Bike porn

riding fixed is overrated, if i told you that straight away you would probably end up going to evans and buying a brompton.
i was just trying to help you avoid that terrible fate without making assumptions as to your character while doing so.
for true enlightenment either the search function or a party of midget hookers with trays of coke on their heads would be a good start (and i don't mean a refreshing carbonated beverage).

Not a complete cunt, then.

Cuntenger.

no, just abitofacuntenger. my mum thinks i'm wonderful though.

Why in god's name would I buy a Brompton?nasty little folding bikes are an answer to a question nobody asked.A pox on them.Actually,a poster named pip,very kindly gave me a few pointers and provided some excellent links.I'm just not sure about how much I'd like the pedals always being in motion whether I like it or not.Does one simply get used to this?What,if any,are the main drawbacks to riding fixed.I ask because you lot speak from experience.I didn't mean to snap at MrSmith,but I thought I was getting a snobby brush-off.I react badly to snobs,(unless,of course,it's me being snobby,which is entirely justifiable).He was probably just being flippant,which is fine.So not a cunt,but maybe an occasional prick,just like the rest of us.Except for Tom Waits,of course.

Actually,midget hookers with trays of choice narcotics on their heads sounds like fun.Do you get a lot of that when you ride fixed?No wonder you're all so keen.

as much as possible.

if Tom Waits had a bike, it would be fixed.

RPM if Tom Waits had a bike, it would be fixed.

If he had a bike, he'd sell it to by alcohol.

And then his classic track "The Piano's Been Drinking" would have been "The Bike's Been Drinking"...

MrSmith riding fixed is overrated, if i told you that straight away you would probably end up going to evans and buying a brompton.
i was just trying to help you avoid that terrible fate without making assumptions as to your character while doing so.
for true enlightenment either the search function or a party of midget hookers with trays of coke on their heads would be a good start (and i don't mean a refreshing carbonated beverage).

I didn't see you at that party.. then again.. I wasn't seeing much of anything that night!

jackcade MrSmith,bollocks.Are you saying that it's an experienc too mystical to lend itself to mere words?I've always considered cyclists in general to be a cut above..more courteous,more articulate than average and more than capable of exegesis.Evidently,you're an exception.Pity.

I don't see anything wrong with what Smiffy said.. anyone can say "well, you can't coast" but to explain why so many people are now riding fixed is impossible.
I can't explain my appreciation for it. It started with riding a little track in Melbourne but riding fixed on the street was more to do with my hatred of maintaining bikes.
I now prefer to ride fixed in the city. It just feels better. Try it. Use brakes.
Also, this is fg and ss forum and plenty of us ride with brakes (me!). We're not all tattooed, mowhawked, brakeless courier types.
You might want to chill out for your first few posts..

fuckin hippies.

Are you kidding?If I chilled any more,I'd be comatose.MrSmith,you took the words out of my mouth.

MrSmith fuckin hippies.

You rang?

Mr smith is right, as unsatisfying as it may be the best thing to do is to just ride a fixed wheel bike and see how it feels. Even after getting one i got nightmares thinking "oh god, the pedals NEVER STOP!!"

But, as soon as you actually get on one these fears go away and it all makes sense. The same could also be said about the cocaine toating miniature ladies of the night mentioned above.

asm, I dunno if you're superhuman. There are certain signs to look out for: a preference for tights over 3/4s is where it usually begins. Wearing a cape in the rain's a dead giveaway too.

When people try my bike, they get a little freaked out: When they stop putting pressure on the pedals and would usually coast, they feel the pedals pushing on their feet. It gives them a feeling that the bike is running away with them.

I've learned that is a good feeling. It reminds me to keep pedalling.

Zen thing? Nah, but you can feel the road under you. When you grab a handful of brake, and the way your pedals feel tells you that your back wheel is about to come off the ground and you better ease off or push yourself backwards. When you go into a turn and you think you're going to fast and with a tiny bit of resistance from your legs you can drop your speed a little bit.

No gears to worry about whether you're maximising your efficiency. Not gears to keep running smoothly to make sure they don't mess up in the rain. The hum of a smooth drivetrain and rubber on road.

Try one out and see for yourself. You might not like it - but you'll know more about it than if you just listen to what we tell you it feels like.

kowalski [quote]RPM if Tom Waits had a bike, it would be fixed.

If he had a bike, he'd sell it to by alcohol.[/quote]

He gave up the booze years ago, when he met Kathleen Brennan, who was to become, and remains, his wife.

stompy When people try my bike, they get a little freaked out: When they stop putting pressure on the pedals and would usually coast, they feel the pedals pushing on their feet. It gives them a feeling that the bike is running away with them.

I've learned that is a good feeling. It reminds me to keep pedalling.

Zen thing? Nah, but you can feel the road under you. When you grab a handful of brake, and the way your pedals feel tells you that your back wheel is about to come off the ground and you better ease off or push yourself backwards. When you go into a turn and you think you're going to fast and with a tiny bit of resistance from your legs you can drop your speed a little bit.

No gears to worry about whether you're maximising your efficiency. Not gears to keep running smoothly to make sure they don't mess up in the rain. The hum of a smooth drivetrain and rubber on road.

Try one out and see for yourself. You might not like it - but you'll know more about it than if you just listen to what we tell you it feels like.

thats a good explanation. going brakeless is the next step in getting in touch with the bike.

dogsballs [quote]stompy When people try my bike, they get a little freaked out: When they stop putting pressure on the pedals and would usually coast, they feel the pedals pushing on their feet. It gives them a feeling that the bike is running away with them.

I've learned that is a good feeling. It reminds me to keep pedalling.

Zen thing? Nah, but you can feel the road under you. When you grab a handful of brake, and the way your pedals feel tells you that your back wheel is about to come off the ground and you better ease off or push yourself backwards. When you go into a turn and you think you're going to fast and with a tiny bit of resistance from your legs you can drop your speed a little bit.

No gears to worry about whether you're maximising your efficiency. Not gears to keep running smoothly to make sure they don't mess up in the rain. The hum of a smooth drivetrain and rubber on road.

Try one out and see for yourself. You might not like it - but you'll know more about it than if you just listen to what we tell you it feels like.

thats a good explanation. going brakeless is the next step in getting in touch with the bike.[/quote]

Word. It's not for everyone, I'll admit that much, but it does make you feel even more connected to your bike. It's nice to keep things minimal.

i had never ridden fixed before i bought a converted road bike with a flip flop hub
thinking i could just ride singlespeed if i didnt like fixed.
i have never used the freewheel and fixed is definately the better way.
i think i convinced myself i would like and then found i actually did if that makes any sense?
as for brakeless, i did it for a week because i did not have a brake lever and then stuck a front one on.
its good to have it for safety but i think i may ditch it one day.

^^^^and that's coming from someone who lives in a city full of hills!

No, a clipless pedal system is the next step to feeling more connected with your bike and then after that, riding hundreds of kilometres is the next step to feeling connected with your bike.

Removing your brakes doesn't connect you to anything, it just gives you less levers to play with.

Was in Brussels at the weekend: DSC_2610.JPG on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This is my newly completed Graham Weigh. It used to belong to Chris Hoy don't ya know! The frame has been sprayed since though, as it was a bit tatty when i got hold of it, plus i managed to get some original decals from Graham Weigh Cycles. Nice. I know some might scold me for respraying an ex Chris Hoy frame, but if it had his name on the top tube i would have left it...but it didn't, so i thought i'd get it looking exactly how i wanted! So there ;)



Everyone needs "SpokeSparx". Yep.

quite a bit of the folding stuff been poured into that beauty :O