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New addition to the family

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01 / Original postNew addition to the familyKevan Smith · 12 Oct 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6Peter Cole · 12 Oct 2003

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Original section
Road Cycling
Published
12 October 2003
Last activity
12 October 2003
Original author
Kevan Smith
Posts
6
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Public discussion
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744
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0
Topics
Single-speed and fixed-gearE-bikesGroup ridingSteel frames

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  1. Original post
    Kevan Smith
    Archived post
    #1

    She's a spiffy old Bianchi outfitted as a fixed gear. There's some pretty neat stuff on it,
    including a Surly Fixer on the rear Shimano 105 hub. The frame came from Goodwill for $20. Some
    original parts were used -- a customization of the chain ring, the front brake, stem and sawed off
    bars. Others were built up and added on by my local wrench, like the big cushy wheels that soak up
    bumps and the cool brake lever.

    Pictures here: home.sport.rr.comfixie .

    Riding a fixed gear is a blast. You learn to look a long way ahead to know when to "brake" by back
    pedaling and when to "float." The back pedaling isn't as difficult as I thought it would be; it took
    me about half an hour to get the technique down fairly well.

    I also thought the no coasting bit would be a problem. Withe the legs turning the pedals all the
    time, I thought I would get tired quicker. This turned out not to be true, because the pedals assist
    the spin by pushing the upstroke foot along in its path. I can see now why fixed geared bikes are
    ideal for developing a spin technique.

    Another thing I noticed is that you pretty much have to take a lane with a fixed gear bike. This is
    for your own safety. You do not have the luxury of quick brakes or coasting for when cars pass you
    too close or other incidents that can occur when curb hugging. Getting out and taking a lane gives
    you the added time and distance needed on a fixed.

    All in all, I am very happy with this so far. The triple combination of a steel frame with a sweet
    ride (yes, I noticed a different feel from C and Al), huge tires and the fixed gear experience is
    awesome. Tomorrow, I'm taking it out on a beginner ride with my bike club. I can't wait!

    And here is the spot where I plug a cool band I just found out about: the dillinger escape plan.

    --
    home.sport.rr.comcuthulu human rights = peace Now I am depressed ...
    11:08:37 PM 11 October 2003

    Report
  2. Slider2699
    Archived post
    #2

    Congrats on the sweet fixie, Kevan. Looks like you found a heck of a deal, and did a good job on the
    buildup. How tall are you? That bike looks HUGE.

    Report
  3. Kevan Smith
    Archived post
    #3

    On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 06:02:53 GMT, "Slider2699" <[email hidden]> from RoadRunner - Tampa

    Bay said:

    Congrats on the sweet fixie, Kevan. Looks like you found a heck of a deal, and did a good job on
    the buildup. How tall are you? That bike looks HUGE.

    I'm 5'9" and the bike is a 56 cm. It's a touch too big, but adjustable.

    --
    home.sport.rr.comcuthulu human rights = peace I'm dressing up in an ill-fitting IVY-LEAGUE
    SUIT!! Too late...
    1:28:38 AM 12 October 2003

    Report
  4. Slider2699
    Archived post
    #4

    "Kevan Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 06:02:53 GMT, "Slider2699" <[email hidden]> from RoadRunner - Tampa

    Bay said:

    Congrats on the sweet fixie, Kevan. Looks like you found a heck of a


    deal,

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    and did a good job on the buildup. How tall are you? That bike looks


    HUGE.

    Quoted message said:


    I'm 5'9" and the bike is a 56 cm. It's a touch too big, but adjustable.

    You're not going to crush your huevos in a sudden dismount, are you? I would have guessed the bike
    was a 60cm or bigger, judging by the size of the head tube.

    Report
  5. Kevan Smith
    Archived post
    #5

    On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 11:27:07 GMT, "Slider2699" <[email hidden]> from RoadRunner - Tampa

    Bay said:


    "Kevan Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 06:02:53 GMT, "Slider2699" <[email hidden]> from RoadRunner - Tampa

    Bay said:

    Congrats on the sweet fixie, Kevan. Looks like you found a heck of a


    deal,

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    and did a good job on the buildup. How tall are you? That bike looks


    HUGE.

    Quoted message said:


    I'm 5'9" and the bike is a 56 cm. It's a touch too big, but adjustable.

    You're not going to crush your huevos in a sudden dismount, are you? I would have guessed the bike
    was a 60cm or bigger, judging by the size of the head tube.

    My codpiece will protect me.

    --
    home.sport.rr.comcuthulu human rights = peace He probably just wants to take over my CELLS
    and then EXPLODE inside me like a BARREL of runny CHOPPED LIVER! Or maybe he'd like to
    PSYCHOLOGICALLY TERRORISE ME until I have no objection to a RIGHT-WING MILITARY TAKEOVER of my
    apartment!! I guess I should call AL PACINO!
    12:30:43 PM 12 October 2003

    Report
  6. Peter Cole
    Archived post
    #6

    "Kevan Smith" <[email hidden]/\/\> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Riding a fixed gear is a blast. You learn to look a long way ahead to know


    when

    Quoted message said:

    to "brake" by back pedaling and when to "float." The back pedaling isn't as difficult as I thought
    it would be; it took me about half an hour to get the technique down fairly well.

    Problem is, it doesn't stop you real well, and is hell on the knees. Just use the brake you have.

    Quoted message said:

    I also thought the no coasting bit would be a problem. Withe the legs


    turning

    Quoted message said:

    the pedals all the time, I thought I would get tired quicker. This turned


    out

    Quoted message said:

    not to be true, because the pedals assist the spin by pushing the upstroke


    foot

    Quoted message said:

    along in its path. I can see now why fixed geared bikes are ideal for


    developing

    Quoted message said:

    a spin technique.

    Spinning downhill does tire you out. It takes a lot of work just to keep your feet on
    spinning pedals.

    Quoted message said:

    Another thing I noticed is that you pretty much have to take a lane with a


    fixed

    Quoted message said:

    gear bike. This is for your own safety. You do not have the luxury of quick brakes or coasting for
    when cars pass you too close or other incidents that


    can

    Quoted message said:

    occur when curb hugging. Getting out and taking a lane gives you the added


    time

    Quoted message said:

    and distance needed on a fixed.

    This is not true, riding a fixed gear in traffic is no different than any other bike, you just need
    more confidence and remember to use your brake to stop, not your legs.

    Quoted message said:

    All in all, I am very happy with this so far. The triple combination of a


    steel

    Quoted message said:

    frame with a sweet ride (yes, I noticed a different feel from C and Al),


    huge

    Quoted message said:

    tires and the fixed gear experience is awesome. Tomorrow, I'm taking it out


    on a

    Quoted message said:

    beginner ride with my bike club. I can't wait!

    I did a dozen rides by myself before I rode with a group, and even then I hung off the back. I
    know some who didn't get in a lot of practice before they started group riding, there were a
    couple of crashes.

    Report

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