Reason to get a fixie?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Phatboing 113001 wrote:

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.

Do you have horizontal dropouts? They tend to shift a bit and can need re-tensioning every so often. Your chain will “stretch” over time, but probably not enough to be noticeable after a couple hundred miles unless your riding through some serious grit that’s wearing your chain down abnormally fast.

[Phatboing]

@TwoWheelsDC 113014 wrote:

Do you have horizontal dropouts? They tend to shift a bit and can need re-tensioning every so often. Your chain will “stretch” over time, but probably not enough to be noticeable after a couple hundred miles unless your riding through some serious grit that’s wearing your chain down abnormally fast.

Track ends and a tuggnut, which is why this worries me – unless the tuggnut’s loosened and the wheel’s moved. And I think I’d have noticed if the wheel moved, because I have rear brakes that’d be very surprised to find a misaligned wheel.

[jrenaut]

@Phatboing 113016 wrote:

Track ends and a tuggnut, which is why this worries me – unless the tuggnut’s loosened and the wheel’s moved. And I think I’d have noticed if the wheel moved, because I have rear brakes that’d be very surprised to find a misaligned wheel.

Well, there’s your problem. Your chain is clearly offended by the rear brake and is acting out in the only way it knows how.

[vvill]

More on what I mentioned (“runout”) here:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fixed.asp

My “solution” (since I certainly don’t have perfectly round chainrings) is to drop the chain tension a little.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@vvill 113020 wrote:

More on what I mentioned (“runout”) here:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fixed.asp

My “solution” (since I certainly don’t have perfectly round chainrings) is to drop the chain tension a little.

Same. I base my tension on the loosest spot and don’t really worry about trying to get my chainring centered. I’d only worry if that meant having a droopy chain…

[Subby]

Out for tomorrow because all of a sudden my kid feels like visiting colleges.

[Steve O]

@vvill 112861 wrote:

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

I was planning to join with 800% more gears than you guys, but my rear wheel is becoming almost unrideable. New one tomorrow, but too late to make the ride. Sorry.

If I get the new wheel right at 10, maybe I can ride out to the Shake Shack to test it out. Hmmm. Or maybe I mean mmmmm.

[dkel]

So…me and dcv? Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller?

[ShawnoftheDread]

I think I’m out. Completely lacking in motivation.

[dkel]

@ShawnoftheDread 113028 wrote:

I think I’m out. Completely lacking in motivation.

What if I heckle you? Would that help? I could cast aspersions on your virility, for example.

[rcannon100]

@dkel 113029 wrote:

What if I heckle you? Would that help? I could cast aspersions on your virility, for example.

[pptyson]

I’m 50/50 right now, fixed of course duh.

[dkel]

Did it, and I’m not dead. I did walk four(!) times: on N Quebec, 26th, Vermont, and Rock Spring (both those last coming up to the country club). None of my walks were very long; I was able to do about half of the super-steep parts before bailing out. Not bad for a guy in his 40s who has ridden a grand total of 600 miles on a fixie! And I had fun doing it. The best part was all the props I got from the other riders—even while I was walking. Thanks to dcv for suggesting it!

[Steve O]

@dkel 113049 wrote:

Did it, and I’m not dead……Thanks to dcv for suggesting it!

Congrats!! I went to Shake Shack, and f148vr told me you guys killed it. Sorry you didn’t make it for lunch. My shake was delicious, but not as well earned as yours.

[Author]

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