Old Fixed Gear
01-06-23, 03:13 PM
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Old Fixed Gear
I saw this video about a really old F.G.
My question is this, why doesn't have F.G. dropout on the rear? I thought you needed that on all F.G.
01-06-23, 04:09 PM
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01-06-23, 10:49 PM
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I saw this video about a really old F.G. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBDDzHcKYGg My question is this, why doesn't have F.G. dropout on the rear? I thought you needed that on all F.G.
I like he didn't really restore the bike to pristine. I do love to see everything polished and nice but I also like to see the patina and looking more properly aged.
01-06-23, 11:42 PM
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The rear facing slot on fix gears is a track end, not a dropout. The dropout was invented (of at least became common) when derailleurs came along because it made removing the wheel much easier and faster.
That said, dropouts work very well for fix gears and have the same benefit of faster wheel removal. There are no drawbacks inherently to dropouts as long as you have nuts that properly grip the dropout and you tighten them sufficiently. I've never owned track ends. All my many miles of fix gear riding have happened on dropouts.
A tip if you run dropouts and want to use a flip-flop hub for on the road (but stopped) gear changes - use a chain peg; the peg usually brazed onto the chainstay of steel race bikes to hang the chain while the wheel is off. No peg? Got fender eyes? Make one. It's easy. Get a screw to fit the eye. Nut also. thread the nut then run the screw from the inside so about a cm protrudes. Tighten the nut against the eye. Now, the easy,clean hands wheel flip. (The Pedros Trixie is the perfect tool.) Loosen nuts, slide wheel forward. Pick up the chain with the spanner and drop it on your new peg. Flip wheel and reverse the process. Done; with clean hands. You can use the peg for flats also. Just lay the bike down on the drive side.
I frankly do not understand why anyone would want track ends for road fix gears. Yes, it's the deal if you start with a track bike but a bike built specifically for the road?
That said, dropouts work very well for fix gears and have the same benefit of faster wheel removal. There are no drawbacks inherently to dropouts as long as you have nuts that properly grip the dropout and you tighten them sufficiently. I've never owned track ends. All my many miles of fix gear riding have happened on dropouts.
A tip if you run dropouts and want to use a flip-flop hub for on the road (but stopped) gear changes - use a chain peg; the peg usually brazed onto the chainstay of steel race bikes to hang the chain while the wheel is off. No peg? Got fender eyes? Make one. It's easy. Get a screw to fit the eye. Nut also. thread the nut then run the screw from the inside so about a cm protrudes. Tighten the nut against the eye. Now, the easy,clean hands wheel flip. (The Pedros Trixie is the perfect tool.) Loosen nuts, slide wheel forward. Pick up the chain with the spanner and drop it on your new peg. Flip wheel and reverse the process. Done; with clean hands. You can use the peg for flats also. Just lay the bike down on the drive side.
I frankly do not understand why anyone would want track ends for road fix gears. Yes, it's the deal if you start with a track bike but a bike built specifically for the road?
