Fixed gear bicycle sighting [Archive]

Mark Shroyer

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagita.K@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
>> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
>> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
>> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
>> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
>> schrader valve tubes.
>>
>> --
>> Michael Press
>
> ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>

There are a couple ways of dealing with this, the most popular of
which being the anchor. You simply take an anchor -- of a
manageable size, of course, like one you would find on a small
fishing boat of no more than 30 feet in length -- and affix it to
your bicycle's top tube. When you need to stop, toss the anchor to
the side (preferably your right side, or "starboard" in hipster
parlance) and allow it to bring you to a smooth halt.

The biggest problem with this method is not the added weight of the
anchor, as one might expect, but rather the difficulty of managing
the anchor chain. You see, in order to afford the rider a wide
lateral range when dropping his anchor (so as to avoid hitting
pedestrians or merfolk or dogs), a considerable length of chain is
required. Fixie riders would traditionally hold this excess length
in one of their hands while in transit, but this method was deemed
so ungainly that it completely negated any hipster points earned by
riding a fixed-gear in the first place. However, since the advent
of the chain stay this has been less of a problem.

Despite the obvious benefits of bicycle anchors, there are still
several popular alternatives. In western cycling cities such as
Houston, it isn't uncommon to see riders stop themselves by lassoing
traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
discouraged.

Be sure to check out your local bike store if you'd like to see one
of these powerful fixed-gear braking systems in action. I'm sure
they would be happy to give you a demonstration.

--
Mark Shroyer
http://markshroyer.com/

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

"CNN_news" <Nagita.K@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189394901.133911.212310@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > schrader valve tubes.
> >
> > --
> > Michael Press
>
> ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>

The genuine messenger back helps you stop.

Chas.

John Thompson

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

CNN_news

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> >> --
> >> Michael Press
>
> > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>

> traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> discouraged.
>

I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?

If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
fixed gear in hilly areas?

Thanks.

landotter

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On Sep 10, 12:37 am, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> >> --
> >> Michael Press
>
> > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> There are a couple ways of dealing with this, the most popular of
> which being the anchor. You simply take an anchor -- of a
> manageable size, of course, like one you would find on a small
> fishing boat of no more than 30 feet in length -- and affix it to
> your bicycle's top tube. When you need to stop, toss the anchor to
> the side (preferably your right side, or "starboard" in hipster
> parlance) and allow it to bring you to a smooth halt.
>
> The biggest problem with this method is not the added weight of the
> anchor, as one might expect, but rather the difficulty of managing
> the anchor chain. You see, in order to afford the rider a wide
> lateral range when dropping his anchor (so as to avoid hitting
> pedestrians or merfolk or dogs), a considerable length of chain is
> required. Fixie riders would traditionally hold this excess length
> in one of their hands while in transit, but this method was deemed
> so ungainly that it completely negated any hipster points earned by
> riding a fixed-gear in the first place. However, since the advent
> of the chain stay this has been less of a problem.
>
> Despite the obvious benefits of bicycle anchors, there are still
> several popular alternatives. In western cycling cities such as
> Houston, it isn't uncommon to see riders stop themselves by lassoing
> traffic signs or nearby trees.

Bravo!

/me throws roses.

[chortle]

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On Sep 10, 9:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> > >> --
> > >> Michael Press
>
> > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > discouraged.
>
> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> Thanks.

At least a front brake is wise on a fixed gear bike, front and rear to
be on the safe side. Using leg power as the only means to stop is only
appropriate in a very narrow set of conditions.

Riding a fixed gear bike WITHOUT locking your feet to the pedals
either with click-type pedals or toe straps is only for advanced
users. If you feet slip off the pedals of a fixed gear bike while
riding, you're in for some hurt.

If you live someplace hilly, it can be a challenge to find a good gear
to use that is low enough to get up the hills, but isn't completely
crazy down the other side. But even if you use a pretty high gear, you
will need to count on keeping the speed down on descents. I use a
46x16 on mine and even on slight hills I can get going faster than I
can spin, so any real descent would involve a lot of braking, but a
much heavier gear and I would have problems going up the hills.

Gear choice is entirely a personal preference. I like my 46x16 because
it is just perfect for flat cruising, and it is heavy enough that
standing while riding up 3-4% grades offers just the resistance I
want, but it is still light enough to be able to get up the steeper
hills. Part of fixed road riding is IMO grinding up hills and spinning
down, so no gear is going to be perfect, but that's half the point!

A key thing for fixed gear beginners is DO NOT FORGET you are on a
fixed gear bike. Sometimes one forgets and tries to stop pedalling to
coast, often with one leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke, with the
knee locked. This is bad; Worst case you will be launched over the
bars; lesser perhaps only crash; at least scare yourself.

Have fun!

Joseph

Jay Beattie

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On Sep 10, 12:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> > >> --
> > >> Michael Press
>
> > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > discouraged.
>
> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> fixed gear in hilly areas?

In hilly areas, any gearing low enough to get you over a sustained 7%
climb is just too slow on the descents -- at least for me. If you have
descents with off camber hair pins, descending on a fixed gear is a
pain in the ass, and you really have to cut your speed and square-up
the bike to make the turn without hitting a pedal. I commuted on a
fixed gear over hilly terrain for two or three years, probably with a
70-some-odd inch gear -- great for strenghth training climbing and leg
speed training descending, but after a while (and after quitting
racing), I got tired of flailing my legs just trying to get to work on
time. I would still do it for training (with the understanding that I
would be doing a lot of thrashing down the hills), but not for
everyday communting over hilly terrain. If you do get a fixie (and
there are some good cheap ones on the market now) also get a good
brake, because on a long down hill, there is no way you can use pure
quad strength for breaking. -- Jay Beattie.

zencycle

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On Sep 10, 3:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> > >> --
> > >> Michael Press
>
> > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > discouraged.
>
> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> Thanks.

First off, surley has been making a fixed gear bike for a number of
years under the "steamroller" moniker. I believe it was actually their
first or second model, with the other being a 'cross bike called the
Cross Check. Both are very well made bikes at reasonable prices, but
steel and quite heavy.

Anyways, I'm a huge fixed gear fan, and currently have three. I live
in northeastern Massachusetts, so the terrain isn't exactly what one
would call hilly. There are no hills local to me over 1000 feet. Still
there are a number of routes that provide quite a challenge on both
the up and the down hills with my gear of choice - 42x16.

I ride with two brakes - I always have and always will. Traffic is
simply too unpredictable to risk anything less. Maybe if I lived in a
remote area with wide open flat roads it would be different.

The trick to going downhill is training your legs to 'let go'. Once
you've figured out to how to let _all_ of your lower half to relax and
spin up, you can hill cadences approaching 200 RPM. I've ridden with
guys who can actually spin faster. Once you let go however, you can no
longer control your speed, and trying to slow down can be tricky

Jim Flom

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

"CNN_news" <Nagita.K@gmail.com> wrote...
>
> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> fixed gear in hilly areas?

Voila...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8GHpQZM_Xg

(Vancouver's hilly and coastal too.)

--
JF

http://velominator.spaces.live.com/

A Muzi

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

>>> Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>>>> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
>>>> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
>>>> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
>>>> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
>>>> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
>>>> schrader valve tubes.

>> CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?

> Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>> traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
>> somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
>> pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
>> discouraged.

CNN_news wrote:
> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> fixed gear in hilly areas?

If you own a road bike, try riding your usual routes in one gear only
without coasting. That isn't as daunting as you might imagine and an
interesting experience at any rate. And/or borrow a fixie or swap bikes
on a ride with a friend. YMMV obviously as neither format is 'better'.

Some fixed gear riders swear their climbing ability is enhanced on a
fixed. Either toeclips or clipless are equally OK and IMHO much safer
than no foot retention at all.

And by all means get a front brake.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

John Thompson

01-03-1970, 01:40 PM

On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagita.K@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?

That, and to prevent your legs from being pummeled into hamburger by the
rapidly rotating pedals if your foot should come off the pedal by
accident. Track riders often use toeclips with double straps to ensure
that they don't come loose.

Don't ride brakeless on the road, and especially not down a mountain.

> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> descending unless I am really very strong.

Strong is only part of the issue. Being able to spin the pedals
smoothly and rapidly is also important. If you're bouncing around
a lot you're likely lose control at some point.

> Is it recommended to use a fixed gear in hilly areas?

It is doable if you have brakes. The uphills are managable; the
downhills are where you'll have problems.

--

John (john@os2.dhs.org)

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:41 PM

<joseph.santaniello@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189417191.342088.36320@19g2000hsx.googlegrou ps.com...
> On Sep 10, 9:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > > >> schrader valve tubes.
> >
> > > >> --
> > > >> Michael Press
> >
> > > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
> >
> > > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > > discouraged.
> >
> > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
> >
> > If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> > descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> > fixed gear in hilly areas?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> At least a front brake is wise on a fixed gear bike, front and rear to
> be on the safe side. Using leg power as the only means to stop is only
> appropriate in a very narrow set of conditions.
>
> Riding a fixed gear bike WITHOUT locking your feet to the pedals
> either with click-type pedals or toe straps is only for advanced
> users. If you feet slip off the pedals of a fixed gear bike while
> riding, you're in for some hurt.
>
> If you live someplace hilly, it can be a challenge to find a good gear
> to use that is low enough to get up the hills, but isn't completely
> crazy down the other side. But even if you use a pretty high gear, you
> will need to count on keeping the speed down on descents. I use a
> 46x16 on mine and even on slight hills I can get going faster than I
> can spin, so any real descent would involve a lot of braking, but a
> much heavier gear and I would have problems going up the hills.
>
> Gear choice is entirely a personal preference. I like my 46x16 because
> it is just perfect for flat cruising, and it is heavy enough that
> standing while riding up 3-4% grades offers just the resistance I
> want, but it is still light enough to be able to get up the steeper
> hills. Part of fixed road riding is IMO grinding up hills and spinning
> down, so no gear is going to be perfect, but that's half the point!
>
> A key thing for fixed gear beginners is DO NOT FORGET you are on a
> fixed gear bike. Sometimes one forgets and tries to stop pedalling to
> coast, often with one leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke, with the
> knee locked. This is bad; Worst case you will be launched over the
> bars; lesser perhaps only crash; at least scare yourself.
>
> Have fun!
>
> Joseph
>

Members of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons love fixie riders.

One knee replacement surgery = one new BMW....

I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic road
bike.

My objection is to the wankers who graduated up from skateboards and
little aluminum scooters. They ride in urban traffic without regard to
safety or regulations. I think this behavior encourages lack of respect
for cyclists among many motorists.

Many of these faddists will discard their messenger bags and wannabe
proletariat ways when the next fad comes around.

Chas.

Peter Cole

01-03-1970, 01:41 PM

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com wrote:

> A key thing for fixed gear beginners is DO NOT FORGET you are on a
> fixed gear bike. Sometimes one forgets and tries to stop pedalling to
> coast, often with one leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke, with the
> knee locked. This is bad; Worst case you will be launched over the
> bars; lesser perhaps only crash; at least scare yourself.

This seems like a real hazard, but I don't know of anybody who has
crashed that way. Pedal strikes are a bigger risk, I know several who
have gone down that way.

zencycle

01-03-1970, 01:41 PM

>
> http://surlybikes.com/steamroller.html
>
> It's a QBP product sold as a frameset only.
>
> Chalo

The steamroller is offered as a complete bike. In fact, the link you
supplied goes right to it. Their catalog shows the complete bike
offering too.

Also, they may be owned by QBP, but they are an independent entity.
QBP has little, if nothing at all, to do with the design and build of
the bikes or the culture of the company.

BrianMcG

01-03-1970, 01:41 PM

On Sep 10, 6:17 am, Chalo <chalo.col...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Michael Press wrote:
>
> > Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > schrader valve tubes.
>
> http://surlybikes.com/steamroller.html
>
> It's a QBP product sold as a frameset only.
>
> Chalo

That is incorrect sir.

http://surlybikes.com/steamroller_comp.html

landotter

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

On Sep 10, 11:32 am, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
> "CNN_news" <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1189394901.133911.212310@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
>
> > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > > Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > > (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > > The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > > two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > > schrader valve tubes.
>
> > > --
> > > Michael Press
>
> > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> The genuine messenger back helps you stop.

Hair increases the drag coefficient or something? Most hipsters around
here aren't that hirsute.

Ted Bennett

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

"* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:

> Members of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons love fixie riders.
>
> One knee replacement surgery = one new BMW....

I don't see how fixed gear riding necessarily leads to knee damage. At
least, it hasn't for me yet (twenty years off and on).

> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic road
> bike.

Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and braze
in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my old
crit racer.

> My objection is to the wankers who graduated up from skateboards and
> little aluminum scooters. They ride in urban traffic without regard to
> safety or regulations. I think this behavior encourages lack of respect
> for cyclists among many motorists.

Agreed, but applies to single-speeders, coaster brake bikes and all
sorts of multispeeds up to and including Madaones.

> Many of these faddists will discard their messenger bags and wannabe
> proletariat ways when the next fad comes around.
>
> Chas.

--
Ted Bennett

M-gineering

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

* * Chas wrote:

> My objection is to the wankers who graduated up from skateboards and
> little aluminum scooters. They ride in urban traffic without regard to
> safety or regulations.

if they have signed their organ donorcards, let them play silly buggers ;)
--
/Marten

info(apestaartje)m-gineering(punt)nl

Peter Cole

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

* * Chas wrote:

> Members of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons love fixie riders.
>
> One knee replacement surgery = one new BMW....

Never bothers my (mature) knees.

> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic road
> bike.

Yeah, except old school was just using beater frames to make beaters, so
no great loss, but it still seems pointless to take a hacksaw to it.

> My objection is to the wankers who graduated up from skateboards and
> little aluminum scooters. They ride in urban traffic without regard to
> safety or regulations. I think this behavior encourages lack of respect
> for cyclists among many motorists.

That's assuming there's any respect to lose. I don't see it, myself.

> Many of these faddists will discard their messenger bags and wannabe
> proletariat ways when the next fad comes around.

Yeah, I think we're at that point, I remember realizing things were over
when you could buy your complete hippie outfit at Sears. Most of the
fixers I see now are LBS bought, not DIY. Kind of kills the buzz.

Michael Press

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

In article
<1189443880.520106.200110@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>
,
Jay Beattie <jbeattie@lindsayhart.com> wrote:

> On Sep 10, 12:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > > >> schrader valve tubes.
> >
> > > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
> >
> > > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > > discouraged.
> >
> > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
> >
> > If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> > descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> > fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> In hilly areas, any gearing low enough to get you over a sustained 7%
> climb is just too slow on the descents -- at least for me. If you have
> descents with off camber hair pins, descending on a fixed gear is a
> pain in the ass, and you really have to cut your speed and square-up
> the bike to make the turn without hitting a pedal. I commuted on a
> fixed gear over hilly terrain for two or three years, probably with a
> 70-some-odd inch gear -- great for strenghth training climbing and leg
> speed training descending, but after a while (and after quitting
> racing), I got tired of flailing my legs just trying to get to work on
> time. I would still do it for training (with the understanding that I
> would be doing a lot of thrashing down the hills), but not for
> everyday communting over hilly terrain. If you do get a fixie (and
> there are some good cheap ones on the market now) also get a good
> brake, because on a long down hill, there is no way you can use pure
> quad strength for breaking. -- Jay Beattie.

A single speed with freewheel is an option. It has the
benefit of the straight, uncluttered chainline. In
regions where the hills are unavoidable it is a
blessing on descents.

--
Michael Press

RU12?

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

zencycle wrote:
> On Sep 10, 3:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>>>>> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
>>>>> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
>>>>> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
>>>>> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
>>>>> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
>>>>> schrader valve tubes.
>>>>> --
>>>>> Michael Press
>>>> ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>>> traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
>>> somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
>>> pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
>>> discouraged.
>> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
>> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
>> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>>
>> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
>> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
>> fixed gear in hilly areas?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> First off, surley has been making a fixed gear bike for a number of
> years under the "steamroller" moniker. I believe it was actually their
> first or second model, with the other being a 'cross bike called the
> Cross Check. Both are very well made bikes at reasonable prices, but
> steel and quite heavy.
>
> Anyways, I'm a huge fixed gear fan, and currently have three. I live
> in northeastern Massachusetts, so the terrain isn't exactly what one
> would call hilly. There are no hills local to me over 1000 feet. Still
> there are a number of routes that provide quite a challenge on both
> the up and the down hills with my gear of choice - 42x16.
>
> I ride with two brakes - I always have and always will. Traffic is
> simply too unpredictable to risk anything less. Maybe if I lived in a
> remote area with wide open flat roads it would be different.
>
> The trick to going downhill is training your legs to 'let go'. Once
> you've figured out to how to let _all_ of your lower half to relax and
> spin up, you can hill cadences approaching 200 RPM. I've ridden with
> guys who can actually spin faster. Once you let go however, you can no
> longer control your speed, and trying to slow down can be tricky
>

I have a Surly Pacer (almost identical to the Steamroller except geared)
and it is one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. Not really germain
to the conversation but just wanted to give Surly their props, excellent
company.

John Thompson

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

On 2007-09-10, Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:

> "* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
>
>> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
>> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic road
>> bike.

> Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and braze
> in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my old
> crit racer.

What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?

--

John (john@os2.dhs.org)

Tom Nakashima

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/
-tom

Scott G.

01-03-1970, 01:43 PM

On Sep 10, 1:45 pm, "Tom Nakashima" <t...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:
> http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/
> -tom

antidote to fgg
http://www.bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/

caution: do not drink while reading.

Scott G.

Jay Beattie

01-03-1970, 01:44 PM

On Sep 10, 3:49 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> In article
> <1189443880.520106.200...@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>
> ,
> Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Sep 10, 12:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>
> > > > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > > > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > > > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > > > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > > > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > > > >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> > > > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> > > > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > > > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > > > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > > > discouraged.
>
> > > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> > > If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> > > descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> > > fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> > In hilly areas, any gearing low enough to get you over a sustained 7%
> > climb is just too slow on the descents -- at least for me. If you have
> > descents with off camber hair pins, descending on a fixed gear is a
> > pain in the ass, and you really have to cut your speed and square-up
> > the bike to make the turn without hitting a pedal. I commuted on a
> > fixed gear over hilly terrain for two or three years, probably with a
> > 70-some-odd inch gear -- great for strenghth training climbing and leg
> > speed training descending, but after a while (and after quitting
> > racing), I got tired of flailing my legs just trying to get to work on
> > time. I would still do it for training (with the understanding that I
> > would be doing a lot of thrashing down the hills), but not for
> > everyday communting over hilly terrain. If you do get a fixie (and
> > there are some good cheap ones on the market now) also get a good
> > brake, because on a long down hill, there is no way you can use pure
> > quad strength for breaking. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> A single speed with freewheel is an option. It has the
> benefit of the straight, uncluttered chainline. In
> regions where the hills are unavoidable it is a
> blessing on descents.

I think CNN wanted a fixed, but I agree that a SS freewheel is best
for hilly terrain -- although it is not nearly as hip as fixed. If
you go SS or a flip-flop, you'll have to get another tat or piercing
to up your cred. -- Jay Beattie.

landotter

01-03-1970, 01:45 PM

On Sep 10, 7:25 pm, Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
> On Sep 10, 3:49 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > A single speed with freewheel is an option. It has the
> > benefit of the straight, uncluttered chainline. In
> > regions where the hills are unavoidable it is a
> > blessing on descents.
>
> I think CNN wanted a fixed, but I agree that a SS freewheel is best
> for hilly terrain -- although it is not nearly as hip as fixed. If
> you go SS or a flip-flop, you'll have to get another tat or piercing
> to up your cred. -- Jay Beattie.

Heh, screw cred. When I messengered, it was on a mid 80s friction 12
speed. Eventually it got the conversion to a single speed freewheel,
as this kept the drivetrain as simple as possible. I didn't hang with
the other messengers, and didn't do that crap job for long, just came
upon the simplification on my own. I knew about track bikes, but
didn't even make the connection to messengering at the time. It was
just a gig. And a ****ty one at that.

I ride fixed mostly now, but up till a year ago, I did all my sport
riding and charity rides on a SS road bike. For rolling hills, you
can't ask for a more solid state, yet not impractical setup. Finally
sold that bike last week that gave me thousands of miles of riding
with only the desire for a lower gear every few months when I climbed
a monster. If I didn't have my current fixie, I'd buy a Redline 925 or
Bianchi San Jose all over again. Brakes on both ends, cushy tires, and
one gear, fixed or not, is elegant. Riding a track bike with negative
rise stem in stovepipe jeans, ain't.

CNN_news

01-03-1970, 01:45 PM

On Sep 10, 5:25 pm, Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
> On Sep 10, 3:49 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > In article
> > <1189443880.520106.200...@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>
> > ,
> > Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Sep 10, 12:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > > > >> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> > > > > >> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> > > > > >> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> > > > > >> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> > > > > >> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> > > > > >> schrader valve tubes.
>
> > > > > > ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> > > > > traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> > > > > somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> > > > > pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> > > > > discouraged.
>
> > > > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > > > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > > > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> > > > If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> > > > descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> > > > fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> > > In hilly areas, any gearing low enough to get you over a sustained 7%
> > > climb is just too slow on the descents -- at least for me. If you have
> > > descents with off camber hair pins, descending on a fixed gear is a
> > > pain in the ass, and you really have to cut your speed and square-up
> > > the bike to make the turn without hitting a pedal. I commuted on a
> > > fixed gear over hilly terrain for two or three years, probably with a
> > > 70-some-odd inch gear -- great for strenghth training climbing and leg
> > > speed training descending, but after a while (and after quitting
> > > racing), I got tired of flailing my legs just trying to get to work on
> > > time. I would still do it for training (with the understanding that I
> > > would be doing a lot of thrashing down the hills), but not for
> > > everyday communting over hilly terrain. If you do get a fixie (and
> > > there are some good cheap ones on the market now) also get a good
> > > brake, because on a long down hill, there is no way you can use pure
> > > quad strength for breaking. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> > A single speed with freewheel is an option. It has the
> > benefit of the straight, uncluttered chainline. In
> > regions where the hills are unavoidable it is a
> > blessing on descents.
>
> I think CNN wanted a fixed, but I agree that a SS freewheel is best
> for hilly terrain -- although it is not nearly as hip as fixed. If
> you go SS or a flip-flop, you'll have to get another tat or piercing
> to up your cred. -- Jay Beattie.

I not a maniac. I think I'll find a SS w/freewheel with a brake.

Found a resource here: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html

What I don't understand is why have a single front brake? If you have
one brake, why not the rear wheel?
I cartwheeled a bike going downhill on a rainy day by locking my front
brake.

Those guys in the Vancouver video seem to have freewheels as well.

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

"landotter" <landotter@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189475775.377295.38230@19g2000hsx.googlegrou ps.com...
> On Sep 10, 7:25 pm, Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
> > On Sep 10, 3:49 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > A single speed with freewheel is an option. It has the
> > > benefit of the straight, uncluttered chainline. In
> > > regions where the hills are unavoidable it is a
> > > blessing on descents.
> >
> > I think CNN wanted a fixed, but I agree that a SS freewheel is best
> > for hilly terrain -- although it is not nearly as hip as fixed. If
> > you go SS or a flip-flop, you'll have to get another tat or piercing
> > to up your cred. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> Heh, screw cred. When I messengered, it was on a mid 80s friction 12
> speed. Eventually it got the conversion to a single speed freewheel,
> as this kept the drivetrain as simple as possible. I didn't hang with
> the other messengers, and didn't do that crap job for long, just came
> upon the simplification on my own. I knew about track bikes, but
> didn't even make the connection to messengering at the time. It was
> just a gig. And a ****ty one at that.
>
> I ride fixed mostly now, but up till a year ago, I did all my sport
> riding and charity rides on a SS road bike. For rolling hills, you
> can't ask for a more solid state, yet not impractical setup. Finally
> sold that bike last week that gave me thousands of miles of riding
> with only the desire for a lower gear every few months when I climbed
> a monster. If I didn't have my current fixie, I'd buy a Redline 925 or
> Bianchi San Jose all over again. Brakes on both ends, cushy tires, and
> one gear, fixed or not, is elegant. Riding a track bike with negative
> rise stem in stovepipe jeans, ain't.
>

I drove a cab for several years when I was going to school. I hauled a lot
of freight and special delivery packages. There was more money in it than
hauling passengers. Did a lot of the same things as messengers - running
up to the 12th floor to pick up or drop off a package etc.

I rode 1/2 a century once on a fixed gear mid 1930s German Durkopf track
bike. It weighed about 17-18 lbs. with wooden rims and sewups. The bike
had a 43" wheelbase with 71° seat and headtube angles. It was really
comfortable on the rolling hills and flats of that century. I switched
with a friend for the second half and *****ed all the way back because of
the screwy way he had his bike set up.

I think that the original bicycle messengers rode SS bikes because that's
all that was available at the time. The business faded away in most
locals. Later messengers rode beater SS bikes because they didn't have to
worry about them getting stolen.

I don't know when this current fixie fad got started but it seemed to
coincide with the disappearance of the little aluminum scooters. I have
little patience for wannabe proletariats and their fakeinger bags on their
coffee rides.

Chas.

r15757@aol.com

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

On Sep 10, 7:56 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Heh, screw cred. When I messengered, it was on a mid 80s friction 12
> speed. Eventually it got the conversion to a single speed freewheel,
> as this kept the drivetrain as simple as possible. I didn't hang with
> the other messengers, and didn't do that crap job for long, just came
> upon the simplification on my own. I knew about track bikes, but
> didn't even make the connection to messengering at the time. It was
> just a gig. And a ****ty one at that.

It has its strong points. Riding a bike around all day, for instance.

Just curious, where and when did you work as a bike messenger?

Robert

Michael Press

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

In article <13ebtf28fac533a@corp.supernews.com>,
A Muzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

> >>> Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> >>>> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
> >>>> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
> >>>> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
> >>>> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
> >>>> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
> >>>> schrader valve tubes.
>
> >> CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>> ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>
> > Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
> >> traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
> >> somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
> >> pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
> >> discouraged.
>
> CNN_news wrote:
> > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
> >
> > If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> > descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
> > fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> If you own a road bike, try riding your usual routes in one gear only
> without coasting. That isn't as daunting as you might imagine and an
> interesting experience at any rate. And/or borrow a fixie or swap bikes
> on a ride with a friend. YMMV obviously as neither format is 'better'.
>
> Some fixed gear riders swear their climbing ability is enhanced on a
> fixed. Either toeclips or clipless are equally OK and IMHO much safer
> than no foot retention at all.

Yes, CNN, do as Andrew suggests. A while back I put the
errand bicycle into one gear and left it there for
everything; no exceptions. I learned plenty.

>
> And by all means get a front brake.

--
Michael Press

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

On Sep 11, 3:37 am, John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> That, and to prevent your legs from being pummeled into hamburger by the
> rapidly rotating pedals if your foot should come off the pedal by
> accident. Track riders often use toeclips with double straps to ensure
> that they don't come loose.
>
> Don't ride brakeless on the road, and especially not down a mountain.
>
> > If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
> > descending unless I am really very strong.
>
> Strong is only part of the issue. Being able to spin the pedals
> smoothly and rapidly is also important. If you're bouncing around
> a lot you're likely lose control at some point.
>
> > Is it recommended to use a fixed gear in hilly areas?
>
> It is doable if you have brakes. The uphills are managable; the
> downhills are where you'll have problems.
>

Downhill with no brakes requires that you keep it at a walking pace if
the hill is of any length. Definitely not the fast way to go, but
risking getting too much uncontrollable speed is probably even dumber
than riding in an urban area with no brakes.

I ride my track bikes on the road with no brakes but I live in a rural
area with a very relaxed traffic pattern. I also only use the bike on
specific roads that are well suited to the task, and more importantly
I ride very relaxed and super conservatively. That is the point of
this bike, to take it easy and enjoy the scenery and to not overdo it.
When I rode with a brake, I allowed myself to get into situations
where I needed it, and in general my rides were more intense which was
something I was trying to avoid by riding fixed in the first place.
That doesn't happen now. If I want to go fast, I take my road bike. If
I used the bike anywhere where there was any traffic or there cropped
up reasons to have to stop, I'd use a brake no question.

The roads I use are also popular with roller-skiers. A track bike with
no brakes is whole orders of magnitude safer and in general less of a
menace that roller skis!

Joseph

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

"John Thompson" <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote in message
news:slrnfebsb1.s99.john@vector.os2.dhs.org...
> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagita.K@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> That, and to prevent your legs from being pummeled into hamburger by the
> rapidly rotating pedals if your foot should come off the pedal by
> accident. Track riders often use toeclips with double straps to ensure
> that they don't come loose.

And double toeclips too.

> John (john@os2.dhs.org)

Peter Cole

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

John Thompson wrote:
> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagita.K@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
>> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
>> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> That, and to prevent your legs from being pummeled into hamburger by the
> rapidly rotating pedals if your foot should come off the pedal by
> accident. Track riders often use toeclips with double straps to ensure
> that they don't come loose.

I "spun out" a couple of times when I first started riding fixed. It was
no problem popping out of the clipless pedals & just holding my feet
away from the pedals. I think clipless are the way to go for that
reason. It's also good to have a low profile pedal so you don't have to
worry as much about grounding in corners.

Ted Bennett

01-03-1970, 01:46 PM

John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:

> On 2007-09-10, Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > "* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
> >> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic road
> >> bike.
>
> > Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and braze
> > in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my old
> > crit racer.
>
> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?

Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
nonessential is gone.

--
Ted Bennett

Paul Myron Hobson

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

>> http://surlybikes.com/steamroller.html
>>
>> It's a QBP product sold as a frameset only.
>>
>> Chalo

zencycle wrote:
> The steamroller is offered as a complete bike. In fact, the link you
> supplied goes right to it.

http://surlybikes.com/steamroller_comp.html

That's the complete bike. I like the specs (though I'm not in the
market for one).

\\paul

Chalo

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

zencycle wrote:
>
> Chalo wrote:
>
> >http://surlybikes.com/steamroller.html
> >
> > It's a QBP product sold as a frameset only.
>
> The steamroller is offered as a complete bike. In fact, the link you
> supplied goes right to it. Their catalog shows the complete bike
> offering too.

So it does. That's news to me.

> Also, they may be owned by QBP, but they are an independent entity.
> QBP has little, if nothing at all, to do with the design and build of
> the bikes or the culture of the company.

I meant only that QBP is the one place to get it. Like Salsa, Problem
Solvers, Dimension, etc., Surly is a part of QBP's product line.

Chalo

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

"Ted Bennett" <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:tedbennett-868CAA.09331611092007@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>
> > On 2007-09-10, Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > > "* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear
bikes -
> > >> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good
classic road
> > >> bike.
> >
> > > Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and
braze
> > > in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my
old
> > > crit racer.
> >
> > What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
>
> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> nonessential is gone.
>
> --
> Ted Bennett

No brains... no pains.

Chas.

Fred Clydesdale

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

In article <tedbennett-868CAA.09331611092007@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:

> John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>
> > What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
>
> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> nonessential is gone.

oh, PLEASE tell me that i just wandered into the middle of a big
usenet joke and you left the smilies out of that post!

John Thompson

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

On 2007-09-11, Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:

> John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>
>> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?

> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> nonessential is gone.

Then use a frame without a hanger. Don't vandalize a classic road frame
by hacking off the hanger.

--

John (john@os2.dhs.org)

A Muzi

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

>>> "* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
>>>> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
>>>> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic road
>>>> bike.

>> Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and braze
>>> in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my old
>>> crit racer.

> John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?

Ted Bennett wrote:
> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> nonessential is gone.

Except for the color-coordinated $50 vinyl pad on the top tube. Color
matches rider's 0.8 cubic meter Chrome bag with cel phone clipon.
(8 year olds take the pads _off_ new 20-inchers)

Before cars got jacked up in the back to show off the chromed
differential cover, the cool style was to get the back low so a chrome
rear bumper would just clear a pack of Luckies. Now it's black windows.

Fashion is a cruel mistress.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Carl Sundquist

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

"Ted Bennett" <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:tedbennett-868CAA.09331611092007@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>
>> On 2007-09-10, Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>> > "* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
>> >> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic
>> >> road
>> >> bike.
>>
>> > Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and braze
>> > in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my
>> > old
>> > crit racer.
>>
>> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
>
> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> nonessential is gone.

Evidently (in your mind) pretensiousness is required for "fixies". A "fixie"
should be "run what you brung".

Carl
Has been riding a 49 x 17 fixed gear on group training rides lately as a
poor substitute for speedwork.

landotter

01-03-1970, 01:48 PM

On Sep 11, 11:57 am, Paul Myron Hobson <phob...@gatech.edu> wrote:
> >>http://surlybikes.com/steamroller.html
>
> >> It's a QBP product sold as a frameset only.
>
> >> Chalo
> zencycle wrote:
> > The steamroller is offered as a complete bike. In fact, the link you
> > supplied goes right to it.
>
> http://surlybikes.com/steamroller_comp.html
>
> That's the complete bike. I like the specs (though I'm not in the
> market for one).

Yeah, nice strong specs. Those rims are pretty similar to Deep-Vs.
Still curious as to why they spec a PC48 and not a cheaper and shinier
KMC nickel plate SS chain.

Gregas

01-03-1970, 01:49 PM

> "landotter" <landotter@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
>> Heh, screw cred. When I messengered, it was on a mid 80s friction 12
>> speed. Eventually it got the conversion to a single speed freewheel,
>> as this kept the drivetrain as simple as possible. I didn't hang with
>> the other messengers, and didn't do that crap job for long, just came
>> upon the simplification on my own. I knew about track bikes, but
>> didn't even make the connection to messengering at the time. It was
>> just a gig. And a ****ty one at that.

I thought it was a pretty cool job when I was 16. There was no other job
where I got to ride all day and make 2-3X minimum wage. However, I'm
glad not to be doing that job at 40!

* * Chas wrote:

> I think that the original bicycle messengers rode SS bikes because that's
> all that was available at the time. The business faded away in most
> locals. Later messengers rode beater SS bikes because they didn't have to
> worry about them getting stolen.
I know that in NYC in the early 80's that's not why people rode them.
People would steal *any* bike. I think it was partly about simplicity,
partly about cool. Just as it is now.

I never bought into it then. Multiple gears and brakes seemed better
suited to the tasks of weaving through Midtown traffic. I probably did
more maintenance than the fixie riders, but (IMO) it was worth it.

>
> I don't know when this current fixie fad got started but it seemed to
> coincide with the disappearance of the little aluminum scooters. I have
> little patience for wannabe proletariats and their fakeinger bags on their
> coffee rides.

I wish that I had saved my Globe Canvas bag. I don't know what the kids
are sporting these days, but back then *every* bike messenger in NYC had
the same bag, sewn by Frank Martini in a little basement on Mott St.

Gregas

r15757@aol.com

01-03-1970, 01:49 PM

On Sep 11, 12:28 pm, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote in
part:

> I think that the original bicycle messengers rode SS bikes because that's
> all that was available at the time.

True enough. The original bike messengers were working in the 1800s,
and the only bikes readily available to the masses then were single
speed fixed wheel bikes. They were brakeless, or equiped with an
ineffective plunger brake that left them for all intents and purposes
brakeless. NYC messengers started riding brakeless fixed gear bikes in
the modern era because it was challenging, added a little spice to
their jobs, the bikes were cheap simple and beautiful, and because
other messengers thought it was cool, and because it freaked out the
general public.

> I don't know when this current fixie fad got started but it seemed to
> coincide with the disappearance of the little aluminum scooters. I have
> little patience for wannabe proletariats and their fakeinger bags on their
> coffee rides.

I think the 'fixie' thing jumped the shark 5 - 7 years ago, it just
takes a decade or so for the fashion victims to get wise. It is the
nature of the fashion victim to be forever chasing, forever behind.

Robert

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:49 PM

On Sep 11, 8:30 pm, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
> "John Thompson" <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote in message
>
> news:slrnfebsb1.s99.john@vector.os2.dhs.org...
>
> > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
> > > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>
> > That, and to prevent your legs from being pummeled into hamburger by the
> > rapidly rotating pedals if your foot should come off the pedal by
> > accident. Track riders often use toeclips with double straps to ensure
> > that they don't come loose.
>
> And double toeclips too.
>

I always wondered why those were double layered. I know my regular
steel ones get bent sometimes when the toe gets jammed into the ground
sometimes before I can flip into it. Is that why?

Joseph

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:49 PM

<joseph.santaniello@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189538704.568784.129740@q5g2000prf.googlegro ups.com...
> On Sep 11, 8:30 pm, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
> > "John Thompson" <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote in message
> >
> > news:slrnfebsb1.s99.john@vector.os2.dhs.org...
> >
> > > On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > > I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
> > > > area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use
clipped
> > > > pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the
speed?
> >
> > > That, and to prevent your legs from being pummeled into hamburger by
the
> > > rapidly rotating pedals if your foot should come off the pedal by
> > > accident. Track riders often use toeclips with double straps to
ensure
> > > that they don't come loose.
> >
> > And double toeclips too.
> >
>
> I always wondered why those were double layered. I know my regular
> steel ones get bent sometimes when the toe gets jammed into the ground
> sometimes before I can flip into it. Is that why?
>
> Joseph
>

Track sprinters like Reg Harris were real animals:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Harris_Reg/R_Harris_main.htm

They could tear up toe clips, straps, pedals and even cranks.

I have a set of factory Christophe double toe clips. They are held
together with a rivet and only have 1 loop for the toestraps.

Chas.

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

On Sep 11, 10:42 pm, Peter Cole <peter_c...@comcast.net> wrote:

> I "spun out" a couple of times when I first started riding fixed. It was
> no problem popping out of the clipless pedals & just holding my feet
> away from the pedals. I think clipless are the way to go for that
> reason

Ack! Spinning wildly out of control or potentially inducing a wobble
crash sounds like six of one, half dozen of the other to me!

Joseph

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

On Sep 11, 10:51 pm, Peter Cole <peter_c...@comcast.net> wrote:

> Yeah, I think we're at that point, I remember realizing things were over
> when you could buy your complete hippie outfit at Sears. Most of the
> fixers I see now are LBS bought, not DIY. Kind of kills the buzz.

That's probably what the MTB guys were thinking back in the day... ;-)

Joseph

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

"Peter Cole" <peter_cole@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:zOmdnR3b2d5PYnvbnZ2dnUVZ_tSknZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> * * Chas wrote:
>
> > Members of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons love fixie
riders.
> >
> > One knee replacement surgery = one new BMW....
>
> Never bothers my (mature) knees.
>
>
> > I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
> > except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic
road
> > bike.
>
> Yeah, except old school was just using beater frames to make beaters, so
> no great loss, but it still seems pointless to take a hacksaw to it.
>
>
> > My objection is to the wankers who graduated up from skateboards and
> > little aluminum scooters. They ride in urban traffic without regard to
> > safety or regulations. I think this behavior encourages lack of
respect
> > for cyclists among many motorists.
>
> That's assuming there's any respect to lose. I don't see it, myself.
>
>
> > Many of these faddists will discard their messenger bags and wannabe
> > proletariat ways when the next fad comes around.
>
> Yeah, I think we're at that point, I remember realizing things were over
> when you could buy your complete hippie outfit at Sears. Most of the
> fixers I see now are LBS bought, not DIY. Kind of kills the buzz.

"Is that a real Pancho or a Sears Pancho?" Frank Zappa ;-)

Chas.

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

On Sep 11, 11:04 pm, Peter Cole <peter_c...@comcast.net> wrote:
> joseph.santanie...@gmail.com wrote:
> > A key thing for fixed gear beginners is DO NOT FORGET you are on a
> > fixed gear bike. Sometimes one forgets and tries to stop pedalling to
> > coast, often with one leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke, with the
> > knee locked. This is bad; Worst case you will be launched over the
> > bars; lesser perhaps only crash; at least scare yourself.
>
> This seems like a real hazard, but I don't know of anybody who has
> crashed that way. Pedal strikes are a bigger risk, I know several who
> have gone down that way.

I've never crashed this way, but I have come seriously close. I also
know someone who saw a fatal accident on a velodrome that was a result
of this. They guy who died crashed inot the first guy who'd crashed
from forgetting he was on a fixed. Before people start crying
"bull****!" all I know is they guy who told me was involved with the
Norwegian national team in the 70's and 80's. He has no reason to
bull**** me, and I have no reason to doubt him.

As the fixie-forget-launch problem usually only crops up once, pedal
strikes are indeed probably a greater risk. Another reason to use a
track bike!

Joseph

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

On Sep 11, 11:38 pm, Fred Clydesdale <f...@belldinger.com> wrote:
> In article <tedbennett-868CAA.09331611092...@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> Ted Bennett <tedbenn...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>
> > > What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
>
> > Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> > nonessential is gone.
>
> oh, PLEASE tell me that i just wandered into the middle of a big
> usenet joke and you left the smilies out of that post!

Different strokes for different folks!

Joseph

Michael Press

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

In article
<fred-DCC64E.17381911092007@forte.vsrv-sjc.supernews.ne
t>,
Fred Clydesdale <fred@belldinger.com> wrote:

> In article <tedbennett-868CAA.09331611092007@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
> >
> > > What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
> >
> > Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> > nonessential is gone.
>
> oh, PLEASE tell me that i just wandered into the middle of a big
> usenet joke and you left the smilies out of that post!

And you are part of the joke. Sorry, no refunds.

--
Michael Press

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:50 PM

On Sep 12, 12:40 am, Gregas <gmjunks...@Nospam.gmail.com> wrote:

> I wish that I had saved my Globe Canvas bag. I don't know what the kids
> are sporting these days, but back then *every* bike messenger in NYC had
> the same bag, sewn by Frank Martini in a little basement on Mott St.

My red one is now an odd shade of pink. Did you get your's before they
started keeping stock and they made them while-U-wait? Certainly
before they started actually sewing tags on them!

All this makes me wanna ride!

Joseph

Hank Wirtz

01-03-1970, 01:51 PM

On Sep 11, 7:58 pm, John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
> On 2007-09-11, Ted Bennett <tedbenn...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>
> >> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
> > Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
> > nonessential is gone.
>
> Then use a frame without a hanger. Don't vandalize a classic road frame
> by hacking off the hanger.
>
> --
>
> John (j...@os2.dhs.org)

A-frickin'-men. I got a Peugeot PR-10 frame off of ebay for $40 to
build up for my brother with a bunch of French parts I had lying
around, and was pissed to discover the hanger had been sawed off. I
had to use an adapter claw, which instantly ruled out going 9-speed,
because there's not enough clearance between the claw's fixing bolt
and the lockring.

If I'd have been building it for myself, I'd have probably sent it to
Andy Muzi to replace the dropout or do some other form of surgery.

Michael Press

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

In article <QGJFi.61056$Pv4.31969@newsfe19.lga>,
"Carl Sundquist" <carlsun@cox.net> wrote:
> "Ted Bennett" <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:tedbennett-868CAA.09331611092007@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
>> John Thompson <john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>>> On 2007-09-10, Ted Bennett <tedbennett@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>> "* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
>>>>> I have nothing against experienced cyclists riding fixed gear bikes -
>>>>> except when they saw off the gear hanger on a perfectly good classic
>>>>> road
>>>>> bike.
>>>
>>>> Right, that is crude. Better to remove the original dropouts and braze
>>>> in two left side horizontal dropouts. 'Cause that's what I did to my
>>>> old
>>>> crit racer.
>>>
>>> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
>>
>> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
>> nonessential is gone.
>
> Evidently (in your mind) pretensiousness is required for "fixies". A "fixie"
> should be "run what you brung".
>
> Has been riding a 49 x 17 fixed gear on group training rides lately as a
> poor substitute for speedwork.

Well, you are an animal. Who's going to argue?

--
Michael Press

Tom Nakashima

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

"* * Chas" <verktygjunk@aol.spamski.com> wrote in message
news:tvKdnUohV8RA8nrbnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>
> Track sprinters like Reg Harris were real animals:
>http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Harris_Reg/R_Harris_main.htm
>
> They could tear up toe clips, straps, pedals and even cranks.
>
> I have a set of factory Christophe double toe clips. They are held
> together with a rivet and only have 1 loop for the toestraps.
> Chas.

Good Link, I very much enjoyed.
-tom

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

"Hank Wirtz" <hank@wirtznet.net> wrote in message
news:1189574902.329132.161290@o80g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...
> On Sep 11, 7:58 pm, John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
> > On 2007-09-11, Ted Bennett <tedbenn...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > > John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
> >
> > >> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?
> > > Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie.
Everything
> > > nonessential is gone.
> >
> > Then use a frame without a hanger. Don't vandalize a classic road
frame
> > by hacking off the hanger.
> >
> > --
> >
> > John (j...@os2.dhs.org)
>
> A-frickin'-men. I got a Peugeot PR-10 frame off of ebay for $40 to
> build up for my brother with a bunch of French parts I had lying
> around, and was pissed to discover the hanger had been sawed off. I
> had to use an adapter claw, which instantly ruled out going 9-speed,
> because there's not enough clearance between the claw's fixing bolt
> and the lockring.
>
> If I'd have been building it for myself, I'd have probably sent it to
> Andy Muzi to replace the dropout or do some other form of surgery.
>

The fools that do that probably never had the joy of trying to fix a flat
in the rain and the derailleur falls out of the dropout when you remove
the wheel and the chain twists and it's greasy and the wind is blowing and
you are trying to hold the bike in one hand and the wheel in the other
while trying to put the derailleur back into the dropout.

May they have many flats.... :-(

There is one justification for cutting off the hanger and that's when it
gets too bent to fix from sucking a derailleur into the rear wheel spokes
and the bike isn't worth having the dropout replaced.... It's fixie time.

Chas. Where's my little aluminum scooter.

A Muzi

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

>>> John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>>>> What's the problem with just leaving the hanger intact?

>> On 2007-09-11, Ted Bennett <tedbenn...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Because its presence conflicts with the esthetic of a fixie. Everything
>>> nonessential is gone.

> John Thompson <j...@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>> Then use a frame without a hanger. Don't vandalize a classic road frame
>> by hacking off the hanger.

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> A-frickin'-men. I got a Peugeot PR-10 frame off of ebay for $40 to
> build up for my brother with a bunch of French parts I had lying
> around, and was pissed to discover the hanger had been sawed off. I
> had to use an adapter claw, which instantly ruled out going 9-speed,
> because there's not enough clearance between the claw's fixing bolt
> and the lockring.
>
> If I'd have been building it for myself, I'd have probably sent it to
> Andy Muzi to replace the dropout or do some other form of surgery.

Campagnolo part #80/1 for that:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/doreen.html
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Chalo

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

r15...@aol.com wrote:
>
> NYC messengers started riding brakeless fixed gear bikes in
> the modern era because it was challenging, added a little spice to
> their jobs, the bikes were cheap simple and beautiful, and because
> other messengers thought it was cool, and because it freaked out the
> general public.

Conventional wisdom in the '80s about NYC messengers was that fixies
didn't get stolen as quickly as real bikes. Another rationale was
messed-up wheels on fixies didn't stop the show.

Chalo

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

<r15757@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1189576091.697262.136110@22g2000hsm.googlegro ups.com...
> On Sep 11, 12:28 pm, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote in
> part:
>
> > I think that the original bicycle messengers rode SS bikes because
that's
> > all that was available at the time.
>
> True enough. The original bike messengers were working in the 1800s,
> and the only bikes readily available to the masses then were single
> speed fixed wheel bikes. They were brakeless, or equiped with an
> ineffective plunger brake that left them for all intents and purposes
> brakeless. NYC messengers started riding brakeless fixed gear bikes in
> the modern era because it was challenging, added a little spice to
> their jobs, the bikes were cheap simple and beautiful, and because
> other messengers thought it was cool, and because it freaked out the
> general public.
>
> > I don't know when this current fixie fad got started but it seemed to
> > coincide with the disappearance of the little aluminum scooters. I
have
> > little patience for wannabe proletariats and their fakeinger bags on
their
> > coffee rides.
>
> I think the 'fixie' thing jumped the shark 5 - 7 years ago, it just
> takes a decade or so for the fashion victims to get wise. It is the
> nature of the fashion victim to be forever chasing, forever behind.
>
> Robert
>

Western Union had "Bike Messenger Boys" delivering telegrams up into the
1950s, maybe later in some locals.

With the advent of US urban and suburban sprawl in the 1950s bicycle
messengers became economically impractical in all but the largest cities.
Taxis and motorized delivery services took over much of work.

In the mid 1970s some fool showed up in Albuquerque, NM wanting to start a
bicycle messenger service. He had worked as a messenger in San Francisco.
He wasn't real bright. First off, Albuquerque was about 20 miles by 20
miles in size and everything was spread out. Secondly, NM was the "land of
mañana", it was really laid back and there was very little rush for
anything.

The few REAL bike messengers I've run into in San Francisco seemed pretty
whacked out to me - was it the coffee or the meth?

I've never had much respect for fashionistas and the fixie boys riding
around Palo Alto and Berkeley don't impress me very much.

My num-nuts neighbor is fascinated by my bike collection. He's over 50,
has a bad back and hadn't been on a bike since he was a kid. He wanted a
bike so I suggested that he pick up a used cross bike with upright bars
and a sloping top tube to see if he could ride comfortably.

He went to a local fashionista LBS where they were holding a seminar
teaching novice riders how to jump curbs and other fixie riding tricks. He
came home with a $1000 fixie that was about 2 sizes too big for him and
had no brakes. It did have Belgian ale bottle caps wired into the ends of
the bars.

Another neighbor and I pointed out the problems and suggested he return
the bike and buy something more suitable. He took it back several times
and they eventually put on brakes then a freewheel then a quick release
front wheel so that he could put it in his car. He finally returned it
after deciding he couldn't ride it. I blame the idiot that sold him the
bike.

Chas.

Gregas

01-03-1970, 01:52 PM

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sep 12, 12:40 am, Gregas <gmjunks...@Nospam.gmail.com> wrote:
>
> My red one is now an odd shade of pink.

My dark blue one became "powder blue".

> Did you get your's before they
> started keeping stock and they made them while-U-wait?

It depended upon when you showed up. They sometimes had one or two, but
they often made them "while-U-wait".

>Certainly
> before they started actually sewing tags on them!

No tags, no advertising. I would have never known where to get one
except when I got my messenger job, the boss wrote the address down on a
slip of paper. The whole thing seemed a bit shady at first.

> All this makes me wanna ride!

Thinking about all this makes me a bit nostalgic...not that I'd want to
do it now. But I thought it was a pretty fun job at for a teenager.

In addition to missing the bag, I wish that I'd kept my hacked-up Rolls
+ Campy fixie. It *was* fun to ride.

Time to go for a ride.

Gregas

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-03-1970, 01:55 PM

On Sep 12, 5:52 pm, Gregas <gmjunks...@Nospam.gmail.com> wrote:

> In addition to missing the bag, I wish that I'd kept my hacked-up Rolls
> + Campy fixie. It *was* fun to ride.

I started getting nostalgic a few years ago, and here's the result:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/mar/JosephSantaniello.htm

> Time to go for a ride.

Just for laughs, maybe I'll take the bag along next time!

Joseph

r15757@aol.com

01-03-1970, 01:55 PM

On Sep 12, 11:09 am, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
>> Western Union had "Bike Messenger Boys" delivering telegrams up into the
> 1950s, maybe later in some locals.

Not just Western Union. United Parcel Service, for instance, started
as a bike delivery company.

> With the advent of US urban and suburban sprawl in the 1950s bicycle
> messengers became economically impractical in all but the largest cities.
> Taxis and motorized delivery services took over much of work.

A bike messenger service can work anywhere there is sufficient demand
from clientele and the will to market the service to those potential
clients. It doesn't have to be a large city. I was a messenger in
Boulder for almost two years, and we were working non-stop.

> The few REAL bike messengers I've run into in San Francisco seemed pretty
> whacked out to me - was it the coffee or the meth?

How do you know they were REAL messengers?

Robert

> I've never had much respect for fashionistas and the fixie boys riding
> around Palo Alto and Berkeley don't impress me very much.
>
> My num-nuts neighbor is fascinated by my bike collection. He's over 50,
> has a bad back and hadn't been on a bike since he was a kid. He wanted a
> bike so I suggested that he pick up a used cross bike with upright bars
> and a sloping top tube to see if he could ride comfortably.
>
> He went to a local fashionista LBS where they were holding a seminar
> teaching novice riders how to jump curbs and other fixie riding tricks. He
> came home with a $1000 fixie that was about 2 sizes too big for him and
> had no brakes. It did have Belgian ale bottle caps wired into the ends of
> the bars.
>
> Another neighbor and I pointed out the problems and suggested he return
> the bike and buy something more suitable. He took it back several times
> and they eventually put on brakes then a freewheel then a quick release
> front wheel so that he could put it in his car. He finally returned it
> after deciding he couldn't ride it. I blame the idiot that sold him the
> bike.
>
> Chas.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Gregas

01-03-1970, 01:55 PM

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com wrote:

>
> I started getting nostalgic a few years ago, and here's the result:
>
> http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/mar/JosephSantaniello.htm
>

Nice. What luck that you got it back!

> Just for laughs, maybe I'll take the bag along next time!

Don't forget to have an obscenely oversized package sticking out of the
bag.

G

Paul Myron Hobson

01-03-1970, 01:55 PM

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sep 12, 5:52 pm, Gregas <gmjunks...@Nospam.gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>> In addition to missing the bag, I wish that I'd kept my hacked-up Rolls
>> + Campy fixie. It *was* fun to ride.
>
> I started getting nostalgic a few years ago, and here's the result:
>
> http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/mar/JosephSantaniello.htm

Wow, Joe! The majority of FGG annoys the crap out of me. But damn, you
did that right! Damn. That's a fine looking machine.

\\paul

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 01:58 PM

<r15757@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1189637118.970151.306570@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> On Sep 12, 11:09 am, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
> >> Western Union had "Bike Messenger Boys" delivering telegrams up into
the
> > 1950s, maybe later in some locals.
>
> Not just Western Union. United Parcel Service, for instance, started
> as a bike delivery company.
>
> > With the advent of US urban and suburban sprawl in the 1950s bicycle
> > messengers became economically impractical in all but the largest
cities.
> > Taxis and motorized delivery services took over much of work.
>
> A bike messenger service can work anywhere there is sufficient demand
> from clientele and the will to market the service to those potential
> clients. It doesn't have to be a large city. I was a messenger in
> Boulder for almost two years, and we were working non-stop.
>
> > The few REAL bike messengers I've run into in San Francisco seemed
pretty
> > whacked out to me - was it the coffee or the meth?
>
> How do you know they were REAL messengers?

Because they were stoned out and had REAL packages in their bags that they
dropped off with the receptionists. ;-)

> Robert

Peter Cole

01-03-1970, 01:58 PM

CNN_news wrote:
> On Sep 10, 5:25 pm, Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
>> On Sep 10, 3:49 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> In article
>>> <1189443880.520106.200...@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>
>>> ,
>>> Jay Beattie <jbeat...@lindsayhart.com> wrote:
>>>> On Sep 10, 12:46 am, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Sep 9, 10:37 pm, Mark Shroyer <usenet-m...@markshroyer.com> wrote:
>>>>>> On 2007-09-10, CNN_news <Nagit...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> On Sep 9, 5:19 pm, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Was up at the college library locking my bicycle.
>>>>>>>> Saw a fresh new fixed gear bicycle.
>>>>>>>> (A Surly; love the name, don't you?)
>>>>>>>> The bicycle has track ends, no brakes,
>>>>>>>> two fistfuls & a bit of seat post and
>>>>>>>> schrader valve tubes.
>>>>>>> ok, how do you manage w/o brakes?
>>>>>> traffic signs or nearby trees. Occasionally you'll even see
>>>>>> somebody stop a bicycle by pressing the soles of his shoes into the
>>>>>> pavement; however, this practice is considered unsafe and is widely
>>>>>> discouraged.
>>>>> I'd like to get a fixed gear but I live in an coastal, mountainous
>>>>> area and you can generate some pretty high speeds. Do you use clipped
>>>>> pedals to 'lock' yourself onto the drivetrain to control the speed?
>>>>> If I use a low gear for climbing I will have a very high cadence when
>>>>> descending unless I am really very strong. Is it recommended to use a
>>>>> fixed gear in hilly areas?
>>>> In hilly areas, any gearing low enough to get you over a sustained 7%
>>>> climb is just too slow on the descents -- at least for me. If you have
>>>> descents with off camber hair pins, descending on a fixed gear is a
>>>> pain in the ass, and you really have to cut your speed and square-up
>>>> the bike to make the turn without hitting a pedal. I commuted on a
>>>> fixed gear over hilly terrain for two or three years, probably with a
>>>> 70-some-odd inch gear -- great for strenghth training climbing and leg
>>>> speed training descending, but after a while (and after quitting
>>>> racing), I got tired of flailing my legs just trying to get to work on
>>>> time. I would still do it for training (with the understanding that I
>>>> would be doing a lot of thrashing down the hills), but not for
>>>> everyday communting over hilly terrain. If you do get a fixie (and
>>>> there are some good cheap ones on the market now) also get a good
>>>> brake, because on a long down hill, there is no way you can use pure
>>>> quad strength for breaking. -- Jay Beattie.
>>> A single speed with freewheel is an option. It has the
>>> benefit of the straight, uncluttered chainline. In
>>> regions where the hills are unavoidable it is a
>>> blessing on descents.
>> I think CNN wanted a fixed, but I agree that a SS freewheel is best
>> for hilly terrain -- although it is not nearly as hip as fixed. If
>> you go SS or a flip-flop, you'll have to get another tat or piercing
>> to up your cred. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> I not a maniac. I think I'll find a SS w/freewheel with a brake.
>
> Found a resource here: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html
>
> What I don't understand is why have a single front brake? If you have
> one brake, why not the rear wheel?
> I cartwheeled a bike going downhill on a rainy day by locking my front
> brake.
>
> Those guys in the Vancouver video seem to have freewheels as well.
>
>

Check Sheldon's section on braking & all will be revealed.

Aeek

01-03-1970, 01:58 PM

On Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:14:57 -0000, CNN_news <Nagita.K@gmail.com>
wrote:

>What I don't understand is why have a single front brake? If you have
>one brake, why not the rear wheel?

because a front brake works - if you know how to modulate your front
brake you'll almost never use the rear.

r15757@aol.com

01-03-1970, 01:59 PM

On Sep 12, 7:32 pm, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:

> > How do you know they were REAL messengers?
>
> Because they were stoned out and had REAL packages in their bags that they
> dropped off with the receptionists. ;-)

You had me at stoned out.

Wait a second, how do you know those were REAL receptionists??

* * Chas

01-03-1970, 02:01 PM

<r15757@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1189664964.497250.317540@50g2000hsm.googlegro ups.com...
> On Sep 12, 7:32 pm, "* * Chas" <verktygj...@aol.spamski.com> wrote:
>
> > > How do you know they were REAL messengers?
> >
> > Because they were stoned out and had REAL packages in their bags that
they
> > dropped off with the receptionists. ;-)
>
>
> You had me at stoned out.
>
> Wait a second, how do you know those were REAL receptionists??
>

A leap of faith..... ;-)

Michael Warner

01-03-1970, 02:01 PM

On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:10:46 +1000, Aeek wrote:

> because a front brake works - if you know how to modulate your front
> brake you'll almost never use the rear.

Certainly true on the flat, emergency stops aside, but a rear brake is
essential when descending. Partly because it shares the heating effect
of braking between two rims, and partly because you can continue
to use rear braking if you enter a bend a little too fast, whereas front
braking fights your efforts to turn.

Aeek

01-03-1970, 02:01 PM

On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:02:44 +0930, Michael Warner
<mvw@westnet.com.au> wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:10:46 +1000, Aeek wrote:
>
>> because a front brake works - if you know how to modulate your front
>> brake you'll almost never use the rear.
>
>Certainly true on the flat, emergency stops aside, but a rear brake is
>essential when descending. Partly because it shares the heating effect
>of braking between two rims, and partly because you can continue
>to use rear braking if you enter a bend a little too fast, whereas front
>braking fights your efforts to turn.

Yes, taking the edge off my speed is a good use for the rear when aero
braking isn't enough. Useful tip on cornering if I can just remember
it when I need it.

dustoyevsky@mac.com

01-03-1970, 02:01 PM

On Sep 13, 5:32 am, Michael Warner <m...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:10:46 +1000, Aeek wrote:
> > because a front brake works - if you know how to modulate your front
> > brake you'll almost never use the rear.
>
> Certainly true on the flat, emergency stops aside, but a rear brake is
> essential when descending. Partly because it shares the heating effect
> of braking between two rims, and partly because you can continue
> to use rear braking if you enter a bend a little too fast, whereas front
> braking fights your efforts to turn.

Rear brake on a FG bike works great to help control the bike, as on
fast downhills. Something discovered through use and agreed with by a
couple of v. experienced road FG riders of acquaintance. I've used the
rear brake on my fixers much more than on the road bikes as a result.

Also as a back-up for emergency use, very good to have. Speaking as
one who once popped the head off a new brake cable on the first hard
squeeze when a traffic light changed. Found the other lever in a big
hurry that time <g>. Inches, and no, they weren't going to stop! --D-y