:

and a city jet rear tyre (1.5"😉.

They're good things IME.

Quoted message said:

That is a 559 BSD wheel. The front wheel had a 590-32
tyre[2] (interestingly the rear was 597-32 and the two are not
interchangeable.. go figure), so the angles aren't too strange.

The originals on my Falcon were similarly sized. There is a (Sheldon
Brown endorsed IIRC) argument that the ideal fixie should be a frame
designed for 590/597-ish wheels so when you run 622x32 you get a little
extra ground clearance and can use shorter drop (i.e. more modern)
brakes. Catching the pedals on the ground/kerb is somewhat more serious
when fixed.

Quoted message said:

I've kept the front brake and the hoods for the rear, for what they are
worth[4].

In the early days of playing with mine, I found the brakes invaluable
for controlling descents, as my legs had some learning to do to cope
with the increased cadence downhill combined with trying to learn to
brake through the rear wheel.

Quoted message said:

Must ride it soon. Might take it to the park sometime and ride it
around on grass for a wee while before daring to ride on tarmac. Time
to find my lid ;-(

The danger I've noticed with my friends trying fixed gear for the first
time is if your leg is straight with the pedal at its lowest position.
In that scenario, when the inevitable first attempt to freewheel
happens, you stand a lot more chance of converting your forward energy
into a vertical launch over the handlebars. The disadvantage of keeping
the seat lower to avoid the straight legged situation is that makes it
harder on the knees, and some people say they find fixed harder on the
knees than a regular bike anyway (although Sheldon Brown has a link to
an article where someone has cured their knee problems by riding fixed).
Once used to riding fixed, I have moved the saddle 2" higher than my
normal road bike position, although some of that is taken up by sag in
the suspension seatpost[1].

If I mention Sheldon Brown again, he may appear - oops, I have!

I'm sure you'll have fun with it!

[1]Blasted Indian takeaway gets everywhere, bah ;-)
--
JimP
--
"We don't have a plan, so nothing can go wrong" - Spike Milligan

In message <[email hidden]>, Jim Price
<[email hidden]> writes
<Snip>

Quoted message said:

Apologies for the iffy quality of the picture, but here's mine. Its an
older Falcon frame whose vintage I have not been able to work out, but
it has "designed by Ernie Clements" on the head tube, so I would guess
1960s/70s - probably 70s as I think the union jack started appearing by
the Falcon transfers later BICBW. It sports an original "battered
stealth" paint job, and a mixture of new, eBayed and "just lying
around" components. I did the build myself, including the wheels (2
cross at the front due to the availability of spokes in my personal
parts store). I'd estimate the outlay was about £70, not including
panniers, lights and lock. In the tradition of Falcons of that era, I'd
have to say it rides well above its price.

You have built it the right way, i.e. recycling as many parts as
possible rather than buying new. When I started out that was my aim but
time and the hassle factor decided that I should just go for new
components.

Quoted message said:

<Snip again>

Quoted message said:

The only problem is now I want another one. Like yours, in fact, or
one of the other Reynolds 531 ones, but definitely a Falcon. The sound
you can hear in the background is eBay being scoured.

I also had no idea that Falcons were so revered (at least by some). I
shall treat mine with a bit more respect.

Cheers
Bob
--
Bob Downie
Downie GeoScience Ltd.
please remove #n0spam# to reply directly

bugbear said:

Does the pedalling action feel different to
a freewheel bike when travelling on the flat
at a constant speed?

Yes.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

Bob Downie said:

The lack of a free-wheel give an amazing intimacy with the road.

That is what I am worried about ;-)

...d

bugbear said:

Care to answer this...

Does the pedalling action feel different to
a freewheel bike when travelling on the flat
at a constant speed?

Definitely.

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

Bob Downie said:

Finally I've done it.

Quoted message said:

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

Conclusion? Should have got a fixie years ago but better late than never.

What a beautiful bicycle. So simple and elegant.

Al

Al C-F said:

Bob Downie said:

Finally I've done it.

Quoted message said:

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

Conclusion? Should have got a fixie years ago but better late than never.

What a beautiful bicycle. So simple and elegant.

And how to turn a silk purse into a sows ear..

http://www.compbio.dundee.ac.uk/~dmamartin/fixed/fixed.html

Apologies for the [censored] pics.. and the lack of a kitchen.
Yes that is a cone nut holding the wheel on. I didn't have another nut
of the right thread to fit.

Just taken it for the first ride. Gentle uphill past the park and
gently back down again.

Several points to note:
1. one of the pedal spindles is bent. That makes like interesting but
you get used to it.
2. Old style weinman levers are uncomfortable, especially the suicide
lever attachment spigot.
3. The saddle is a cheap plastic thing.

And the ride itself. The bike behaved flawlessly. Riding uphill was
fine - even having to stop at the traffic lights and getting used to
braking by backard pressure. Possibly a bit light on the gearing but
that is easy to fix (reshuffle the cogs.)
I had no problem with junctions but my brain was going overdrive
reminding me that it was different. I never really relaxed. Coming back
down on a wee brae on which I can nudge the MTB past 30 if I feel up to
it, the bike takes on a mind of its own, deciding that my legs are not
going fast enough and throws them off. Sensibly I don't try to get the
feet back on until after I have applied the front brake to wake the
dead (damp road, chrome rims SNM) bring the pedals back to a
pace at which my feet can comfortably reconnect. How do you go downhill
on these things?

And safely home, seeing if I could manage without touching the front
brake at all. I didn't try to track stand the traffic lights and was
going very slowly coming down the last wee bit of hill.

No intimate relations with the road just yet, I am sorely tempted to
grab my shoes with the look cleats and go and play on the track..

...d

David Martin said:

Al C-F wrote:

Quoted message said:

Coming back
down on a wee brae on which I can nudge the MTB past 30 if I feel up to
it, the bike takes on a mind of its own, deciding that my legs are not
going fast enough and throws them off. Sensibly I don't try to get the
feet back on until after I have applied the front brake to wake the
dead (damp road, chrome rims SNM) bring the pedals back to a
pace at which my feet can comfortably reconnect. How do you go downhill
on these things?

fit some footrests on the forks or double sided spd pedals

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Bob Downie said:

I believe the uk.rec.cycling etiquette is to show pictures of your new
bike in the kitchen so here they are.

http://www.downie-geo.demon.co.uk/Bike/Bobs_bike.html

Nice bike, theres something wonderfull about a proper recycled fixie. I had
a loverly old carlton, but I cracked the chainstay, got a Pompino, which
rides better but lacks the cool factor.

You could post the pics on Fixed Gear Gallery.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this:
Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/

In article <[email hidden]>,

David Martin said:

Quoted message said:

The lack of a free-wheel give an amazing intimacy with the road.

Quoted message said:

That is what I am worried about ;-)

Many, many years ago I forgot at the bottom of the School Brae and
went over the Cathedral wall which is a mere 10foot high. Very ouch!

--
T h e - e x t e n d e r ! ! ! !