Fixin' to like it

So I've got a couple of fixed weeks under my belt now and I thought I'd share my most recent thoughts on the cool guy revolution that has taken place in my bike stable.

First things first: I've not become any cooler as a result of doing away with coasting. I've not had more (read: any) romantic proposals related to my choice of rides; no one has applauded as I've cranked past them; nor has my wardrobe suddenly "hipped" itself up; my slang become more up-to-date (and thus vaguely obscure); or the cool kids (who are these kids, anyway?) suddenly invited me into their club/secret hideout/embrace. But I can deal with that. Fixies may be sweeping the nation ("fixing the world one cog at a time"), but the change isn't nearly as dramatic as one might be led to believe.

That said, I do think that I'm beginning to like fixie feel a bit more. I've been to busy lately to do any "real" riding, and thus my only significant exercise has come from what short rides around town that I can squeeze in on the Redline. These have all been short, but even so I can feel a burn more quickly on this bike than others. I'm not sure how much this will effect my "other" riding, but it does make me feel like less of a lame ass for not being able to ride. I like to think of the fixie as a machine that makes more efficient use of my training time.

Admissions: I still don't have the whole braking thing down to a science, to say the least, and I haven't really been using the cool-ass skidding technique at all. Further, I'm not very good at track-standing on this bike, something I'm not bad at on other rides. I think it's partially the result of the toe-overlap from the fenders, but might also have to do with general ineptitude.

Still, all-n-all I'm very pleased with this bike. I don't know what kind of potential it has as a 'cross machine (or even if I want to attempt to replicate the misery that was my 'cross debut last year), but as a commuter she's a winner. No one's going to mistake her for a track bike (the geometry is more slack-n-mellow that tight-n-taunt), but for getting around town she's looking quite capable.

Fix-a-licious

So after months of hemming and hawing I finally bit the bullet and slapped down my cash for a Redline 9*2*5. Here's a link to the web specs: http://http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/925.html

I built up the little guy on Friday and spent the weekend squeezing in rides around town -- taking the long way home, hitting the American Tobacco Trail, cruising campus, and just generally playing with my new toy. I've got to say, for the price, this is one pretty sweet ride: nice chromoly frame, decent components (Formula hubs and 36 spoke wheels), moustache bars, and fenders all stock. I even left the chintzy plastic chain guard on for the first couple of days just cause it came in the box. It's definitely not a boutique custom cruiser, but it should be more than enough to haul me around town for a few years.

Fixie thoughts
The bike comes with a 42 tooth chainring and either a 16 tooth freewheel or a 15 tooth fixed cog on a flip-flop hub. Just 'cause I've always wanted to be one of the cool kids, I set it up fixed out of the box. I may not have succeeded (surprise!).

I'm not sure about going fixed. It's definitely interesting, and I can appreciate the uphill power that it provides, but overall I do miss coasting. Not for pure laziness (though that's always an issue), but also because I miss being able to really crank up the speed and cut corners without having to fear for my life. Fixies also make for a bit of a harsher ride, in my opinion, as when you're really spinning down a hill it's much more difficult to finesse the ride over rough spots in the road. Jumping curbs also seems to be a thing of the past.

I'll keep the ride fixed for a little bit longer at least, but I'm not sold on the old school experience. I will admit to using the brakes (which are great, by the way: Tektro long pulls that have more power and better feel than those on my road bike), so maybe it's my violation of the "purity" of the experience (question: wouldn't walking be more pure?) that's leading to my displeasure.

Overall, though, I couldn't be much more pleased with the bike itself. A new toy for the new school year!

Haile to the chief

Adam's official last ride in Durham came on short notice, but how can you say no to riding with Adam. Especially if the ride includes a stop at Allen & Sons for some NC BBQ? Who cares if the heat index is up way over 100 degrees and I'm supposedly a vegetarian? Unfortunately, Allen & Sons had other ideas. Namely, vacation. Adam tried to call to make sure they were open, but like any authentic BBQ joint, they didn't answer the phone and didn't have an answering maching (and of course no website). Just a piece of paper on the door saying that they were on vacation. Okay, so we settled for ice cream at Mapleview, where Adam triumphantly ate an entire banana split and didn't even get sick on the ride home. We may, however, have killed John. His minor cough had gotten much worse by the time we got home and I have not heard from him since.

In any event, we promise to keep Adam's Pleasant Green ITT running in his absence. And of course, his legend will live on as Duke Cycling's fastest father. Best wishes to Adam, Heather, and Josie in Ohio.