Current Projects chat and miscellany

Internal geared fixed hub?

Yes, tried it on my commute today for the first time! I'm out of shape (or too old) so will try a bigger sprocket, but otherwise all good!

1 Attachment

. wrong reply, oops

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/17369183/

Repost on the new page because I am craving internet strangers' nods of approval but mostly because after looking at it on several occasions today I can now honestly confess this is a biek only it's mother could love.
And I love it too bits! Rode it into work today, and dang, the weather (28 degrees, global warming is a hoax), fixed, weird biek, ORANGE. Was actually quite quick too. Really happy with it. And no qualms with the pesky elbow, a very very positive surprise that all is going in the right direction!

Really? FFS.

global warming is a hoax

And this is great too.. I already did the dibswhenyousellyadayadating right?!
Track bikes, skinny tyres, fixed gear is so 2007, or even 80s. But that was already stated by several users. Big tyres are the future!

Sarcasm doesn't read well

...and apparently people have been trying several centuries to find a right way of communicating it in writing. I learned something today
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_punctuation

Looks very German, needs some spoke reflectors as finishing touch⸮ :)

...

Perhaps with a small flag and a handlebar mirror[!]

Haha yess!!

The lack of ergo grips is the thing that sticks out most to me as lacking Das deutsche Lebensgefühl.

Finally, at least something of a response, although probably not classed as the aforementioned "nods of approval".
@kjlem, @phildas and @young_gun reported for bullying, harassment and anti-germanism.. (insert irony symbol)
I am not even German mind, and Berliners stress Berlin is not Germany. But ten years here and becoming older and increasingly valuing practicality might be showing...
The tyres actually have reflective strips, so I am complying with ZEE LAW on that front.
Comments re flag, handlebar mirror and ergo grips duly noted. Although I did dutifully select Schwalbe tyres with the extra extra puncture protection AND reflective strips.

This is actually a banger. Needs proper mudguard flaps though!

How does that work? I've never heard of this before!

It's a fixed 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub.
I think they existed a long time ago (1950s maybe? Saw one at a jumble once) but I don't believe they were very commun. Then SA re introduced the SX 3 during the "fixie" years. It wasn't cheap, heavy, people were criticising it's ratios, the slack chain feel... It didn't catch. I'm sure there will be peeps on here who would have tried it / have more knowledge...
I got the hub NOS at a really good price on eBay (would not have paid its full cost from where it's still available at, for my use at least). For me it's a last attempt at commuting fixed, given I now live on the other side of a nasty hill... I've already changed sprocket (from 17t to 18t) as it was still too much for me uphill. Good thing is that dedicated sprockets are cheap at SJS Cycles so I bought them all...

https://overthebarsinmilwaukee.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/review-sturmey-archer-sx3-three-speed-fixed-gear/

The 50s Sturmey Fixed ASC hub is the old one. They're odd, not really like riding fixed due to a slight but very noticeable (for a regular fixed rider) lag between pedaling a the hub kicking in- a little like a slack chain. I had one for a while, quite fun but I couldn't get on with it, so sold it on as they're rather desirable to some.folk and people (Americans often) will pay good money for them . No idea what the new ones are like, maybe you will have more patience with it. Apparently the even earlier Sturmey TF two speed hub is much better, has a more direct feel and better rations, but they don't come up often at all

I learned something today

I too, thank you for the ref!

No idea what the new ones are like

Like the old ones by the sound of it, early days for me but I expected it to be like this; gear change must be reasonably well considered (not dissimilar to your normal S.A. hub) and it's not a total fixed gear experience (track standing is a bit of a pain for instance)... close enough though and so far I'm not disappointed.

Have been gone from fettling bikes for a hot minute, I’ve lost which tyres to run on a track bike for the streets? Anything new that has popped up since three years?

Maxxis refuse if you want to skid

Vittoria Rondonneur is not too bad, budget friendly, ok puncture resistance. Also worth considering Decathlon own brand ones, decent enough for the money.

Schwalbe Marathon/Marathon plus if you don't mind the weight. Probably the best puncture resistant tyres and yeah you can skid all the way through the green/blue lining. Priced similar to the Panaracer below.

Panaracer RiBMo, slick with great grip in the wet. Pretty light too. Super wear due to the tyre profile (looks like Bert's head) and wears down to a semi circle instead of the square edges most tyres do. Amazing puncture resistance too. My pick of the bundle.

Ribmo ftw