FIXED GEARS

[jewelknows]

i have no idea about bikes, but i was looking for something to commute to school about a 8mile round trip. Probably not a fixed gear but a single gear that can cruise, any suggestions? Trying to totally eliminate using my car, and my cheap mountain bike keeps dropping its chain.

 

[DonRafa]

check out bikesdirect.com

 

[-Red-]

Originally Posted by Kazuum

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Originally Posted by Kazuum

Originally Posted by red mpls

I thought that the whole point of riding a bike was to have a mechanical advantage in traveling from one place to another... or for sport.

Can someone please explain this whole "fixed gear" phenomenon (or whatever you want to call it)?  It just seems very counter-intuitive to me...

Lighter, more simple efficient in the drivetrain process, and (to me at least) I like the customization more. For a daily commute it works great for me. For longer distance stuff, a road bike/geared bike does make a lot more sense.

Or to put it more simply.....a new fad.

 

That also works

Thanks, pretty much as I suspected.

I really don't understand the trend... and to pay as much money as I see being talked about in this thread or to convert a perfectly good bike to a fixed gear is just beyond my comprehension.  But to each his own

 

[DonRafa]

Originally Posted by red mpls

Originally Posted by Kazuum

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Originally Posted by Kazuum

Originally Posted by red mpls

I thought that the whole point of riding a bike was to have a mechanical advantage in traveling from one place to another... or for sport.

Can someone please explain this whole "fixed gear" phenomenon (or whatever you want to call it)?  It just seems very counter-intuitive to me...

Lighter, more simple efficient in the drivetrain process, and (to me at least) I like the customization more. For a daily commute it works great for me. For longer distance stuff, a road bike/geared bike does make a lot more sense.

Or to put it more simply.....a new fad.

 

That also works

Thanks, pretty much as I suspected.

I really don't understand the trend... and to pay as much money as I see being talked about in this thread or to convert a perfectly good bike to a fixed gear is just beyond my comprehension.  But to each his own

Well, as far as the money goes, fixed gears are cheaper to build than a road bike simply because of less components.
Look at prices for a good road bike, for a decent bike your looking to spent a couple grand.

As far as being a new fad, the first bikes ever mad were fixed gears. Also Velodrome racing started in the 1800s, again not exactly new.

Different people ride fixed for different reasons.

 

[Fong$tarr]

I think the fixed gear thing is kind of like fixing up a import car. Like tons of people buy cars and put all these mods into it to add horse power, put on bodykits, spoliers, etc.......and drive speed limit where ever they go. That's as counter intuitive as you can get. Even collecting shoes can be put in that same light. Companies like Nike create shoes for specific sports, yet the people that buy them would hardly use if for that reason. The fact that basketball shoes are more of a fashion statement had nothing to do with Nike (well, back then and not now) and people have created it to be more of a fashion trend if anything.

The bike thing is no different but at least people that do have bikes actually do ride them whether it is a couple of miles or just to the drug store. I am with you man....I hated the fixie culture and actually still kind of do whenever I see people in SF riding bikes in a circle backwards, but I am bored and need a new hobby and I am slowly starting to like this whole thing.

 

[alljayevryjay]

^if it matters, I try to bike the speed limit thats posted for motorists lol. 30-32mph is pretty fast, but last time I did that I was on a 55mph parkway... In the street...

And thanks for the input on the chain link stuff rafsjays, I'm going to look into it later today. Perhaps I'll invest in a half link BMX chain or something. Also something I noticed is that my chainring isnt really hubcentric. When I look at it while spinning, it is slightly askew in some direction. I'm hoping this isnt the cause of my problem right now...

 

[DonRafa]

Originally Posted by alljayevryjay

Also something I noticed is that my chainring isnt really hubcentric. When I look at it while spinning, it is slightly askew in some direction. I'm hoping this isnt the cause of my problem right now...

Chainrings do warp over time, depending on how old/how much use its had, it might be time to replace it.
It sucks but, safety > money

 

[mjbetch]

getting rid of my pk ripper.

my next frame is the leader 725tr, just don't know whether or not to get matte black, white, or purple haha.

anyone have the frame?

 

[solemunchies]

^I do, I don't suggest Leaders in general. It may be a light frame but the seat post doesn't stay tight even when you tighten it down and the bottom bracket makes a lot noise.

Here's the bike:

 

[Fong$tarr]

Alright....another fixie question. Seems like this thing comes in stages as I found out more about this whole thing.

What gear ratio are you guys running? I finally bought most of the other parts to my bike but kind of found myself in an odd bind with the gear ratio thing. I jumped the gun and got a 44t crank and 17t cog. I read some stuff online and someone that lived in SF said that was a good gear ration for flat and hills. Just wondering what other people are running and why. I think I read that the 44/17 gear ratio has a lot of skid patches but since I am not really doing that whole thing on my bike, I don't think that is a big deal.

Got my tax money so finally got to finish this whole thing. Bought some cheap rims at a bike store in SF and ordered a crap load of stuff online from a Sugino crank and the peddles. Got a Thomson seatpost on Craigslist and the only thing I need now is a saddle and to cut the fork.

I am happy with it. Not too flashy and looks clean imo.

 

[jawnstockton]

Here's a spot for Chrome we recently shot in NYC with Cycle Hawk Messengers.  Colby and Ryan did a fantastic job filming in the snow

 

[DonRafa]

Fong, it all depends on what you feel comfortable on. Although, I will tell you that 44x17 is not good for the flats, you're going to be spinning like crazy.
I would suggest picking a chainring and then buying a few cogs to see which one you feel more comfortable on.



mjbetch, the new leaders are actually pretty nice especially the new 725. solemunchies is right though, I owned the first year 725 before and the seatpost clamp and and bottom brackets were a pain in the +**. Although, Leader is pretty good at addressing issues that arrise pretty quickly. See if you can find any reviews about it online, or buy one and report back, cause I was thinking of getting one as a beater bike

 

[justinvincent]

Fong, I suggest 46 - 17. Its a great all-around ratio for climbing hills and gets decent speed on the flats.

 

[GQK44]

Originally Posted by solemunchies

^I do, I don't suggest Leaders in general. It may be a light frame but the seat post doesn't stay tight even when you tighten it down and the bottom bracket makes a lot noise.

What frame would you suggest instead? I was thinking of buying a leaders frame but if there's a lot of issues I would rather not deal with it

 

[Fong$tarr]

Originally Posted by justinvincent

Fong, I suggest 46 - 17. Its a great all-around ratio for climbing hills and gets decent speed on the flats.

I already got a Sugino Messenger crankset coming in the mail. Anyone recommend something in the 44t ratio?

 

[kdawg]

Originally Posted by Kazuum

Originally Posted by alljayevryjay

I got a problem with my bike now -.- I noticed today that my chain tension changes according to crank position. while I was skip-stopping, I lost chain and fortunately was running a brake at the time. Seeing how the chain gets loose from 8/2 - 9/3, I'm forcing myself to skid with the non-dominant foot now. What part should I swap out first to fix this?

It's probably a stiff link. Find the stiff part (take the chain off, or spin the cranks slowly), then bend it back and forth until it loosens up. That should fix it.

I was going to say that it is more likely to be your chainset - and then I saw your other post. That is the most likely thing. Chainrings aren't too expensive but check that it is that that it is out of line. It can sometimes just be the bolts are done up wrongly and that twists it a little.

Basically loosen them up and make sure the chainring is nicely centred before tightening them in a star pattern a bit at a time.

 

[crisone]

Originally Posted by justinvincent

Fong, I suggest 46 - 17. Its a great all-around ratio for climbing hills and gets decent speed on the flats.

.............I'll agree to this, this was my set-up, I sold my bike though, what's up Justin!!!!!!  Last pic before it was sold:



Cris.

 

[Fong$tarr]

^^^^^yo Cris. I remember your bike. You don't have a bike no more?

 

[solemunchies]

Originally Posted by KashJunior

Originally Posted by solemunchies

^I do, I don't suggest Leaders in general. It may be a light frame but the seat post doesn't stay tight even when you tighten it down and the bottom bracket makes a lot noise.

What frame would you suggest instead? I was thinking of buying a leaders frame but if there's a lot of issues I would rather not deal with it

Idk, a non-Leader frame? hahaha
I haven't gotten on my bike in a while and I'm out of loop with the whole scene because I started working on bigger and badder things that I own. 
I used to be a bike messenger back in the beginning of 2010 and late '09 and from what I've seen, the whole fixed gear scene is rapidly becoming more and more different so I actually don't know what's out there now. 

Fong: I'm running a 48 x 17 ratio, it's not that bad, it picks up fast when going down the hill and don't even think about riding up a hill

 

[rae]

Back tire is back to black.

 

[crisone]

Originally Posted by Mr Fongstarr

^^^^^yo Cris. I remember your bike. You don't have a bike no more?

..............No more, sold it to use the loot towards my 5D.

Cris.

 

[justinvincent]

Originally Posted by Mr Fongstarr

Originally Posted by justinvincent

Fong, I suggest 46 - 17. Its a great all-around ratio for climbing hills and gets decent speed on the flats.

I already got a Sugino Messenger crankset coming in the mail. Anyone recommend something in the 44t ratio?

You can try a 16 for the cog. 
In the end its all personal preference, try out a couple combinations.  Chainrings and cogs can be found for cheap on Craigslist.

 

[petermans]

 

[Fong$tarr]

Almost got it done. Thank god for things on the internet and on youtube. Got some pipe cutters and even a hack saw to trim my handlebars and fork, installed the crank today and the last thing I need is the chain but I found out you need a chain tool to shorten it. Has anyone had issues with not having the bike chain not that tight? I measured the chain to the closest link I could get to and it seems like it is going to be loose. I can't get it to the link after which would be the more exceptional link to hook to, but it is off by a little. Is it normal to have the chain slightly loose or is something off?

 

[crisone]

^ Messenger...nice, what I had.

I hated tightening my chain, I'd pull on the back rim and step on the post for leverage and tighten with my other hand, haha, but it worked.

Cris.