TNL Bicycles Volume I: Wild And Wacky Action Bike

[Nomi]

Thank you! i am wondering if it's possible to swap the 26" wheels for 700cc wheels. there are some nice ones that i would like to thread together a fixie set to see if i like it.

The hell is the deal with fixed gear bikes? I really don't understand any of the appeal and recent trend on that.

[FirstBlood]

Simpler. Fewer parts so there's less that can go wrong. Total control over your movement.

I don't want one, and they are undeniably a huge fad right now in most cities, but they are kind of interesting.

[Tones]

Finch, you would be a bicycle god here in Gainesville in some circles with that bike. Just lazily lay down in Plaza of the Americas, maybe eat some Krishna lunch, and join the drum circle if you see fit.

[Nomi]

Simpler. Fewer parts so there's less that can go wrong. Total control over your movement.

I don't want one, and they are undeniably a huge fad right now in most cities, but they are kind of interesting.

I guess I understand the simpler mechanics concept, but that doesn't explain why they sell for so fucking much. They cost MORE than some feature-heavy complicated bikes. The lack of gears would suck in certain terrain and the inability to coast would piss me off royally. It's just a big money-sucker fad to me.

[FirstBlood]

Fixed gears don't cost more. The ones you've seen probably just have higher quality components.

[Nomi]

No, for real. Some of the big brands sell fixed gears with insane prices (nice components I'm sure, but all their bikes have nice components) and there's a surge of fixed gears having unreal prices on craigslist. There will be subsequent reply threads saying 'what the fuck is with the fixed gear prices you retard' so I'm apparently not the only one noticing this.

[Josh]

Popular things sell for more than they are worth! Film at eleven!

[FirstBlood]

yeah, obviously the ones on craigslist are just people cashing in on the trend.

but a cannondale fixie isn't at a higher price point just because it's fixed. It's probably lighter, hand-made, etc.

[FirstBlood]

Also, my bike is cooler than all of you combined.

[Vasteel]

There's not a new brand-name fixed worth buying right now anyway. Get a solid older road or track frame with the drops, DIY or die.

I would like to take a second to point out, though, that it is slightly erroneous to consider fixies a fad- they are one of the oldest designs of bike out there, and I know couriers that have been using them for 15 years. They definitely have their place. That said, 99% of the people I see on them now have no business being on one.

Anyways, Finch, don't sweat the weight. It's not rotational and isn't gonna make much difference in your ride quality overall. I wouldn't put the 700's on though, as you obviously set it up to carry cargo and I'm guessing you're talking about doing a suicide swap?