Fixie commuter

[DrJay]

Whilst I understand the fixie aesthetic somewhat, and lust after something subtle but sweet with road bars (perhaps even the van Nicholas Yukon Fixed, will post linky) I can justify a need for a simple commuter that I can leave locked up outside overnight.

So, decent to ride, not flat bars, prefer ability to mount rack and mudguards, not thief magnet.

Lager SE seems to fit the bill, any other suggestions?

[familyguy]

Masi Speciale Commuter seems to fit your bill, but anything new would probably be a glowing thief magnet. And if its outside at night, its automatically a double magnet. Cant remember if the Cell Ciletto or Mallett has rack mounts, but worth a look. Cheap and solid.

Checking second hand sources is your best bet.

Jim

[rkelsen]

As a fan of lugged steel, I like the look of the Apollo Pepper. Masi have a good looking fixed/ss range too.

[Bingis]

Been riding a Lager for about a year now, pretty good bike for the money if you ask me. I've changed out the chain and pedals but everything else is stock and still running well. I do about 50-70km a week on it.

[DrJay]

I like the look of the Masi Commuter, but the paint job screams "nice bike, nick me". The Lager in black is kind of ugly, and could quickly look low rent. There's also someone selling a 56cm Surly Steamroller on ebay for not much in Heathcote, which isn't far from me. No rack mounts, but for that kind of money I can find a way around that... It's just brown, so not too much thief magnet.

[mmhbeer]

Cell Mallet sounds good. Why spend lots of money on a bike thats going to stay outside?

[DrJay]

Well after much debate, and 2 or more attempts to get it past the senate I'll order the SE Lager tomorrow and pick it up on Saturday.

Ref a rack and mudguards: is it possible/reasonable to combine rack and mudguards on the single rear dropout eyelet? Additionally is it OK to use a disc rack on a non disc bike?

[munga]

some mudguards attach to your seatstays with clips, like this:



...or a variation of the theme.

[landscapecadmonkey]

i commute 12 moderately hilly klms each way on a fixed steamroller. Its the only fixed gear bike ive ever riden, so dont have anything to compare it to, but goes great, and was cheap new - about $600 on sale. The only modification im thinking of is a lighter wheelset, which made such a difference on my roadbike.

ones ive seen on ebay dont seem to achieve decent prices. bad for seller. great for buyer.

heres one in sydney on ebay at the moment

[DrJay]

Well, I picked it up on Saturday, but what with the rain, and a flat on the way home from the shop, I've ridden it all of 2km so far. Will put a rack on it on the weekend. It's got Marathon 32's at the moment, but I'll probably have to swap then for some 28's to get guards on it.

I'll do pics on the weekend. Gotta order some black Scotchlite as well.

[DrJay]

I saw that ebay Steamroller, and thought about it for a bit, but decided no.

I'm enjoying the Lager now, after going for a few rides. I've commuted for a week (commute is 13km one way on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, with the bike staying overnight whilst I travel for work), and that's good, but much higher intensity. I've ridden it all the way to Waterfall and back too, that was 55km with about 250m of altitude gain at the mid-point. You do climb fast with one speed if you can climb at all. I left the guys I was riding with on the way up and then waited. The reverse occurred on the way back down.

I've just converted it to fixed on Wednesday, and done 2 days of commuting fixed. It does feel different even when you are pedalling, and tries to spit you off if you don't respect it enough. I haven't really worked out how much I can lean it in a turn before pedal strike yet, so corners aren't exactly worry free, but that will come.

Any advice about riding fixed would be appreciated. I'm out for a ride early tomorrow, probably up the Cooks River to just work on smoothness fixed, I'll see if I'm dumb enough to try some of the hills in Earlwood or Marrickville.

[slidetaker]

Brake shall be equipped before your resistant leg muscles are built up to handle your gear inches and terrain.

Without deraileur, spend more time fine tuning the chain tension.

It it is too loose, you may find the drivetrain becomes sluggish and it may even jump.....
It is is too tight, you waste energy and increase wears on components....

[DrJay]

Brake shall be equipped before your resistant leg muscles are built up to handle your gear inches and terrain.

Without deraileur, spend more time fine tuning the chain tension.

It it is too loose, you may find the drivetrain becomes sluggish and it may even jump.....
It is is too tight, you waste energy and increase wears on components....

Thanks,

I intend on always having at least a front brake, and both for now.

Slowing the bike with your legs is HARD!

So far getting the chain tension OK hasn't been too hard.

Rode up to Waterfall from Kogarah instead. The climb is great, it just goes on and on, but never really steep, the downhills are a bugger fixed though. Gearing is 46:17, so about 31km/h at 90rpm made 52km/h a cadence of almost 150, which I didn't do so well at (bouncy, bouncy).

Climbing hills is fun so far!

[slidetaker]

As the muscles develop, it will become easier and you will be able to initiate the resistance at higher and higher speed....

Psychologically, climbing is the fun part because descending takes more effort, although you can still use the brake if you are beaten....push one leg and pull on the other...hips should be firm but not locked...

It is also fun because you push yourself harder and concentrate better as there is no gearing to help you..

At the end, you will find yourself arriving faster because of the bigger gear inches...

[DrJay]

On the hills I've tried so far, I'm faster climbing on the fixie than on the roadie (disclaimer, both are steel, neither is light). I'll bring it up to Orange thursday week and try my nice ride out to the airport on Friday morning.

[DrJay]

Under lights



With Flash note the black reflex tape lights up nicely!



Now I've just got to get the chainline better sorted, the chainring seems to be outboard of the sprocket by about 5mm, and if the chain is tight, it graunches at one part of it's rotation.

[vaeske]

that's a nice looking bike. Good work!

[BRLVR.v2]

Swap the chain ring to the inside of the crank arms . pretty ordinary if a bike came from the factory/shop with a Shitezen chainline though.

[DrJay]

Not sure if that'll work on this spider, but I'll check.

[DrJay]

It can be done, I'll give it a go.

[BRLVR.v2]

It can be done, I'll give it a go.

Yeah that should be enough to bring it into line . Let us know how u go.

[Golliwog]

Just a warning. Commuting on a fixie isnt too bad but dont get stuck on an uphill at a set of lights.
Horrible

[BRLVR.v2]

Just a warning. Commuting on a fixie isnt too bad but dont get stuck on an uphill at a set of lights.
Horrible

Why? Starting on a hill on any bike is a pain. Direct drive train feels better .

[DrJay]

Commuting on it is fine, been doing it a couple of months now, and my commute is pretty flat. Sightly more hilly one for a few weeks airport to Drummoyne throughout Erskineville, Newtown, Lewisham. A few little hills, but you really notice them with a 10-11kg bike with 7kg in panniers and fixed gear. I really was getting to enjoy that ride.

[DrJay]

Well, shifted the chainwheel and now the chain line is good. I'm worried it will now be out with the freewheel though. I'll have to check. However, from all the pulling at an angle, the chain is stretched, and it's pitch no longer matches the chainwheel. So, back to the shop for a new chain.