Birmingham post your bikes/faces/places

I'm sure it'll be a good start, just need a mallet so I can practice a bit, as i'm a bit shite at the mo :D

Track Machine:

Really really want to build up a road fixed, but at 16, I need to start saving up for a car = no money :(

You got a bike, no need for a car.

Living in Redditch I kinda do.... I work in pershore, so I need to be able to drive there on the icy winters days. And I am schooled in alcester, meaning all my mates live in stratford. I could ride, but I'd need to shower/clean up/lock up and I honestly can't be fudged. And I'm sick of relying on buses, because, let's be honest, they suck!

Your school is only 10 miles away - perfectly doable, 45 minutes on a bike.

Not when I have to wear a suit, take textbooks, sports kit etc etc. I could do it, but I'd rather train when I get home, knowing that I don't have to worry about it. It's also 6 miles for me, meaning it's not long enough to warm up properly and do some proper training. Trust me Ed, I' ride my bike everywhere if I could, there's just times when it's not practical.

Ed...a car is right of passage in Redditch, being able to get out of it for the first time will be a cherished moment. i know lots of ex-redditch people that did it this way. There is life outside the ring road! Its only Birmingham though.

Track Machine:

Really really want to build up a road fixed, but at 16, I need to start saving up for a car = no money :(

Nice bike, no reason not to take it on the road unless its got tubs or something. You could whack a brake on it and easily remove it for racing.

Just need get a lower alternate gear on it I guess, if you put another couple links in the chain, so that the axle is at the end of the dropouts, you could probably get the chain around a sprocket about 2 teeth bigger with the axle fully forwards.

It's on tubs unfortunately, and is undrilled, and it properly harsh! I rode it to the shops brakless today and couldn't wait to get off it!

steve can you please HTFU, and don't try to argue with edscoble asw he ill win.
i rode to and from alcester everyday i was there, on my fixed as well, you know you saw it, so maybe put the car back by week, spend £100 maximum on a nice conversion, with a pannier rack, mudgaurds and chain guard, then you can ride to ags and back no problem, even in a suit with books!

I need to find that photo of my grandfather that my grandmother took back in the 50's.

Basically it's a picture of him about to leave home (Oldham) to work wearing a suit and riding a british lightweight bicycle (fixed, mudguard + saddlebag, you know the kind) in the winter.

He work at British Steel, 32 miles away from home.

Agreed ed, in comparison to your grandfather im almost ashamed to call myself a man, with my "fixiebike" skinny jeans and ear-rings

I think everyone in the 21st century is ashamed to call themselves a man in comparison to bloke in the 50's.

Found a good example from Dave Moulton;

http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2010/7/29/once-upon-a-time-britain-had-a-bike-culture.html

Excellent article ed, I really wish my hometown had more of a bike culture, the majority of locals live no more than 2 miles outside of town, and yet most of them still drive into the centre causing havoc with the high pedestrian numbers and lack of parking, in fact, you know what? I'm going to start a campaign.

Nice bike, no reason not to take it on the road unless its got tubs or something. You could whack a brake on it and easily remove it for racing.

Just need get a lower alternate gear on it I guess, if you put another couple links in the chain, so that the axle is at the end of the dropouts, you could probably get the chain around a sprocket about 2 teeth bigger with the axle fully forwards.

There's every reason not to take that bike on the road, even with clinchers. It's a nice bike that doesn't deserve ruin by salt, grit and all the other bike-polluting crap that comes off the road

There's every reason not to take that bike on the road, even with clinchers. It's a nice bike that doesn't deserve ruin by salt, grit and all the other bike-polluting crap that comes off the road

That bikes not going to disintegrate when it hits the street. Its a modern strong aluminium frame, it would be fine even if you stripped off the paint.

The only thing that can be potentially fucked by salty street filth is chains, not a problem if you clean it occassionally.

I'm not riding it on the road. End of.

SprintKing, is there's any TT club nearby where you live? could be another opportunity to race outside the velodome (with brake naturally).

Lots of tt clubs around here ed

I already do TT's, which I use this for:

That bikes not going to disintegrate when it hits the street.
Lol. Not what I said.

Rain and road filth gets into gaps and holes in bikes. That shit gets into headsets and BB's, pedals, spoke nipples, seatpost clamp bolts...etc. Unless you're pretty disciplined with cleaning and keeping stuff lubed, then you do end up with accelerated wear. However small the damage might be, the bike will still wear faster if used on the road than if used solely for track riding.

Regardless, instead of arguing over this, why not just accept that the guy wants to keep his track bike in pristine condition for the track?!

I already do TT's, which I use this for:

And you're sixteen?!

I work in a Bike shop - I don't take any of my pay home at the moment, I just use it to buy bikes. And yes, I do need the TT bike - helped me come 53rd in the Schoolboy 10 mile Champs.

And you're sixteen?!

Real cyclists start young. Fancy bikes, lycra. club runs, track racing and all that.