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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Bicycles

    Hobbies and Pastimes
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    • derivative666D
      derivative666
      Joined:

      On the weekend I try and strictly use my bike for errands. I was at the post office this morning and an older gentleman came up to me and said wow that's impressive. How long did it take you to get here from New York City? I asked him what was he talking about. His response aren't you one of those messenger guys.

      On a side note it was 18 deg F this morning. The post office and bagel shop round trip is 10 miles of hills, my lungs are on fire!

      "honorable mention to the bearded giant aka derivative666 for being a stand up dude & not changing with the seasons since i've been around these parts" Monday

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        Snowy
        Joined:

        What were you dressed like to make him think that? Or was it just your general good looks?

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • derivative666D
          derivative666
          Joined:

          Bern Brentwood
          Giro - Ambient
          SEXIHTYPEIIII
          Mission Workshop - The Faroe
          Mission Workshop - The Signal
          Mission Workshop - VX Rummy
          DZR - Concubine

          "honorable mention to the bearded giant aka derivative666 for being a stand up dude & not changing with the seasons since i've been around these parts" Monday

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • JiiJ
            Jii
            Joined:

            I apparently forgot to post about the trip me and my friend did in august. Took the ferry over to Stockholm and rode down to Oskarshamn (410 km in 36 hours, crazy) from where we took the ferry over to Gotland and spent almost a week riding around the island. We had an absolute blast, here's the link to my friends tumblr post with links to photos.

            To sum it up, two days of performance-oriented touring cycling followed by five days of mainly eating, drinking and camping with some riding inbetween. Total distance for the week a little over 700 km.





            AIAN HA-TO!

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B
              bruto
              Joined:

              @Jii:

              I'm going for the ZTR Alpha 340:s since I need the rims to manage 28c road tyre pressures. Got Novatec 411/412 hubs so should build up to about 1,5-1,6 kg for the wheelset without being crazy expensive. Will probably try road tubeless too. I'll keep the current wheelset for crappy condition riding.

              Excuse me for a necropost, found this thread via Google

              Where did you get those Novatecs and how are they spinning along?
              They're seriously light as far as cheap disc MTB-spaced hubs go, I wonder how much offroad abuse they can take (small bearings, though, judging by photos)

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • JiiJ
                Jii
                Joined:

                Got them on Ebay, work flawlessly. I guess I've ridden them over 3500 km. They've seen road use only so can't comment on offroad durability.

                AIAN HA-TO!

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                • B
                  bruto
                  Joined:

                  Have you looked inside? 🙂 I wonder how small the parts are

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                  • JiiJ
                    Jii
                    Joined:

                    Nope, sorry.

                    AIAN HA-TO!

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                    • Finn666F
                      Finn666
                      Joined:

                      single speed or fixed gear bike for urban use?
                      just need a "normal" bike to ride around in the city…opinions!?
                      thanks

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        Both, get one with a fixie on one side and a non-fixie on the other….Then you can choose.....

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                        • GingerMagicianG
                          GingerMagician
                          Joined:

                          @Giles:

                          Both, get one with a fixie on one side and a non-fixie on the other….Then you can choose.....

                          Yep, flip-flop hub is the way to go - riding fixed isn't for everyone, so this gives you the flexibility to try it out.

                          Simon

                          @Megatron1505:

                          > You're not even bloody ginger  >:(

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                          • BroarkB
                            Broark
                            Joined:

                            I've also wanted to get a bike for quite some time now, need to do something that gives me some physical activity. 😃

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • Finn666F
                              Finn666
                              Joined:

                              @Giles:

                              When I was in Japan earlier this month, Kurt from Faith and I  specced me a single speed (yes he does bikes too….......)

                              any news on this @Giles ?

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • D
                                davito
                                Joined:

                                would love seeing one of his masterpieces in person one day

                                http://ascaribicycles.com

                                Cheers,
                                David

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Finn666F
                                  Finn666
                                  Joined:

                                  thought about these two @GingerMagician

                                  #1

                                  inkl. flip-flop hub

                                  http://thebikemessenger.com/bilbao-fixed-gear-bikes#

                                  #2


                                  http://thebikemessenger.com/singlespeed-bicycles-birota-hammer-classic-green#

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • D
                                    davito
                                    Joined:

                                    I drive two gear combined with a back brake hub and a two gear Schlumpf at the pedals, so four gears. All manageable by feet and real comfy and fast. Almost fixie feeling but you get lot more of speed out of it.

                                    When I built up my bicycle together with a friend i started fixie but pretty fast changed to the four gears i have now, although i mostly ride in one combination. Though when i need it i can switch fast and then hell yeah.

                                    Cheers,
                                    David

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • GingerMagicianG
                                      GingerMagician
                                      Joined:

                                      @Finn666:

                                      thought about these two…

                                      @Finn666 looks like they're both flip-flop hubs (the more classic looking Birota seems to suggest as much in the specs).

                                      Given you're probably looking at going flat bar, it probably comes down to which you like the look of the best - unless you are considering a drop bar.  Components are probably slightly higher spec on the Birota, which would explain the price difference.

                                      Worth bearing in mind that the Birota only comes with a front brake - the other one says 'supplied with front & rear' (even though the pics don't show any brakes at all).  Front-only should be fine on a single speed.

                                      Loads of options for single speeds these days, so worth shopping around and sitting on a few if you get the chance.

                                      Simon

                                      @Megatron1505:

                                      > You're not even bloody ginger  >:(

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • D
                                        davito
                                        Joined:

                                        If you go fixie with a front brake only make sure you have a Pedal back brake hub too otherwise your Swiss friend and helper might stop and fine you 😉 or just have the back handbrake installed too

                                        Cheers,
                                        David

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                                        • D
                                          davito
                                          Joined:

                                          I dont know how much you wanna spend but we have some great bicycle stores in Zurich, which are worth to check if you are looking for 1st hand advice. Some of these guys are former couriers and they ride their frames/material hard. Can send u a contact if you want @Finn666 and you can talk to him
                                          Ballpark of his rides start at chf 2000, Italian, Japanese, Swiss high-end pro components/Materials for a complete starter setup afaik.

                                          If u have a frame lying around they can pimp that up as well based on the spec you work out with them. Almost everything is possible (depending bit on the condition of the frame as well)

                                          Cheers,
                                          David

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GilesG
                                            Giles
                                            IHUK Crew
                                            Joined:

                                            @Finn666:

                                            @Giles:

                                            When I was in Japan earlier this month, Kurt from Faith and I  specced me a single speed (yes he does bikes too….......)

                                            any news on this @Giles ?

                                            Still waiting…..

                                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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