fixie!

[juliet]

So, I have spent this afternoon building New Bike; specifically, fixed-gear New Bike. And just now took it for its maiden voyage round the park. And didn't fall off, and only forgot to pedal a couple of times :-)

It still lacks its own front wheel (currently borrowing the Cheviot wheel), and mudguards, and a rear brake. Also at some point I need to swap the SPD pedals from the Trek on. Plus the bars need to come up a bit which'll mean a new brake cable (I was hoping to salvage the old one; ah well). But it goes, and it stops, and I built it myself!


Half a bike:


Chain & rack on:


Whole bike!

Comments

[babysimon]

Cool!

[juliet]

I am *ridiculously* pleased with myself. I have never built a bike before!

Off down the river with the Bermondsey Collective tomorrow for proper test; hopefully I won't screw up & fall off the towpath or anything :-)

[lnr]

Go you!

I'd be scared of one to be honest. Though a single-speed with freewheel would actually suit quite well in Cambridge

[juliet]

So far (touch wood...) it actually seems less scary than I'd anticipated. If you forget to pedal the bike reminds you pretty quickly. Major problems are: stopping (I'm used to putting my weight down & freewheeling while I stop) and bumpy bits (cannot stop pedalling whilst hoisting bum out of saddle!). Stopping is easier if I'm leg-braking rather than just using the front brake.

Proper try-out tomorrow...

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

ooooh!! pretty!!

YOU MADE A BIKE!!

[catsgomiaow.livejournal.com]

Hahaha I had to read the post twice before I got all of the science bits.

Yes be careful on that towpath, there ;)

[lovingboth]

Isn't having a brake cheating? :)

But gosh, two new fixed gear bikes on my friends list in a couple of months...

[juliet]

*Not* having a brake is a) illegal & b) really bloody stupid :) (the jury is I think out on whether *technically* speaking leg-braking counts as a rear brake but it def doesn't count as a front brake. Anyway I will be putting a rear brake on when I get hold of a caliper!)

Fixed is v popular, not to say trendy, these days... Although my move is prompted primarily by the fact that I wanted a new bike, am broke, & fixed = fewer parts to acquire & much easier to build up.