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well Hello, im about to collect my SS/FG bike next week and hoped you could advise me, am i best riding freewheel first to get used to the bikes handling, or go the whole hog and ride fixed straight away, i usually commute to work down the east lancs on a geared hybrid. but havent rided since October when the weather turned .. thanks for reading and Keep Safe

Big question for me is how hilly is your commute? if no that hilly go for it, if you have a big hill oyu don't want to have stupid spinny crazy legs every morning.
though i like coasting

on a Bag related post, whats people's opinion on Crumpler? they have a shop in town now buy the big boots, massive messenger bags in there

^^ Have a ride or two on your local quiet roads and judge based on that. Nowt wrong with spinning down hills once you've ground up them IMO, will help your suppleness. Don't ride brakeless though, that way you can control it easier whilst getting used to it.

^ Not tried Crumpler, have a Timbuk2 and it's nice enough, have to pad the back out with a hoody or something if carrying lumpy stuff.

crumpler stuff is a lot cheaper online.

the bit I cycle is Astley to Manchester Victoria, no real hills as such....ill see how it goes..:)

starting out with ss won't really prepare you for fixed as such. i was ss on my first fixed bike for a little while, but everything changes when you go fixed. i would just jump straight to fixed, but don't forget about the front brake, like rhb already pointed out.

Ok then, fixed gear it is, i collect in on 9/2/11. When i turn 39. Ill mail you from A&E.
:)

is that astley in leigh, or near bolton? either way is a fair distance! hat's off

aye just off Atherton, started commuting on my Raleigh Hybrid last year. Started off taking 55 mins or so, and got it down to under 45 [11 miles]. I reasoned that as i only changed gear twice on the 12 mile ride i could make do with a much lighter bike and only 1 gear either fixed or free...

Hello lfgss!

I'm Lee, i live in southampton. I've been riding a horrible old Haro "mirra air" (i think?, i got it for free and most of the stickers have come off so its hard to tell) for the past year, my commute is 6 miles to work and back.

Needless to say a bmx weighing christ-knows-how-much is not ideal for that distance or amount of time. Im getting ready up to build my first fixed gear!

I've been doing a lot of research and im definately going to build from scratch. Im thinking of a Dolan Pre Cursa frame, changing out the alpina forks for some carbons drilled to use a front brake, i have most of the other components planned out and have been buying odd bits, but am a bit stuck on wheels!

If anyones got any tips as to a strong light wheel build £150 ish per pair with braking surfaces that would be great!

Thanks

Lee

You'll get some help here!

Hello lfgss!

I've been doing a lot of research and im definately going to build from scratch. Im thinking of a Dolan Pre Cursa frame, changing out the alpina forks for some carbons drilled to use a front brake, i have most of the other components planned out and have been buying odd bits, but am a bit stuck on wheels!

If anyones got any tips as to a strong light wheel build £150 ish per pair with braking surfaces that would be great!

Thanks

Lee

Hi lee Yawn is selling a nice set of wheels in the Northwest market place thread

"Yawn

    Velocity Deep V's for sale

36H Silver machined front - silver spokes, SysX hub - Hutchison 23mm tyre fitted
36H Black non-machined back - black spokes, SysX double-fixed hub - Rando 28mm tyre fitted

A few marks from polo but solid.

£100 ono. Photos uploaded if any interest or I can deliver to town/smcr
"

i think the Alpina forks come driled already on the precursor so id check when you get it before buying more forks

Ok great, thanks for the advice voidcore i'll have a look at yawn's wheels, i'll check up on the alpina fork drilling too. i have just realised ive said hello to everyone in the Manchester thread, i think im meant to say hello to everyone generally? im not used to all this forum stuff!

this months CYCLING ACTIVE has a wheel set review.......

welcome to the forum, lee and maurice!

GOT MI BIKE, couldnt wait till Tuesday so picked it up yesterday 4/2/11 [payday] had a quick ride on SS then after a bit of messing around with it-fixing lights speedo and better innertubes and rim tape i had another go on it in FIXED ....WEIRED.... but ill stick it out, its just a shame the weather is nasty..
now a quick question .... spds or toe clips+straps. either opinions or referrals to other posts
thanks again :)

GOT MI BIKE, couldnt wait till Tuesday so picked it up yesterday 4/2/11 [payday] had a quick ride on SS then after a bit of messing around with it-fixing lights speedo and better innertubes and rim tape i had another go on it in FIXED ....WEIRED.... but ill stick it out, its just a shame the weather is nasty..
now a quick question .... spds or toe clips+straps. either opinions or referrals to other posts
thanks again :)

advantages and disadvantages for them are the same as every other bike (google it). The reason I dont use them is premature unlipping of spds on a fixed is really dangerous. prefer the simplicity and reliability of a heavy duty nylon strap =D

advantages and disadvantages for them are the same as every other bike (google it). The reason I dont use them is premature unlipping of spds on a fixed is really dangerous. prefer the simplicity and reliability of a heavy duty nylon strap =D

just get some flats with big arse pins and stop being a pussy without holes in your shins

just get some flats with big arse pins and stop being a pussy without holes in your shins

and lose the the advantage of better pedal efficiency?

just ride down hills and stop pedaling altogether

i might invest in some 'Powerstraps' instead of spds a bit cheaper and any shoe can be used...

hello,
the name's dyfed and i live in euxton which is in lancashire.
literally built my first singlespeed from an old townsend mtb frame i got off freecycle.
got a 38t crank from ebay (new) and a superstar components SS kit, plus tensioner when i can put that on (mech hanger issues!)

been out on it only up and down the street to get a feel for it and its mint!. since its god knows how old its got a quill stem which needs changing plus a good clean.

ill have plenty of questions to ask, mostly easy ones or dumb ones!

i also go mountain biking and road riding but the latter on my own or with a mate (not with a club).. i have 4 bikes at present, a racer (raleigh dyna tech), a giant rincon hard tail, a carrera banshee full suspension and now the townsend SS :)

ttfn

dyf

ive never tried spd's. good set of straps definitely beats clips+nylon-bollocks though. i can recommend burro or hold fast

i might invest in some 'Powerstraps' instead of spds a bit cheaper and any shoe can be used...

I recommend quill pedals and clips&straps.

had a quick ride on SS then after a bit of messing around with it-fixing lights speedo and better innertubes and rim tape i had another go on it in FIXED ....WEIRED.... but ill stick it out, its just a shame the weather is nasty..

..what?