Strip down
It's been fun removing all the bits from the bike that I don't need and feeling the weight which I won't have to drag around. Everything came off smoothly and the general condition of the threads are very good. I did have trouble removing the right side of the bottom bracket, but that was only because I didn't have a large enough spanner. Matt from work lent me a pipe wrench and it came out smoothly. more importantly there is only slight corrosion on one of the threads.
It's been great fun working outside in the warm evenings and getting oily, working with my hands is a good way to wind down, believe me.
I ordered new brake blocks, brake cable, pedals and seat so all I have left to buy is a seatpost, stem, handlebars, front brake and brake lever and I can start assembling the bike for a test fit.
I've been asked why I'm building a single speed, by lots of people and here's a few reasons:
1. Inexpensive - It would cost at about $700 for all the extra bits like derailleurs, chainrings, cassette and shifters I'd need for a geared bike.
2. Easier to build - no fiddly gears to set up and cables to run.
3. Less maintenance - just move the rear wheel to adjust the chain tension, no rear mechanism to adjust and less fiddly moving bits to adjust.
4. Easier to clean - No dirt being trapped by the rear mechanism and chainrings. less bits to clean an easier access to the chain.
5. Less wear - Because dirt gets on the chain it wears and lengthens requiring it to be replaced. This also wears the chainrings and cassette and the jockey wheels in the rear mechanism on a geared bike. Replacing these bits costs lots of money.
6. Good training - Not only will I have to work harder, losing weight in the process, but because I only have one gear I can't put it in a granny gear and pootle up a hill but will have to speed up on the approach to maintain my momentum.
7. Better technique - Because I will have to spin (maintain a high cadence) as there is only one gear, the faster I want to go faster I have to pedal. Currently I mash the gears because I have big thighs; so I use a big gear and keep it turning over at a slow rate (low cadence). Not only does the spinning make me faster on a normal bike, but also reduces the wear on my knees - hey I'm getting old.
8. It'll be harder - Which means rides with Helen will be even more enjoyable. I won't be able to run a big gear and disappear into the distance as Helen will have a better gear set-up to go faster and be more economical over hilly ground.
9. No obsolescence - Like Microsoft, Shimano et al bring out new products and drop the old ones and funnily enough the new stuff is more expensive.
10. Cachet - Overtaking somebody, whether on the flat or a hill, or riding a tough hill with only one gear; need I say more?
11. It looks cool - Maybe it's just me, but without all the extra bits the clean lines of a single speed bike look elegant.
12. It's a challenge - Riding a fixed gear means no freewheeling so cornering and downhills are completely different. There is also the challenge of learning how to do a trackstand, balancing the bike, which makes stopping and starting at junctions easier.
13. Chill time - Not having to think about changing gears for climbing, descending, stopping and starting means more time to enjoy riding.
14 Fun - It's something different!
It's been great fun working outside in the warm evenings and getting oily, working with my hands is a good way to wind down, believe me.
I ordered new brake blocks, brake cable, pedals and seat so all I have left to buy is a seatpost, stem, handlebars, front brake and brake lever and I can start assembling the bike for a test fit.
I've been asked why I'm building a single speed, by lots of people and here's a few reasons:
1. Inexpensive - It would cost at about $700 for all the extra bits like derailleurs, chainrings, cassette and shifters I'd need for a geared bike.
2. Easier to build - no fiddly gears to set up and cables to run.
3. Less maintenance - just move the rear wheel to adjust the chain tension, no rear mechanism to adjust and less fiddly moving bits to adjust.
4. Easier to clean - No dirt being trapped by the rear mechanism and chainrings. less bits to clean an easier access to the chain.
5. Less wear - Because dirt gets on the chain it wears and lengthens requiring it to be replaced. This also wears the chainrings and cassette and the jockey wheels in the rear mechanism on a geared bike. Replacing these bits costs lots of money.
6. Good training - Not only will I have to work harder, losing weight in the process, but because I only have one gear I can't put it in a granny gear and pootle up a hill but will have to speed up on the approach to maintain my momentum.
7. Better technique - Because I will have to spin (maintain a high cadence) as there is only one gear, the faster I want to go faster I have to pedal. Currently I mash the gears because I have big thighs; so I use a big gear and keep it turning over at a slow rate (low cadence). Not only does the spinning make me faster on a normal bike, but also reduces the wear on my knees - hey I'm getting old.
8. It'll be harder - Which means rides with Helen will be even more enjoyable. I won't be able to run a big gear and disappear into the distance as Helen will have a better gear set-up to go faster and be more economical over hilly ground.
9. No obsolescence - Like Microsoft, Shimano et al bring out new products and drop the old ones and funnily enough the new stuff is more expensive.
10. Cachet - Overtaking somebody, whether on the flat or a hill, or riding a tough hill with only one gear; need I say more?
11. It looks cool - Maybe it's just me, but without all the extra bits the clean lines of a single speed bike look elegant.
12. It's a challenge - Riding a fixed gear means no freewheeling so cornering and downhills are completely different. There is also the challenge of learning how to do a trackstand, balancing the bike, which makes stopping and starting at junctions easier.
13. Chill time - Not having to think about changing gears for climbing, descending, stopping and starting means more time to enjoy riding.
14 Fun - It's something different!
2 comments:
All of this bike talk is so confusing - I don't understand any of it! I'm glad you're having fun with your bike though! Urgh, exams looming ever closer (I had my Spanish Oral today and my Theatre Studies performance yesterday) - at least one of us is having fun!
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