Fixie + Quick Release = Death
Okay, for all you neofixie hipsters out there, I am only going to say this once so listen up. DO NOT under any circumstances put a quick release on the rear when you have to hold the chain tension. Are you listening? Ah! You are thinking about doing that again...
STOP
I spotted the monstrosity, pictured left, on Friday night after I was leaving the Anza club. I was drunk, but I knew duty called so I got my shit together long enough to document this madness.
The whole thing almost brought me to tears, I cried for weeks afterwards.
Lesson 1
Fixies are a celebration power and stubbornness. Power is when you can mangle your cranks (Yep, its mine and its real). Stubbornness is when you could ride a geared bike to make your life easier, but you don't. Hell, we could also all give in to the man and drive cars everywhere, because its easier. But we don't do we? Who's hardcore... What's Hardcore?
UPDATE: Make that mangle your cranks 2x
Busted Kooka crank 
Busted Sugino
Lesson 2: Fixin' the Fixie
So lets do an itemized list. Look carefully and you can see that you have:
- A Track Hub?
- A Track Cog
- A frickin' big burly chain
To the untrained Vancouverite eye the above is meant to scream
"Crank the shit out of me fucker, I love it that way!"
As the a fixie setup is meant suggests the rider pocesses a kind of sadistic power. The kind of power, where if you listen carefully you can hear the frame cry out...
"Oh, God NO, Not again!!" Each and every time those cranks spin round.
Instead, to trained eye fixed gear aficionado the above screams something alright, it screams
"COFFEE!"
It's ruined because its all held together with a quick release; a cheap wimpy, mother fucking quick release. I can guarantee you that absolutely NO track hub in the history of all track hubs has ever ever ever EVER come with a quick release.
Can you guess why? Crank it hard while braking and the wheel wheel is going to fly right out of the drops and you are going become a road crayon spreading your art. Especially with this frame since the drop outs are angled forward.
When you use your legs to break the axel wants to move forward, this is why *REAL* track frames have horizontal drops that face towards the rear. The worse that can happen if they slip is that you lose some chain tension, not have the frick'n wheel come off the frame!
This is of course not a worry if you are only going down the street to coffee... In that case this set up should work fine to trick the uninitiated fixie loving hipster.
BLAH, I say... BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!
Comments
haha..
As a 'safety' feature on my suicide hub (oxymoron?), I have a QR going through the hollow MTB axle, to clamp the 15mm nuts in their tightened position.
http://static.flickr.com/19/89541356_469a0a2ba7.jpg
Look sketchy?
Good.
Thats how I roll.
You know, weez, you could just borrow the bike from the chick and give her a "controlled" demo, haw!
Lyle looks definitely sketch... send me the pictures when you are road crayoning the asphalt.
iconoclasst: Demo eh? Ya wanna see me fall on my ass? Well you wouldn't be the first, actually you gotta get in line on that one. But I will throw this out. Kerrie... I will rebuild you wheel, free of charge, into the proper fixie if you are game.
You inspired me to write up a post on bikeforums, detailing my method, and querying what the predicted first failure on my bike would be. I was actually expecting a bunch of people to start betting on my time of death, but instead I ended up with some intelligent responses.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=170950
As far as cheap hubs go, do you guys recommend the Formulas?
I'm thinking about heading down to Mighty Riders and picking up the stuff to build some real wheels soon.
Glad to help. As for the rear wheel I ended up going with surly hubs... That is just me. To me a hub, is a hub. The cheaper ones often have crappier berrings but for the most part you are paying for the bling. As long as you maintain it (grease and bearings) you are fine with most hubs made.
If it does the job and doesn't break the bank then go for it, says I.
I often head to Mighty Riders. I don't go to many bike shops so take it with a grain of salt. Ed's grumpy but what ever.
If ya's need some help building 'er up let me know I have put a number of wheels together in my time
only with forward-facing forks (erroneously called dropouts) will this crayola effect take place, yes?
mojo "hates to pack a wrench" cosgroove
PS sorry we won't get to ride with you next summer :(
i know ed has lots of flash stuff in his shop, but seriously, f him. just 'cause he sells surly doesn't mean he has to act the part. i'll take my money to bike works (hastings, a few blocks west of main), where martin and henry can order the same stuff and are more than happy to drop the knowledge.
Mighty Rider's has done well by me. Curt or corrosive, yeah - at times, whatever. Candid - always. No bull - always. Where ever you find a good fit between you and your bike and some wrenches is subjective. Great to hear that there are places that help keep you on the road and in good gear.
Slag'n anyone for their disposition and demeanour...well, leave that for another place and time.
And flash in his store??? wow, that's certainly relative to where you hand. And subjective to what you think is flash.
Flash is certainly found in Bicyclette, Velotique, Bow Cycle in Calgary, Gusto Cyclery in Oregon, Fog City in San Francisco, Duke's on Queen in Toronto, Gusto Bike in South Carolina
Flash from a row of Broadies, one leather Brooks' saddle, two sets of wood fenders, one set of Chris King "pink" head set, "pink" hubs...well, that's pretty conservative flash. In my opinion.
Get to where you find service, knowledge and a drive to keep your ride on the road that fits with you.
I ride a custom built frame, single speed (Not a fixie) with quick release. Why? because I cannot wrench the dang nuts off when I have to change a flat. And flats are really common here in Vancouver because the area of the road designated for cyclist is harbouring debris and tire piercing debris. I am a wimp. It is just easier and faster for me to change the flat with I can quick release it out.
Keep riding.
Mighty Rider's has done well by me. Curt or corrosive, yeah - at times, whatever. Candid - always. No bull - always. Where ever you find a good fit between you and your bike and some wrenches is subjective. Great to hear that there are places that help keep you on the road and in good gear.
Slag'n anyone for their disposition and demeanour...well, leave that for another place and time.
And flash in his store??? wow, that's certainly relative to where you hang. And subjective to what you consider is flash.
Flash is certainly found in Bicyclette, Velotique, Bow Cycle in Calgary, Gusto Cyclery in Oregon, Fog City in San Francisco, Duke's on Queen in Toronto, Gusto Bike in South Carolina where there are rows a bikes from $1,500 to $18,000, and upgrades for everything.
Flash from a row of Brodies, one leather Brooks' saddle, two sets of wood fenders, one set of Chris King "pink" head set, "pink" hubs...well, that's pretty conservative flash. In my opinion.
Get to where you find service, knowledge and a drive to keep your ride on the road that fits with you.
I ride a custom built frame, single speed (Not a fixie) with quick release. Why? because I cannot wrench the dang nuts off when I have to change a flat. And flats are really common here in Vancouver because the area of the road designated for cyclist is harbouring debris and tire piercing debris. I am a wimp. It is just easier and faster for me to change the flat with I can quick release it out.
Keep riding.
You know I like grumpy Ed, cause he is a straight shooter. I like straight shooters. He tells you what he thinks, because he loves bikes not because he wants to sell you shit you don't need (maybe those other dudes just wanted to sell you shit- I don't konw). I say give Ed's advice a listen. A number of years ago when I built my commuter fixie, I went to him and he sat me down and convinced me not to spend too much money on it, that I didn't need the stuff I was thinking about. You know what? He was right and I respect him for that. Other places probably would have sold me all sorts of shit I didn't need.
Now Jai, as for that quick release death trap you are riding... one time offer free of charge - I will prepare a work out regime to get you spinning wrenches with a best of them.
Bolts rule!!! - If there is any doubt I can still change a flat in under 5 min.
I haven't actualyl bought anything at Mighty Riders yet, and so far, my experience with Ed has been good.
I was out on Main with my BMX one day, and decided to go into RideOn and have them take a look at my chainline. Well, Mark wasn't there, and the only guy in the store knew less about cassettes and bottom brackets than I do. So they were no help.
I rolled down the hill to MR, and walked in.
Ed asked me what was up, so I flipped my bike and showed him my chainline dilemma.
The front was too far out, and it didn't look like I had any room to bring it in.
He came up with two solutions (one that I was already planning).
One, to mill down the sprocket bolt head to clear the BB, and the other, adding a cassette spacer in behind the cog.
He even gave me the spacer for free.
I've also had good experience with BikeWorks, Henry is personable, and a big help, but Martin was a little gruff to me. I didn't know they could order in parts though, I'll have to look into that option when purchasing track hubs.
Oh.. and for my last two flats, even though I've had my 15mm wrench in my bag, I just patched em without removing the tire.
Yep, add another to MR supporters. As mentioned in another comment I made elsewhere on the site, Ed was great help when planning out and setting up my fixie. No nonsense sums his approach up. He could have taken me for a ride (financially) but instead he set up me up with an awesome ride, damn near his original quote (despite frame switches and a few personal mods) and every time i'm in there with a question he gives me solid answer. I can see why some people don't find him the epitome of sweet friendliness, but i've worked in other industries (surf/snow/skate) where you leave the store feeling like you almost need to wash your hands the staff are that saccaharine. I respect people who really help you and offer honest opinions. And I think that every town deserves a few of these places so that if you dont see eye-to-eye with one place you have the choice to go elsewhere.
I'll have to check out BikeWorks but MR has more than earned my $$.
hmmm... maybe I trade this mutli-gear city-only mountain bike for a fixie... weasel you sold me!
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tear you say....well..
i was just told yesterday that my sweet ghetto fixie was gettin slammed on this here blog. you know me but i don't know you. not sure what to say. this bike was built for me by two friends (both bike mechanics). i don't think they would have purposefuly sent me to my death. i've been riding her for over a year with no problems. i do have a front brake and i don't know how to kick back brake (or whatever you want to call it).
did someone offer to rebuild my wheel?
say hi if you see me on the streets.
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You do know me... Mu ha ha...
And it was I that said I would rebuild your wheel to have bolts instead of a QR
Contact
Man, I have heard a lot of shit about MR and some serious price gouging. For the newbie getting a fixed gear MR does not have a good track record for solid prices and good service. They are definitley better off to go to Bike Works or any other community shop. Most other shops can get the same stuff for cheaper. When you go into MR it's like you gotta pay for the attitude in addition to the parts. Not good.
Everyone says Ed is grumpy but I've never seen it. Maybe I'm just grumpier, but he's always seemed friendly enough. I've been getting him to do work on my bikes sporadically since he was under Main Street station. I like Martin too, stand up guy. How he can stand the stench in his shop is beyond me though.
Grumpier? I would give a bit YES to that one, especially with a name like "Assface?"
MR put the cog on my flip/flop hub on the wrong side. They must have have cross-threaded it but it came off at around 150 rpm while going down Dunbar at around 37th. (they had also put the chain on too loose). Lesson of the day was: get the tools and knowledge and do it yourself. Kurt