Fixed gear...

PrepressIT said:

What does the term "fixed gear" refer to on this board? I see it in
the context of people who want to do conversions on their bike.

thanks,
Bob R.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

"PrepressIT" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

What does the term "fixed gear" refer to on this board? I see it in
the context of people who want to do conversions on their bike.

thanks,
Bob R.

A fixed gear bike is a single speed bike with no freewheel mechanism, so
that whenever the rear wheel is turning, the pedals are turning. Unlike
regular single speed bikes, coasting is not an option. Track racing bicycles
are nearly always fixed gear bikes with no brakes, the rider slows by
resisting the forward motion of the pedals. The fixed gear makes it easier
for a racer to stand still on an upright bicycle (a track stand), forcing
another, less skilled racer to ride away first. The second racer then rides
in the first racer's slipstream, saving his energy for a sprint at the end
of the race.

Many cyclists will ride fixed gear bikes on the street as a training tool
because it forces them to spin the pedals smoothly at all times. Other
cyclists like the extreme simplicity of the fixed gear concept, or see
riding a fixed gear as a new and different challenge. Some people like to
use fixed gear bikes in winter because there are fewer moving parts to
freeze up or be affected by slush, snow and road salt.
--
mark

PrepressIT said:

What does the term "fixed gear" refer to on this board? I see it in
the context of people who want to do conversions on their bike.

This comes up first when I do a google search on "fixed gear bicycles":
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

mark said:

Many cyclists will ride fixed gear bikes on the street as a training tool
because it forces them to spin the pedals smoothly at all times. Other
cyclists like the extreme simplicity of the fixed gear concept, or see
riding a fixed gear as a new and different challenge. Some people like to
use fixed gear bikes in winter because there are fewer moving parts to
freeze up or be affected by slush, snow and road salt.

But *most* of us do it in the hope people will think we are cool ;-)

Zog The Undeniable said:

mark said:

Many cyclists will ride fixed gear bikes on the street as a training tool
because it forces them to spin the pedals smoothly at all times. Other
cyclists like the extreme simplicity of the fixed gear concept, or see
riding a fixed gear as a new and different challenge. Some people like to
use fixed gear bikes in winter because there are fewer moving parts to
freeze up or be affected by slush, snow and road salt.

But *most* of us do it in the hope people will think we are cool ;-)

Nah, that's how you start. Then the bug bites 😉
--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Zog The Undeniable said:

mark said:

Many cyclists will ride fixed gear bikes on the street as a training tool
because it forces them to spin the pedals smoothly at all times. Other
cyclists like the extreme simplicity of the fixed gear concept, or see
riding a fixed gear as a new and different challenge. Some people like to
use fixed gear bikes in winter because there are fewer moving parts to
freeze up or be affected by slush, snow and road salt.

But *most* of us do it in the hope people will think we are cool ;-)

I was about to make a similar point; riding time trials on fixed
immediately confers huge bragging rights over all the people who
couldn't even beat you by cheating (using gears)

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary

Kinky Cowboy said:

I was about to make a similar point; riding time trials on fixed
immediately confers huge bragging rights over all the people who
couldn't even beat you by cheating (using gears)

Which is what I do ;-)

http://tinyurl.com/clpxb

Your reply made it sound like a good idea....until I got to the
"coasting is not an option" part.
thanks!
Bob R.

PrepressIT said:

Your reply made it sound like a good idea....until I got to the
"coasting is not an option" part.

We usually ask that customers not be so quick to judge until
after a decent fixed test ride. Coasting, as a feature, may
be overrated.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

I'd go further. If in a race or time trial you coast you lose!

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

PrepressIT said:

Your reply made it sound like a good idea....until I got to the
"coasting is not an option" part.

We usually ask that customers not be so quick to judge until
after a decent fixed test ride. Coasting, as a feature, may
be overrated.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Graham Steer said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

PrepressIT said:

Your reply made it sound like a good idea....until I got to the
"coasting is not an option" part.

We usually ask that customers not be so quick to judge until
after a decent fixed test ride. Coasting, as a feature, may
be overrated.

I'd go further. If in a race or time trial you coast you lose!

That's more like sideways than further. What on earth makes you think that
the average bicyclist, or even the average rbter, is often racing or
TTing?

Jasper

Jasper Janssen said:

Graham Steer said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

PrepressIT wrote:
> Your reply made it sound like a good idea....until I got to the
> "coasting is not an option" part.

We usually ask that customers not be so quick to judge until
after a decent fixed test ride. Coasting, as a feature, may
be overrated.

I'd go further. If in a race or time trial you coast you lose!

That's more like sideways than further. What on earth makes you think
that the average bicyclist, or even the average rbter, is often
racing or TTing?

I always am. It's because I'm perpetually late for class.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training