Are the best days of fixie/SS behind us?
#26
Le Crocodile
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Barbara Calif.
Posts: 1,873
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Liked 788 Times
in
311 Posts
I am still riding my SS stuff, but the FG stuff is collecting dust. I didn't mind the uphill grinding as much as the exhausting downhills.......way worse!
The FG is is fun on a flat bike path, but once you get out into the wild, the FG becomes a chore sometimes. Gearing down a SS, so that steep hills are more chill, and just having fun working on some RPM drills on the flats (can't really go fast) is a nice break on an "off" day like today. I am going to do a pretty gonzo ride in 2 days, so chilling on a mellow SS just might be the ticket for today's ride.
A SS has it's place, but unless you are in a Velodrome, a FG is just a toy. That's how I look at it, anyway.
The FG is is fun on a flat bike path, but once you get out into the wild, the FG becomes a chore sometimes. Gearing down a SS, so that steep hills are more chill, and just having fun working on some RPM drills on the flats (can't really go fast) is a nice break on an "off" day like today. I am going to do a pretty gonzo ride in 2 days, so chilling on a mellow SS just might be the ticket for today's ride.
A SS has it's place, but unless you are in a Velodrome, a FG is just a toy. That's how I look at it, anyway.
__________________
#27
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,144
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2641 Post(s)
Liked 3,153 Times
in
1,660 Posts
oh yeah, I forgot about the downhill! FG is way worse going downhill. I can't hang.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Likes For TMonk:
#28
Newbie
Except this hi-ten steel bikes have been around for a long time, back when fixed gear bicycles were way more popular in the mainstream there were like 10 different online companies at least offering cheap "customizable" hunks of metal that looked like a bicycle. You also had a lot of cheap stuff elsewhere that maybe wasn't the "customizable" stuff but was made of cheap pipes and even cheaper parts.
Agreed on Surly but I have to imagine sales were down a bit especially now after people bought everything out during the early stages of the endemic but that is the case across the board.
Speaking of clean lines though (not new but not that old):
https://www.rencycles.com/yarak
Agreed on Surly but I have to imagine sales were down a bit especially now after people bought everything out during the early stages of the endemic but that is the case across the board.
Speaking of clean lines though (not new but not that old):
https://www.rencycles.com/yarak
The Hi-Ten Retrospec bikes with the cheapo "Deep V" dayglo rims started cropping up at the tail-end of the fixie craze. Right up until then, most fixed gears were 4130 chromoly or aluminum at worst. Raleigh, Trek, Schwinn, Jamis, etc. they all had their fixed- kind of wish I grabbed a Jamis Satellite back then, I remember them being 631 Reynolds.
I remember going to the Raleigh page a couple of years ago, to see if they still had their Rush-Hour. It went from chromoly to Hi-Tensile steel.
#29
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4369 Post(s)
Liked 4,009 Times
in
2,676 Posts
The Hi-Ten Retrospec bikes with the cheapo "Deep V" dayglo rims started cropping up at the tail-end of the fixie craze. Right up until then, most fixed gears were 4130 chromoly or aluminum at worst. Raleigh, Trek, Schwinn, Jamis, etc. they all had their fixed- kind of wish I grabbed a Jamis Satellite back then, I remember them being 631 Reynolds.
I remember going to the Raleigh page a couple of years ago, to see if they still had their Rush-Hour. It went from chromoly to Hi-Tensile steel.
I remember going to the Raleigh page a couple of years ago, to see if they still had their Rush-Hour. It went from chromoly to Hi-Tensile steel.
I wanted a Satellite as well still would consider one at the right price but then again now I want something fully custom in titanium so...
Likes For veganbikes:
#31
Newbie
No there was plenty of hi-ten stuff back when fixed gears were most popular. Certainly during brokie mania there were plenty of slightly nicer to really nice options but hi-ten was still very much a thing. Bigshot, Kent Thruster, Fuji Declaration and certainly others existed but I cannot recall all the names but tons of online stuff like Bigshot.
I wanted a Satellite as well still would consider one at the right price but then again now I want something fully custom in titanium so...
I wanted a Satellite as well still would consider one at the right price but then again now I want something fully custom in titanium so...
The fact that this thread updates every 3 days should be be proof that yes, the best days of fixie/SS are behind us. Unless there's some Tik-Tok trend of kids riding their dad's ancient bikes that have no disc brakes, wifi shifting, or motors.
#32
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4369 Post(s)
Liked 4,009 Times
in
2,676 Posts
I remember the progression that I saw were the conversion craze because there wasn't much out there, aside from Surly, Bianchi, and IRO. Then things started stepping up with the EAI Bareknuckles, the Super Pistas, the Merciers, with the big brands coming out with there fxied gears, and I guess it started peaking with the MASH Frames, That Kent Ronald McDonald fixie came in, I don't know, 2008? But by then, there were plenty of Pakes and Leaders as a better alternative. Now the Carbo-Steels rule the landscape.
The fact that this thread updates every 3 days should be be proof that yes, the best days of fixie/SS are behind us. Unless there's some Tik-Tok trend of kids riding their dad's ancient bikes that have no disc brakes, wifi shifting, or motors.
The fact that this thread updates every 3 days should be be proof that yes, the best days of fixie/SS are behind us. Unless there's some Tik-Tok trend of kids riding their dad's ancient bikes that have no disc brakes, wifi shifting, or motors.
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Those who are interested in Wabi cycles might find some of the videos by Zach Gallardo interesting. He's a fixie rider whose channel is sponsored by Wabi, and he has some good videos on building up several of their bikes, as well as a factory tour. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+gallardo+wabi
#34
Brown Bear, Sqrl Hunter
I still see them around, but I live in SF, CA.. home of MASH
I even see some young folk on em here and there.
Personally, my fixed gear is my errand bike/rain bike/town chill bike. I keep it mostly cause I still like the feeling of riding fixed but no longer race on a track. Also I like being able to track stand at lights, purely because I think it looks cool. I suck and can't do it on a bike with a freehub
I even see some young folk on em here and there.
Personally, my fixed gear is my errand bike/rain bike/town chill bike. I keep it mostly cause I still like the feeling of riding fixed but no longer race on a track. Also I like being able to track stand at lights, purely because I think it looks cool. I suck and can't do it on a bike with a freehub
Likes For cweb99:
#36
Newbie
#37
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I feel like there was already chatter about fixed-gears being "played out" when I built mine 12 or so years ago. So that's 12 years of not giving a **** whether it was popular or trendy or whatever. As long as I can keep getting cogs and 1/8" chains, I'll be happy.
Likes For ThermionicScott:
#38
Brown Bear, Sqrl Hunter
Damn lol, I thought 12 years ago was near the height!
The nice thing is that there will always be a non-zero demand of track parts/bikes because it is an olympic sport.
I don't think I'll ever fully drop riding fixed gears. I love the simplicity and reliability of them. In a world of electronic everything, it's nice to just disconnect on a bike
The nice thing is that there will always be a non-zero demand of track parts/bikes because it is an olympic sport.
I don't think I'll ever fully drop riding fixed gears. I love the simplicity and reliability of them. In a world of electronic everything, it's nice to just disconnect on a bike
Likes For Jaytron:
#39
Fxxxxr
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: falfurrias texas
Posts: 1,005
Bikes: wabi classic (stolen & recovered)
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2672 Post(s)
Liked 1,151 Times
in
872 Posts
Wabi amid the ruins
the hipsters are checking out (have already) and the Zoomers & Email have decimated the messengers > not to worry tho cause the coming earthquakes and civil war and pandemics and urban gridlock and electric car derangement and the lack of aspirated engine mechanics will revive interest in the bikes that rarely fail
__________________
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,252
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 1,396 Times
in
694 Posts
I am actually about to get my flabby 60-odd-year-old self back into shape over the coming year, and a large part of that involves riding fixed-gears. Plural. Two of them are battered but high-quality road frames from the early 70s, and the third was a custom-built Mercian that, alas, I made some poor choices while specifying what I wanted. Live and learn.
Are the kool kids riding them? No. And who cares? It's kinda like around here suddenly they're hosting the Greenwood Gravel Grinder for all those folks who've splurged on 1xwhatever drive trains and disc brakes to ride the same fire roads my best buddy and I rode 20 years ago on fixed-gears running 28-32 mm tires.
If you are a fixed-gear lifer, - and I confess I fit into that category - then your model ISN'T the early 21st Century fixie craze - it's the British club cyclist mode, wherein you just ride your bike, period, and focus on strength - and very much on skills and technique - to become a better rider. All of those social rides, where maybe you DO go all Rough Stuff Fellowship and carry the bike some, or long rides where you stop somewhere and have tea and socialize before mounting up to ride on to the destination, or even carry a light load and crash at a B&B or something, or maybe a very Spartan encampment without all the gear people think they need.
Fixed will endure, though some bits we like may become unobtanium - 17/19T Surly Dingle fixed-cogs, anyone? - because in the end there will always be a core group of those who prefer them and will ride them no matter what the trends are.
Are the kool kids riding them? No. And who cares? It's kinda like around here suddenly they're hosting the Greenwood Gravel Grinder for all those folks who've splurged on 1xwhatever drive trains and disc brakes to ride the same fire roads my best buddy and I rode 20 years ago on fixed-gears running 28-32 mm tires.
If you are a fixed-gear lifer, - and I confess I fit into that category - then your model ISN'T the early 21st Century fixie craze - it's the British club cyclist mode, wherein you just ride your bike, period, and focus on strength - and very much on skills and technique - to become a better rider. All of those social rides, where maybe you DO go all Rough Stuff Fellowship and carry the bike some, or long rides where you stop somewhere and have tea and socialize before mounting up to ride on to the destination, or even carry a light load and crash at a B&B or something, or maybe a very Spartan encampment without all the gear people think they need.
Fixed will endure, though some bits we like may become unobtanium - 17/19T Surly Dingle fixed-cogs, anyone? - because in the end there will always be a core group of those who prefer them and will ride them no matter what the trends are.
Likes For rustystrings61:
#41
Steel is Real
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Colorado
Posts: 39
Bikes: Wabi Lightning, Wabi Special, Wabi Thunder, Merckx Extra Corsa, Colnago Tecnos, Colnago Super, Cinelli Supercorsa, De Rosa Professional, De Rosa Replica 73, Serotta Colorado iii, Koga Miyata Full Pro, Panasonic RT-3500, Lynskey R320, Time VXRS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times
in
12 Posts
the hipsters are checking out (have already) and the Zoomers & Email have decimated the messengers > not to worry tho cause the coming earthquakes and civil war and pandemics and urban gridlock and electric car derangement and the lack of aspirated engine mechanics will revive interest in the bikes that rarely fail
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 720
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 346 Times
in
204 Posts
I noticed that a lot of people who were previously riding fixed gear are now riding "supple" gravel bikes and talking trash about fixed gear bikes and singlespeed bikes. There are still a lot of people riding fixed and ss bikes, but it was at ine point a fad, so there are significantly less people riding them to "fit in". The people who are riding fixed/ss bikes these days and are people who truly like them better than geared bikes.
#43
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4369 Post(s)
Liked 4,009 Times
in
2,676 Posts
Sorry grant40 that is not happening. There is not a bunch of people riding "supple" gravel bikes who used to ride FG/SS bikes and are now trashing them. There will be people who will change their minds but there are also a lot of people who have multiple bikes who enjoy riding all sorts of bikes and you can also have a nice supple fixed gear gravel bike. I have one and it is great and my next fixed gear bike will be even better.
I know you want to try and stir up controversy but it just isn't there. Maybe there is somewhere else to stir trouble?
I know you want to try and stir up controversy but it just isn't there. Maybe there is somewhere else to stir trouble?
#44
Full Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: '16 StumpJ, Salsa Mukluk, Soulcycles SS, Dean Colonel HT, BMC FourstrokeTrail, Dean Torres CX, Santana Visa Tandem, Trek T2000 Tandem, Cupertino MTB Tandem, FreeAgent26"Xtracycle, Dirt Drop Dingle, Jamis Dragon Dingle, Airborne Skyhag SS, SSDean Cols
Posts: 220
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
61 Posts
Today is the best day for everything, including fixed. It was true yesterday. It will be true tomorrow.
The question really is: Are you ready for your fixed gear bike today? And is your fixed gear bike ready for you to ride?
I haven't been shopping for fixed gear bike stuff for a while. I do not feel worried about not being able to get chains or chainrings. If I were to seek a new frame or wheelset I would expect, given my tastes, a long wait for something desirable to come along.
I really want to ride a flat century on a fixed gear bike. I haven't done that yet. All I do is ride it back and forth to work. 8 miles to work, and 13 miles home.
Track racing is something I never tried. When I was the age to do that sort of thing I was doing spring board diving.
I like drop bars on a fixie. I never aspired to straight narrow bars and do not live in a city where splitting lanes is something that can get me faster to where I am going.
Crashing onto a wooden track is not a good thing. Neither is hitting the diving board..
The Velo Orange Granola Moose bar is tempting. But no, I'll keep me drops with brake hoods.
Tires? Soon I'll be riding 38's, up from 33's. My frame has room.
I don't know any riders who ride fixed except some I follow on Strava. My social rides are mountain bike rides.
The best rides I have are SS MTB rides.
Oh I do try some modest short hills on my fixed gear but it's so hard. Because of that, I focus on the flat commute. And because it is fairly flat except for overpasses, weight doesn't matter as much.
I run tubeless tires.
I don't clean our bikes. Just keep them working.
The question really is: Are you ready for your fixed gear bike today? And is your fixed gear bike ready for you to ride?
I haven't been shopping for fixed gear bike stuff for a while. I do not feel worried about not being able to get chains or chainrings. If I were to seek a new frame or wheelset I would expect, given my tastes, a long wait for something desirable to come along.
I really want to ride a flat century on a fixed gear bike. I haven't done that yet. All I do is ride it back and forth to work. 8 miles to work, and 13 miles home.
Track racing is something I never tried. When I was the age to do that sort of thing I was doing spring board diving.
I like drop bars on a fixie. I never aspired to straight narrow bars and do not live in a city where splitting lanes is something that can get me faster to where I am going.
Crashing onto a wooden track is not a good thing. Neither is hitting the diving board..
The Velo Orange Granola Moose bar is tempting. But no, I'll keep me drops with brake hoods.
Tires? Soon I'll be riding 38's, up from 33's. My frame has room.
I don't know any riders who ride fixed except some I follow on Strava. My social rides are mountain bike rides.
The best rides I have are SS MTB rides.
Oh I do try some modest short hills on my fixed gear but it's so hard. Because of that, I focus on the flat commute. And because it is fairly flat except for overpasses, weight doesn't matter as much.
I run tubeless tires.
I don't clean our bikes. Just keep them working.