Bicycles
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Nice, Jii. What's the frame? Rare to see track frames in 'our' size.
+1 for the Flite too. I love my Brooks but I don't think I'd put one on that build.
Ordered the Flite and since the headset loosens all the time (cheap Miche one) I'm seriously considering to go the Chris King way
Anyway, the frame is a EAI Bareknuckle from 2006. Got it second hand from a friend. It's actually only a 58 cm frame, I guess the camera angle makes it look much bigger than it is.
I now have two fixed bikes (Leader Mordecai with 29" knobbies for the trails) and the EAI for road and track use. My only freewheel equipped bike is my polo bike (and it's unusable for anything else because of the gearing). At the moment I feel like I probably won't go back to geared bikes anytime soon, riding fixed for the first time in 2006 put a huge smile on my face that hasn't come off since. No cheesy zen things or being more aware of everything, it's just more fun that way.
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@Jii:
What I actually ride:
Seriously jealous, I love Bullitts but have no reasonable justification to own one.
This is my new bike, wanted something for longer rides and for track riding:
Rode 80 km on it yesterday and it felt really good. I know fixed isn't the most efficient for road riding but I like the feeling more than geared so I'll pay my dues for that. Legs are pretty sore right now
That is one sweet bike you've got there
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As promised, my new steed. It's custom made, using the frame of a Globe Vienna, which has been powder coated black. The handle bars, lower bracket, and pedals have all been changed, and it has been converted to a fixed gear with an extended sprocket.
It's far from fast, but it does me fine for just trundling around with the family
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Don't want to sound like a jerk but I wouldn't ride fixed with that chain tightening contraption, it wont hold up to the torque a fixed drivetrain produces. Good thing that you have a brake on it though. Please stay safe!
Just did 80 km today again
And in addition to the Flite saddle I ordered last week I also just ordered a Chris King headset, the current one drives me insane. It's either too loose or way too tight when I'm trying to adjust it, must be damaged in some way.Edit: I realised I did sound like a jerk so I decided to get some backup data from the web why a chain tensioner won't work on a fixed gear. Here's one link with some more detailed info: Click!
And here's what the bike guru Sheldon Brown says about the issue:
Note! Chain tensioners cannot be used with fixed-gear or coaster brake systems! They don't maintain tension when there is backward force applied to the pedals, and the chain can derail as a result.
Since the wheel turns all the time even if you have a brake the derailment of the chain can cause some serious damage and/or accidents.
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Hey, I don't think you're being a jerk man. The bike doesn't do the back pedal to break thing, so the torque is reduced in that area, it's done about 50 miles so far with no ill effects, but it is on my list to swap out the chain and replace the chain, and remove the tensioner.
I suppose in that sense it is not a "true" fixed gear cycle, as you can coast on it without the pedals moving, the chain tensioner is just a legacy from the conversion from a geared bike to a none geared bike.
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A visit to Steves Bikes in Peterborough, purveyor of the old, the retro, the cool and the knackered, to pick up Mini's retro wheels.
The Raleigh Denim
Some of Steves junk… I mean stock.
Tommy surveys the devastation.
Mini gets her wheels, and is a happy bunny.
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Went out trailriding with my monster fixed today. Had a blast!
Got properly muddy too!
We have this awesome central park that starts a 10-minute ride from where I live. It's amazing! Been riding the trails there for over a decade and there's so many of them I haven't gotten bored yet..
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Absolutely love it! Sure. it's slower and harder when descending but the climbing abilities are amazing. And you have to think ahead regarding pedal strike on rocks etc but you quickly get the hang of it. I rode brakeless for a while but it was too hard to do steep descends properly because of the speed build-up but now that I have the brake I can practically do almost any descent that's not too slippery (wet rock, roots etc.) But it sure is fun riding fixed offroad!
