fixed impressions

The gear change should really be called a revelation. I now think that I was tiring of the Uni, not because I wanted to coast, but because I was tired of getting spun out on the short steep downhills. Now that I have the “big” gear on there, it just rips. And it’s not so much work to control her without the brake on downhills.

Note: Fixing is rough on rear tires, especially when you ride down these short steep hills with your “leg” brakes. The mutano that was on the back before is shredded up pretty bad from this summer. ‘Course it was my fault it spent so much time on the road.

Laziness. That describes my bike maintenance approach this year.

Back to work.

G

So after pondering the issue most of the summer, I decided to take off the big 21T rear wheel from the Uni. I’m running 40/18 now and it sure makes the commute home more fun. It now appears that coasting is only 3 minutes faster on the way home as opposed to 4 minutes with the 40/21.

It’s not like I race home either. The ~15% harder gear means a bit more standing on the way in…but I found the last two days that the improved speed on flats and downhills more than offsets the extra monkeying that I have to do to get up the hills.

Thought: When you only have one gear and no coasting….gear selection becomes a big deal. Bigger gears are a BIG plus when you have to ride downhill (which I definitely have to do.)

Also, I switched down tire size. I’ve got a worn-flat Kenda folding cross tire on the back….it’s pretty funny looking. Soft tire compound. Ridden a lot on the road when I first built the Uni. It’s a slick in the middle with good knobs still left on the sides. Almost as fast as a “true” slick. That tire is a 28/700. On the front I have an old folding SpeedMax 32/700. Much more twitchy on the dirt, but overall, nice for running (riding) around town. Not bad on trails, but climbing is well….challenging.

Fenders are up next. A must for VT fall/winter commuter-shredding. Here I have an issue. My prized Vulture fork has no braze-ons and the crown is yet undrilled. So, I think I’ll just put the flexi-fun Surly Cross Check fork for winter. It works fine and is drilled/brazed galore. Maybe on the weekend.

I also have decided to put the rear rack on and go full ‘muter geek. I want to ride without my ubiquitous backpack when the wool and Gore-Tex come out. (It’s 45 degrees F this AM.)

* * *

Pre-release versions of the Cacophony CD have been sent to my beta listeners. I have a call today to VT-based Big Heavy World, who I plan to work with to manufacture the commercial version. Initial reactions have been pretty darn good….but I also have some issues with volume levels and mastering to work out before the press run.

Keep it tuned here for sample tracks and more 411.

Time to make the donuts.

Over and Out

G

Looks like amid all the chaos of trying to get my CD out…I’m emerging as my own record label. Now I have more paperwork to do than I ever imagined. You’d think a music producer would spend their time making music, eh? HA! So many contracts, registrations, d.b.a.’s and whatnot. When will I have time to actually make music?

OK…it’s not so bad really. And the music is coming on strong lately.

* * *

Commuting has been sweet with great weather and a more relaxed late-summer work schedule for me. Nice.

Uni has a front flat, and as a result of my epic laziness, I’ve been (shh: coasting) all week. Fast.

Got new load of 700/35c tubes.

OK…fix flat now.

Sheesh.

G

Live 6-8pm EDT. Cacophony. As I wrote last week, I’m taking a break from volunteer radio work. Tonite is my last show, at least till winter time. But it’ll be a good show. Here’s the LINK

*** NEWS FLASH ***

The track I’ve composed for my upcoming CD (called not surprisingly): Cacophony is going to be in an upcoming sci-fi feature. Sweet. More details later. Time to go on the air.

G

The top-ten thing gives me an easy out on the prose and can be kind of humorous. I’ll try not to wear the formula thin.

1. The fixed gear community rallies to get Dave Nice another bike when his gets stolen while he rested at a roadside stop. Fantastic.
2. Fixed gear bikes become more common everyday in my town, courtesy of a motivated LBS: The Old Spokes Home.
3. Fixed gear cycling, culture and cross-pollination reach an all-time high. Unfortunately, so does our visibility. High publicity citations for brakeless riders in cities such as LA and Portland, OR do nothing to improve awareness of cycling for non-enthusiasts.
4. I continue to ride with a brake or two, having persistent nightmares of broken chains while leg braking down some VT steeps. I’d probably ride a brakeless bike at least occasionally if I lived somewhere flat.
5. Reports of chain breaking are very very rare. I don’t know of any amongst my clan. More likely your demise comes from throwing your chain (same effect as breaking it…or worse.)
6. Lower gears are great for trails but they are rough on tires, especially if you commute on your knobbies. This is a habit I seem to be completely unable to abate. And it’ll cost me some new rubber next spring.
7. I know now that riding the fix all summer has really kept my legs up…even for hiking: not a claim you can make about riding a coaster.
8. Fixed gear cycling is not for everyone, but it really is just plain rewarding to those of us who take to it.
9. Irreverence towards phrases like “long-travel” “full-face” and “hydraulic” has risen to the point where, amongst my clan, the subjects just don’t come up.
10. Sadly, at some level, the popularity of fixed reminds me of the growth of telemark skiing. I’d have to say that a custom ti fixed trail bike with a front disc can be super cool. But I’m nostalgic. My weakness is for repurposed cast-offs who find a new life as a scorcher or road fix. It’s all good.

It’s been a good summer here. And fall riding and prep for snow season is at hand.
I’m going to fully commuterize the Uni for winter with a bigger gear, some fenders and dedicated lights-on-bike. The REK will get recycled (wallered drive-side crankarm.) It’s a bit too big for me and I think (with Ab’s ok) should go to a taller, more road oriented rider. More on that later. The Vulturian will continue to coast, and will see a bit more time on trail this fall. I promise.

OK. Sorry to be so staccato, but I’m juggling again.

Yours in one-ness.

G

OK…the mighty original home of fixed gear off road 63XC.com is hosting the latest piece on trail fixin’… by yours truly, right here: REVERSE Part II.

Will tells me there is only a year of updates left for the site, before it becomes a frozen icon of the unimaginable growth of trail-fixin’. Check out his site. One of my original and favorite inspirations for this silliness.

Over and Out.

G