Fixed or singlespeed?

and check out the trixie chix thread - sure one of them will let you have a go!

Vic:
I'm not sure what size wheels it has. I'm going to get it from Birmingham. I have to get a train at 7.20 in the morning because it's the cheapest one.
I'm trying to work out what wheels I'm going to get. Cavassing opinion and all that...

fixed or nothing, cornering on a track frame is pure adrenaline fun

Jules, I have a set of fixed/free hubs from a Fuji track - not the best hubs in the world, but they're cheap and virtually brand new... £15

You can get quality rims from about £15 each (Mavic CXP 22), or you can get flash and get involved with the Velocity Deep V's that look the tits (opinion) for about £70 a pair. Then you just have to get spokes and you're set. They're all easily available online.

There are people on this forum that can build wheels for you, or there's a thread about a wheel building/beer session that's set to go down soon...

go for sistemx hubs and cxp 22, they will take a beating, unlike fuji hubs, very famous for breaking, what i'd do is:
Take Sano's hubs, build a fron wheel with the fuji hub,, ebay the rear one and build the rear wheel with any cheap hub, use a good lockring eg dura ace and roll.

it's harder to do backwards circle on a freewheel so fixed all the way. If you have a freewheel go the whole hog and enjoy gears, no gears enjoy being fixed.

fixed is easier than you'd think. do it!

When I built my bike I used a flip-flop hub on the rear (on-one, since you ask...). Tried it fixed... and the freewheel sprocket has never been used since. Seriously, when you try fixed, freewheeling on a ss seems just wrong.

Bah.. I'm having a ball on my ss GT!
It's so under-geared I'm being passed by 87yo grandmothers post-hip op! (until i up the ol' cadence that is).

that's cos the grannies are on the bus.

no, for real: i got a flipflop hub, flipped it after 24 hours and been fixed ever since (about 6 weeks now). i've also give away the freewheel cog (sprocket? my terminology ain't up to much) just this week.

I've got a feeling I'm gonna like it a lot. Just slightly concerned in case I spend the money and then don't. I reckon that's pretty unlikey though.
I think I might get Sano's hubs and follow Stef's advice. Although I will then have to find someone to build them for me

remember, you can still put a freewheel on a track hub..

double fixed. fixed/free. single fixed

all good

RPM remember, you can still put a freewheel on a track hub..

double fixed.

word to that RPM

"if it's not fixed, it's broken"

or it's just a pain in the arse in traffic because you have to use handbrakes all the fucking time

True. I've just discovered the joys of trackstanding in busy traffic.

When I was buying mine about 2 months ago now, I tried both SS and fixed. I tried the SS first and just spent the whole time wondering what fixed would be like. I too was a little worried about making the leap, but it is pretty easy once you get used to it, and that doesn't take long at all. Fixed!!!!!

ok, so lets just rename this forum london fixed gear forum...

Piss off.. I'm riding SS now! :P

wow, you're riding?!

Single speed is faster, fixed is more fun.

really? fancy a race then?

photoben really? fancy a race then?

Down a long steep hill?

touche

Lot's of advantages to fixed, one especially simple and good one in traffic is that you hardly need to touch your brakes at all, also it is safer in wet/slippy conditions. When you start riding just do it slowly on quiet streets and push back to brake - your legs will remember then that they have to pedal all the time. Probably do not get out of the saddle until you feel more confident too, after a while you will feel completely at ease.