No longer a hipster!

[jazzkat]

Well I've fettled my bike a bit more and have replaced the track bars with some proper shaped road bars, re-taped them and while I was at it put the back brake and proper levers back on. I also upped the gearing by one tooth on the back so now running 48/18. (this bike has changed more in six months than all my others in as many years lol!)
Before you all jump in and start with the told you so's..........The difference is fantastic.


I'm much happier being able to ride on the drops and have two brakes under my fingers rather than have a 'suicide' lever on the top that I can't reach. I've got hoods now, so I have another hand position as well. The gearing has helped, I'm no longer spinning out at 20/21mph on the flat and I have a bit more confidence to let the bike have its head going down hill, safe in the feeling that I am properly in control.

So experiment over, normality resumed...and anyway at 44 I'm too old to be a hipster, actually I'm old enough to know better

 

[Boris Bajic]

Excellent post.

A demonstration of how easy and cheap it is to make significant differences to the ride and ergonomics of a simple package.

But don't throw out those SPD espadrilles!

 

[jazzkat]

SPD espadrilles!

Hmmm, they sound great have you got a link?

 

[jim55]

i too have been through a similiar process ,im 44 as well and when i ran fixed i tried it with one lever on the flats for front brake ,seen the light now ,,44*18 ss and both brakes and proper hoods and bar tape ,MUCH better

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I never was a hipster. Nor a tragic cockwomble neither.

 

[jazzkat]

As much as I loved the stripped down look, I feel so much more secure and so I am riding faster, especially down hill.
I might have to fit white tyres or something to regain some 'hip' points

 

[SS Retro]

Any pics of the new improved non hipster machine?

 

[jazzkat]

Any pics of the new improved non hipster machine?

Strangely, no!
I'll try to remember to stop and take a piccy next time I'm out on it.

 

[jazzkat]

There you go @SS Retro

Can't remember what changes I've made since the last pic. But from new I've changed tyres, bars (twice!), saddle, chainring, bottle holders (on my second set after the first set had a habit of throwing my bottles out on bumpy descents), chain and rear sprocket (twice).
I'd like to put some lighter wheels on it, but I'm going to have to stop spending money on it

 

[Norry1]

I've just done very similar and now doing a lot more fixed riding. I'll pop before/after pics up shortly.

 

[Twelve Spokes]

Lovely bike.

 

[Norry1]

Mine has gone from this .....

To this .......

With new handlebars, tape, and brakes with hoods .....

Not so pretty but much better to ride.

Martin

 

[jazzkat]

I think it's all in the mind, we get focussed on one aspect i.e. the 'brakeless look' and think it looks worse than it is, yet in every other way it's so much better.
Sometimes function over form is the way to go!
@Norry1 your bike looks great to me!

 

[Fixedwheelnut]

Sweet bike have you got a link to those saddle bottle cage holders?? Cheers

 

[SS Retro]

Like them both, the saddle mounted bottle cages look quite cool if they were silver elites it would look nice and retro.