Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial
General => General => Topic started by: F4celess on 02 October 2018, 08:33:11 pm
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Anyone ride one?
Am very surprised how cheap complete bikes sell for new. Ok so there's no expensive derailleur, plus a much simpler drive system, no or just 1 brake, however there can't be alot of value placed on the frames either?
Would like some guidance please on what to look for?
Just a bike for training through the winter would be nice, plus these could be an interesting option.
A work colleague (cycling fanatic) when i asked about these did say you are cheating if you go for a flip-flop hub, as that's free wheeling - and not a "true" fixie! :lol :rolleyes
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You really don't want to be riding a fixed wheel for general use,you'll soon be pissed off trying to get up long inclines etc.there's a reason experienced cyclists use gears,ok they may be lighter and less complex but they're basically track bikes for ovals and if you start using these on the roads you'll get buckling wheels, frame fractures,etc,etc,they're built for a purpose.Just get a half decent touring bike,your mate will advise you.
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They're illegal to use on the road, or anywhere off track anyway, highlighted when that young arrogant shit killed that woman and got banged up for it.
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Front brake must be fitted to make a fixed wheel machine legal to use on public roads.
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:agree
Brakes are required
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For a start. Ride what you like and ignore what the mamil's say. Do you really want to listen to a man that shaves his legs, that takes the padding off his seat and stitches it into his pants?!
I ride a single speed bike around london all the time. It has a comfy seat and bars. Front brake and coaster brake which I built into the back wheel. It's super light and quick. It also freewheels.
It's so light I can ride from one side of london to the other (often 4-6miles) no sweat.
The only reason I use a single speed is so i can lock it up in central london and not worry about bits being nicked. I fitted the front brake at the beginning of the year after that guy got prosecuted.
I'll post some snaps later.
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^ like that first line. :lol
Yes, a brake is featured on those I've been looking at. Could never consider ANY mode of transport that didn't have a brake! :eek
The better equipped ones have the flip-flop Hub, to switch from permanently fixed, where the pedals spin permanently, to free-wheel - where you can coast along and the pedals stop spinning when you do. The latter for a Fixie novice sounds safer, although the pro's will say fixed, so they force the pedals to stop and skid the rear wheel to slow down......
Am interested in these because of their simplicity, price, VERY light, plus they promote excellent spinning skills, which is a great technique to master for riding long distance, on geared bikes. My colleague also said not good for LONG distance, best on flatter routes, with limited hills.....
London plus Cities you can understand how these have become popular. Alot of Stop-Start traffic, mostly flat terrain, nimble, plus as Bretty states, less to get stolen off it too!
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Custom build your own. I bought wheels and frame off ebay. Cheap and light was the criteria. No brand stuff. Initially £50 all in, then another £30 tinkering. I love it!
Mine:
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Can you tell me why the front brake is on the left handlebar? I have never seen a "fixie" before.
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those bikes are all about looking cool. how can removing gears and brakes improve a bike :lol
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Brakes on left because I'm left handed and they are not very grabby.
It has a back brake build into the wheel (pedal back) But generally less components means less bits to get stolen, break and maintain. Also less weight means more speed and easy uphills so I don't need gears!
My bikes live outside in full view of the main road in London. Anything good gets knicked!!
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This is the bike I built for the missus.
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I've watched a few friends fall off fixed wheel bikes at the track - when they forget that it doesn't freewheeland they lock up the back wheel and then fall off. Lots of scraped thighs, knees and bruises - and that's on a smooth indoor track with one way traffic, no cars/buses and no pedestrians or animals.
To ride a fixed wheel bike on the street is daft, to ride one without having your feet clipped into the pedals is asking for broken feet and shins......in my opinion.
I love riding a specialist fixed wheel bike at the track, but would never ride a bike with no freewheel capability or decent brakes on the road in commuter traffic.
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Go for whatever 'single-speed' you want, fixed or other, a flip-flop gives you time to get used to fixed without permanence, fixed can play havoc with knees and with fitness! So it might help having an option. Ignore the Shoreditch beard brigade telling you what you 'must' do.
A decision that might guide you is if you want full muguards or clip-ons over winter to keep things a bit cleaner/dryer?
Plenty bikes around these days, beware some of the bigger brands jumping in with over priced new bikes.
This would do it:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SE-Lager-Single-speed-fixie-Road-Bike-56cm-Frame/292749668389?hash=item44293d7025:g:BK8AAOSwuVtbr23s
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Also don't be tempted to go too thin on the tyres. If you think the roads are bad on a motorbike, try riding in the gutter on a push bike! Thanks to the buses there are loads of jumbo pot holes, dodgey ironworks and road markings. In traffic you can't always avoid them or dive round them. I also run Michelin puncture proof tyres. They are a bit heavier, but never punctured and means I don't have to carry any tools.
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Also don't be tempted to go too thin on the tyres. If you think the roads are bad on a motorbike, try riding in the gutter on a push bike! Thanks to the buses there are loads of jumbo pot holes, dodgey ironworks and road markings. In traffic you can't always avoid them or dive round them. I also run Michelin puncture proof tyres. They are a bit heavier, but never punctured and means I don't have to carry any tools.
Bretty, many thanks for your last post. As a cyclist who regularly rides in London you have highlighted my biggest gripe with London cyclists - UNPREDICTABILITY !
We all know the pot holes etc will not be fixed overnight if at all in the future....it's London.
However when you and others are cyling along at say 15 - 20mph and "dive around" pot holes etc you always tend to dive to the right.........in front of traffic from behind travelling at 30-35mph...or even faster.
As I hope you understand, this unpredictability of cyclists is extremely dangerous and life threatening. What grinds me the most is that when this "diving around" occurs and the biker, car driver etc. slams on the breaks and hits the horn (quite rightly) the vast majority of cyclists take offence and quickly flick the finger and mouth off, oblivious as to what they have done considering they are the only road users who apparently use the roads correctly at all times. I've lost count of the number of rows I've had and have been tempted countless times to just kick the cyclist into the gutter.
Now if I was Mayor of London, I wouldn't demand all cyclists pass a proficiency test, have insurance or even a bar code tatooed on the back of their necks (although this would be helpful).
What I would do is ban all cycles with skinny wheels that are not up to the job of riding in London with it's road surface obstacles. In it's place I would allow only fat bikes to be used in London - this would allow any pot hole to be taken without the need to "dive around". Picture of fat bike below with suitable tyres for London and even the electric option.
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What I would do is ban all cycles with skinny wheels that are not up to the job of riding in London with it's road surface obstacles. In it's place I would allow only fat bikes to be used in London
Great idea! Force cyclists to use tyres with masses of extra rolling resistence, rather than fix the roads...
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What I would do is ban all cycles with skinny wheels that are not up to the job of riding in London with it's road surface obstacles. In it's place I would allow only fat bikes to be used in London
Great idea! Force cyclists to use tyres with masses of extra rolling resistence, rather than fix the roads...
They cycle partly to increase/maintain fitness so this will help. Any comment on the rest of my post which you appear to have swerved ??????? Clearly you don't ride your motorbike in London so are blissfully unaware....."Rolling Resistance" - Jeeeesus H.
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They cycle partly to increase/maintain fitness so this will help.
Clearly you don't cycle...
And, yes I've ridden in London, but as I also cycle, I know that sometimes cyclists have to make sudden changes of direction to avoid pot holes, broken glass and other crap on the road, so I give them plenty of room, just as the Highway Code says (which, BTW, includes motorcycles...)
Rule 213
Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make.
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I know that sometimes cyclists have to make sudden changes of direction to avoid pot holes, broken glass and other crap on the road, so I give them plenty of room, just as the Highway Code says (which, BTW, includes motorcycles...)
Cyclists need to grow a pair. They need to cycle in the roads like we all did when we were younger and, to avoid the need to swerve suddenly, look further ahead to give time to react in a timely manner rather than at the last second without looking, ride further out into the road to start with, to avoid the worst of the potholes etc and follow the highway code
The average cyclist these days does none of the above. The ride in teh gutter or on the path. They swerve without looking behind them and they ignore roadsigns and traffic lights.
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They cycle partly to increase/maintain fitness so this will help.
Clearly you don't cycle...
And, yes I've ridden in London, but as I also cycle, I know that sometimes cyclists have to make sudden changes of direction to avoid pot holes, broken glass and other crap on the road, so I give them plenty of room, just as the Highway Code says (which, BTW, includes motorcycles...)
Rule 213
Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make.
As we are referencing London you're right I don't cycle in London - the commute is 50 miles.
I give them the same distance I give parked cars - one car door length (as per highway code). This apparently is not enough for most who as BB implied simply don't give a flying fook about anyone else....look ahead and you can "dive" to the left or at least have the time to look over your bloody shoulder for once.
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Bretty, thankyou for posting pics, also for the great ideas on a self build Fixie. Certainly makes for a more rewarding project, when you know every component you hand picked, plus built up yourself. This is the route I'm planning to take (no pun intended). :thumbup
An interesting debate on cyclists plus how they do / don't ride properly has ensued. :) The state of our UK roads doesn't help the lycra clad two wheelers.
Theres plenty of pot holes that are bad enough to ruin car tyres/suspension, let alone a thin spoked cycle wheel that happens to ride into one. The cyclist should however see these ahead as a hazard and carefully plan to avoid them smoothly (just as we avoid hazards we spot on a motorcycle, by planning ahead). Instead of swerving last second and almost causing an accident - in reality though.............. :)