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So mulling stuff over tonight and looking at the various contraptions in my Garage it occured to me the crossover between my commuter/fixed pub bike/two speed novelty thing means really they could be smooshed together into a single bike.
The advantages are numerous, one wheelset to maintain, not three, just keep the parts that are most reliable/robust.
But there's a strange, almost sentimental part of my brain that doesn't want to put two more old frames and associated parts out of use (I should flog them really). Do other people get this sort of nonsense, I know it should just crack on and cut back on the waste but part of me is trapped by the idea that I'll definitely ride all three bikes lots even though the last couple of years has demonstrated that definitely isn't the case...
What sort of commute do you have?
One fixed commuter is certainly an option, but it's very commute-dependent ime. I do a flat five each way on a precursa and it's perfect, couldn't choose a better bike, but anything long or with fast descents it wouldn't be my cup of tea.
I used the fixed bike for my commute a little under a decade ago, when it was flatter and I was fitter, current commute is being done on a 1x10 geared road bike as it's got some extra hills, which is fine but I want to simplify things further.
I actually think the frame from the fixed bike (120mm spaced, with a 1-1/8" head tube) swapped to the 2 speed hub off the retro bike (automatix), with a dynamo disc front hub (I've got a spare aluminium disc fork with the right A-C), mudguards and drop bars. That would be ideal for the commute and suit local winter loops.
And if I don't get along with that hub, I could go back to fixed or I've got a sturmey 3 speed and even a 5 speed with drum to maybe try.
At the minute all those parts are sort of spread across three, individually less than optimal bikes...
Build the 2 speed bike up and see how you go. Warning: whenever I try to consolidate I end up buying more stuff!
Yep, just been in the Garage, stripping the fixie was a five minute job, popped the disc forks on, all looks good, I reckon it's a goer.
Warning: whenever I try to consolidate I end up buying more stuff!
Yep I'm going to need a dynamo hub with a disc mount now, no point in a commuter without a dynamo (IMO) and no point in fitting disc forks and not fitting a front disc, hence new front wheel needed, Probably worth buying nice new guards too I reckon 🙂
I will also be looking at better solutions for guard mounting this time, it's previous commuter incarnation used P-clips. Can't decide if I want to (ham-fistedly) drill and tap the dropouts or weld a nut to either seatstay, I'm erring towards the drill and tap option.
I'm going to give myself a soft deadline of late September to sort all this crap out and have an awesome commuter sorted...
When I used to commute, it was on a fixie. This was brilliantly simplistic and cost almost nothing to maintain. I did however ride a geared bike sometimes when I was either tired or wanted a change.
So if you have a geared bike too then I'd keep the fixie and sell the novelty 2 speed.
I do like your ultimate utility bike idea though. I forgot that I also had a Croix De Fer that I adapted for commuting. It had a Sora groupset, full guards, rear rack, front dynamo and lights. It was a brilliant tool but lifeless to ride so got rid after I changed jobs. I actually still have the XT dynamo hub and lights.
So if you have a geared bike too then I’d keep the fixie and sell the novelty 2 speed.
I've done the fixed commuting thing, it was great but my commute now has more hills to go up (and back down) and it will be year round, the 2 speed hub makes a bike that's more of a single speed (with a FH) and a bail out climbing gear. The problem is that hub doesn't really suit the bike it's fitted to currently and it will easily fit on the fixed bike (both are 120mm spaced, slot dropouts).
The current 1x10 geared commuter has been good for several years, but I have other Geared bikes if I do want a change on a sunny day and the current fixie and 2-speed have really gone neglected. Plus maintaining one less gear dangler appeals now.
Also the fixie frame is the only one that's not got a 1" head tube and it is actually the best fit for me too. there's some quite good reasons to return that frame to commuting/winter duties and offload the others before I'm tempted to assemble yet more bikes out of them.
I think my plan strikes a suitable balance between the bare minimum maintenance needs of a fixed bike, and the convenience/comfort of having some gears, what I'll end up with is a lazy person's single speed essentially, and if I really want I can still shove the fixed wheel back in or go the other way and slap a Sturmey Archer 3 or 5 speed in for more gears...
The whole thing just works (in my head at present).
I just bought a new bike so i could consolidate some old bikes...
Had 5 MTBs, bought a new one, now only have 3.
3 FS (XC, Old XC, ancient 26" enduro), 1 winterised, 1 hack.
To 2 FS (New long travel XC and XC) and a 26" LT hardtail (forks off the ancient enduro, frame from my stash in the attic) plus spare winter wheels, 26".
Cleared up a shed load of floor space, and almost puts my stash of attic frames into double digits.
Also got enough spares now to build (at least) 4 bikes.
Commute fixed? On one bike? Rookie. I have errr numerous; fixed commuter, fixed without guards (rucksack needed), 20" folding fixed with rear pannier, and of course a 16" folding fixed that takes a Brompton front bag.
I do have a nice Boardman CX bike as a geared commuter for winter. Cheap with a decent old Dura Ace groupset (what was that about buying new parts?). I never ride it. Just fixed and the nice road bike.
If you like fixed you need the SA S3X hub; THREE not two gears, and still fixed.
Nah I've done fixed, time for a slightly more practical bike, just using the same frame...
You’ve never “done” fixed. First club ride on the titanium one last night. Still feeling the glow. The 16” folder this morning is hard!
Just stick a normal SA three speed in the rear dropouts instead.
Consolidating bikes (3 into 1)
The only real reason people do this is so they have the justification in their heads to buy another bike.
What they do next is slowly think up reasons for buying additional bikes and the 'cycle' continues.
Sorry, but that's the stark reality 😉😂
Just stick a normal SA three speed in the rear dropouts instead.
It's an option but I would like to try staying "shifterless" first.
Just ordered a SP PD-8 off Spa cycles as it was on a heavy discount, looks like my dynamo disc hub is sorted, I have a couple of braking options in the spares box.
My only things now are maybe splashing out on some nice new guards (Bluemels perhaps?) and looking at the frame and fork dangling from the stand last night, they're both boring black, fine for keeping a commuter annonymous looing and not drawing thieves attention, but I do enjoy a nice rattle can session or a bit of 80's style spattering, Hmmm...
I also need to think about improving the dynamo cable setup, flat cables an option? Hidden (not a fan of internal though), maybe using the frame as a conductor? (still needs at least one separate cable)... The current commuter has various bits of wire and connectors zip-tied on which is "functional" but not pretty.
The only real reason people do this is so they have the justification in their heads to buy another bike.
What they do next is slowly think up reasons for buying additional bikes and the ‘cycle’ continues.
I'll be left with surplus frames and parts after all of this is over, and I really don't want to keep building more bikes, riding them is actually more fun. Once they're stripped I reckon I'll be offloading those frames to try and head off temptation... Fancy one? 😉
You’ve never “done” fixed.
I have, 20 years since my last fixed went. After having a series of them over ~15 years. Track, hill climb and road. Rode them all over the north. Even some of the stupid hills.
They're in the same head space as single speed. A head space i have no real urge to re-enter. I mean, why would i. My gears all work. I even exclusively used gears on my last two or three hill climb seasons. Just tweaked the (single) ring size based on the course.
Update:
Blimey this little project is growing arms and legs now.
So I've built the Dynamo hub up on a rim and quickly, hooked it up to the light on my existing commuter gave it a spin to confirm it functions.
Drilled and Tapped holes for the guards to mount to, rubbed down the old paint and tickled away some rust with a dremel.
I looked at the jumble of wires zip ties on the current bike and having stripped the fixie frame I've now figured out I can route dynamo cabling almost fully internally, I can route the wires inside the downtube to the BB and have them split so a pair goes up the seat tube and out through a hole I've drilled in the top of the seat post, under the saddle, the other pair I can actually split and route one wire inside either of the chain stays then pop those out a vent hole near the dropouts (for the guard mounted light).
The only thing I have to decide is where to drill the frame to get the cables into the downtube, I'm thinking I'll either drill a hole in the side of the downtube, a couple of inches back from the Headtube junction, or (bear with me here) in the font of the headtube (closer to the back of the headlight where they'll attach) and then route the cable inside the headtube, around the fork steerer and into the end of the downtube. the latter option is definitely more faff and I might need to 3D print some sort of channelled internal guide to minimise rubbing or shearing of the cables on the steerer/frame, but there is space and it's doable I reckon... I'm favouring drilling the Head tube at present, I'm sure there will be some opinions on the idea.