[Closed] Anyone ride a fixie/single speed - aka show us your bike mr

I have one or two.

I’ve got a Kona Paddy Waggon. Good fun for short blasts and oddly, great for canal towpath work.

Got a Surly steamroller fixed and a Surly Ogre singlespeed. Only started riding fixed this year and loving it. only ridden geared bike on the road for about 200km of this year's Kilométrage.

Done some epic rides on the fixed that I am proud of. N. Brittany down to S Sebastian in N Spain: 1100 km in 90 something hours including sleeping eating etc. And 270km Clermont-Ferrand to Ales following Stevenson's travels with my donkey route (road version). Both with Chilkoot. Signed up to do their born to ride 2019 N France to St. Tropez via. via. Switzerland and Italy. Looks like I will do the Montgenevre and Izoard rather than the Agnel between the checkpoints.

Love a fixie

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Commuted for 7 years on fixed. Great for that job. Panniers as well so a work machine.  Cost a fair bit - same frame as a Pearson Touche, but from my local LBS. Ritchey WCS bars, Miche chainring and wheels, carbon seat post.

Fully kitted out with guards and it was my all weather bike. So much easier looking after a chain and a single sprocket.

Survived a number of 'knocking offs' and just had a small scratch in the carbon forks lacquer when my back was broken - little bit of G3 and sorted - wish my back was that easy to fix.

It's unfortunately not moved in 3 years - no longer riding to work, or riding on the road. Used to wear through rims in 18 months on fixed...  that much braking needed commuting into Manchester - shows how many idiots there were. Added 'leg' braking made it exceptionally quick to stop.

Done some epic rides on the fixed that I am proud of. N. Brittany down to S Sebastian in N Spain: 1100 km in 90 something hours including sleeping eating etc

Awesome effort!

I love riding fixed gear, makes errand running etc much more fun. Here's my current hack,

And one from the past.

Should be picking up another soon.

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/14202963047_deae3321af_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/14202963047_deae3321af_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/nD4U6e ]Bike pics-2172[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/65471955@N03/ ]CoticJon[/url], on Flickr

2004 (I think) Condor Pista. Done many, many, many miles on it commuting. Just works, minimal faff, minimal maintenance.

I ride fixed a lot and cover most of my yearly miles on this.

My Genesis Flyer, although it's currently in bits.  It has new wheels, freewheel and a new bottom bracket to be fitted as I've killed them using it for the last 4 winters with no maintenance at all.

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Mine started out like this :

Several years on its now got a pair of guards, a vaude post mounted bag pannier type thing and a disc brake on the front...

They make excellent cost efficient, year round commuting tools, mine is probably Doing its last winter as a commuter now, to be moved onto riser bars for use as a pub/town bike and a more general purpose, geared tourer will take over commuter duties...

One for the road, one for the dirt. Came 49th out of 80 in a CX race on the MTB yesterday, and just about managed to not get lapped.

I have an Eastway TR1 for sale in medium if anyone is looking for one pics available £275 posted.

I have a dolan precursa and it's great but before that I had a fixed built out of an old frame, it can be tricky and not as cost effective depending on what works on the donor bike. Here's some things I learned and make a spreadsheet before you start lashing out.

check it's actually 700c and not 27in

check the welds on the frame

check the forks

check the chainline

check the BB and the headset

check the stem and bars

does the seat post move

make sure you have a very good front brake (don't rely on old weinmann brake callipers and old levers, someday you will need to do an emergency stop)

If you are going to ride fixed (which is the best solution for low cost) get a good quality strong rear wheel and it will last and last.

I'd post a picture of mine but it looks pretty much identical to Mister P's one so can't be arsed 🙂

Specialized Langster. Fixed here but currently running it with a Freewheel.

@edhornby I literally have just the frame and fork... which are a bit tired but in largely good fettle.... everything else need a buying...

Been looking around and I've seen someone selling a pretty much unused Bianchi Pista Via for less than my projected costs, but this is about the journey of building, as much as anything... though I keep been drawn back to that "bloody" Bianchi 😐

Loving the pics though guys 😍👍🏻

Love my belt drive SS BMC but looking at a lot of illegal bikes up there as far as the road goes. Comments?

if by a lot, you mean 2?   no need for a rear brake on a fixie, the law counts fixed hub as a brake and so meets the 2 separate independent braking systems rule.

Comments?

Brakes are for fakes

a lot of illegal bikes up there as far as the road goes.

What? - all the bikes posted are fully legal.  I won't post mine as it isn't legal.

no need for a rear brake on a fixie, the law counts fixed hub as a brake

In that case I'm talking out of my arse and apologise.

I thought fixies were for murderous hipsters, after the carry in in that London?.

What? – all the bikes posted are fully legal.

I can see three with no front brake.

In that case I’m talking out of my arse and apologise.

Sorry, didn't spot the first few picture of the brakeless (illegal) bikes, those riders will be going to hell.  The others are fine though.

How is it illegal to not have a front brake on a bike? it's not on the road, so you can be pedantic elsewhere.

For what it's worth I may be evil, but I didn't ride the Bob Jackson on the road without a brake and some wheels with a brake track.

How is it illegal to not have a front brake on a bike? it’s not on the road, so you can be pedantic elsewhere.

It's illegal on the road. It's legal away from public highways, ie on a velodrome and on any off-road trails which don't meet that description. I'm not 100% sure where the law stands on public highways such as bridleways and other ROWs: the legislation relating to brakes uses the term "road" rather than "highway" which suggests it may be legal there.

I think when "illegal" was mentioned above most of us assumed "for use on the road" was implicit 😉

Not mine, this is just off Google Images but (apart from the wheels) mine is pretty much like this. First generation Specialized Langster. More or less a complete overhaul of all the parts on it as they've worn out. I have however had a comuter on it since I bought it (cheapo wired job, had a couple of changes of battery but it just records with no fuss) and it's currently on 74,000 miles. So yeah, had my money's worth out of it!

I run mine SS, riding fixed on the road round mine would be insane.

Riding fixed on the road round mine would be insane

What makes you think that? I ride in busy areas, I don't think the lack of being able to stop pedaling has any risk. Wouldn't do it off road though, (but I remember Kerley does) due to pedal strikes.

I commute on a precursa - flat 6 miles. Superb bike.

Recently took it out for our club hill climb - hilly 40 miles riding between three timed climbs. Horror bike.

So they're precision instruments, IMHO. Overgeared on a climb is merely hard but it's the descents that really suck on a fixed.

I have had quite a few pre cursas as they are almost disposable and probably had about 20 different fixed gear bikes over the last 18 years.  Once the frame gets tatty just sell it and get a new one for £100.  Not the lightest frame but still easy to build a bike up around 7kg for under £700.

At the start of the summer I built this one up (All City Dropout) which was great fun off road (especially at start with 43c tyres) but I got bored of the big tyres and heavier weight

Got a Pearson Touche that I picked up for next to nothing. Flip flop rear wheel, and two sets of brakes. Use it as a nipping around town type of bike.

(How the **** do you put pictures on this god awful software?)

My attempt

the frames a bit big, looking for something a little smaller and lighter.

On-One Pompino, fixed. Not lightweight, but just works, and comfy for longer distance. Not actually ridden it for a while, I need to replace the rim, so rebuilding the wheel now.

I've got one of these - KHS Flite - except mine's matte black, with front and rear brakes, H Plus Son rims and 25mm Michelin tyres. I've done 80km and 100km Gran Fondos on it and as someone mentioned I just love the fact that you just pump up the tyres and it's ready to ride.

Looking at some of these pics I really want to get bullhorns though...

My On-One il Pompino is a single speed, run with a Shimano MTB free hub and uses spaces on the shell.

However I'm getting rig of it. I think things have moved on and I need disk brakes.

I do like running a single speed, but invariably it's a compromise and sometimes I find myself pushing too big a gear into some of the strong headwinds you can get out here in Cheshire, partially if I ride to Liverpool.

I don't run a macho big gear. I hurt my back years ago and prefer to spin.

That's one reason I'm going to a 1 x 11 and disk brakes.

I see some people running massive gears on hipster fixes and feel sorry for them lol. It's not smart and I firmly believe that fixed gear has no business outside of velodromes. It's just not safe.

I used to ride this around Bristol of all places (it's bloody hilly!) for commuting and general getting around. With both brakes on (and SPD's in place of the flats, this was one of the for sale pics).

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Felt dispatch, circa 2007 I think. In fixed mode all the time.

Just incase anyone on here is interested. I have a cheap fixed frame and fork. The generic modern steel type. Good condition in baby blue, suit rider about 5ft 3 to 5ft 6. I would like to swap it for a bigger fixed frame (im 5ft 11) ifpossible. If you're interested pm me.

I regularly ride 225 km around the m25 on my very custom kona paddywagon. I prefer fixed to gears, but you must choose gear carefully. I’m up to four including the carbon Dolan track bike. Next will be a Rourke with tcr compact frame geometry for something a bit special.

To be honest, riding fixed in a group with the club keeps the group smooth and when doing it right, nobody notices the back of the bike looks a bit different.

I don’t run a macho big gear. I hurt my back years ago and prefer to spin.

That’s one reason I’m going to a 1 x 11 and disk brakes.

I see some people running massive gears on hipster fixes and feel sorry for them lol. It’s not smart and I firmly believe that fixed gear has no business outside of velodromes. It’s just not safe.

Most of the students I see on fixed are not turning serious ratios, prob because it's harder to skid stop a big gear, but you do see the odd one that makes you wince for their knees - weedy lads trying to push 100, body movement all over the shop. I think it's like any large force through a joint - done with the right technique and the right load it will make you stronger, but do it badly and you can do some damage. Not sure this is obvious to young lads jumping on a fixed for the first time -  like even the most primitive gym-bro will know if a weight is too big for them to squat, say, but pedalling a bicycle might not seem like it could cause injury on the face of it.

My longest headwind Ride is 125 km back from Dartford pushing 86 inches and no prospect of a lower gear. When cadence goes down to 55 you just grit your teeth.  Crank snapped with 20 km to go!

Most will be riding 42x16. I went to 42x15 for decent long distance rolling rides and 42x14 for medium paced club rides

Those who are commenting on the danger of riding fixed, I assume you are thinking of the no brakes kind? Don't see the risk otherwise.

42-14 is a big gear! 😲 l'll stick with your 46-16 suggestion I think

All of my riding is on 42:17 except for  'proper' cols when I use 42:21 on the other side. 42:17 feels right...and it must be right because the legend that is Thierry St.Léger here in France ALWAYS uses 42:17 Ventoux and all the other major cols included: Simplon, Grimsel, Agnel, Galibier .....  The guy is a legend.

I use a very low gear (61 inches) 39 x 17 - have to have a prime number at the back for maximum skid spots to save on tyres.

Works well off road, on gravel and the rolling ups and downs of where I live but cruising speed is around 18mph on the flats road bits so not going to win any awards on the road and continually get overtaken by road riders, well until we get to a hill anyway.

This is mine - SS rather than fixie

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1939/45196168831_05f55b436f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1939/45196168831_05f55b436f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bRQboc ]DSC_0602[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

The frame and much of the rest of it I have owned for 30 years.  the frame is probably 50 years old.  the frame is sized for tubular tyres which means 7000c fits almost perfectly so it now has modern 700c wheels

I was very suprised how much I enjoy riding it.  Its the complete silence of the ride that is weird.

Can’t face the pain of trying to post a picture. Currently on the most recent version of a Langster, second langster I’ve had, ideal bikes for commute into London which is only seven miles and no real hills. On 68” fixed, don’t really need anything higher for commuting and 68 was fairly traditional gear size for fixed. Now sports brooks saddle and halo wheels I was toying with changing the bars which are some odd sudo-pista shape to normal road bars but can’t be bothered at the moment. Mrs has a Pearson Touche which is also good but a little more civilised with clearance for guards

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Hmm. Not sure if that works. Ex-geary bike built with parts from the shed. 74" for wales riding. Waiting on a dynamo front wheel.

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It's now got gears, different cranks - these snapped, some racier wheels, different bars, saddle and pedals.

It's been singlespeed on and off for mtbing in the hills and a cx race - wobbly 34/16

The dearly departed Bonty OR skip find commuter (spiral crack in rusted DT)

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And me and the mrs's SS mtbs. Mine is the further one. smaller and further away

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@grahamcottingham - you are "mostlybybike" and I claim my £5

We met at Grinduro on Arran this year - I was the guy on the Yeti ArcX with the tins of red stripe 😉

Here are mine - Singlespeed not fixed

Bimbling bike

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Mountain bike

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Some great bikes posted so far. Love my Flyer, so simple. I'll get a pic up

Most will be riding 42×16. I went to 42×15 for decent long distance rolling rides and 42×14 for medium paced club rides

Yep,

I tried 42:14 for a while and I've got a 13t somewhere but ended up going back to 42:16 for "General commuting" duties, the taller gear was OK on the flat, but as soon as I had to do a few local hills (admittedly there aren't many on my way to work) it became a bit of a chore...

For converting it to use as a town bike I'm trying to decide between keeping the old 42:16 (~70 inch) drivetrain or using some spares to drop the ratio a little, I've got an old 104 BCD 1/8" - 32t chainring and a pair of 165mm cranks to go with them, so I could easily have anything from a 50 to 66 inch gear for round town twiddling. Dropping the gear a bit seems like a wise choice for this bike, outright speed isn't the goal, arriving at the pub in less of a sweaty mess is... plus lower gears are easier to skid with... apparently.

I've posted it many times, but here's the Paddy Wagon on it's last #m25ride

Gearing

42x16 = 15 mph

42x15 = 17 mph

42x14 = 19 mph

I spin at about 90 rpm average

I won't bother with the other thre bikes, but Son1 has spent the last three years riding around Southampton on this fixed beauty. Spot the Kona parts

and for anyone that wants to mount mudguards to a Langster, you need a cateye rear seatpost light mount and a bracket...

Currently have a Longitude… had it a year but haven’t had much opportunity to ride it and haven’t entirely decided whether it should be a flat bar MTB (which it is at the moment) or a flare bar dinglespeeded thing (as below) that can double up as a road/green lane hack.

I think what I need is an XL Day One frame or something. I kind of miss road singlespeeding on my old Langster and Cross Check.

48:17 for me. It came as 48:16 which I used for years and years but now I'm old and unfit.

The first gen Langster was a genius bit of kit - highish gear, it was proper racing geometry (it's fine on outdoor velodromes, it would probably get round an indoor one without too many issues but it's not quite pure track geo). The subsequent ones went full hipster with much lower gears, much slacker geometry (hipster fixie round town stuff rather than normal road).

They have done some pure track models which looked amazing but they didn't come with bottle cage mounts.

Andy

What flask is that on your MTB>

Merak -  an old stainless steel Thermos Flask

Cheers!

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Fixed. Sorry for the crappy photo. PS it's not the one with the basket of lavender.  It normally sports a specialized rack bag for commuting.

@nedrapier  SNAP!

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Was running 38/16 with 2in MTB tyres, now has 700X 45 WTB Riddlers and running 40/16, but then again i live in Norfolk. Find i can happily sit at 18mph with that ratio.

They have done some pure track models which looked amazing but they didn’t come with bottle cage mounts.

Specialized latest offering is lovely although a bit pricey for me at £1300 for the frameset

ask umop how much that cervelo frame was 😉 . Will be TT'ing on the Dolan Precursa next season!

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BMC MC01 SS. 55:22 with a Gates drive. Totally silent.

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Cannondale Bad Boy SS with Lefty

Will be TT’ing on the Dolan Precursa next season!

i made the mistake of doing  a ten on the g10/42 on about a 90”fixed - bloody horrible, far worse than gears and  I was racing track at the time so used to fixed

Our local ten is a good fixed course - J2/1 - undulating sort of road with a lot of small gradient changes that can really bleed your momentum. On good legs you can crush it with the fixed, like you're riding over the top of it all. On less good legs it will have you weaving all over the road.

Did my first TT ever there on a pompino running 92 - asked the timekeeper if that sounded about right for the course, to be told '92 is fk all lad' 🙂

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Our local ten is a good fixed course – J2/1

Oh, you live near me. Did I push you off on an open 25  a few weeks ago? Blackenden Lane near Over Peover? There was one fixie rider, absolutely pissed it down with rain.

I use a very low gear (61 inches) 39 x 17

I don't have access to my bike right now but I think I ran a 38 x 18 which was you say it pretty low. This was on a 35c tyres commuting/all round bike which would get used on the TPT and bridgewater canal tow path quite a bit.

It was very good for that sort of riding and I'd only really start to spin out when there was a strong tailwind, and it's a small enough gear to manage even some of the worst westerly headwinds we can get.

On any road riding though you spinning out at anything more than a cruise.

I used to train on a bigger geared single speed years ago and hurt my back badly pushing a big gear. Prob some natural weakness or some other older injury that caught up with me. I like to keep my cadence >80 now.

Oh, you live near me. Did I push you off on an open 25  a few weeks ago? Blackenden Lane near Over Peover? There was one fixie rider, absolutely pissed it down with rain.

No mate, been riding a geared TT bike the last couple of years - just give the precursa a go on the tens once in a while for a change. You do see a decent selection of fixed bikes in the Cheshire TTs - not ridden many 25s so would like to try that fixed next year.

Here's mine, you can have my gears but get your hands off my nice forks and dropper 🙂

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On any road riding though you spinning out at anything more than a cruise.

I find it fine.  I am not that fast so 18mph on the flat solo is about as good as I get and most of my routes only have a mile or so of flat section so I spend most of my time going up or down.  80% of my rides are typically not on the road anyway where the low gearing is even better.

BMC MC01 SS. 55:22 with a Gates drive. Totally silent.

Very nice! No chain stretch either, so you can go with regular dropouts.

Is the big gearing (front and back) necessary for the Gates, or was it more for the magic gear/ correct belt length?

my converted ktm for commuting dutys

Is the big gearing (front and back) necessary for the Gates, or was it more for the magic gear/ correct belt length?

I think its down to the nature of the belt. They do a 20th sprocket for 9spline hubs but thats it, there is a 19th option for a Rohoff. Maybe if it goes through too tight a radius the belt loses teeth?

I ran 43:19 on my old Fixie Inc in Sheffield and the Chilterns - I could climb up just about anything on that with a bit of grunting (as long as I didn't try Winnats or anything too daft), and I can spin pretty quickly. Found I could cling onto club rides for about an hour, but it tired my legs out too much after that,

I don't currently have one built up, but I do have a lovely fifth anniversary All City Big Block I'm curating ( 😉 ) bits for currently - got a Thomson post and stem, Chris King headset and Dura Ace NJS chainset so far. If anyone has a nice set of wheels they want to sell - must be all silver - drop me a PM.

Will post mine when I get a decent updated picture.

Just put a lower gear on for winter base miles, 38x16 on 35c tyres, works out as low 60s gear inches.

Feels great and just what I wanted as it'll be a commuter mostly and used for recovery rides between turbo training sessions. Can just about sensibly maintain 30km/h before it gets silly spinny. Bit embarassing this morning when I got passed by someone on a road bike and tried to give chase, will have to swallow my pride for the next few months I think.

What is a good, go-to wheelset for a 120mm singlespeed frameset? Stock wheelsets (e.g. Mavic Ellipses) still seem to come in surprisingly heavy (1900g?)