Beginners

hi, im new to the site but hope to get involved as much as possible.
im new to fixies and have got into them after seeing some vids on youtube and going on random sites.

i currently dont own a bike and im in the process of buying a road bike from ebay and then converting to fixed.

this post is about people new to fixies who need info in how to get parts/bikes and how to convert aswell so please gimme some links to sites, names and places of decent bike shops, bikes and parts to start with and everything else a begginer like me would need.

thanks.
Alan

Hi Alan, welcome!
For starters I'd recommend the following:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com - I think he pretty much knows everything, so that's a good start.

http://www.parktool.com/repair - more know how

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com - to give you some ideas

http://www.hubjub.co.uk - for bits and pieces

I'm sure there will be many more suggestions on frames/parts etc, but follow some of the discussions on here and you'll start picking things up - certainly worked for me!

cheers,
brett

check out Londpn Fields Cycles or Brick Lane Bikes, getting stuff on ebay can be frustrating as you might end up with stuff you don't need or something like that, have a look in Bricklane bikes if you're after 2nd hand stuff

if you want to sit around over bikes with tools on a saturday saying 'now i have never seen a lockring do that' this site is a good place to meet people

come along to brick lane this sunday and meet a few people check out a few bikes and check out brick lane cycles which is just a minute away from the polo place
we'll be there from about 1 today directions go along brick lane opposite end to aldgate cross the bethnal green road and courts are about 10 seconds away from that junction so bethnal green road and brick lane

thanks for the help. its difficult for me to get to london sometimes due to work ect, but ill be there on the 7th of july. ill definatly check out brick lane bikes.
ive been looking at road bikes on ebay as possible conversion but most have vertical dropouts which according to sheldon brows site are difficult to convert due to chain adjusting and hub troubles. i would build from scratch but i just dont have the money for that. but once i do get the cash im gonna build one mean machine

Get a complete bike, it's cheaper and easier than buy bits and pieces...

I love how this kind of post would get brutally attacked on Bike Forums but gets nice and sound advice + answers here!
nice.

Two other good beginner guides:

Fixed Gear 101 - from 63xc.com

Puma's fixed gear guide - Corparate sponsored by still has useful info.

Here is a list from the ACF site
Here are a group of usefull Fixedwheel links
edit to add the 'Fixed FAQs' http://www.mcluk.f2s.com/FAQs/

The number one drooling site
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com

How to links
Sheldon Brown runs Harris Cyclery, a good bike shop with a strong web presence. He's here both as supplier of a first-rate selection of cycle bits and as a fount of useful knowledge. His website has so much good stuff that it would be crazy to miss it. Please take a look. You'll probably stay for ages. Why not bookmark us so that you can come back when you've finished?

Why ride fixed? http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Fixie conversions http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

Fixed gear parts http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed.html

Sheldon on chainline http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline/

http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm
http://www.fixedwheel.org.uk/

Shop links
http://www.condorcycles.com
http://www.deesidecycles.com/track.htm

http://www.surlybikes.com

http://www.highpath.co.uk

Track cycling has ceased trading so I usually buy from Parker International, excellent service. http://www.parker-international.co.uk/

Izumi 1/8th chain, with review http://bikereader.com/forum/index.php?topic=28258.0

GOLDTECH HUBS https://www.betd.co.uk/
http://www.goldtec-cycles.co.uk/FRAMESET.htm

other hubs
http://www.kogswell.com

http://www.philwood.com

http://www.hubjub.co.uk

http://www.oldskooltrack.com
http://www.fixedwheel.co.uk/

as you can see a lot of confusion....and as everyone that built a bike before knows: It never works the first time unless it's all out of a box.

but f*cking up is the best way to learn. when cost is involved, you never want to repeat a mistake.

Hovis Brown but f*cking up is the best way to learn. when cost is involved, you never want to repeat a mistake.

yep.

like buying track cranks, and mtb singlespeed hubs. i'll never make that mistake again!

to DK really, but lately the forum has been inundated, totally, with requests like:

what do i need to make this bike single speed?

and other vague questions.

i can't help but feel that if we have a beginners' bit then it would allow for more constructive advice.

i find i'm inclined to say rude things otherwise when people ask 'stupid' questions. i guess it's my job coming through.

i have to add though, i'm all for sharing knowledge, and helping others. I need help myself, especially when i try to put the right crank on the left side.

Hey, there's no such thing as stupid questions. Just stupid people.

A "Beginners" category?

I think it would be great if we could assemble the wealth of info already in these pages into some sort of linked document (Wiki).

I know this wouldn't stop people asking questions, but it saves them asking the same ones every day!

http://fixiefaqs.xwiki.com/

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Make it compulsory reading with a test before any questions can be posted :)

yes, but if we had beginners thingy, they could still ask the question. sometimes all the info in the world just confuses a person, and they need someone to say "NO YOU COCK SMALLER ON THE BACK IS BIGGER, FUCKING HELL", so we should have a place where it can all be friendly and nurturing and we can mentor the next generation of bike tinkerers.

there is a fixed gear wiki all ready some where. Thoes so inclined to improve that and we could link to it.

This sounds like a great idea. I'm new to all this and I know it would help others too.

yes, but if we had beginners thingy, they could still ask the question. sometimes all the info in the world just confuses a person, and they need someone to say "NO YOU COCK SMALLER ON THE BACK IS BIGGER, FUCKING HELL", so we should have a place where it can all be friendly and nurturing and we can mentor the next generation of bike tinkerers.

WTF ............. No more Crish Crap dissing me

No No No .....................

I am HACKED2 and I cannot endorse this motion

yeah, a beginners bit is a good idea.
there's been a lot of beginnery questions recently.
maybe it should have a "read this before you post" sticky like a lot of other forums have - just to give people links to places where they can find info (namely www.google.com)!

pj i have already sent this idea to VB / DK a while ago he said he would think about it

now that others agree he has no reason to say no

My response to stupid questions..

http://justfuckinggoogleit.com/

WTF ............. No more Crish Crap dissing me

No No No .....................

I am HACKED2 and I cannot endorse this motion

Have you been watching my clip again?