Talk:Fixed-gear bicycle

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From single speed bicycle

If you ever look at the bikes that couriers ride around cities you may see that many of them use a single speed road bike that doesn't even have the ability to coast, and often lack one or both brakes! These are also single-speeds, but are more properly called a fixed-gear, or "fixie" by most enthusiasts. If you go down a hill too steep you better make sure you don't get scrambled legs. If you want to slow down you actuallly have to pedal slower. Riders tell me if you time the reverse push you can lock the back tire up at full speed, which might do you some good. Fixies are more strenuous to ride, and their riders like it that way. Road racing cyclists often use a fixie as a training tool to help develop a smooth and fast cadence, or 'spin'.

Contents

[edit] Chain tension

People keep submitting different mechanisms to adjust chain tension so I tried to organize it a bit. It almost seems like there should be a chain tension article. Would you folks mind if I forked some of this over there? Drewish

I'd suggest that it stay here. While all bikes do have to maintain chain tension, it's really only an interesting issue on fixed-gear bikes. I think a discussion of chain tension would make much more sense in the context of this larger article, than all alone. My suggestion - which I just might implement now - is to give more context to the beginning of the "conversion" section (what is it we're converting, and why?), then make a subsection about chain tension if need be. CDC (talk) 16:31, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I agree that chain tensioning should stay in the fixed gear article. It is a problem unique to fixies. Cacophony 05:57, Feb 12, 2005 (UTC)


[edit] Fixed wheel not fixed gear?

Can we agree that the correct term is 'fixed-wheel' (opposite of 'free-wheel') and not 'fixed-gear'?

Buffalo Bill, former London bicycle messenger & Chair, London Bicycle Messenger Association

Never heard a fixed-gear called a fixed-wheel. Perhaps it's a US/UK English thing? --Christopherlin 00:28, 18 Jun 2005 (UTC)
If you wanted to get technical, it would be a 'fixed hub' (compared to hub which contains a freewheel). I have never heard of them called "fixed wheel", and the authorities (FixedGear Gallery, Sheldon Brown, Fixed Gear 101) all refer to them exclusively as fixed gears. The term fixed-wheel implies that the wheel does not rotate. Cacophony 18:24, Jun 18, 2005 (UTC)
I think it must be a yank thing. To me 'fixed gear' means the same as 'single speed'. Not all fixed wheels are fixed gear, otherwise what do you call 3 speed hubs which do not free-wheel? Buffalo Bill, former London bicycle messenger & Chair, London Bicycle Messenger Association
I believe 'fixed-wheel' is a British term, while 'fixed-gear' is American. Fixed-wheel bicycle and Fixed wheel now redirect to this article. SyntaxPC 06:14, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
It would be difficult to have a general consensus understand that "fixed-gear" specifically means a bicycle with any fixed-gear ratio and not specifically a track set-up ridden on the road which is what this article generally describes excluding that single-speed bicycles are considered "fixed-gears" almost everywhere outside of the US. Edits made to this definition are contested and reverted pretty quickly by track/fixed-gear ethusiasts alike. At this point, this article could be simply merged with track cycles as a term for road-ridden track bikes. --radiokillplay 05:01, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Fixed gear means that the crank and rear wheel always turn in sync together. Thus, they are "fixed" together. Or affixed. As on a track type bike. Thewalrus 23:56, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

I also have heard the term "stiff hub" used. This dates to the early 1960's in Southern California and may or may not be limited to that time or place. As I recall, this was used in reference to the hub itself and not the whole bicycle, as in "A track bike has a stiff hub." Wschart 21:34, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Merging Track & Fixed-Gear

Even if I agreed that a single-speed isn't a fixed-gear and conceded with your definition entirely, the article is still mergable with track bicycle. The only notable difference between the articles is the specification that "fixed-gear" often refers to road bound bicycles rather than velodrome and a section on converting multi-speed road bikes to a track-style road bike. Don't you think that would qualify for a successful merged article or do you think a track bike and fixed-gear are different enough to require seperation? --radiokillplay 16:03, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

There is definitely a lot of redundant information in the two articles. Lots of people ride actual track designed bikes (Bianchi Pista, etc) on the streets here. Merging the info into one article, with a subsection for modifications made for off-track riding (front brake, etc) might be a good idea. Technical subsections within the article could be used to define track-specific equipment and parts that are common to both types of bikes. Some of the equipment used solely for track riding is rarely seen on a street (NJS certified Nitto track bars, Japanese steel keirin frames, carbon fibre front time-trial and rear disc wheels, etc). Perhaps if the article had two photos at the top as a side by side comparison of a dedicated purpose track bike, for example, one of the Australian national team's high end carbon fiber sprint bikes, and another photo of a steel road frame converted to fixed gear with brakes positioned underneath it?

for example, real track bike: http://www.businesscycles.com/graphics/bstone_red_hed4.jpg fixed-gear conversion: http://www.phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/fixed-gear.jpg Thewalrus 01:51, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

now that I think about it some more, it might be best to have 3 photos at the top of the article - track sprint bike (keirin design), track time trial bike with disc wheels and aerobar (4km TT type), and steel urban fixie. wikipedia copyright policy allows us to use images released for promotional/advertising material, so it may be possible to grab photos from the LOOK or Bridgestone websites to illustrate the difference between Sprint and TT. Thewalrus 02:01, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Agreed. I think the distinguishments definitely deserve to be pictorially at the top. What I do think would be awesome though is if we could pull pictures with consent from Fixed Gear Gallery because people often take up-close vanity shots which would clearly show the mechanical differences. There is a good variety of bikes there too.
Another plus side to merging the articles is the inclusion of "mcfixies". They're kind of an odd-mark between track-intended bikes and sort of a pre-built conversion depending on brand and make for instance the Bianchi Pista Concept or Specialized S-Works Langster versus the Bianchi Pista or Specialized Langster. As track bikes become more popular for personal use, every major brand I can think of has produced a pre-built track bike with quasi-road geometry and parts.
I would also like to see more details distinguishing between track, road, mcfixie, and keirin parts. For instance, the chaintug is something commonly seen on Keirin bikes to adjust tension precisely but it's really rare on road conversions.--radiokillplay 23:14, 2 June 2006 (UTC)
I don't agree that they should be merged. A fixed gear bicycle is all about the mechanics of the drive train. A track bike is a fixed gear with a specific type of geometry. A roadster is a specific type of sports car, much the same way that a track bike is a specific type of fixed gear. Cacophony 23:51, 3 June 2006 (UTC)
Then merge track with fixed-gear. The same issues still apply that there is a lot of redundant information with the only difference being the current fixed-gear article is constructed to define a track bike for the road either as a mcfixie or conversion (which definitely then places fixed-gear as a subcategory more than it's proper place). I'm all for the fixed-gear article speaking of all things with a fixed-gear-ratio.--radiokillplay 14:06, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I'm against a merge, a fixed bike is just a bike without a freewheel, it can be any type of bike, whereas a track is a very specific type of bike, it just happens to have a fixed wheel/gear. I think this article should deal mainly in the details of the fixed drive train, and the track bike article should concentrate on the various types of track bikes. LDHan 01:22, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] feel free to replace the photo

How about a photo that doesn't say "shit" on the sticker? --anon

My photo is better than nothing, but it is kinda hard to see the gearing. Someone out there can take a better pic. Cacophony 20:40, May 12, 2005 (UTC)

The new photo isn't much better. I was thinking something more like this where the perspecive is from the same height of the hub and slightly behind the rear wheel. That would focus the attention on the the drive train. Cacophony 04:31, 15 December 2005 (UTC)
I've got this which is available - same bike as the other picture so they could be used together to show the general appearance and then the drivetrain? Andy Armstrong 08:44, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Suggestions section

I think nearly everything in it is either wrong or POV. I know it's meant to be light-hearted, but it shouldn't be there, it might be OK to move it to the talk page. Many of the sites in external links offer good and sensible advice. LDHan 17:33, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree; there a lot of POV in it and since it's essentially a "How-To" section, I'm not sure it necessarily belongs in an encyclopedia at all. Maybe someone can cite policy or guideline on this. I do know that there's specific "How-To" bookshelf at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How-tos_bookshelf , so perhaps the section could be moved there and linked. --Ds13 17:49, 20 February 2006 (UTC)
I'm not sure it's even suitable for http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How-tos_bookshelf, as it's not really serious, it's just for humour. Should it be deleted? How about moving it to the talk page? LDHan 17:04, 25 February 2006 (UTC)
I think the POV parts are not suitable for sure, but User:BitQuirky moved it back to the front page. I wonder if he actually reads the talk page here? Julius.kusuma 16:22, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

The external links section seems to be getting a bit ridiculous, and most of the links refer to information that is personal, redudant or POV. What do you all think? --Dmtroyer 15:33, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

Original text moved here:

[edit] Brakes

I think care must be used when describing fixed-geared bicycles as not having brakes. "Brake" is defined in the dictionaries i've seen as simply something designed or used to stop movement, thus a fixed-gear presumes a brake. Other separate (and safer) brakes on a fixed-gear are redundant to the goal of restraining motion. I understand that UK laws require both wheels be braked, and a fixed-gear drive meets this requirement for the rear wheel. John

On a bike, a "brake" is some sort of mechanical device, usually operated by hand, it's not just any anything that stops movement, I don't think eg grabbing the front tyre with a gloved hand, dragging your feet on the ground etc are called brakes. As for whether brakes are redundant or not, that's a matter of POV, therefore the article should not state that "brakes are redundant". LDHan 17:16, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
Indeed LDHan, a brake is some sort of mechanical device; on FGs it is the non-moving connection of the cog to the hub that distinguishes it as a type of brake that free-wheel bicycles do not have. Do you mean to say that a mechanism can not be dual-purposed, or that it must be separable from others to be identified for it's role? My feet stop me from tumbling down a hill just as well as they get me up one. John Taisau 02:07, 15 June 2007 (UTC)
Not totally sure about LDHan's definition there. As John says, it is thought (though as far as I know, never been tested in the courts) that front hand brake and fixed rear wheel satisfies the requirement of two independent braking systems. In Holland, you are legal with no front brake and a coaster ('back pedal') brake, which is neither fish nor fowl, IYSWIM! Buffalo Bill, occasional London bicycle messenger & former Chair, London Bicycle Messenger Association, Editor, Moving Target, the London messenger 'ziiine 09:34, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Competition

This needs a re-write. For a start, you can participate in a track-stand contest on free-wheel.

You can use a fixed-wheel in any type of cycle competition, apart from massed start road races. Stuart O'Grady used a fixie in a Giro D'Italia time-trial, for instance.

The only competitions that open to fixies only (apart from velodrome races) are obscure messenger events - skid comps, Millportpoloco, Monster Track etc. Buffalo Bill, occasional London bicycle messenger & former Chair, London Bicycle Messenger Association, Editor, Moving Target, the London messenger 'ziiine 09:38, 16 September 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Image

Why isn't there a section on the image and hipster culture regarding these bikes. I've been biking for almost 20 years and have never seen fixies being used (save for a few random messengers, most still use multi-gear bikes mind you), yet in the last few years there has been a rise in fixed gear websites (i forget the urls but they are essentially devoted to the aesthetics and not the mechanics of fixies) I see fixies all over the place being ridden by hipster/art school types (who likely haven't ridden a bike since middle school prior to purchasing their new Bianchi or IRO fixies). I think it'd be interesting if someone wrote a section on the current popularity of fixed gear bikes and how much of their popularity owes to aesthetics and their use as en vogue fashion accessories. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.118.43.145 (talk) 03:31, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

{{sofixit}} -- John Reaves 10:55, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] External Links

I remove "fixieFAQs.org.uk" because it is forwarded to "xwiki.com", which is reported by "websecurityguard.com" to contain spyware. Also it has repeating content that makes it a very long page. Ancos (talk) 00:25, 17 April 2008 (UTC)