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No.2 ~ Summer 2006
In this issue:
* 5 Boro Fix II * Bits * Poorman's GT fixie * Pothole Fix * Ranting and Raving
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*THE 5 BORO FIX
Why would someone take a fixed gear bike on a long ride?
This question is often asked of those who choose to ride fixed gears when theyu venture onto the road in the company of geared folk.
For me it was quite simple. After riding both fixed and geared bikes for some time I wanted to see how the fix measured up to a street full of geared bicycles. Would I be the slowest of the 30,000-plus riders? I had taken a dual brake fix the past year and now tried a front rbake only fix, built on a Tempo frame. Would I have to walk up hills? I was determined not to -- walk, that is -- so I built the bike with a reasonable gear for hills and flats; a basic 45x17. 165mm cranks. The frame itself was a Schwinn Tempo lugges steel. One bottle cage. Drop bars, single aero lever, and a dual pivot front sidepull from Tektro completed the package.
Getting to NYC was half the fun. The Goethells bridge was closed and we had to detour it to Newark and hop a train. There were only a few of us on bikes at Newark, but when the train pulled into the next few stops it was packed. Soem enterprising souls began tipping their bikes up on the rear wheel to fit more in. The train car soon became crowded withthe noise and banter of pre-ride talk, and the purposeful looks of those riders checking their gear.
Pulling into the World Trade Center, the train became excited, not the quiet and solemn, of the previous year, when for me it was the first time to the site since before 9-11.
Then, getting back to the street level, we left the station and it's big picture windows viewing the WTC site. The road called. It was great.
So how hard was it to ride the fixed? Not at all! Actually, it gave better control than the geared bikes, which were constantly swerving and slamming on their brakes. 
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*BITS: Shimano m50 pedals, spd compatible:
Aside from the frame and drivetrain, pedals can be the most important part of your bike -- especially with a fixed gear. The pedal is where the energy leaves your body and enters the bike to perform its amazing task of propulsion. Good pedals, properly chosen, can mean easier, safer, and more frequent riding. Poorly chosen pedals--- well, a good rule of thumb is that pedals are like camera work in a movie: When they are done right, you shouldn't even notice them, but done poorly they can totally disrupt the works.
While many riders of fixed gear bikes choose the old-school way of toe clips and straps, clipless pedals -- especially SPD types -- are relatively inexpensive and a lot easier to get in and out of quickly.
Those familiar with the older SPD pedals will be happily surpised with the new version. Shimano took a decent thing and made it better. The new ones are easier to enter and exit, tighter fit, and have greater "clearance" -- that is, gaps in the mechanism going clear through, so that debris and dirt will fall through and not clog up the pedal's entry-exit function.
The M50's install smootly, and over the long haul are a decent value. They survived use on two fixed gear bikes including my 5 Boro fix, and are soon to be mounted on my gear Lemond. One noticable downside of SPD; the clamps on the pedals that engage the shoe cleats are steel and should be greased or oiled, or coated with a rustpreventive protectant such as Boeshield t9 to prevent rust over the long term, especially if you ride in all weather.
The verdict: Try it, you won't be disappointed.
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*Pothole Fix"
What is this?
No, the Pothole Fix isn't something to do with fixed gear bikes -- except incidentally.
After being fed up with constant damage to my bike due to potholes, I outlined all the potholes in spray paint to make them easier to miss at night and when going fast. The benefit was that the town work crews must've mistaken it for their own markings and fixed them!
If you have bad streets in your area, do this. Make the markings real big. It'll work. Trust me. 
"Poorman's GT Fixie"
Ever wanted a GTB or GT Pulse trackbike? You're not alone. But like most, I did not have the $ lying about.
So I cheated.
A rigid GT mtb is a lot easier to come by, and the frame is a bit more street friendly, with a sloping tt design, which still maintaining the triple seatstay cluster GT is known for....[UNDER constrction...]
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"Ranting and Raving: ...."
uNdEr CoNsTruCtiOn...
-- Elvis
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... THIS PAGE ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
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