Fixed wheel groups - winter 06/07

[huw williams]

A proposal to add a fixed-wheel group to the ACC saturday club run has been muted.

Admitedly this was muted at a very drunken ACC social bash where there was plenty of big ideas on various subjects, but I think this idea has legs.

A few members already have fixed bikes and occasionaly show up on the regular club run on them, but it would be fairer all round if there was a dedicated group. (It would also be safer for the non-fixed fraternity riding amongst them).

Initially we'd probably do it once a month or once a fortnight to see how it goes. Myself and Simon Smythe will lead it (no it won't be fast in the winter) and it'll be the same route as the club run which is well hard on a fixed believe me!

Anybody interested? Post your names here and let's see if we can get it rolling, if we can get half a dozen out it'll be awesome.

[Matt Robbins]

I'm in and out of London every day on my fixie (sold my soul and traded my steel Paul Donahue Fixie for a Langster), so would definatly be up for this...

It would have to be fairly steady for me as the whole cause of my most recent injury was attempting the Belach and general Highland epics on a fixie in June...now that was stupid!

Great idea though...how bout we do it brakeless....just kidding!

P.S. Anybody looking for a Fixie should take a peek at the new Pearsons road model...attempts to address the problems (not that there are many) with the Langster.

[higg]

I'd give this a go especially as a fixed only group.

I'm in, was planning on using my fixed for CRs for some of winter to improve my fitness, rather than just Sunday spins.

Having done it myself I would recommend a trip around the CR route when you have some spare time to check your gear. I did a CR on fixed the other week and having been round a few days before knowing I would be alright with the gear I was riding meant I could enjoy the ride without any concerns of what might lay ahead.

[quote]Anybody looking for a Fixie should take a peek at the new Pearsons road model

[Mike I]

I rode my fixie on the CR for most of last winter and intend to do so again this year, so count me in.

Definitely a good idea to do a 'dry run' first if you are new to it; that said, I've managed ok on anything from 64" to 74".

If you want to know why it's a good idea, check out this site:

[url]http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html[/url]

[huw williams]

I think Condor also do a really awesome one if anyone wants to buy one from new.

I think the romantic ideal of a 'fixed' is to either convert something else into one or pick up a frame second hand for cheap. The beauty is once you've got one set up you should never have to spend any money on it. If you use it thorugh the winter there are no complex mechanics to get wrecked and it saves wear and tear on your good bike every time you ride it in bad weather.

And of course the training benefits are imense.

Anyone requiring wheels should also check out 'The Wheel Shack' who advertise in the back of CW. Alf Webb builds them by hand very quickly and reasonably priced.

I'd advise a gear between 64 and 68 but Simon rides a 72! - its not the uphills where you struggle its spinning fast enough on the downhills.

I wouldn't advise doing the sprunt at Charlwood but the Dual Carriageway through-and-off will be interesting on fixed

[Will]

Yes, the Condor Pista looks nice

[img]http://www.condorcycles.com/bike_pics/Pistawithpanel.gif[/img]

[Dr Frigo]

Seeing all the cool messenger bikes in Stockholm made me want to build myself one. Retro steel frame, low chrome bars ... I'm sure you could find loads of cheap parts at the type of jumble sales they have at Herne Hill.

[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/mossieur/2%20SSWC06%20Friday%20Stockholm/066fixie.jpg[/img]

[Elliot M]

Not on your life but I did like the look of these Bianchis which I saw a lot of in New York

[img]http://www.bianchi.it/common/products2007/images/Road_RC/Y7BA5.jpg[/img]

[Matt Robbins]

If it's fixie porn you want there's a whole top-shelf full here:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

...Not that I would waste time at work browsing such a site

[Dr Frigo]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1865665,00.html

[sid_day]

I'm up for this.

We'll have to start a new thread just to discuss gear ratios tho!

[url]http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html[/url]

I think you meant mooted, as in it being a moot point.

[Matthew Ives]

I've riden a fixed on the CR's for the last couple of years in the off season.
I found it a mixed bag really.
Not entirely sure if there really are any benefits from using a fixed.

I used to go out with the 19mph group and I got very fustrated at being dropped on the downhill bits and then chasing to get back on. So each week I'd up my gears.

In the end I went out with the training group several times on a 90" gear. I found getting up the hills on the CL route was suprisingly easy even on such a big gear, but then again I do like to push a big gear anyway.
Most of the time I'd be out on an 85" gear, which seemed about right for me.

[huw williams]

Excellent, looks like we've got more than enough to give it a go.

Probably start towards the end of October to give fixed virgins a chance to get bikes, familiarise themselves with the demands of riding them, or do any work which needs doing to existing bikes.

[kieran]

I might be up for it too, but as the bike is a track bike I would have to think about mudguards for the bike, which has very tight clearances, how to carry water bottles and pump also as the bike has no fittings for these. Question: would everyone have experience of cycling in a bunch on a fixed - all done a session in a velodrome?

Unless I finally do something about the ancient BSA frame I found in a skip which still needs love and attention (and wheels, chain, seatpost, brakes, saddle etc)