What makes you do it?
#27
~>~
#28
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
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Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
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Bought a new bike. The Europa was left sitting in the shed. Heard about fg so converted her. Loved it. Stopped riding the new bike. It gets a bit complicated after that but I loved fg enough to commission the Hillbrick which was designed and built as a fg all rounder and the Europa was eventually converted back to gears.
I love the feel of fg. I love the skill set (broader and more subtle than relying on gears). Can't say I'm impressed with long, steep hills.
I love the feel of fg. I love the skill set (broader and more subtle than relying on gears). Can't say I'm impressed with long, steep hills.
#30
i'll probably break it
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i havent had a fixed gear bike in two years. still have my sscx. im probably going to put together a fixed conversion roadie in the near future as i have been missing it lately.
the people talking about cost effectiveness should know that with roadies going 11spd, 'old' 10spd groups are cheap as eff. if you take your time and make some friends at the LBS you can build a nice aluminum frame craybin fork roadbike for about the same cost as a middle of the way track setup.
the people talking about cost effectiveness should know that with roadies going 11spd, 'old' 10spd groups are cheap as eff. if you take your time and make some friends at the LBS you can build a nice aluminum frame craybin fork roadbike for about the same cost as a middle of the way track setup.
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denver Colorado
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You can't coast through life
#34
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
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For Variety, Fun and Challenge...
Built up my first fixed gear conversion three falls ago for a winter riding treat. It turns out that I loved the change, after having ridden geared bikes for many years.
Fast forward to today, and I still enjoy the simplicity and experience of riding fixed. It's fun, plainly said. I also enjoy the challenge of mastering new skills, so riding fixed has given me opportunities in that way.
Finally, having a fixed gear bike among my others offers variety any time I want to change the ride that day. Have a standard rolling hilly ride that you enjoy? Do it one day on a racing bike, the next on a touring or utility bike, and the third day on a fixed gear. Three completely different experiences, but on the same basic course.
Want to tour the city? Why not on a fixed gear?
Errands to run? Using a backpack offer enough storage? Use the fixed gear instead of one of the others.
That sort of thing...
Fast forward to today, and I still enjoy the simplicity and experience of riding fixed. It's fun, plainly said. I also enjoy the challenge of mastering new skills, so riding fixed has given me opportunities in that way.
Finally, having a fixed gear bike among my others offers variety any time I want to change the ride that day. Have a standard rolling hilly ride that you enjoy? Do it one day on a racing bike, the next on a touring or utility bike, and the third day on a fixed gear. Three completely different experiences, but on the same basic course.
Want to tour the city? Why not on a fixed gear?
Errands to run? Using a backpack offer enough storage? Use the fixed gear instead of one of the others.
That sort of thing...
#35
Still kicking.
I like pain.
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Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Roanoke, Va
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Bikes: 2013 leader 721. 2015 leader 725. 2012 fuji feather
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I wanted to start riding a bike again, and I'm pretty sure I stumbled across some clips from Macaframa and Keo Curry.
That pretty much did it.
That pretty much did it.
#39
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
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Bikes: road, track, mtb
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#41
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Eindhoven the netherlands
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Bikes: cube reaction 29er, xtrail slx 26er, cannondale R500 fixed gear, haibike speed RC, orbea sherpa.
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Sheldon Brown's website inspired me to ride fixed gears. I never stopped riding them.
#42
Cool Guy
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Jose, CA
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They're just fun man. And wasting a grip of money on a nice build is pretty damn fulfilling.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Chicago, IL
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Maintenance...
My first commuter had something jam in the chain and rip the derailleur off during a pedal stroke. My second commuter had the derailleur cables and other parts corrode during the winter of commuting. The cable broke one day. Then I went SS. After that bike got stolen I went FG. Now I have a FG road bike (Kilo WT), a SS MTB for the winter, and a SS folding bike for errands and other odd jobs. My wife's winter commuter just had the cables corrode and she had to ride it around SS for a day. After that she is thinking of converting it to SS this winter. You just can't screw something up that is so simple.
My first commuter had something jam in the chain and rip the derailleur off during a pedal stroke. My second commuter had the derailleur cables and other parts corrode during the winter of commuting. The cable broke one day. Then I went SS. After that bike got stolen I went FG. Now I have a FG road bike (Kilo WT), a SS MTB for the winter, and a SS folding bike for errands and other odd jobs. My wife's winter commuter just had the cables corrode and she had to ride it around SS for a day. After that she is thinking of converting it to SS this winter. You just can't screw something up that is so simple.
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Because Sheldon suggested it.
#46
Senior Member
did a century yesterday. asking my self today "why did I do it" Of course I will forget the pain, remember the good moments and do it again but not until it cools down. This was outside of Houston-hot/humid.
#47
mechanically sound
Sheldon here too.
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#48
Warehouse Monkey
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I am training for a mult-day loaded tour this fall and wanted a training tool to build my legs. Bought the Kilo for exactly that purpose. Now I enjoy commuting on as much as I can.
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'10 Specialized Hardrock
'10 Specialized Hardrock
#49
Senior Member
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#50
Senior Member
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Sometimes the cool kids on my block pick on me about my "geared" road bike, with all the cables hanging off it and weird parts stuck to it, so that's when I whip out the fixie and I become cool, again.