I decided to check out a local shop here in San Francisco that has been making quite a stir. Their bikes aren’t cheap, so if you’re broke maybe you should fill out the email and start getting some discounts. The company is called Mission Bicycles.

Anyway, here is a little bio about them:

We started Mission Bicycle because we weren’t satisfied with the bicycles sold in bike stores. The best bicycles on the streets of San Francisco are the custom built fixed gear bikes those with the know-how are building up for themselves and friends. It didn’t make sense to us that these bikes were not available to everyone else so we set out to change that.

Here are some features:

• Valencia Frame with over 25 colors to chose from
• You can chose fixed/free and even COASTER BRAKE
• Custom handlebars (risers, bullhorn, etc)
• High quality parts for the rest of the bike
• Locks if you chose

You might be thinking why not just build your own bike. The truth is these guys do good work and get their parts cheaper because they buy in bulk, so for about $800 bucks you can get a sick bike or you can build it yourself waste time and money searching craigslist and still drop around $1200 – $1500.

Check them out and build your own bike now at Mission Bicycles

P.S. The reason I used this bike picture is the nickname is “The Lex” which was my nickname in High Scool

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.

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;)

Flickr pic thanks to Eelke

Speed vs. tricks it’s a mad question when you’re talking about fixie, which better, which is more rad, and which is more dangerous. Well let’s through all these questions out the window, and say they are both nice, both rad, and both dangerous. When ya see a fixie haulin ass down a hill, or barspinnin it backwards in the G-store parking lot, you’re gonna say holy crap that’s sweet. So what’s the debate for, is there really any need to argue? Maybe, or maybe not, I personally ride for fun, sometimes a little bit of speed and once in a while a little trick here or there. Whether you do one of the other, you’re still having fun right? So why argue about who’s better?

For all you tricksters out there, my congratulations go out to you. Your bmx like tricks are some of the sickest I’ve ever seen, you lay your body on the line every time you ride, and let me tell you it’s looking good, keep on keeping on.
For all you speedsters out there, my congratulations go out to you. You flash like speed is indescribable, you get me my package in record time, and you can do laps around that track faster than my car. Your legs are like your engine, when you fly around town on your two wheeled self-propelled speed machine. So for all you speedsters keep on speeding on.
For anyone else I might have missed here, my congratulations goes out you, you ride your fixie to get to work, you ride your fixie to get to school, and you ride your fixie to make it to the store. No worries you don’t have to be fast, you don’t have to do sweet tricks, just keep on riding on.

Flikr photo by A Continuous Lean

If you are just starting to think about making the transfer to fixed gear riding, there are few things you may want to consider, when looking for the right fixie for you. There are a few I can think of, off the top of my head. Start with something simple, make it cheap, and finally consider a break, and a flip-flop hub.

Something simple is probably the best thing you can start on, if you are not sure how to ride a fixie yet, you might want to make it cheap. It’s a different type of ride; some of you plain and simply may not like it very much. It looks fun, it is fun, but it’s not for everyone. So the best fixie to start on might be something like a Bianchi Pista, a cheap complete steal frame bike, or if you are experienced with bike building or have a good friend that is, you might want to go an even cheaper way. By building it from scrap parts. If you find it hard to find parts, you can buy some of the parts, and find some of the parts. Don’t expect to find all your parts right away or all for free. It might take a while it is most definitely a test of patience.

The next thing you may want to look for when getting into fixed gear riding is a break; for a bit of safety as you are learning to ride, and a flip-flop hub. Which is in case you don’t like the fixie ride, you can always switch to a free wheel ride, which is more like a traditional bike. So if you’re thinking about it, consider my suggestions, and I think you might end up being a very happy rider.

Got this note from Andy over at Fyxomatosis.

Subject: Don’t grind your teeth

Message: We make chainrings so tough, we back them up with a 12month
riding warranty.

check them out.

http://www.fyxomatosis.com/viewpage.php?page_id=20

ride safe
andy

When protecting your favorite thing at college, your fixie, not your girlfriend. You have to do a couple things. Number one LOCK IT UP and number two keep it in nice shape. Which means keeping away from crowed bike racks on campus, but this can be hard sometimes. So if this is the case for you, you need a top tube pad. Here a few links where you can pick one up for pretty cheap. I’m sure there are many many  many more, these are just a few I’ve found, and have liked.

Ugly Pads

BiCi Concepts

Felt

However there is another idea I have for you that might strike that creative bone in your body. Make your own! I will tell you how to do this in the steps below.

What you’ll need.
1) One inch pipe insulation that can be picked up at a local hardware store..
2) Some fabric of your choosing.
3) Something to sew with.
4) And lastly a crafty hand, or a friend with one.

What you’ll need to do.
1) Cut your pipe insulation to your desired length
2) Cut your fabric to just over this desired length.
3) Wrap your fabric around your pipe insulation and sew away.
4) Don’t forget to cut your fabric at the seam of the pipe insulation, and find a way to fasten it to your bike.

These are only the basics for top tube pad construction; the rest is up to you. Take a look at the websites; see if there is something you like, and if there’s not, you know how to make one….

P.S. Remember not all bikes top tubes are one inch, so make sure to check yours out first!

If you are like me then you probably know that the Pista or “The Hour” are some of the cheaper fixed gear frames out on the market to get you started with.

Well thanks to Schwinn no more. I saw this little doozy at UrbanVelo.com and couldn’t believe the price. Just $300 dollars you can get your first fixed gear bike.

Saw this on The Worlds Best Ever and think it is pretty tacky, at the same time I want it hahaha. What do you think is this going to far in customizing your bike.

According to BikeRadar at the latest Interbike there were a few new fixies that had belt drives compared to the traditional chain.

Honestly I have never rode a bike that used a belt instead of a chain, so I can’t comment. But, here is what one person had to say.

Harley Motor bikes have several bikes that are belt driven, and they say they’d be good for over 7000miles. I think these belts are made by the same company. Orange MTB’s that have belt drives are at least. If they can survive 7000miles on a big Harley, they should be good for a year on a fixie. Time will tell.

What do you think are belt drives feasible on fixed gear bikes ?