A fixed gear question from a "gear head"



J

!Jones

Guest
OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?

OTOH, there's a minimalist asthetic beauty therein and... well...

Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.

So, my hubs & wheels are in pretty decent shape... standard 120mm wide
& threaded for the freewheel... do I just throw the freewheel away and
screw on the fixed cog? I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?

Jones
 
!Jones wrote:
> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?
>
> OTOH, there's a minimalist asthetic beauty therein and... well...
>
> Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
> old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.
>
> So, my hubs & wheels are in pretty decent shape... standard 120mm wide
> & threaded for the freewheel... do I just throw the freewheel away and
> screw on the fixed cog? I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?
>
> Jones

Single speed freewheels and fixed cogs both will spin on. Keep your
brakes, you'll need both for the FW(obviously) and both for the fixed
cog as you may spin it off if you attempt a lot of braking with your
legs. Single ring up front, mounted on the inside with shorty,track
type cr bolts, remove the ders, you are done.
 
!Jones wrote:
> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?
>
> OTOH, there's a minimalist asthetic beauty therein and... well...
>
> Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
> old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.
>
> So, my hubs & wheels are in pretty decent shape... standard 120mm wide
> & threaded for the freewheel... do I just throw the freewheel away and
> screw on the fixed cog?

some people do that, but if you ride on the road and you didn't retain
your caliper brakes, you have the risk of the cog unscrewing just when
you /really/ don't need it to. like in the path of an oncoming bus.
the "correct" solution is to rebuild the rear wheel with a proper track
hub that utilizes the proper locking ring and all danger disappears.
cheapo track suzue hubs are about $35. surly are about $70. you can go
up substantially from there.

> I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?

single cog freewheels are easily available - bmx and single speed mtb
use them all the time.
 
!Jones wrote:
>
> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?

Just ignore them; they'll go away soon enough.

> OTOH, there's a minimalist asthetic beauty therein and... well...
>
> Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
> old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.

Fixed = bad idea. If you have a taste for playing practical jokes on
yourself, give it a go. Otherwise, use a freewheel.

> So, my hubs & wheels are in pretty decent shape... standard 120mm wide
> & threaded for the freewheel... do I just throw the freewheel away and
> screw on the fixed cog? I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?

You must not get out much. Yes, there are single freewheels. There
always have been-- for longer than there have been gear changing
devices and longer than there have been coaster brakes (which are a
good idea, by the way).

Just stick a single freewheel on your bike, remove the derailleurs and
shifters, and ride. For a nice-looking and thorough job, re-dish and
respace the wheel and remove any extraneous chainrings. Try to get
perfect alignment between the ring and the sprocket. Use a gear
between 50" and 75" depending on terrain, fitness, and preferred
cadence.

I have more bikes than I know what to do with, but the one that's been
getting the most use for the last several months is a '70s road bike I
converted to single speed. It's light, quiet, pretty, and
disgustingly reliable. And it reduces the task load while I'm riding
enough so that I have a different sort of experience-- I'm less
involved with the bike and a little more tuned in to the things around
me. It's the opposite of riding a fixie in my experience. When
riding a fixie, vigilance is required and a drifting mind is rewarded
with an attempted takeover by the bike.

A single speed is like your first bike, only bigger.

Chalo
 
Chalo wrote:

> A single speed is like your first bike, only bigger.

my first bike (trike actually) was a fixie.

Subsequently I can't imagine why you shouldn't ride a fixie, unless you
want to jump over treelogs and the like

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl
 
On May 5, 11:20 am, Chalo <[email protected]> wrote:
> !Jones wrote:
>
> > OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?
>
> Just ignore them; they'll go away soon enough.
>
> > OTOH, there's a minimalist asthetic beauty therein and... well...
>
> > Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
> > old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.
>
> Fixed = bad idea. If you have a taste for playing practical jokes on
> yourself, give it a go. Otherwise, use a freewheel.

If you have a better suggestion for winter commuting than a fixed
gear, I'll throw my old fixed Raleigh away and get one. I've tried
just about everything else, and nothing has matched it.

-Vee

>
> > So, my hubs & wheels are in pretty decent shape... standard 120mm wide
> > & threaded for the freewheel... do I just throw the freewheel away and
> > screw on the fixed cog? I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
> > Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?
>
> You must not get out much. Yes, there are single freewheels. There
> always have been-- for longer than there have been gear changing
> devices and longer than there have been coaster brakes (which are a
> good idea, by the way).
>
> Just stick a single freewheel on your bike, remove the derailleurs and
> shifters, and ride. For a nice-looking and thorough job, re-dish and
> respace the wheel and remove any extraneous chainrings. Try to get
> perfect alignment between the ring and the sprocket. Use a gear
> between 50" and 75" depending on terrain, fitness, and preferred
> cadence.
>
> I have more bikes than I know what to do with, but the one that's been
> getting the most use for the last several months is a '70s road bike I
> converted to single speed. It's light, quiet, pretty, and
> disgustingly reliable. And it reduces the task load while I'm riding
> enough so that I have a different sort of experience-- I'm less
> involved with the bike and a little more tuned in to the things around
> me. It's the opposite of riding a fixie in my experience. When
> riding a fixie, vigilance is required and a drifting mind is rewarded
> with an attempted takeover by the bike.
>
> A single speed is like your first bike, only bigger.
>
> Chalo
 
On 5 May 2007 07:08:12 -0700, in rec.bicycles.tech Qui si parla
Campagnolo <[email protected]> wrote:

>Single speed freewheels and fixed cogs both will spin on. Keep your
>brakes, you'll need both for the FW(obviously) and both for the fixed
>cog as you may spin it off if you attempt a lot of braking with your
>legs. Single ring up front, mounted on the inside with shorty,track
>type cr bolts, remove the ders, you are done.

I have an early model Hujsak frame sitting in the garage gathering
dust... as I'm sure we *all* have similar; actually, it was my first
bike in the '70s. Not exactly a collector's item, but a well built,
lugged frame, nonetheless. I kinna went overboard with the braze-ons,
but this is why they invented micro-grinders and files... and it needs
repainting badly.

Methinks there's a project in my future.

Jones
 
On 5 May 2007 09:20:06 -0700, in rec.bicycles.tech Chalo
<[email protected]> wrote:

>You must not get out much.

Well, I'm not in that business, if that's what you mean. I find that
the bicycle industry is driven by fad about as often as it is anything
else. Today's bicycles are "over engineered"... just my not very
humble opinion, mind you... as are many of our products. I tend to
doubt that the current products will be "vintage" in 30 or 40 years.
But, WTF would'a thought that the GM Corvair would ever have been
collectable? Go figure.

Jones
 
Chalo wrote:
> !Jones wrote:
>> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?
>
> Just ignore them; they'll go away soon enough.
>
>> OTOH, there's a minimalist asthetic beauty therein and... well...
>>
>> Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
>> old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.
>
> Fixed = bad idea. If you have a taste for playing practical jokes on
> yourself, give it a go. Otherwise, use a freewheel.

I wholeheartedly disagree. I have so much fun on my fixed gear that I'm
now riding more than ever. And my next bike is going to be a fixed,
too, a very low geared utility bike for picking up beer.

If I hadn't moved back to the flat lands I probably would never have
built a fixed or SS.

Greg

--
The ticketbastard Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html

Dethink to survive - Mclusky
 
In article <[email protected]>,
!Jones <****@off.com> wrote:

> On 5 May 2007 07:08:12 -0700, in rec.bicycles.tech Qui si parla
> Campagnolo <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Single speed freewheels and fixed cogs both will spin on. Keep your
> >brakes, you'll need both for the FW(obviously) and both for the fixed
> >cog as you may spin it off if you attempt a lot of braking with your
> >legs. Single ring up front, mounted on the inside with shorty,track
> >type cr bolts, remove the ders, you are done.
>
> I have an early model Hujsak frame sitting in the garage gathering
> dust... as I'm sure we *all* have similar; actually, it was my first
> bike in the '70s. Not exactly a collector's item, but a well built,
> lugged frame, nonetheless. I kinna went overboard with the braze-ons,
> but this is why they invented micro-grinders and files... and it needs
> repainting badly.
>
> Methinks there's a project in my future.

How important is it that you remove the braze on fittings? They
may be useful again. Personally, I would not look askance at a
single speed bicycle with all the original unused brace on
fittings.

--
Michael Press
 
Michael Press wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> !Jones <****@off.com> wrote:
>
>> On 5 May 2007 07:08:12 -0700, in rec.bicycles.tech Qui si parla
>> Campagnolo <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Single speed freewheels and fixed cogs both will spin on. Keep your
>>> brakes, you'll need both for the FW(obviously) and both for the fixed
>>> cog as you may spin it off if you attempt a lot of braking with your
>>> legs. Single ring up front, mounted on the inside with shorty,track
>>> type cr bolts, remove the ders, you are done.
>> I have an early model Hujsak frame sitting in the garage gathering
>> dust... as I'm sure we *all* have similar; actually, it was my first
>> bike in the '70s. Not exactly a collector's item, but a well built,
>> lugged frame, nonetheless. I kinna went overboard with the braze-ons,
>> but this is why they invented micro-grinders and files... and it needs
>> repainting badly.
>>
>> Methinks there's a project in my future.
>
> How important is it that you remove the braze on fittings? They
> may be useful again. Personally, I would not look askance at a
> single speed bicycle with all the original unused brace on
> fittings.
>

Agreed. Leave 'em on. I kept all the decades old parts from my fixie
in case I ever want to turn it back into a geared bike of the time.

Greg

--
The ticketbastard Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html

Dethink to survive - Mclusky
 
On May 5, 7:49 am, !Jones <[email protected]> wrote:
> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?

[snip]

> I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?
>
> Jones

Dear Jones,

Freewheels are just over-complicated new-fangled solutions for the
faint-hearted!

You need no freewheel to coast comfortably on a fixie.

http://i11.tinypic.com/5z6we2t.jpg

On a dwarf safety, just rest your feet on the fork pegs.

On a highwheeler, just hang your legs over the handlebar, but be
careful not to pull on the spoon brake lever with your right leg.

Note the low-slung lamp on the highwheeler.

Always wear your hat and tie when cycling!

Cheers,

Carl Fogel
 
On Sat, 05 May 2007 12:32:20 -0700, carlfogel wrote:

> On May 5, 7:49 am, !Jones <[email protected]> wrote:
>> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?
>
> [snip]
>
>> I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
>> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?
>>
>> Jones
>
> Dear Jones,
>
> Freewheels are just over-complicated new-fangled solutions for the
> faint-hearted!
>
> You need no freewheel to coast comfortably on a fixie.
>
> http://i11.tinypic.com/5z6we2t.jpg
>
> On a dwarf safety, just rest your feet on the fork pegs.
>
> On a highwheeler, just hang your legs over the handlebar, but be
> careful not to pull on the spoon brake lever with your right leg.

Carl,
I recall a time, not so long ago, when you didn't even know what a spoon
brake was. You're making remarkable progress ... er ... regress.

>
> Note the low-slung lamp on the highwheeler.
>
> Always wear your hat and tie when cycling!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Fogel
 
On Sat, 05 May 2007 16:32:23 -0500, Gary Young <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Sat, 05 May 2007 12:32:20 -0700, carlfogel wrote:
>
>> On May 5, 7:49 am, !Jones <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> OK... what's this "fixed gear" nonsense, anyway?
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>>> I always thought you had to have a freewheel.
>>> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?
>>>
>>> Jones
>>
>> Dear Jones,
>>
>> Freewheels are just over-complicated new-fangled solutions for the
>> faint-hearted!
>>
>> You need no freewheel to coast comfortably on a fixie.
>>
>> http://i11.tinypic.com/5z6we2t.jpg
>>
>> On a dwarf safety, just rest your feet on the fork pegs.
>>
>> On a highwheeler, just hang your legs over the handlebar, but be
>> careful not to pull on the spoon brake lever with your right leg.
>
>Carl,
>I recall a time, not so long ago, when you didn't even know what a spoon
>brake was. You're making remarkable progress ... er ... regress.
>
>>
>> Note the low-slung lamp on the highwheeler.
>>
>> Always wear your hat and tie when cycling!
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Carl Fogel

Dear Gary,

Egress?

Cheers,

Carl Fogel
 
On 2007-05-05, !Jones <****@off.com> wrote:

> Anyway, I have a nice, old lugged frame that fits me well where the
> old Dura-Ace components are worn out, and I'm starting to consider it.
>
> So, my hubs & wheels are in pretty decent shape... standard 120mm wide
> & threaded for the freewheel... do I just throw the freewheel away and
> screw on the fixed cog?

You can do that, but you will want a lockring as well or the cog will
unscrew the first time you resist the motion of the pedals. An English
thread BB lockring will thread onto an English thread freewheel hub and
provide some protection against this, but a real fixed gear hub uses a
separate, left-hand thread lockring to prevent the cog from unscrewing.

> I always thought you had to have a freewheel.

No. Why? Track bikes have always been fixed gear, and until almost the
1930s even road races such as the Tour de France were routinely ridden
using fixed gear bikes.

> Are single-speed freewheels available for those faint-hearted of us?

Sure. Any BMX shop will have them.

--

John ([email protected])
 
On 2007-05-05, Chalo <[email protected]> wrote:

> Fixed = bad idea. If you have a taste for playing practical jokes on
> yourself, give it a go. Otherwise, use a freewheel.

Why do you say that? I'll agree that riding fixed on the road without at
least a front caliper brake is stupid on the rider's part, but there's
nothing inherently bad about fixed gear bikes themselves.

--

John ([email protected])
 
On Sat, 05 May 2007 12:01:47 -0700, in rec.bicycles.tech Michael Press
<[email protected]> wrote:

>How important is it that you remove the braze on fittings? They
>may be useful again. Personally, I would not look askance at a
>single speed bicycle with all the original unused brace on
>fittings.

Oh, there's braze-ons for the radar and the depth charge racks... no,
wait, that's my kayak. Let's just say that I was a young engineer and
sort of went wild with 'em. What I've learned is: just because you
*can* do it, doesn't mean you should.

Jones
 
> Dear Gary,
>
> Egress?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Fogel-

Carl:

This way to the egrets:
http://www.ridgefieldfriends.org/bf_index.htm

To the OP: single speed and fixed gear are both attractive devices,
albeit with different purposes. My single speed is my jump-on-and-go-
to-coffee POS. I wouldn't worry if it got stolen, since it's an ugly
******* mongrel that cost me very little. My fixed gear is a converted
Landshark track bike that I'm still putting together. I'll use it for
training (hah!) or just looking at. It's quite pretty.

Jeff
 
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