Strange bikes....

Frobnitz said:

One of those times you really wish you had a camera - I
turned up to try a fixer courtesy of Jon Senior, he tried
out my 'bent, and whilst we were zipping up and down the
Meadows on each other's machines, a cheerful Greek chap on
a Birdy green arrived and we all stopped for a marvellous
chat about the wonders of weird and wacky bikes. People
were looking at us out of the corner of their eyes trying
to work out what was what.

I must say it was an eye opener riding a fixed - if you
relaxed and forget to pedal it felt like a horse trying to
buck you off, but I really felt connected to the bike,
none of the "sponginess" that derailleurs give, and, given
the gear Jon runs, it was amazingly smooth and light. I'm
definitely going to put one together from bits, but I
think I'd run it with a shorter gear - 70+" was a bit high
for me. I was much impressed with the dual pivot brake,
side pulls have definitely come on a bit since I had an
RSW14 in the the '70s, but I was most impressed with the
home-built wheels - something I dream about doing, but
it's still some time in the future.

66" is a good compromise for commuting and general bumming
around. When I eventually get my track bike I have some
cowhorn bars for the road (drop bars give you the problem
of where to rest your left hand, if you only have one
brake). I can change it from road to track use by simply
swapping the bars, assuming I get a front loading stem, and
bolting the brake on.

"Frobnitz" <eddie_d@@@blueyonder.ocbackwards.uk> opined the
following...

Quoted message said:

One of those times you really wish you had a camera - I
turned up to try a fixer courtesy of Jon Senior, he tried
out my 'bent, and whilst we were zipping up and down the
Meadows on each other's machines, a cheerful Greek chap on
a Birdy green arrived and we all stopped for a marvellous
chat about the wonders of weird and wacky bikes. People
were looking at us out of the corner of their eyes trying
to work out what was what.

I must say it was an eye opener riding a fixed - if you
relaxed and forget to pedal it felt like a horse trying to
buck you off, but I really felt connected to the bike,
none of the "sponginess" that derailleurs give, and, given
the gear Jon runs, it was amazingly smooth and light. I'm
definitely going to put one together from bits, but I
think I'd run it with a shorter gear - 70+" was a bit high
for me. I was much impressed with the dual pivot brake,
side pulls have definitely come on a bit since I had an
RSW14 in the the '70s, but I was most impressed with the
home-built wheels - something I dream about doing, but
it's still some time in the future.

Oh yes, the Greek chap mentioned that he was putting the
Birdy on E-bay, so if you want a Birdy Green, 7 speed,
take a look. I do, but I fear my bank manager would have
conniptions if I did.

Bikes are /fun/.

Glad you had fun. I certainly did. When I cycled past you I
thought "I wonder if Eddie's the guy on the 'bent" but
decided you'd probably have warned me. To think I nearly
brought two bikes in case you were on foot.

I realised that people would notice a 'bent, but I hadn't
appreciated quite how much attention, exclamations and
questions it would provoke. Time to start saving methinks!

Jon

"Jon Senior" <jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Frobnitz" <eddie_d@@@blueyonder.ocbackwards.uk>
opined the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bikes are /fun/.

Glad you had fun. I certainly did. When I cycled past you
I thought "I wonder if Eddie's the guy on the 'bent" but
decided you'd probably have warned me. To think I nearly
brought two bikes in case you were on foot.

I realised that people would notice a 'bent, but I hadn't
appreciated quite how much attention, exclamations and
questions it would provoke. Time to start saving methinks!

<deep, dark> Hmmm, the force is strong in this
one...........</deep, dark>

I notice that whenever the Darth Vader mentioned joining the
Dark Side, he never told you what the subscription would
be...............

The attention - I too wasn't prepared at all for the
comments, but I'm not going to complain. If ever you are
feeling down, go for a ride round town on a 'bent.

I really enjoyed zipping round on your fixer It's such a
different discipline - in it's way probably as much so as
riding a bent - but you notice it when you (try to) stop,
rather than when you start. You noticed that you need to use
your muscles differently on my li'l ol' bent, and noticed
the same on your fixer - I'm familiar with accelerating a
bike by muscle power, but not slowing a bike with muscle
power, or holding the bike on a slope - it's so much fun to
learn new things.

All the best,

Eddie