Cycling Thread

[Coys1882]

Can't coast on a fixie but can on a single gear right? Only difference?

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Can't coast on a fixie but can on a single gear right? Only difference?

Single speed as a freewheel clutch. A Fixie is a fixed gear that moves with the wheel at all times like a tricycle. That is the only difference.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Isn't a SS just a fixie without any of the benefits a fixie provides?

What benifiets can a hipster crusier offer better than a SS ? Their called track bikes for a reason that technology should have just stayed in the 1890's. Most of the shops here most popular sticker they sell is "One less Fixie"


Edit. Fixies are garbage. They usually run no brakes then end up rear ending you at a bottom of a hill (7 Times so fare in the last 5 weeks). And 90% of them walk their bike up a hill here. If I wanna walk something up a hill I'll take my dog, but hey as long as your hip and It looks good outside of the locale cafe.

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

What benifiets can a hipster crusier offer better than a SS ?

Speed.
A fixie is always pushing you.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Speed.
A fixie is always pushing you.

Not really,You could just run a different gear combo on a SS and get the same result.

You could "coast". Your feet would just follow the pedels without using any force. I see most fixies don't even run breaks. The only benifiet is wearing out your knees faster from braking.

[TSXCman]

I think I just locked down a 2012 Scott Sportster 10: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec030909

Been in contact with this guy in the past and he wanted close to new price because he doesn't ride it. We came to an agreement of $950, which is higher than I'd like, but it is a top component bike.

Also, I'm bad with saving money and not using it to enjoy myself, so it'll be nice to finally have it in my garage.

[AcGold]

I've got an old gary fisher bike; a 1999 kaitai I think http://lumin.us/msr/forums/kaitai/katai_side.jpg

I want to take it in to a shop and get it all fixed up and maybe get some new tires. Any advice on what things I should get done to it to improve the performance or what tires are good? I primarily ride on the roads but also ride a little on some trails around nosehill. I've got about $500 to spend and basically want to make it indestructible. Going down curbs seems to be the most impact on the tires and I ride it pretty hard but don't want really beefy tires that slow me down a lot. Also; I know very little about bike tech. The bike is very well built so I don't want to get a new one.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Isn't a SS just a fixie without any of the benefits a fixie provides?

No, it's a maintenance free bike with a free wheel so you can coast down from time to time.

What great benefits do fixies have?
That you can do a track stand at red lights?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

No, it's a maintenance free bike with a free wheel so you can coast down from time to time.

What great benefits do fixies have?
That you can do a track stand at red lights?

Some people (even non hipsters) like the connection to the road, the ability to slow down by slowing your feet, etc. That works if you never need to go up or down any hills whatsoever. Maybe some of the crazy downtown cycle messengers like that. They are even more maintenance free than single speeds as some don't even have any brake mechanisms. You just pedal backwards.

For everything else, a fixie is totally inefficient and cumbersome.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I've got an old gary fisher bike; a 1999 kaitai I think http://lumin.us/msr/forums/kaitai/katai_side.jpg

I want to take it in to a shop and get it all fixed up and maybe get some new tires. Any advice on what things I should get done to it to improve the performance or what tires are good? I primarily ride on the roads but also ride a little on some trails around nosehill. I've got about $500 to spend and basically want to make it indestructible. Going down curbs seems to be the most impact on the tires and I ride it pretty hard but don't want really beefy tires that slow me down a lot. Also; I know very little about bike tech. The bike is very well built so I don't want to get a new one.

Bike is 15 yrs old, $500 is a lot to pump into a bike of this vintage. you likely can no longer get parts for that suspension fork, good quality tires will run you $50 to $100 each ($30 if you go with a low end Kenda).

Lots of mixed messages in your post - you ride hard, but don't want beefy tires that slow you down - you ride mostly on the street with some trail/nose hill thrown in.

Take the bike to your LBS and have them have a look at it and see what they recommend in terms of what needs to be fixed. You can likely get a bike of equal value for a $1,000.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Bike is 15 yrs old, $500 is a lot to pump into a bike of this vintage. you likely can no longer get parts for that suspension fork, good quality tires will run you $50 to $100 each ($30 if you go with a low end Kenda).

Lots of mixed messages in your post - you ride hard, but don't want beefy tires that slow you down - you ride mostly on the street with some trail/nose hill thrown in.

Take the bike to your LBS and have them have a look at it and see what they recommend in terms of what needs to be fixed. You can likely get a bike of equal value for a $1,000.

That might not be totally unreasonable. I did a full overhaul on my 2000 Rocky Mtn, and kept only the rims, handlebars, pedals, and the seat. I put about $650 in upgrading from a 24 speed to a 27 spd (no other choice). New sram x0 and x9 gruppo, and some Surly forks (didn't like the cheap Jett suspension it came with, and wasn't interested in forking out a lot for new ones (pardon the pun).

I did everything myself, but I find it therapeutic in a way, and I personally liked that frame style and size.

[AcGold]

I have considered getting a new bike but I really have no idea how far $1000 goes these days and the Gary Fisher is just so solid I don't want to buy a new bike only to have it be lower quality. This Gary Fisher has survived hellish weather for a decade and still rides really well. If I could get an obviously better bike that can handle a beating for a decade I'd get it.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Wormius

That might not be totally unreasonable. I did a full overhaul on my 2000 Rocky Mtn, and kept only the rims, handlebars, pedals, and the seat. I put about $650 in upgrading from a 24 speed to a 27 spd (no other choice). New sram x0 and x9 gruppo, and some Surly forks (didn't like the cheap Jett suspension it came with, and wasn't interested in forking out a lot for new ones (pardon the pun).

I did everything myself, but I find it therapeutic in a way, and I personally liked that frame style and size.

Exactly, If you like the bike you have Its never a waste of money no Matter How old the bike is. I'm Bike collector tho so I'm a little biased. One of my favorite onrs I had was An original CCM . It was before they were Canadian Cycle and Motor Co. This one was From the 1890's When CCM was Cleveland Cycles and Motors. They owners moved the company from Cleveland and founded CCM as to Remain the Majority Influence of cycling manufacturing In North America as they owned most of them In the states.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Rode powder face creek in Bragg creek today, what a waste of time......trail was terrible. Very rocky, lots of uphill and a few stream crossings.........what a disappointment as I was looking forward to the ride all weekend.

Thanks for posting - I was considering doing this one this week and now I won't bother. If you're looking for some better options, the trails around Moose Mountain were all-time this weekend. We shuttled the DH trails on Saturday and it was hero dirt all around. I'm thinking of breaking out the trail bike and trying a Sulphur Springs > Pneuma > Special K > Ridgeback > Tom Snow lap on Thursday if the weather holds.

The trails around West Bragg Creek are awesome as well, but with all the recent rain they're a gooey mess and WBC gets REALLY crowded on evenings and weekends.

[bossy22]

For AC

This all depends on how much work your bike needs of course. 10 years old...if you've really ridden it well. You will need a new drivetrain. So Cassette, Chain, bottom bracket and new crankset (You just NEED chainrings, to upgrade would be minimal and I'd rather get rid of the square taper bottom bracket, which means a new crankset.) You should change out your cabling, inspect your brake pads, etc. It's a 10 year old bike. I wouldn't put a ton of money into it. Just a quick look on chainreaction, you can get all of these in a slx/deore mix for under $200. This will allow you to keep your existing shifters and derailleurs. Add some specialized fast track tires or Kenda Small Block 8's for another $100. They're fast tires with some minimal grip. So $300 to keep it going. If your fork needs work, then that can be another issue. Usually easy to fix...if you can find the parts. A new, GOOD fork costs $$$.

Remember everything trickles down when it comes to components. What was XTR last year, is this years XT, and so on. I know you say what the bike has is high end, but now a days, a mid grade setup is better than what a higher end setup was 10 years ago.

[AcGold]

It's not exactly high end but has two huge benefits to it; it's built extremely solid and the fork/frame/tires are all still perfectly straight and I can get it to very high speeds with zero wobble without a tuneup for over 4 years. Secondly it looks kinda goofy and the paint job is tacky so people are unlikely to steal it. What it needs most is a better gear shifting component and a new chain as well as cleaning supplies and cleaning the wheel bearings. The fork still works and seems to be fine. Will check out the slx/deore mix, thanks

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Exactly, If you like the bike you have Its never a waste of money no Matter How old the bike is. I'm Bike collector tho so I'm a little biased. One of my favorite onrs I had was An original CCM . It was before they were Canadian Cycle and Motor Co. This one was From the 1890's When CCM was Cleveland Cycles and Motors. They owners moved the company from Cleveland and founded CCM as to Remain the Majority Influence of cycling manufacturing In North America as they owned most of them In the states.

I had an old 1984 Ritchey P-23 that I regret selling. I loved that bike. I did sell it to Fransky at Bow. He collects Ritchey's and I know it's in a good home, but I do miss it.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I had an old 1984 Ritchey P-23 that I regret selling. I loved that bike. I did sell it to Fransky at Bow. He collects Ritchey's and I know it's in a good home, but I do miss it.

Cool stuff. I only have 8 in my collection right now. A hand built Firebike Fluid that i made into an electric chopper, 1940 Colson flyer, A 1938 Sunshine, A Dyno Von Franco, A Phat Coach, Meilie Last Call , 1964 sears Spaceliner and a 1970 Schwinn Swing Bike.



Edit : I'm trying to find a 1955 Huffy Radio bike right now. I was close to getting one but got out bid at the last moment.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Redliner

Thanks for posting - I was considering doing this one this week and now I won't bother. If you're looking for some better options, the trails around Moose Mountain were all-time this weekend. We shuttled the DH trails on Saturday and it was hero dirt all around. I'm thinking of breaking out the trail bike and trying a Sulphur Springs > Pneuma > Special K > Ridgeback > Tom Snow lap on Thursday if the weather holds.

The trails around West Bragg Creek are awesome as well, but with all the recent rain they're a gooey mess and WBC gets REALLY crowded on evenings and weekends.

i'd like to take on boundary ridge in west bragg......i sometimes get frustrated riding out in the bragg creek area as it seems the trails are generally a little on the rocky side, with some gut busting uphill sections.

my favourite trail remains tunnel loop in banff........

[AcGold]

So I bought tools and supplies to do some maintenance on the bike. I think I am going to get a new fork soon too, willing to spend $500. The old Rockshox Judy C's are durable as hell but I'd like to do an upgrade with something better but also equally durable. To me durability is number one, I want my bike to last another decade.