Whoa, a post about bikes, seems crazy huh? Well I'm currently incredibly delirious having not really slept at all today (foolish I know, but well worth it) so I figure it is time for crazzy delerious post about fixed-gear bikes.
First I gotta give a shout out to my AZ brother the J-LEE for sending me that cool link. I've always wanted to get a fixed gear bike. I don't know why, something about riding a machine that can't let you cheat (not that coasting is cheat, but well.. sometimes I do coast when I don't have to) and it just seems.. so perfect. I really want to get one, so I could ride it to work. Since i'm planning on getting another road bike.. I guess I could always ride the good ol' EPX to work.. but it would be really awesome I think to ride a Lancaster (I think this is the Specialized track frame.. I'm currently too lazy to spend 5 seconds and surf over to their page to check..) Much simplier I believe. In fact, driving around The Rock the other day I saw a guy on a beat up ol' orange fixed gear bike.. but he had a brake. I don't know if I would go with a brake or just let my knees blow out.. eh.. I could always decide later.
But yeah, there is the major issue of ruining your knees riding a fixed gear bike with no brakes. If you suddenly try to stop pedaling and the wheel is really booking.. well.. that is a lot of momentum to try to stop.. and when realize that you made a mistake and you can't coast.. trying to immediately pedal again might not do such nice things to your knees. And Sean can attest to the fact that sore knees are probably the worst thing that can happen to an athlete.. well in the running/biking world at least. I've gotten some pretty sore knees every now and again.. bad run.. or just a long ride when it is cold... but damn does it hurt the next few days. I can only imagine blowing out your knee wouldn't be the most enjoyable thing... oh man.. that would suck so bad. And i've heard a lot of stories about bike messengers blowing out their knees on fixed gear bikes.. but that could be due to the fact that dodging through busy traffice in NYC might cause a little more stress on the body. But yeah..
Con #1: Possibly blowing out your knee.
Pro #1: It would be badass to be able to ride your bike backwards..
Con #2: I'm sure I'd fall a lot trying to do track stands at lights.
Pro #2: Eventually being able to do a track stand to the amazement of bystanders.
Con #3: Buying another bike and convincing myself I need it.
Pro #3: Having another bike which to hang on my wall.
Con #4: The insults I'm sure I'd recieve from The Ride guys.
Pro #4: No matinence.
Alright, that is all I feel like doing. It seemed really easy at first.. I had all these great ideas.. but then when I tried to start listing them.. well.. I forgot. Stupid not enough sleep.
Anyways, I'm outta here.. sorry my posts have been so shitty and far between. I want to try to get back into a good posting schedule.. I don't know what has been wrong with me. I'll do better from this moment on.. I promise.
Later
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8 comments:
ok, from the pro/con list, it seems like all the pros of owning a fixed gear bike relate to it making you look cool. the cons, however, bring up serious issues like physical injury and expense.
so... yeah, looking cool is important and everything, but can't you just get an awesome pair of sunglasses or a tattoo or something?
also, as cool as that bike seems, umm... didn't you JUST tell me a couple months ago that your spiffy new bike would last you for at least a year??? dave!! no spending money on new bikes!!! silly dave. if you must spend money, just get me a sparkley birthday present ;)
Well see this bike would be mainly a commuter bike, while my new tri-bike wouldn't do well for commuting, plus I'd hate to get hit riding my fancy bike. Fixed gear bikes are cheap.. very cheap indeed compared to other bikes.. so expense really isn't an issue. But also the convience of having a fixed gear bike for commuting would be nice since I wouldn't have to worry about scratching it or getting it dirty.
hmm perhaps a tattoo of a fixed gear bike.. hmmm....
you should get a bike made from pressed japanese paper.
I totally would, but only if I lived on the Golden Gate bridge.
Just buy a fixed gear bike and buy an extra singlespeed rear wheel with a free hub. You could commute with the free hub and practice on the fixed hub until you get it down. I think a lot of less-hardcore commuters and bike messengers do that.
Also, you could put brakes on but not use them when you're running the fixed hub. That way you would be able to ride in the hoods either way. Oh yeah, and you would be able to stop if your chain breaks.
Pro: You have an extra bike wheel hanging on your wall.
Con: Not getting you any closer to having a mountain bike.
smiling and nodding....so confused...
umm...dave...it's been like a week since you've written...i'm bored......say something!
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