RedBike
New Member
- Location
- Beside the road
Everything you wanted to know about 'fixed' but were too afraid to ask.Twenty Inch said:Blonde
How do you convert an old bike with forward-facing dropouts to a fixed? It's been a long-term plan of mine, and any tips would be welcomed.
Even I have those days, and I only do office work! I have started on a 72 inch gear - that's a 48 tooth chain ring and an 18 tooth sprocket. My way home is 13 miles and mostly slightly uphill all the way, with the last 1.5 miles or so all uphill and with a steeper bit towards the top where I live, and I manage it fine on 72" even when tired. Note that it is easier on a fixed to turn a slightly larger gear than you usually would on a 'normal' bike on flat ground, and on all but the steepest of hills you also get a lot more for your effort, as there is no 'dead spot' that you have with a free hub. If your commute is very hilly or there are any very steep hills, you may want to use a smaller gear, but you will also then need to brake more on the descents.oldgitofkent said:I worry because if i have a hard day at work ( maintenance fitter at large cement works) i sometimes use low gears for going home. Whats A nice size ring and sprocket?
Get a fixed/fixed flip-flop hub and you can (depending on your dropout capacity) run two different rear-sprockets. You can get up to a 4 tooth difference in size on some frames though that's a fair difference in gearing so probably just add a tooth or two. You could also run single-speed on one side. Let's you freewheel the downhills (if you have any) - they are the biggest pain in the arse when you're tiredoldgitofkent said:I worry because if i have a hard day at work ( maintenance fitter at large cement works) i sometimes use low gears for going home. Whats A nice size ring and sprocket? I
I’ve currently got 3 Fixed Wheel Bikes a pre war track bike Higgins. A new build 2016 Jarvis Flying Gate and a Surly Steamroller. Rode the Surly most days it wasn’t raining. Fixed wheels as well as being good fun are a great way of maintaining cycle fitness as specially as one gets older (I’m 72) was recently involved in an accident Broken Pelvis hip and Collar bone. Currently I’m unable to swing my leg over a bike so am looking out for a 56cm Mixtie Frame to build up as a FW to aid recovery when I reach that stage.
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