Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bicycle and fixedgear

Can I unfix my fixed gear?

pwally — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:14:27 -0800

I bought a fixed gear bike and I want to turn it into a freewheel and add brakes cause it's gonna be the death of me. I'm also thinking about changing the handlebars to something more just like a flat bar with grips. Is it even possible to make it a freewheel? How much would brakes, a new handlebar and making it un-fixed cost? I'd also like to try and do this by myself if I could... would I just be better off selling it and getting a different one? I've only ridden it about three times because it's been too cold. This is the bike.

What frame and forks should I look out for?

stackhaus23 — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:01:59 -0800

Fixedgearfilter: I'd like to build a single speed bike, but I have no idea what frame and forks to buy. I recently went to San Francisco and while out there I was surrounded by Fixed Gear bikes and they were awesome. I currently ride a 1950s single speed Schwinn and would prefer that setup to an actual fixed gear. But since I've only ever ridden cruisers and bmx bikes, I don't know what frame and forks to buy.

So... I'm 6ft tall and I need to know what kind of used bicycle would make a suitable donor for a frame and what size it needs to be roughly. I'd also prefer straight forks so recommendations for those would be amazing. I won't be using lever brakes so the smoother the frame the better!

Thanks in advance...

Bike accessory advice

dobbs — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:17:56 -0800

So I just bought myself a new single speed bike for my birthday. I'd like to get different bars, pedals, and saddle but need advice... I'm also curious if it's possible to remove the branding decals without damaging the frame... The bike is an Iro Angus that looks almost exactly like this (though that's not my bike), right down to the color scheme, wheels, etc. (though my crank and spokes are black). Also, I currently have no cages/clips on my pedals.

I've found that after riding it for a couple weeks, I don't like the saddle, bars, and pedals too much (I had no problem with them during the test ride), though it's easily the best bike I've ever owned or ridden.

So, I'm curious, how do people buy new items for a bike when either they can't test them (because buying online) or the test is never substantially long enough to determine if the accessory would be a good long-term fit.

I also know nothing about pedals/clips... I see lots of people riding with little rod-like pedals that I assume require special shoes (which I'm not into)--what's the deal with diff kinds of pedal options?

Any recommendations for particular accessories (even those not listed) would be appreciated. Links would also be good.

I'm in Toronto but am willing to buy online.

Thanks!

How can I build muscle on a single speed bicycle?

wfrgms — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:05:17 -0800

48 x 16 single speed... have I topped out in muscle building? First of all - NO - I don't ride fixed gear nor do I want to. I know it's a great way to build muscle but I feel like I'm too heavy for it. Plus I value my joints and general safety...

So, I'm 6'1" and 210lbs and I ride single speed around Chicago's flat streets during my daily commute (short - about 4 miles.)

I've been riding 48x16 for about... gezz... maybe two years? (has it been that long?) I feel like the ratio isn't doing anything for me anymore. I get out of the hole quick (especially when I stand...) but I feel like I top out quick and then just hammer with no real benefit.

My question is this: If I go up to say... 52x16 is this a good way to pump up or is there something else I should be doing (hammer harder, etc?)

My commute is not ideal for training - I'm on city streets for only about four miles each way, but I think it's a good time of day where I could get more of a quick workout. My goal is to continue to build muscle which will help me become faster on road bike rides.

Is it as simple as swapping a chain ring, or am I missing something?

Picking a Fixed Gear Bike

drezdn — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:54:09 -0800

Inspired by Metafilter, I'm thinking of getting a fixed gear bike. Are there any specific things to look for when picking one out? Is it possible to get a decent one for between $100-200?

Buying a Bike

The Michael The — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 07:58:59 -0800

I'm in the market for a new fixed-gear/single speed bike in the $400-$600 range. The Bianchi Pista or Fuji Track seem to be the best bets as far as price vs. quality, but finding good reviews on the internet seems to be pretty "miss" as far as "hit or miss" goes. Does anyone have experience with or recommendations for/against either the bikes above or other similar bikes (Specialized Langster, KHS Flite 100, etc) in that price range? I'm looking for assessments for quality, durability, goodness of ride, etc. Thanks MetaCyclists!