SS Fashion or Function?

[derrick]

Bought mine for a winter and commutting bike, have done 2 weeks commutting on it so far, and it's a treat to ride a bit of messing around to get the right gearing but i think i am there, a quick wipe down at weekend and a bit of lube on the chain, ready to go again and it's so quiet. it also looks the part.

 

[Chris-H]

I have been at the curious stage of fixie/ss for a couple of months now.Wondering if i'll enjoy the experience,trying to decide if fixed or ss would be more suited to my riding style and location,which is semi rural and a bit hilly.I love the look of bullhorns and feel they would be ideal for a relaxing pootle on a Sunday ride offering acomfortable riding position,i also enjoying playing with bikes etc.Absolutely nowhere in my thoughts has fashion appeared.After xmas i'll be looking to buy a vintage Bianchi to restore and fettle with but am still trying to decide on the gearing side of things.I have to admit to admiring the fashionably fixies of late and i do like that look for a bike but i dont want to own one.

 

[smokeysmoo]

but am still trying to decide on the gearing side of things.

Stick a flip/flop hub on the back then you've got the best of both worlds.

The two I've had, (still got the Fuji), both came with flip/flop hubs, but TBH apart from a quick test ride when they were supplied set up as SS I've never ridden it anything other than fixed, in fact I've taken the freewheel off mine now completely

Either way though gearing can be a pain to get right, but at least cogs don't cost very much, (and are easy to change, see Rotafix vid). In fact my current one was very kindly donated to me by Pennine-Paul of this parish for the cost of a s.a.e.

 

[Chris-H]

Stick a flip/flop hub on the back then you've got the best of both worlds.

The two I've had, (still got the Fuji), both came with flip/flop hubs, but TBH apart from a quick test ride when they were supplied set up as SS I've never ridden it anything other than fixed, in fact I've taken the freewheel off mine now completely

Either way though gearing can be a pain to get right, but at least cogs don't cost very much, (and are easy to change, see Rotafix vid). In fact my current one was very kindly donated to me by Pennine-Paul of this parish for the cost of a s.a.e.

Cheers for the info Smokey,a flip flop sounds like the best route for my needs,i take it one side of the hub is fixed and the opposite is freewheel?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Cheers for the info Smokey, a flip flop sounds like the best route for my needs, I take it one side of the hub is fixed and the opposite is freewheel?

My pleasure, and yes it's exactly that, there's some more info HERE.

You can even have different ratios on each side, maybe a 16T fixed cog on one side and an 18T freewheel on t'other, what ever floats your boat really until you suss your ideal ratio for your terrain

 

[Chris-H]

My pleasure, and yes it's exactly that, there's some more info HERE.

You can even have different ratios on each side, maybe a 16T fixed cog on one side and an 18T freewheel on t'other, what ever floats your boat really until you suss your ideal ratio for your terrain

Thats certainly got my mind set on which direction to take with the gearing now,just have to get xmas out of the way now and find my project bike

 

[smokeysmoo]

Thats certainly got my mind set on which direction to take with the gearing now,just have to get xmas out of the way now and find my project bike

Referring to your earlier post #62, you do mention your desire for a vintage Bianchi. There's nothing wrong in that, but be advised that 'vintage' bikes have different hub spacings, and unless you 'cold set' the frame, (and fork?), you won't be able to fit a modern wheel.

It's not hard to do as long as you take your time, but they so say you should only ever cold set a steel frame, NEVER an aluminium one. I have cold set an alu frame from the early 80's without issue once before, but I was careful to brace all the joints and I went even more carefully than I would on a steel.

For more info on cold setting, AASHTA

 

[Chris-H]

Referring to your earlier post #62, you do mention your desire for a vintage Bianchi. There's nothing wrong in that, but be advised that 'vintage' bikes have different hub spacings, and unless you 'cold set' the frame, (and fork?), you won't be able to fit a modern wheel.

It's not hard to do as long as you take your time, but they so say you should only ever cold set a steel frame, NEVER an aluminium one. I have cold set an alu frame from the early 80's without issue once before, but I was careful to brace all the joints and I went even more carefully than I would on a steel.

For more info on cold setting, AASHTA

Ahh there might lay my problem then,might have to choose one or the other with the gears maybe,not sure i want to be altering the frame geometry in case i want to put it back to original.

 

[jim55]

cold setting is just a fancy way of saying bending the stays to fit!!nothing technical or anything ,you arent messing about with geometry ,just altering the rear spacing (usually by about 10 mm or so .i just used a bit of threaded rod a couple of big washers and bolts ,i cant stress how easy this is (and nothing to shy away from).
i felt the same until i tried this myself ,steel is a lot more forgiving than u think,just dont try alu or carbon lol

 

[Chris-H]

cold setting is just a fancy way of saying bending the stays to fit!!nothing technical or anything ,you arent messing about with geometry ,just altering the rear spacing (usually by about 10 mm or so .i just used a bit of threaded rod a couple of big washers and bolts ,i cant stress how easy this is (and nothing to shy away from).
i felt the same until i tried this myself ,steel is a lot more forgiving than u think,just dont try alu or carbon lol

Can the process be reversed if so wished ?

 

[jim55]

yeah ,,no prob its usually just ss/fixed have a narrower hub than most geared bikes ,honestly ,its no biggie

 

[smokeysmoo]

Can the process be reversed if so wished ?

+1 for what Jim has said, and if I can do it anyone can

 

[Chris-H]

yeah ,,no prob its usually just ss/fixed have a narrower hub than most geared bikes ,honestly ,its no biggie

cheers for that,i'll go with that then as the last thing i want to do is alter the frame for a flip flop then change my mind and want gears back but unable to reverse the process,and the old Bianchi's are steel so no worries there

+1 for what Jim has said, and if I can do it anyone can

Another confidence boost to give it a go,cheers mate

 

[apb]

My OLD Spacing on my frame is 126mm. I just bend the frame to fit the hub that is 120mm wide. Initially i used washers, on the outside of my lock nuts, to fit that space. But i found my rear wheel would slip out of alignment.

I'm not sure if this is the same as jim has mentioned but what i would like to try is take off the lock nuts from my hub put the washers on and then put the lock nuts back on this should give me the correct spacing without bending the frame. Not that it's a big deal. I haven't tried this yet as it's not on my list of priorities just yet.

 

[Old Plodder]

....what i would like to try is take off the lock nuts from my hub put the washers on and then put the lock nuts back on this should give me the correct spacing without bending the frame. Not that it's a big deal. I haven't tried this yet as it's not on my list of priorities just yet.

No problem doing that, just make sure you redo the locknuts up tight.