Cycling UK Forum

a bit of a weird one - track ends on the frame but set to 130OLN. SJS sold them fairly cheaply maybe 25 years ish ago?

a bit of a trigger's broom for the wheels but the frame lives on. will be braving the worst of 'storm agnes' on it a little later.

summer version.

martinn wrote: ↑26 Sep 2023, 4:14pm As someone is going to say it, it might as well be me.
I like riding my Fixed wheel commuter (Spa audax mono), no worries about what gear or cadence to be in.

I agree, for a simple bike, choose fixed. I like my On-One, although I've had other fixed machines. It looks a bit more battered and time-worn now.

Don't get me wrong, most of my bikes have variable gears, but Richard Ballantine was right that part of the beauty of a bike is in its simplicity, and the simplest of bikes is a track machine. On the road, of course, I feel compelled to add brakes and mudguards, but fixed is as close as you can get to that simple beauty.

drossall wrote: ↑27 Sep 2023, 11:05pm

martinn wrote: ↑26 Sep 2023, 4:14pm As someone is going to say it, it might as well be me.
I like riding my Fixed wheel commuter (Spa audax mono), no worries about what gear or cadence to be in.

I agree, for a simple bike, choose fixed. I like my On-One, although I've had other fixed machines. It looks a bit more battered and time-worn now.

Don't get me wrong, most of my bikes have variable gears, but Richard Ballantine was right that part of the beauty of a bike is in its simplicity, and the simplest of bikes is a track machine. On the road, of course, I feel compelled to add brakes and mudguards, but fixed is as close as you can get to that simple beauty.

marathon winter tyres?

Ooh yes, I'd forgotten they were on for that photo. I've not used them much, living in the south of England. I still have them if needed, but they haven't been for some years now.

old photo of deep winter bike which now also has winter tyres and different wheels. hoping not to have to use it any time soon.

I am in favour of simplicity but I'm not ready to go fixed; one of the joys of cycling is freewheeling down a big hill. So my most used bike has 3 x 9 gears and dynamo lighting, which means cables and wires all over the place – it's not very simple. And it has mudguards and a rack, for practicality. But one simplification move I made to my bikes a year or two ago was to remove all computers. I realised I was no longer concerned about recording mileage etc. I prefer to concentrate on the road and the scenery.

You can do single freewheel of course. Some people even had flip-flop hubs with free on one side and fixed the other, back in the day.

I have had single frees – like most people, I learned to ride on one! – but also as an adult. However, I've never had a good one, only gaspipe with mediocre brakes etc. Not sure I'd get one now – I live in a hilly area, like hills, and fixie riders as well as general press etc always say you lose the "efficient climbing" of fixed by adding a freewheel.

I bought this oddity off a bloke on Gumtree for me to use while I am visiting my Dad in Coventry, it's so light!

Great for a runabout

Traction_man wrote: ↑28 Sep 2023, 9:45pm I bought this oddity off a bloke on Gumtree for me to use while I am visiting my Dad in Coventry, it's so light!

Great for a runabout

IMG-20230830-WA0000.jpeg

big too!

Carlton green wrote: ↑26 Sep 2023, 3:20pm Members might have guessed it already but I’m an advocate of simple bikes, or rather what I find to be simple bikes, and I wonder what others of a similar mindset enjoy.

Bikes are inherently complicated. Two wheels, steering mechanisms...
I have a Pashley Muni for when I feel like a stripped down bit of fun.

Pete.

mig wrote: ↑29 Sep 2023, 10:48am

Traction_man wrote: ↑28 Sep 2023, 9:45pm I bought this oddity off a bloke on Gumtree for me to use while I am visiting my Dad in Coventry, it's so light!

Great for a runabout

IMG-20230830-WA0000.jpeg

big too!

yes it's right on the limit for my short legs!

it'll be transferred to my son for university transport when he goes, and he's longer in leg than me so should fit him fine

My early Giant MTB I bought a year ago for 15€.
Much modified using parts I already had it's my go to bike. Rides really well and not of value to a thief.
I regularly leave it unlocked when shopping or in the bar.

francovendee wrote: ↑29 Sep 2023, 1:20pm My early Giant MTB I bought a year ago for 15€.
Much modified using parts I already had it's my go to bike. Rides really well and not of value to a thief.
I regularly leave it unlocked when shopping or in the bar.

i read that as '15K' first time around