Singlespeeds. I just don't get it!

[IDB1]

Every inch of it?? hmmmm . . . .

 

[one-eyed_jim]

If you spent even an hour cycling in Central London one thing you would certainly not argue is that an MTB orientated is not the best suited tool to the road conditions.

I worked for over a year as a bicycle messenger in London. Would you like to reconsider the above?

:?

 

[highlandsflyer]

Every inch of it?? hmmmm . . . .

Yes, every inch.

If you take out your large scale A-Z there is likely a few pages I have not cycled over, but you get the idea.

I too was a lowly messenger, but we are talking 1980s.

I rocked a variety of taped up bikes usually running the fattest slicks I could muster. Straight bars and a full gear set were the norm, of course there were some racers too, just like now.

When I was working for West 1 on motorbikes I also saw guys using Harleys. Idiocy is not the rule, just the exception.

So we both know that you would not want a fixed gear bike for serious work.

You must have observed the state of the roads, when were you working as a messenger?

Of course you know what Hitler was doing in WW1?

Not saying anything, but...

 

[highlandsflyer]

If you spent even an hour cycling in Central London one thing you would certainly not argue is that an MTB orientated is not the best suited tool to the road conditions.

I worked for over a year as a bicycle messenger in London. Would you like to reconsider the above?

:?

Nope, I will stand by that remark. Only a minority of cycle messengers use bikes that are not MTB orientated, with good reason.

 

[IDB1]

Yes, every inch.

If you take out your large scale A-Z there is likely a few pages I have not cycled over, but you get the idea.

So.. is it every inch of London or is it part of almost every page of an A to Z of the Capital?

So we both know that you would not want a fixed gear bike for serious work.

You must have observed the state of the roads, when were you working as a messenger?

I know nothing of the sort... was never a messenger or courier..

Of course you know what Hitler was doing in WW1?

Nope.. wasn't there..

 

[suburbanreuben]

Girls...
:roll:

 

[IDB1]

sweeping, exaggerated statements require clarification. . . sorry..

 

[kaiser]

This is mine

I use it for commuting and sometimes winter training. What it does for me is it makes the most of my 10 mile journey, I only have a few inclines to deal with and it makes me work hard. It basically adds another dimension to the commute, in the summer I still use my regular road bike and go the long way home. Lack of maintenance is a minor point but tbh I never had tooo much bother with gears. Lightweight? I don't think so Cool, hip and trendy, not that either. There is a certain connection with the rider/bike/road that you don't get with geared and you'll hear this mentioned too. Also my fascination for fixed wheel comes from the early nineties when Graeme Obree was using one rather than the new fixie generation.

IMO anything getting people on bikes is a good thing, just about everything has to have some kind of hook and if its skinny jeans and day glo rims so be it.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I rocked a variety of taped up bikes usually running the fattest slicks I could muster. Straight bars and a full gear set were the norm, of course there were some racers too, just like now.

When I was a messenger in the mid-nineties I'd estimate the split was about 50:50. Four of the five fastest riders in my small company were on road bikes. So when you say that "If you spent even an hour cycling in Central London one thing you would certainly not argue is that an MTB orientated is not the best suited tool to the road conditions", at the time I was a messenger I could have found you a large pool of high-mileage London cyclists who might disagree.

In any case, what I actually wrote was:

"A fixed-gear road bike would be no more appropriate for your farm track descent than a 25" handlebar, triple chainset and knobbly tyres would be on a flat city street"

Nothing about the the suitability of an mtb-oriented bike for courier use in London, but a comparison highlighting the particular unsuitability of the bikes you seem to want to laugh at for the particularly unsuitable ride you had in mind. Plenty of people do ride knobbly tyres and 25" riser bars in London...

So we both know that you would not want a fixed gear bike for serious work.

I think I mentioned above that I ride fixed strictly for pleasure.

Of course you know what Hitler was doing in WW1?

Give me a clue. Something to do with mustard gas?

Not saying anything, but...

Yes you are. You're running around shouting "I don't get it! I never will!"

:?

Girls...

:roll:

Hello sailor!

 

[Neil]

Yes you are. You're running around shouting "I don't get it! I never will!"

And assuming that's actually what he's said, what's so wrong in that?

Surely everybody is entitled to their opinion, and so long as he's not telling other people what they should "get" (ever, or otherwise), what is so wrong in him saying so?