Reason to get a fixie?

[dcv]

@dkel 112933 wrote:

18T cog is on the bike. An initial ride up the very steep hill that is my street indicates the new gearing is much easier. Going to try my commute in for the late shift shortly: I have a feeling 18T may be too low in the long run.

Try 41st St, anything else on the ride is easier than that.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@vvill 112861 wrote:

The official Shake Shack Tri360 event is up:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1405664823075722/

Here’s the route last time I did this edition of the ride. Note that you go back to the shop before heading to Tysons, so if you don’t want to do the Shake Shack part you can depart after the usual 22 miles.
http://www.strava.com/activities/251657948

I’m gonna say “maybe.” Due to some issues outside my control, I haven’t gotten a real ride in weeks, so my legs are a bit soft. But I think I’d at least be able to stay ahead of the sweep, even running fixed. This all assumes I am able to make it…

[dkel]

Now that I’ve done my W&OD Falls Church -> Vienna commute on the new cog, I’ll say I’m officially “in” for Saturday. 46/18 is mighty spinny for my taste: even on a gentle downward slope, it’s pretty easy to feel like I’m going to go crazy with all the spinning. Climbing, OTOH, is pretty nice: this climb seemed easier today, and I could have gone on climbing.

@dcv 112940 wrote:

Try 41st St, anything else on the ride is easier than that.

I won’t be able to get out to 41st St between now and Saturday: too much work!

[Subby]

I am going to give this a shot, I think. I’m on 47×16, if I counted correctly. Could that even be right? Who knows. That’s too much detail anyway.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Subby 112963 wrote:

I am going to give this a shot, I think. I’m on 47×16, if I counted correctly. Could that even be right? Who knows. That’s too much detail anyway.

Probably 46×17 if you’re on your State with the stock chainring.

[dkel]

@dkel 112948 wrote:

46/18 is mighty spinny for my taste: even on a gentle downward slope, it’s pretty easy to feel like I’m going to go crazy with all the spinning.

I think all my spinning out on the way into work yesterday was because of the tailwind, which is pretty rare for my commute out. I had headwinds on the way home, and never felt like I had to spin too much.

Still in for tomorrow!

[dcv]

@vvill 112861 wrote:

The official Shake Shack Tri360 event is up:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1405664823075722/

in

[vvill]

I’m out, sorry. Had a silly spill this morning departing coffee club and need to rest up a bit.

[ShawnoftheDread]

What happened? Not enough cake to keep your balance?

[Phatboing]

Taking this conversation in a totally different direction, do chains have some sort of ‘break-in’ stretchy period when riding fixed? My chain was taut, but not that taut (you could press down on the top to displace it about 10-15mm) when I started out, but a couple hundred or so miles later, it’s gone a bit slack. Not disturbingly so, but just enough that I can feel the dead spot while I’m pedaling.

And yeah, I’m out tomorrow, because my legs are sore from fighting crosswinds and headwinds all the way down to Mt Vernon and back.

Despite that, I chose the fixie over the Colossal this morning. I think there’s a special hell for that, where all you feel is dead spots in your pedal stroke.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Have you checked that it’s the same amount of slack all the way around? That is, have you checked it at several crank positions?

[Phatboing]

@ShawnoftheDread 113002 wrote:

Have you checked that it’s the same amount of slack all the way around? That is, have you checked it at several crank positions?

I … think it’s the same. It’s felt the same to my legs, at least (I wobble the cranks at stops because I’m a child who can’t stop fiddling with the thing that seems slightly broken). You’re thinking maybe a link’s going weak? Or the rear wheel’s misaligned?

[vvill]

Chains do stretch (especially at first), but if it seems inconsistent across the chain it could well be your chainring.

Chain rings are not always made with the best tolerances – which is one reason why a nice track chainring costs more.

Check your wheel in the dropouts too, I guess?

[vvill]

@ShawnoftheDread 113000 wrote:

What happened? Not enough cake to keep your balance?

Not exactly sure, but my bike started tipping over rather quickly (while I was clipped in, and not pedaling). I didn’t clip out in time and stuck out my arm at the last second. Quite possibly a wet manhole cover. Other things I would like to blame other than my own clumsiness include: wearing different clipless pedals than my last x rides; gawking at coffee club bikes; going from a left side to a right side front brake; subconsciously attempting a trackstand.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Phatboing 113006 wrote:

I … think it’s the same. It’s felt the same to my legs, at least (I wobble the cranks at stops because I’m a child who can’t stop fiddling with the thing that seems slightly broken). You’re thinking maybe a link’s going weak? Or the rear wheel’s misaligned?

Maybe the chainring isn’t centered perfectly. I think Sheldon brown covers this — something about loosening the chainring bolts a bit and tapping the ring to move it away from tight spots. I’m having this issue with mine but haven’t gotten it worked out to my satisfaction.

But if it’s the same tightness all the way around, then maybe your wheel has just slipped a tiny bit.

[Author]

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