fixie on the road today

stuf

just got my money pit fixie on the road this weekend and had my first rides in earnest today:



just getting used to the ride today but had a hairy moment at the custom house at lunchtime. Was gunning along and suddenly the instinctive part of brains said "freewheel" - before I knew it it my right foot was out of the toe clip and I was speeding like a one footed mentalist down the road with my left leg going like crazy on the pedal - luckily I managed to recover the situation without any tarmac being kissed.

Gory details:

• 23" Dunelt 531 frame
• formula fixed/free hubs 36h
• Mavic A719 rims
• DT Champion Spokes
• San Marco Rolls saddle
• M-ighty 44t crankset
• Miche track sprocket 18h
• Ambrosio bars

Although I didn't reach a zen-like state of oneness with my bike today (that I noticed) I did have a big silly grin on my face for much of the day - is that the same thing?

I also managed to cycle the 2 miles home without hitting a red light - was blissful

Morgan

Bar tape?

stuf

when I sort out brake position the bar tape will be on it - it's waiting in the wings...

blorg

Nice bike stuf. I'd stick on bar tape (and consider a second lever, even if a dummy- simply for the hand position) Your current lever is pointing up a fair bit more than normal BTW, I'd put it further down the drop. Personally I would find straps very hairy for use around town- I use combination SPDs/flats myself which give the best of both worlds.

EDIT: Ah, I see you are still working on lever and bar tape. Generally regarding the lever the flat bit of it should be flat with the ground, so that it forms a sort of continuation of the handlebar.

stuf

handlebar position has been changed a bit since the pics were taken - flatter on the top which gives me better support. Still deciding on the drop brakes or a cyclox/bmx trigger on the flat - I think the latter's going to win but competition is still open.

for the moment I'm more comfortable with the clips for the fixie - makes more sense in my head. Got spds on the other bike and again the jury's still out on that matter - as the commentator said "I can see pros and cons for and against"

It's all a big adventure really - now I just need to develop dreads and a snear

fish-head

Bice nicycle, stuf. I really like it! The colour of the frame is cool and I love the massive tyres.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Nice job.

stuf

cheers fish-head - I think I might move down to 28mm tyres - they're scary big those ones and they really fill the chain stays. But the tan wall for the retro look is definitely a permanent feature

unionman

Very very very nice bike.

Zen:D