Mountain Project Logo

any fixie rider?

Original Post
namburger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 35

got some finger injuries so riding fixed gear while taking it easy climbing.
Bike is customized and self builded

any fixie fan around here?

clockwork orange

yeah

Travis Kaney · · Green Bay, WI · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 420
fixed

pieced together by a friend of mine. Only spent $50 and it's been an absolute road warrior for 4+ years.
ChadNinja · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 0

where do you get the parts to build a bike like this for only %50?! Looks sweet! I rode a fixie once and didn't realize the difference in the braking system. Almost broke my foot. haha. Would love to try building one though.

Travis Kaney · · Green Bay, WI · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 420

How to build a bike for cheap:
Know people who work at shops
Work at a shop
Get involved with a bike co-op (this was the biggest one. Bikes just got donated or salvaged by any and everyone including police lost & found. There was just a pile of parts that were up for the taking if you helped out around the "open to the public" workshop.)
Be patient

I've got another late 80's Schwinn Traveller that only needs a single speed chain, tires, and tubes (and lots of assembly). I just need the time to put it all together.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

I got my first fixie, a DeBernardo, in 1998. I've had a fix of one sort or another since. It's a nice simple ride.

My favorite was my Langster. Commercial and not special, but since I'm not a hipster, I don't care. It fit better than bikes I raced on. I was pretty sad the day it was stolen (1/2" cable cut).

These days I use a freewheel and brakes. There is no performance advantage on the road and no amount of PBR can convince me otherwise. I understand riding something that is mechanically simpler and has very little that can go wrong maintenance wise. That's why I do it.

As to fixing bikes up cheap. Amazon and bike co-ops and knowing how to do your own work. I found a Peugot rusting on the road with a sign that said "Free to a good home". I repacked all the bearings (hubs, BB, headset) for free. Trued the wheels, free. Brought the chain back to life (was rusted into one piece, not stretched, free. Got new cables and housing for everything ($15). Got new used rear derailer at the co-op ($5), new seat, brake hoods, and bar tape from amazon ($40). Now I have a 12 speed 19lb steel road bike for $60 effort and a few hours. It can be done.

Taylor J · · Taos NM · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 390

Big fan of fixies not a big fan of bull horns, toss some drop bars on that rig....

Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989

I suppose its a question of how you ride it. My experience with fixie riders has been almost entirely negative, so I've never been that interested in trying it myself. Maybe a dumb question, but where are your reflectors?

Lane Daniels · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 0

My brother got me into fixed gears a few years back. Since then I've turned it into a trick Fixie with beefy tires and what not.it kinda just looks like a big bmx bike. Its fun but there's something about the actual "track bike" set up with the skinny tires and the tall seat post that I miss. I'm sure eventually I'll build another like that.

Matt Kuehl · · Las Vegas · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 1,712

Unless you're riding on a track I'd highly recommend putting a brake on your city bike. Even if you're a maestro behind the bars with some legitimate all weather control, unwavering attention, and somehow never get cut out by pedestrians, vehicles, or cats (yes), you're going to want a brake.

I am avid fixed gear commuter for many years. Stack the odds in your favor. Just like climbing...

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241
Taylor J wrote:Big fan of fixies not a big fan of bull horns, toss some drop bars on that rig....
Yeah, some nitto or cinelli track style drops are all de rigueur now. Get hip!
marty funkhouser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 20

Don't only hipsters ride fixies? If so then I recommend no brakes, no helmet, loosen that front quick-release, and always ride against traffic.

rogerbenton · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 210

Here's a better question-
What gear ratio is everyone running on their town/city bike?
I've got 46/12 and it's fast but the bridges take some work.

Sam Fletcher · · Idaho · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50

44/15 Back when I was in seattle. Was a little brutal going up some hill but for the most part was perfect on flats and small hills.

Man I miss riding fixed...

Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989
Ben Beckerich wrote: What?
You know, since your all-black, super-skinny jeans aren't making you visible while you're weaving in-and-out of traffic like you own the place, how do you make yourself visible to motorists and not end up as the biggest bug in the radiator?

Or is this one of those "takes away from the simple aesthetics of the fixe" things?

I basically stopped riding my bike at night after I nearly collided with such a fixe rider who was going the wrong way in the bike lane and nothing on his bike really caught my bike light enough to actually see him.
rogerbenton · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 210
Ben Beckerich wrote: That's pretty damn stiff... that's not unpleasant?
It is stiff but not unpleasant. I sort of wound up there gradually.
Over the course of 3 years I started with the stock 44/16.
Replaced shitty rear wheel with decent used one with a 14 cog.
Rear wheel got stolen, replaced it with a new one with a 12.
Bent a crank so got a new crankset with the 46.

I ride with a 20L pack filled with rock gym gear, change of pants/shirt, 2L water, a book, various odds and ends. I find that too high an rpm has the pack bouncing all over me. I can go faster, steadier, with the high gears.

As for reflectors, yeah no.

But 80 lumen bike lights at night, absolutely.

Riding in nyc at night (especially through brooklyn and queens where bike lanes are scarce) without helmet and lights is just stupid.
Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241

Damn, Roger be riding tall!

I'm at 42:16. I'm not too unhappy with it, it gives me decent gear inches, but, yeah, I'm spinning it fast on downhills or pushing it into the 20mph range. The rpms don't disagree with me though, and I like not pushing too big a gear for start and stop city riding. The gear works for hanging with your average road rider out on the bike paths too.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

I would really like to build a 3 speed single speed with a geared hub. Has anyone ever heard of anyone doing this?

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

It would be 3 speed but the chain wouldn't need to move from cog to cog. It would purely be a fun thing to do.

Fixed and single speed has nothing to do with performance, anyone who says different is justifying their expenses.

ChadNinja · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 0

love how they look, but had a bad experience. didn't konw what i was doing the first time i tried to ride one and nearly broke my ankle trying to brake at high speed. lol. not smart.

Taylor J · · Taos NM · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 390
nicelegs wrote:It would be 3 speed but the chain wouldn't need to move from cog to cog. It would purely be a fun thing to do. Fixed and single speed has nothing to do with performance, anyone who says different is justifying their expenses.
I agree it has nothing to do with performance but I would argue it certainly makes you a stronger rider, and being that there is less parts it makes maintenance easier and less shit to break.
Matt Duthie · · Ann Arbor, Michigan · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 10

Now that it's nice out again, I rebuilt this old beauty. ~'70 Fuji Finest (one of my biggest regrets is cutting the deraileur hanger off like a total idiot when I first got it for $10 with original tubular wheels from the recycling center...) Anwyays, it's the best ride I own, just silent and so much fun. Could really use to go from 44:16 to a 17 tooth cog for hills with clips and straps versus the SPD's shown. Converting a solid old road bike is the way to go if it's got horizontal dropouts...flip that bottom bracket spindle for a reasonable chainline, maybe respace the rear hub, and strip off all the old dirty parts and you're a few pounds lighter and ready for some fun. Brakes are good, keep those.

Fuji Fixie

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Other Sports
Post a Reply to "any fixie rider?"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.