How far do you fix?
Thread started by
infiniteawesome at 02.23.09 - 2:12 am
Okay, so two days ago someone at work dropped some crazy shit in my lap.
Here's the skinny:
I work at a Starbucks in La Crescenta about 13 miles from where I live (Pasadena). I used to live in Montrose (about 3 miles from work), but about three months ago moved. I had given up my car at this point and really didn't like working at any other Starbucks. I know it sounds lame, I mean, there's one right down the street, but I had made really good friends with my coworkers at that point, so I decided to stay.
So, I fix it up there about four or five times a day, averaging 100 to 125 miles of fix gear riding up steep mountain side hills (if you've ever been in La Crescenta/Montrose, you'd know what I mean).
Anyway, just two days ago, I get up to work and my co worker tells me that some guy came in and dropped off a few bike parts for me.
I'm like, "Oh, cool." Not expecting much, a friend had said he would drop off an experimental multi-geared fixed cog he had been working on that used an antiquated shifting mechanism.
I open up the package. It's a fucking gold Euro Asia Cog, 16 tooth.
http://www.euroasiaimports.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=1017&idproduct=6531
And an Izumi Super Toughness Chain.
Brand spanking new . . .
I don't know what to think. I feel like some bike crazy old man is hitting on me at the moment. I don't even own a track frame, I just have a converted road frame, and I'd feel bad putting such nice parts on my fixie when I've never even been to a velodrome (something to correct).
Two days later I ask my friend (the one who was gonna hand me the cog) if he gave it to me, and he says no, but Euro Asia is right up the street and he knows the two people who work there. He says it wouldn't be out of the question that the owner was just being kind to one of the few fixie riders in that area . . . or something to that nature. Anyway, he's supposed to introduce me at some point.
I'm like . . . ooooh . . . shoot. All sorts of ideas are running through my head at this point cuz I don't know what to think. This is fucking 200 dollars in bike parts sitting in my hands given to me by somebody I don't even know!
My roommate says I fix farther and higher (meaning higher altitude) than anybody he knows and maybe the person who gave me the arts admired that . . . or maybe somebody really does want something more from me . . . I'm going to call them to find out in a few days, but I wanted to get your opinion on this . . .
And, of course, I'd like to know what you other fix gear riders average per day on your bikes. I'm positive there are other riders who ride harder and longer than I do. How far do you all fix per day on average?
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Wait, you average 100 to 125 miles a day? Shit, I'll buy you a new chain too. I might need sexual favors from your daily-century-hardened quads though.
SKIDMARCUS02.23.09 - 2:16 am
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So, I fix it up there about four or five times a day, averaging 100 to 125 miles of fix gear riding up steep mountain side hills (if you've ever been in La Crescenta/Montrose, you'd know what I mean).
coldcut02.23.09 - 2:20 am
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....so you are bummed because some old man is rewarding you for being the most hardcore legit centurist (yeah I made that up just for you) in NELA?
p.s. master, I avg. 26 weak-ass miles a day, five days a week.
horse sense02.23.09 - 2:54 am
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but sometimes I ride my coaster-brake racer and sometimes my fancy carbon roadbike so I don't count.
horse sense02.23.09 - 3:00 am
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If you're doing gnarly climbs, that 16t isn't gonna help! No matter how much gold is on it.
BICYKILLER02.23.09 - 8:15 am
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wow im glad you clarified the 100-125.i'd be super jealous cause i can barely fit 300 in a week.
_iJunes02.23.09 - 8:47 am
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did you go to eai? did ty and christophe make fun of you for using 144bcd parts on a 130 ring?
ruinedbyidiots02.23.09 - 9:47 am
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infiniteawesome, glad to see you on the board!!
rbi, what is eai?
Eric Hair02.23.09 - 10:25 am
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do you want a ribbon for your trouble?
mabey you think riding 25 miles is a big deal but.......its not.
mabey your mom will make you some happy face pancakes for your trouble.
and to fix is something you do with tools.
robert stanfield02.23.09 - 10:37 am
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i wish someone would give me rad shit for riding my commute...
on second thought... i really don't need any gear. maybe just wash my bike for me, please?
onethirtynine02.23.09 - 10:45 am
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i am going to go eat lunch in hawaiian gardens.
think i will fix over.then i'll fix down the river trail.
think i'll take my dog who also happens to be fixxed as well.
robert stanfield02.23.09 - 11:12 am
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Hey hey, take it easy on my prospect bo bo.
Kid, you play your cards right, there's plenty more where that came from. ;-)
User102.23.09 - 11:15 am
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i do about 200 miles a week on 46/16...sometimes i may do more depending on the different rides i attend.
pretti*ugli02.23.09 - 12:00 pm
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Nothing like, "Old-Man Love" to liven up the afternoon.
bentstrider02.23.09 - 12:08 pm
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I do about 350-400 miles a week. Not fixed though. I ride your mom. Shes Freewheel.
stillline02.23.09 - 12:11 pm
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I still dont understand your mileage. If your place of work is 13 miles a day, and you're fixing it there 4-5 times a day, doesn't that mean...
13 X 4 = 52 and 13 X 5 = 65
so 52 to 65 miles a day, right?
i'm not good at astrophysics though, correct me if my numbers aint crunchin.
SKIDMARCUS02.23.09 - 12:25 pm
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First, Hi Hair!
Second, EAI is Euro Asia Imports.
Thirdly I fix with a 42 16 anyway. 26 miles a day isn't much I know, but the hills are pretty good (though I'm not that great going past Foothill up into the more mountainous areas of the La Crescenta area). I used to fix with a 42 14 since that's the gear ratio I had on my first bike (single speed). But my knees started to feel some ache after a couple months of that, so I geared down.
Anyway, the whole sitch is weird, I'm going to be calling them tomorrow and just see if they know who I am since my store is down the street . . .
I'm not putting the gold cog on my conversion cuz it just seems a little too nice for the road . . . plus it's more outright visual incentive to steel my bike.
infiniteawesome02.23.09 - 7:04 pm
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i usually only have to walk a couple of feet to fix my bike. i have to take the elevator to the garage if I'm fixing something simple on my car. otherwise i have to drive about 25 miles to a family friends shop so i can use his lift and air tools to fix it.
larsenf02.23.09 - 7:22 pm
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