Fixed Bicycle Gear

Back From My Haitus

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:54:50 +0000

Sorry guys, I have been super MIA the past few months. I am looking to pass on this blog to someone who is more knowledgeable and has more time to take this blog to the next level.

Anyway here are some messages that were sent to me that may be of interest to you:

Cool Fixie Story

I just wanted to let the fixed gear community know that my
sister is riding a fixie in the tour divide which is 2,745 miles
across the continental divide from Canada to Mexico.
www.tourdivide.org. Many people have attempted this and at day 21 with
1700 miles my sister Deanna has gone farther than everyone else! Check
out this blog

I Got Hit by a Car Last Night

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:07:55 +0000

I got hit by a car last night! It was a rather cold night and unfortunately I was not prepared for it. I mashed my way up North Avenue trying to warm my body with some sprints. The streets in Chicago are so straight, flat, and deserted at night that it’s hard to keep from sprinting. I ride a blue Nishiki fixed conversion I built it out of my mom’s old road bike. It’s very pretty and I am in love with it.

I was eagerly chasing down the horizon of eventual warmth when a car making a left turn hit me. I flew onto the hood and tumbled to the ground. I got up to a crowd of panicking witnesses. The crash had snapped off my left pedal, crank arm, and a toenail. The front wheel of my bike was nearly folded in half. All sorts of important uniformed people started asking me simple questions, which helped to calm me. They wanted me to take an ambulance and they took my bike to a fire station where I can pick it up at my convenience. I went to a hospital and was discharged at three in the morning. The taxi driver on the way home shared her strategies about how to extort money out of the driver who hit me. It was his fault completely.

So what happens now? I suppose I will build a new bike. Until then I will borrow some bikes and try to get back to work as soon as possible. I do messenger work downtown, so not having a bike or working legs is going to make coming up with rent quite hard. People from the bike culture here are already helping me get back on my feet. I will probably be able to build a bike for very little money at west town bikes. West town is an awesome community bike center run by volunteers and supported by donations. I am a responsible biker, I like to go fast but I am always aware of my surroundings. This crash reminded me that no matter how safe you are biking there is always the possibility of an accident.

I Love Riding Fixed Gear Bikes

admin — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:05:45 +0000

Submitted by Mike Locker

I love riding fixed gear. I love the control, the connection, the aesthetic, and the history of Velodrome racing. I love that I can confidently fix anything on my bike. I first went fixed because I needed a light and responsive bike but I was very poor. At the time I was racing at the San Diego Velodrome weekly. One day I borrowed a Bianchi Pista Concept and rode it around San Diego. It was wonderful; it felt pure in the way that my first bike felt to me.

I found a frame at a swap meet and put some wheels and a crank set on it. The bike was beautiful and only set me back a couple hundred dollars. It weighed sixteen pounds. The frame was a fetish custom track frame. I was planning to use the bike to race on the track and on the street but I could never afford regulation track drops. I chopped and flipped some old road handlebars into bullhorns. I never raced this bike on the track but I loved going up and down the hilly streets in San Diego.

To me, the fixed gear bike is a very empowering thing. I had built my own bike for very little money and it kicked ass. Recently I have built nice bikes for nearly no cost. I feel like everyone should have a right to transportation and the fixed gear bike is such a feasible mode. The learning curve was fairly intense. I learned to gauge the terrain and traffic, which soon became almost subconscious. The thought behind using the bike in the streets is fascinating. Fixed gear technology was not meant for street riding. Track bikes are built for the track. The bikes are designed to go very fast for a short period of time and never stop. I find the vision of earlier messengers very inspiring. They started using these bikes on the streets because they needed to go very fast with the least amount of stopping. It inspires me when people use technology in ways that the inventors never intended. Now fixed gear bikes are an integral part of the bike culture amongst people who may never even see a Velodrome in their lives.

Hot Topic - Brakes vs Brakeless on Fixed Gear Bikes

admin — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:03:56 +0000

Submitted by Holy McBain

In the world of fixed gear bikes, there is an ongoing debate whether to have brakes or ride brakeless. Most long time fixies say only posers or trend-riders go with brakes because they have no idea how to ride or control their bike. On the other hand, if you are new to the sport, having the ability to stop quickly will cut down on accidents and avoid potential hazards that only seasoned “fixies” can maneuver through.
Part of the problem of going brakeless is most people learned to ride a free-wheel bike which requires a brake as there is no possible way to stop easily. It has been ingrained into your psyche that a bicycle must have a brake. However, if you recall the bike you first learned to ride (possibly a tricycle) then you already know how to control a fixed gear mechanism. I know, it sounds really simplistic and silly, but think about it for a moment.

Now, if you are just converting to a fixed gear bike, you definitely need a brake – for your safety and those you share the road with. Yes, it’s a crutch, but a necessary one unless you want to end up on top of someone’s car or squished flat on the road. In fact, you should practice riding your “fixie” on a huge open parking lot where the chance of hitting a car or going off the road is mute. Practice making turns while pedaling, stopping with and without the brake, signaling turns, and emergency stops. It is important to protect yourself with riding experience prior to venturing out into the unknown world of streets and roads where cars pop out of nowhere and animals love to jump out in front of you.
Once you are ready for the open road, keep that brake on your fixed gear bike. I know it means looking like an amateur, but guess what? You are an amateur and need the security of the brake for a while. Once you feel comfortable with your fixed gear riding abilities and have practiced long and hard stopping without applying your brakes, you can choose to remove your brakes and enter into the realm of hard-core fixie!
The answer to Brake vs. Brakeless is simple – yes to having a brake if you are a newbie to fixed gear riding; yes to going brakeless when your abilities and confidence merit the advancement in your riding.

Fixed Gear Biking – Memories of childhood - Submitted

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:01:57 +0000

Submitted by Holly McBain

Why do I enjoy riding my fixed gear bike? There are many reasons, but the most important is it reminds me of my childhood and the first bicycle I ever owned.
It was my fifth birthday and my big present was a blue Schwinn with a blue sparkle banana seat, ape-hanger handle bars with streamers, a white wicker basket with plastic flowers, and (of course) training wheels. My favorite past time was making skid marks with the tires by applying the brakes at a high rate of speed. The brake was putting pressure on the pedals in reverse. Sound familiar?
Well, it may not be exactly like riding my fixie, but it sure puts a smile on my face just remembering all the fun and good times I enjoyed on that little blue Schwinn. Every summer, it was my transportation to anywhere I wanted to go – the public pool, the mall, the ice house (convenience store), or my best friend’s house. I had independence and freedom because of that bike.
That is the same feeling I get every time I ride my fixed gear bike. Riding a ten-speed or freewheel bike doesn’t recapture the memories and emotions of my childhood, but my fixie sure does. I feel young and alive on it – I don’t wear a helmet (I know) but helmets for bicycling were not invented when I was young. When I venture out into the world of street riding with cars, I do wear a helmet. But riding around my neighborhood, I don’t – I want to remember when I was five and riding my blue Schwinn.
I rode that bike until it fell apart. After that, I got a “3-speed” and then a “10-speed” bike, but it wasn’t the same as that little blue Schwinn – that bike was my first and most fun. That’s why I love my fixie – it is the most fun riding since I was five. If only I could bottle that feeling and sell it, I’d be a billionaire.

New Fixed Gear Bikes and Options - Submitted

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:01:40 +0000

Submitted by Paul Scarsella

Usually when I talk about cycling with someone interested in getting started riding on the road, the inevitable question becomes how much will I need to spend on a decent road bike? The answer is you could spend as little as $700 to as much as $3k (or more). This is usually enough to make many people dismiss getting started in cycling as an option. In reality, you can get something nice in the $700 to $800 range but it will consist of a solid frame (usually aluminum) with some really lousy wheels and subpar components. Anyone who is slightly on the heavy side (which is most people) and does a lot of riding will inevitably wear this stuff out quickly and will need to replace wheels and parts. What’s left is usually the frame, just begging to be upgraded.

The other option is to put together a nice package of frame and components/wheels together yourself. This can be in one over the counter purchase or as I like to do it, which is to drool over many bicycle frames then finally buy one. Then within a year or so, pick out the parts I want and have it put together by a professional. This will cost much more, ($2k to $3K) but either way doing this will result in a nice bike you can ride for a while without replacing too much stuff (hopefully).

Then there is always plan B – get yourself a fix. I would recommend once again picking out a nice frame. Then have it built up with the parts you like. Either way you will be spending much less than you would on a road bike, complete with gears, brakes and all the bells and whistles.

Here you have the same options but you can probably find a complete bike that is road worthy for much less ($400 to $700) Or find a nice track frame and build it up for (about $800 to $1k). Of course you could spend much more on a real sweet track bike or fix. But for most people who just want to go for a ride this is unnecessary. I would strongly recommend the use of a front brake on your new fix. A rear brake is optional (but unnecessary for most people), unless you live in a very hilly area. Also pick a gear that is easy for you, remember this will be your one and only gear on this bike, so pick one you can handle as you learn to tame the beast;)

Fixed Gear Bike Picture Contest

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:52:30 +0000

GRAND PRIZE - Have Your Bike Be Featured As The Main Bike Picture

Yes that’s right, you can have your bike seen by thousands every single week on this site. All that hard work you put into your bike, show it off to everyone. Maybe you want to rep your city, your crew, don’t matter… if you win you will be one the homepages.

Runner Up - will get a blog post featuring the bike and any other details you want me to include.

So how is this contest going to work?

Use the Contact form in the upper right to submit your bike picture AND tell me why you should win.
I will pick 10 finalists from the submissions.
Will let people vote on the winner (if i feel like it… or if there is a clear winner I’ll just pick that)
Contact the winners and tell them the good news
Deadline for Entry: April 17th 2009

Fixed Gear Stickers for Your Hommie

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:37:28 +0000

Got this message sent to me… help a brotha out and give him some stickers for his fixie

Subject: STICKERS

Message: Hi all, I’m thinking of covering my bike in stickers instead
of a new paint job. Could look funky. If you’ve got any you don’t
want, I’ll send you a stamped envelope, even if its only one or two
I’d really appreciate it.

email me at
Buddy4693@comcast.net

Thanks,

Stephen

New Hussel Premium Bike Pics - Submitted

admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:13:57 +0000

Here are some sick photos that were submitted through the online form. Enjoy!

We Add Up T-Shirts

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:13:22 +0000

Although this blog is mostly about fixed gear bikes, once in a while its nice to mention something like We Add Up T- Shirts . I love seeing entrepreneurs who are able to make money and help out good causes at the same time. We Add Up is a pretty novel idea and instead of me trying to explain it here is a blurb from the horses mouth.

WE ADD UP is a global campaign using organic cotton t-shirts that literally “counts you in” in the fight against global warming. Every shirt is printed by hand with a unique number. YOUR number represents your place in the sequential global count of all the people who are taking steps to help stop climate change. As the count grows, we demonstrate to the world that “WE ADD UP.” On the back of each shirt is a word or phrase that describes an action almost anyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint - the contribution their lifestyle makes to greenhouse gases - such as, Unplug, Lights Off, Carpool, Hybrid, Bike, Buy Local, and 18 others. You choose which action you are committed to doing and get counted in. No one can do everything. Everyone can do something. And, WE ADD UP.

Our goal is to get millions of people around the world counted in and committed to helping stop global warming. With our combined effort, we can create a healthy, thriving world for generations to come. So, get counted in. Because you + everyone else = change.

If you want to get a shirt that is of quality and helps a good cause check out We Add Up T-Shirts Now!

P.S. Speaking of t-shirts in my previous post, I’ve stumbled over BustedTees, they have some very funny sports t shirts at very reasonable prices.