Any fixed-gear/single-speed fans?

[xchen]

Right now I have a cheap single speed that I've put about 300 miles on this summer. I'll be getting a fixed gear at some point. I first rode fixed on my friend's Fuji Track Pro and was instantly hooked.

 

[clee1982]

Originally Posted by otc

Also, it should be noted that there is a differance between fixed and single. With a fixed gear bike, you only have one gear but you also cannot coast. This changes the experience.

aha, that would be quite annoying... so all right I am the dumb one here. From what I heard all I can conclude is... WHY? I would never do it myself.

I suppose if all you ever ride is in the city (say NYC) then this is pretty good, but not places where there are lots of up/down plus flat. I used to be in Ithaca where you have hill/flat all over the place, I just simply can't think of a situation where a single gear can suffice (giving how much pulling power I want, how fast I want to go, etc.)

 

[konadog]

i've previously owned two fixies - a converted 1971 lygie and an IRO. they are a heck of a lot of fun, and if you ride where it's relatively flat, i highly recommend one. that being said, i sold both of them and now ride a carbon Ridley geared bike and a Van Dessell 29er for the dirt.

in terms of inexpensive off the shelf bikes, i did a ton of research. it really comes down to proper fit. go to the shops, ride a few. even if the one you want is out of your price range, but seems to have that "perfect fit", research it's geometry and buy a similar geometry cheaper model. you can always upgrade the wheels, hubs, cranks as money becomes more available.

although blasphemy in the bike forums, the fixies on bikesdirect.com are crazy cheap. and with the mechanics being simple on a single-speed, even the most remedial jamoke can put the thing together.

 

[dusty]

As an engineer I am sickened by fixed-gear bikes.

 

[xchen]

Originally Posted by dusty

As an engineer I am sickened by fixed-gear bikes.

Let's not have this conversation again.

 

[Despos]

I was thinking about this one a couple years ago. Back then it came in a raw aluminum finish, now it is matt black.

Not a bike guy, what's the poop on this one. Cannondale Bad Boy single speed.

 

[Despos]

Originally Posted by dopey

Here is Rivendell's model:

Cool website, interesting company. like their use of tweed.

Dopey, do you ride/own one? You like?

 

[clee1982]

Originally Posted by dusty

As an engineer I am sickened by fixed-gear bikes.

+1, ok, don't shoot me.

Side note, didn't someone come up with the equivalent of CVT on bicycle, anyone got a picture for that?

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by Despos

Cool website, interesting company. like their use of tweed.

Dopey, do you ride/own one? You like?

I do own one - I have the E. Homer Hilson model, which is sort of a country/road bike. I would have bought the Sam Hilbourne which is similar at half the price, but they hadn't my size in stock at the time, and they had a Wateford Hilson in my size at that moment (Waterford is the American framebuilder they use). I think they have restocked. The build quality is really outstanding and the bikes are beautiful. Worth the money if you appreciate the aesthetic value. Otherwise, not - there are cheaper machines that do the same thing. I skipped the tweed bags and bought the identical versions in the waxed cotton twill, instead. The tweed was a bit too twee for me.

 

[Despos]

^
Thank you, appreciate the feedback Dopey.

 

[Ludeykrus]

Originally Posted by dusty

As an engineer I am sickened by fixed-gear bikes.
Agreed. We need a motor and a turbocharger bolted on before we can talk.

Originally Posted by clee1982

+1, ok, don't shoot me. Side note, didn't someone come up with the equivalent of CVT on bicycle, anyone got a picture for that?
You're not talking about the rubber-belt drive bike that had a belt that stretched to give a smaller gear ratio when peddling hard and under light use had a bigger gear ratio due to less stretch, are you?

 

[clee1982]

Originally Posted by Ludeykrus

Agreed. We need a motor and a turbocharger bolted on before we can talk.




You're not talking about the rubber-belt drive bike that had a belt that stretched to give a smaller gear ratio when peddling hard and under light use had a bigger gear ratio due to less stretch, are you?

Sounds possible got a picture?

Found an example on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VYPs...eature=related -> on car

-> on bicycle, rather different design

 

[zippyh]

CVT on a bicycle is an answer to a question nobody asked.
A conventional double already gives you 20 gears with reasonable spacing and range.
If that's not enough, get a triple.

Any CVT that is developed is going to have to be awfully light and efficient to beat a conventional derailleur system.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by zippyh

CVT on a bicycle is an answer to a question nobody asked.
A conventional double already gives you 20 gears with reasonable spacing and range.
If that's not enough, get a triple.

Any CVT that is developed is going to have to be awfully light and efficient to beat a conventional derailleur system.
I don't see the reason to be excited abour CVT on bike. To be honest, I'm not even excited about Shimano's new electronic deraileurs/shifters. Maybe I'm somewhat of a purist. Like a car If I'm using gears, I prefer manual controls.

 

[Ixelles]

As I said, I don't currently have a fixed gear and there aren't really any consequences to riding a bike with gears. Fixies just give you an absolute purity to the experiance and are great for training things like a smooth pedal stroke.


Slight thread hijack, but I'm just getting back into cycling after many years as an alternative to running (bum knees). Is there a "correct" pedalling technique? I'm using clip-ins.