Fixie On The Road?

[look 171]

[QUOTE=

I won't tell you about the time I sat up in a track sprint after a spell of road riding and ended up flipping down the front straight...[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding me? this is a joke, right? You are riding sanction track racing, so you must have a lot of track time?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I raced a paramount track bike at the Encino velodrome back in the late 70's/early 80's

OK, so how many fights were you involved in that parking lot with Meathead during those Saturday nights (you did ride sprint races?). He was around in the early to mid 80s winning big races when we were just snot nose teenagers. A trackie like you must know Roger Young. He's around and may go out for a ride with us for the heck of it. He's been around a couple of houses from a good friend of mine. That will be a treat for me. He's still involve in coaching at the national level just like Meathead is.

Jeff

[greglepore]

Jeff- presume you know Meathead passed away a year or so ago...sad.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Jeff- presume you know Meathead passed away a year or so ago...sad.

Wow, he isn't that old. What was the cause of death? Hope you don't mind sharing?

[greglepore]

He was 50-died while coaching at Junior Nats in 2011. No cause was published at the time, the story going around was a heart attack, found in his hotel room.

Quite the character...his passion got the best of him at times, but his devotion to the sport was obvious.

[LWJ]

My buddy's son tells me Portland Hipsters have moved away from Fixies. They now covet Schwinn Varsities. Really.
Larry

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

A more valid comparison (along the lines of fixie vs. modern road bike or rigid chopper vs. modern street bike) would be something like the Model T to the 991. It would be completely selfish, irresponsible, and unsafe to attempt to wheel a Model T through modern traffic, subjecting all those around you to the added risk and inconvenience just so you can look cool and be the center of attention. You really can't say that about an early 911. Nice try, though.

No desire to get into a pissing contest with you Jeff, but you did not answer the question of whether you believe the modern technology and safety features of a 991 do not detract from the driving experience vs. an air cooled oldie 911.

You also appear to be under the impression that a fixed gear bicycle with brakes is less controllable than a bicycle with a freewheel. If you know how to use brakes, you can stop a fixed gear bike as quickly and safely as any freewheel equipped bike. If you don't know how to operate brakes, you probably should not be riding any bicycle. Plenty of idiots on regular bikes get injured or killed despite "modern" conveniences like freewheel. We are not talking about track bikes here with no brakes. I agree anybody who goes out on the street on a bike without brakes, fixed gear or freewheel, is selfish, irresponsible and unsafe. Morons.

The simple fact is that fixed gear cycling is unique, fun and safe if the bike is properly equipped and a bike with a freewheel absolutely will not deliver the same riding experience, just like a 991 will never deliver the air cooled 911 driving experience.

I think another analogy to consider is telemark skiers vs. regular downhill. What do we think of the "free the heel, free the mind" folks? A bunch of self-centered attention whores clinging to dangerous old tech?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by greglepore

He was 50-died while coaching at Junior Nats in 2011. No cause was published at the time, the story going around was a heart attack, found in his hotel room.

Quite the character...his passion got the best of him at times, but his devotion to the sport was obvious.

Think of that character at the tender age of 20 rubbing up against other 20 something hot local rider at a Saturday night at Encino Velodrome. Man, did sparks fly in the parking lot. Good times they were.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by look 171

OK, so how many fights were you involved in that parking lot with Meathead during those Saturday nights (you did ride sprint races?). He was around in the early to mid 80s winning big races when we were just snot nose teenagers. A trackie like you must know Roger Young. He's around and may go out for a ride with us for the heck of it. He's been around a couple of houses from a good friend of mine. That will be a treat for me. He's still involve in coaching at the national level just like Meathead is.

Jeff

LOL, seems like every time the velodrome comes up, so does that question.
No, I don't recognize those names.
I raced on Wednesdays once or twice a month as money would allow as I was going to college and making about $4.50 an hour. IIRC it was cheaper on week days

Probably did that for maybe a year and a half until I quit school and the bike shop and got a job as a millwright making $15.29 an hour in 1981 (thought I was rich, but wasn't).

[sc_rufctr]

[sc_rufctr]

[greglepore]

Where did the photo of the crank disc come from? That's cool as all get out...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Where did the photo of the crank disc come from? That's cool as all get out...

I found it on Google. It's a one off but with some maching skills you could build your own.

[Flieger]

That crank disc is stupid. You are still braking the wrong wheel and you are adding weight since you can just use your legs. A front disc would be much more useful.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Flieger

That crank disc is stupid. You are still braking the wrong wheel and you are adding weight since you can just use your legs. A front disc would be much more useful.

A brake on the front wheel of a track bike, pleeeease. It just would look right, who cares if it stops or not.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by look 171

A brake on the front wheel of a track bike, pleeeease. It just would look right, who cares if it stops or not.

You realize you said it would look right, right? And it does. Better than a crank disc anyway.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Flieger

You realize you said it would look right, right? And it does. Better than a crank disc anyway.

I don't know what the hell I am typing most of the time. I meant wrong. It is all about looks and not function.