|   track bike questions... | daneil
Jun 25, 2002 11:48 AM | | I thinking about getting a track bike to use for on the road training for the remainder of the summer months. I was just wondering how much I should expect to spend and if a track bike will give me a good enough workout (I can already pull 20-22 mph on the road on my rigid ti gearie, thought that a fixed gear might push me a bit harder.) Also what bikes sohuld I be looking at? Bianchi, KHS???Thanks for all the input guys. |
| fixie goodness | DAS
Jun 25, 2002 12:45 PM | | I've been riding my Fixie daily recently so I got Fixie on the mind. It's a great workout b/c you work on the downhills as well as the uphills. I only ride mine on the road, so I have a slightly raised stem and a front brake. I run a 44:16 and 44:18 (flip flop hub)
Mine is a Soma Rush. Other basic Fixies are Bianchi, Surly, Fuji. The coolest one in my opinion is the On-One Il Pompino.
Check Ebay. Just yesterday I saw some cool ones for cheap. And, you can always convert an old road frame if you can find one. |
| dont be too macho for a front brake... | maladjustedchris
Jun 25, 2002 1:29 PM | | a new messenger kid was killed this morning in Boston on a fixed gear with no front brake. be careful. chris. |
| fixed | CRBob
Jun 25, 2002 1:45 PM | | Im all about the fixie lately cos its the only bike Ive had complete in the last couple months. I ride mine, a surly steamroller, daily. I would agree that its a more constant workout than a gearie. On Sunday I got behind a dude on a Litespeed and tried to hold his wheel for about 20 miles. Hed lose me on the downhills and Id catch him on the climbs. it was tough. By the time he shook me I was about ready to hurl. dam those euro freak roadies!! I kid... I'm running 42-15. seems to work pretty well for me. I keep saying Im gonna put a 16t freewhheel on the other side but I havent done it yet and the only time I really consider it is when its like hurricane windy. If your going to pick one up the bianchis probably the cheapest route for a new one. steamollers not too much more. Mine was a bit under 900 all together but I threw some gucci parts at it that I didnt need too.chek fixedgearfever.com if youre looking for a used one. |
| re: track bike questions... | GMF
Jun 25, 2002 1:49 PM | | I too have been riding my fixie in to work quite a bit lately, and will twice corroborate the urging for a front brake. Cars have them and use them quite unpredictably, so you should have them too. Just yesterday morning some chick in a big SUV with starbucks coffee in hand cut me off as she pulled into a mall parking lot right in front of me. Brakes are good.
Having said that, i'll encourage you to get an older bike (15-20 years older) for a couple of reasons:
1) they tend to fit well (get the bars up higher... have you seen how far down track bars are?) and have nice, stable geometry. This is personal prefernce, of course.
2) already have the 120 rear spacing you want
3) (this is the main one) have tire clearance for rubber bigger than a 23, and have room for wheel wobble if something goes out of true. Big treads are good for absorbing bumps that are sometimes harder to avoid as you ride your fixie.
4) they are cheap
5) they are just as light and fast as a track bike
6) you won't care if it gets stolen
etc. etc. etc.
Just a couple thoughts from a guy who rides an old trek road bike converted to fixed gear.
GMF |
| Molly Ringwald? | DAS
Jun 25, 2002 3:21 PM | | GMF, do you still have a poster of Molly Ringwald on your wall? Did you get a Flock of Seagulls haircut as a kid? Why is everything always about the 80s? LET IT GO.
You're starting to sound like Tamjam. He told me the other day that the Psychedlic Furs were a "Megaband" in the 80s. GOOD LORD.
Get a track bike that's 15-20 years old...as in from THE 80's???? |
| here you go... | DAS
Jun 25, 2002 3:56 PM | | nm |
| Speaking of Molly, here you go... | tamjam
Jun 25, 2002 4:15 PM | | Name that movie DAS, you know you've seen it at least a dozen times:
"Chicks cannot hold their smoke, thats what it is..." |
| molly then... molly now... | GMF
Jun 25, 2002 4:49 PM | | The poster is no longer up. Apparently, it conflicted with my girlfriend's feminist indigenous south-american decor. It's now in the garage next to my work stand... Wrenching on a bike is even that much more enjoyable now.
How did you know? |
| never was.... never will be.... | futtbuck-
Jun 25, 2002 5:57 PM | | Never understood that one. She's a dog! |
| your pal jon bon jovi | DAS
Jun 26, 2002 7:34 AM | | You guys are twisted. Here's your hero. |
| DAS in High School... | tamjam
Jun 26, 2002 7:49 AM | | ...member of the Physics club and Math club, before becoming the SS fanatic he has become today... |
| Fuji track | bn
Jun 25, 2002 2:01 PM | | road geo, drilled for brake, cheap- somebody here got one awhile ago |
| Yep, that was me.... | SS_MB-7
Jun 25, 2002 2:55 PM | | I bought a '02 Fuji Track bike from a LBS about 2 months ago and it has been a blast!
This was my first singlespeed road bike and was also my first fixed-gear bike.
I've been commuting into work (one-way = 17km ~11miles) on it ever since. The first ride was a little weird, but I quickly got over the feeling of needing to coast. Now, when I ride my freewheel MTB singlespeed, it feels weird to coast.
I added a front brake and front/brake levers and ditched the stock pedals for a pair of EggBeaters -- these pedals are incredible! And, I also ditched the stock saddle for a good 'ol Sella Italia Flite.
On my commute, I take my son (20 months old) to his baby-sitters in a Chariot Carrier. The ride with him is ~4km (~2.5 miles). I drop him off along with the carrier at the sitters and continue to work. Then, rinse and repeat.
Just the other day, I was late at work so I had the wife pick-up my son. This left me plenty of time to get out and ride. I hooked up with a buddy and we headed-out on the roads. He was on a geared bike and I told him that he needed to stay in 42x14 which was equivalent to my 48x16 gearing....he couldn't do it!
We booted around the city from west to east and then back....all-in-all, I put on ~85km (50 miles) before I got home. My riding partner tried to "drop" me on several occasions, but like his shadow, he couldn't loose me ;)
When I walked in the door, my wife asked the traditional-post-ride-question: "So, how was the ride?". To which I replied: "Incredible!".
The stock bike was only $550CDN, which is ~$360US.
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| FG commute w/20mo old kid on board?! | maySS
Jun 25, 2002 3:05 PM | | Sounds a bit nutty, whether it be a kidseat or trailer-type thing. They gotta be able to hold their head up. |
| Trailer; he's been holdin' his head up for months; and he loves it... | SS_MB-7
Jun 25, 2002 6:08 PM | | It's a Chariot Carrier, like the one shown below:
He is 20 months old and has been holding his head-up for months! We've been using it for the last 2 months and he absolutely loves it! Each morning/afternoon, he eagerly puts his helmet on (just like daddy) and helps me strap himself in.
As of last Sunday, we have started a new Sunday-morning ritual thanks to the "Sunday Bike Days" closing of the Ottawa Parkways. He and I head-out early in the morning for a ride and leave Mom and his 2 month old sister at home to sleep-in. It worked out great last Sunday - Dad gets a great ride in and son gets to see new things (a snapping turtle, a great heron, lots of ground hogs, Parliment Hill, waterfalls, etc.)
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| Yep, that was me.... | Magic Rat
Jun 26, 2002 4:15 AM | | I know it's only a few miles, but pulling a kid in a trailer on a FG with an 81" gear is amazing! I bet that's why your buddy couldn't drop you when you were unencumbered. I tow my daughter around in her Burley with the Kona SS (32x16), and that's enough of a workout for me on the hills. But I am inspired. Tonight we hook up the fixie (42x15)! |
| Once you get movin', it's not too bad... | SS_MB-7
Jun 26, 2002 4:58 AM | | Once you get movin', it's not too bad. The weight of the child/trailer seems to keep the mo' going. However, intially starting from a stop is an effort. Fortunately, there is only 1 hill on the route back from his sitters, which is a nice leg-burner.
The stock gearing is 48x16 on the Fuji, which is pretty steep. By my calculations, it's only 78.8". On my new fixed-gear/SS 'cross bike that I'm currently building, I'm going to use 42x15 (73.6") on the fixed side and 42x18 on the SS free side for 'cross.
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
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