OT- Bicycle frame building, from earlier thread.

[Ash]

When I saw the title of the thread I was so tempted to add another project to my list - a super-low bike. Leaning forward really far, I can't remember the names of the ones that are already made, I don't think they have gears. I wanna make one like the Tron lightcycles, but just a frame, with single gear (basically an elongated bmx), I bet it'd be great downhill 😀

 

[drewbarb]

Ha! Bikes, cameras, coffee and beer. These are my main passions, too. D- looks like a really lovely bike- kudos!

There was a time, before I became a photographer professionally, when I wanted to build frames for a living. I still build wheels regularly for friends, local racers, and the odd iconoclast (I'm running out of my stock of late 80's American classic hubs! Only two sets left 😱 but they build up strong and light!).

Cameras are a given here, and coffee, well, let's just say that you'll never find a can of pre-ground or a drip machine in my house. But I've been brewing up a storm of beer lately- just opened the first bottles of this year's Yuletide Ale (low-hopped, and spiked with a little orange, ginger and clove) and I will pop the latest Porter tonight. It, too, is hit with a little ginger- I went crazy with a nice piece of fresh root a few weeks ago. If anyone wants a sample let me know 😉

All my friends and family are getting nice silver prints and/or home-brew this year- and if anyone here will be in Louisville anytime soon, let me know and we'll get together and shoot some pictures, have a few beers, and maybe take a bike ride.

 

[Mohan]

Fixies are awsome, ive been planing to do a conversion for a while, some day.......

 

[dpetrzelka]

drewbarb

I love those American Classic hubs-- I learned to run an analogue lathe, and machined some of my own hubs that are closely modeled on the Micro 58 that AM makes-- I used a little different ABEC7 sealed bearing in mine-- but paired with the 350 rim they used to sell (no longer sell separately as they couldn't get it approved w/o eyelets) its a very fast wheel. The wheels I built for the fixie use the eyeleted version of the AM 350 rim.

I still have to find all my chemicals so I can get the three rolls I just shot with M4-P developed.

-D

 

[drewbarb]

Dan- I'd love to see your home-made hubs. Did you use aluminum stock or some other metal? Care to post (or PM) some pix?

 

[zoar]

Richard Sachs is one of my heroes (I only have three years to go before he builds mine!).

The Serotta Forum is a great place to discuss all things bike. Some extremely knowledgeable folks.

http://www.serotta.com/forum/index.php?

It seems that lots of people like photography and cycling (and audio). I think Grant Petersen of Rivendell is a rangefinder guy.

 

[bobkonos]

Yes, Grant has and uses several Bessa L cameras, particularly for the cover photos used on the Rivendell catalogs.

 

[visiondr]

I love bike talk as much as the next guy, but I have a question. Why do people like to ride fixed gear bikes in the middle of the city? They're designed, after all, for use on a track. How the heck do you make an emergency stop! I just don't get it.

Ron

 

[bobkonos]

I love bike talk as much as the next guy, but I have a question. Why do people like to ride fixed gear bikes in the middle of the city? They're designed, after all, for use on a track. How the heck do you make an emergency stop! I just don't get it.

Ron

Because there is no freewheel and therefore there is no coasting, the legs can act not only as the accelerator but also the brakes on a fixed gear. So by forcibly slowing the legs you slow the bike. For stopping gradually this works fine (one must anticipate the upcoming stop sign or light). But for a panic stop, the legs will lock up the rear wheel (crash) or not (crash). So I use front and rear brakes on mine, and while I use the front one and my legs to slow the bike, having both brakes is nice. As for why people (usually messengers) or others ride fixed gears without brakes in urban environments, all I can say is "ah, youth." But with brakes and no iPod distractions, fixed gear in a city is an efficient and neat way to ride.

 

[KoNickon]

Well, I understand the theory behind a fixed-gear bike, as bobkonos articulated it, but I see no reason why it can't be a single speed freewheel, especially if you're going to mount brakes on the bike anyway. I do know fixies help develop "soupplesse" (sp?) but if you're not racing this isn't critical. The lack of a derailleur for simplicity is sufficient benefit, I think.

 

[drewbarb]

I started to ride fixed while living in NYC. At first, I just rode one of my geared bikes, but I found I almost never shifted gears from the one or two mid range speeds. I realized it would be easier to carry a lightweight bike with no gears and only one brake up the four flights to my tiny apartment, so I built up a pared-down lightweight beater bike. I use a flip-flop hub, and started with a sinlge speed freewheel on one side, but with more experience, I began to like to fixed gear more and more. It's a great workout, for one thing, and I love the simplicity of the machine and the way it works.

Now that I live in a small midwestern city, I still ride it, and doubt I'll ever give it up. Besides, my cadence and the suppleness of my stroke is much improved, and I notice I ride my geared bikes more efficiently. Every cyclist should give it a shot, IMO.