Why I Ride Fixed Gear

Why do I Ride a Fixed Gear Bicycle? by John Z.

It's hard to say exactly why I choose to ride a fixed gear bicycle. Part of it is just a

feeling you get from a bike or style that fits you just right. It may be that old road bike

from the eighties that still has a home in your garage or an English three speed that

feels so right on a quick trip to the coffee shop.

That perfect fit is hard to quantify. It can be just a matter of a few millimeters here or a

few degrees there. An old seat that is broken in just right, or maybe a set of really

comfortable fatty tires. It may be a bike that has just the right gear combinations or a

quick shift and brake action.

For me I find that fit in an old steel frame that has just the right millimeters and degrees

for me with nothing but the absolute minimum stripped from the bike (Although, throw

experience I do have a full set of brakes on my bicycle). I crave simplicity in my life and

in my bicycle and that is what a fixed gear gives me.

There is not much more simplicity then a fixed gear bicycle. Stripping a bike of the

derailleurs, gears and freewheel obviously makes a bike lighter, but lite weight is not the

only benefit. I think the true beauty of a fixed-gear bicycle is in its reliability, there is a lot

less that can go wrong. Derailleurs go out of alignment, jockey wheels need constant

cleanings, cables stretch and need replacing, parts wear out and become more difficult

to tune.

I have ridden many miles in my life, I have ridden over 38,000 miles on a favorite

Cannondale derailleur bike from the eighties alone (not counting all the other bicycles I

have owned), and have near that amount on fixed-gear bicycles. My bicycle seances

have become super sensitive to every small bit of feed back a bicycle gives me that

even the slightest bit of derailleur chatter, misalignment or soft shift action drives me

nuts. Is that my OCD coming through? The fixed-gear drive train gives my seances

wonderful silents.

The first bicycle to resemble today's bicycle was the Safety Bicycle around the late

1880's. It featured a chain, two wheels the same size and a fixed-gear cog. It was a

decade plus before the first freewheel became available. However the invention of a

freewheel did not spell the end of the fixed-gear bicycle.

Henri Desgranges, the creator of the Tour de France, stated in 1902 his feelings of

freewheels and derailleur bicycles, "I still feel that variable gears are only for people

over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by strength of your muscles than by artifice of a

derailleur? We are getting soft.." As a result, the Tour did adopt derailleurs until the

1930's.

I love bicycle racing, I love watching the Tour, Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta de Espania. I

love the strategy, the races within the race and the competition, but I really would like to

see racing the way it once was. Racers unsupported, ridding all hours of the day, no

stages, just first one across the line. Racers with the support of only themselves, like I

have to ride.

Brevets are the closest thing today to the races of old, the oldest and most well known is

the Paris Brest Paris. A brevet is a race where the race starts at a given time and the racers

ride morning noon and night, or when you are capable of riding, until the racer crosses the finish line.  No stages, it's up to the racer to figure out when to stop and when to ride. There is a group

that rides fixed-gear in these races, but they really are not races. They are basically

individuals riding against the clock, beat the maximum time allowed and get a metal.

The last time Paris Brest Pairs was truly run as a race was 1951.

I hope I have conveyed my love for a fixed-gear bicycle, it's not easy to put into words.

It is my hope that all cyclists give a fixed-gear a try at least a couple of times in there

lifetime to experience what words can not describe. If you need help in converting or

building a fixed-gear, drop an email and I will do my best to help you.  It is also not my intention to put down any other forms of bicycles, if you ride a bicycle of any kind, you are my friend.

Love of an Old Bicycle

My Schwinn World Today

Love of and Old Bicycle by John Z.

If you are anything like me you own a new high tech bike, with a space age frame, super expensive super lite wheels, integrated shifters and twenty speeds.  If your also like me you only ride it about 5% or less of your riding time. So what do I ride the other 95% of the time?  It is defiantly not my mountain bike, I don't even own one. The answer would be a 1983 Schwinn World. And before that it was a 1985 Cannondale ST-500.

I know, I know, I am nuts right?  Well let me explain a little why I have grown to hate my space age bicycle and I will start with my riding style.  First of all I am a practice cyclist, I ride everywhere I can that has a purpose, need a bolt or a lite bulb at Home Depot.  I ride.  Need to get to class.  I ride.  Need to get to work.  I ride.  Need groceries.  I ride.  Going out with friends on Friday night? I ride.  The list will go on...

This does not mean I don't ride for enjoyment, I do.  I feel lost and foggy if I miss my morning ride, like that feeling you have if you forgot your phone at home.  One of the great joys in my life is riding with no destination in mind, just out riding and seeing what happens, what I find, what's around the corner?  Riding on a long trail in the fresh air out in the country.

You would think that with all this riding I would be singing the praises of the newest everything in bicycle technologies when if fact the new technologies do nothing to improve my riding.  I need versatility in my bicycle for all the demands I put on it, and i don't want to own five or six bikes to meet these demands.  This is not what a Trek Madone one is designed for.

For years I have been trying to come up with a bicycle that fits all my needs.  First and foremost the bike needs to be comfortable, 30 year old bike, check, space age bike, no check.  The bike needs to be capable of fitting wide tires for the diverse surfaces I ride, old bike, check, modern bike, no check.  It needs to be simple and reliable, old bike, check, modern bike, no check.  It needs to have a rack and carry heavy loads, old bike, check, modern race bike, no check.  And most of all it needs to be inconspicuous, old bike, check, new race bike, no check.  Can you imagine locking up a Cannodale Caad 10 locked up outside the grocery store?

It has been an evolution, but I believe I have finally put together the bike that fit all my needs and that is my Schwinn World.  It is not even a world sport, just plain old world.  I got the bike for $10 at a rummage sale.  I rode it for many years as a ten speed with a ridiculous bio pace crank.  It has churned out many miles to work, school and everywhere in between.

Over time I have made many changes and I have kept a running total of the costs I put into it.  The first change I made was replace the suicide brake levers with ergonomic aero levers I got for $8 on clearance.  Next a traded the bio pace crank for a new single speed crank that I originally put on another project to sell, but ended up crashing before I sold.  The rear wheel with a flip flop hub and cogs came off that same bike, that I paid $40 clearance for the wheel and $1 for the fixed cog at a swap meet and $4 used for the freewheel.   The front wheel was donated from a customer that I switched the wheels off of a project for him.  Cost, free.  I had some 27" cross tires laying around the shop for years that where still in good shape, still had the mold fringes, cost? I don't remember where they came from the have been around so long, so we will put free on the tag.  The bar tape is used, it was replaced on a customers bike.  A little soap and water and the price tag cleans up at free.  The rack came with the bike.  Grand total $63, not too shabby.

I forgot, I did add new modern brake calipers this week, price, $20 and a mountain bike bio pace crank at a swap meet.  Grand total $83 and a parts box crank.  Next on my list and probably not the end of the evolution will be some scavenged cross brake levers.

Now you may be asking, what about speed?  That must be the slowest hunk of junk around.  My answer to that, I ride two-hundred plus miles a week rain or snow, even more in the summer, these legs aren't slow on any bike.

In the end I love this bike, the fit, the steel, the character.  I hope I am not the only one who has fallen in love with a bike like this.  Its bikes like this that I believe can change the world, not thousands of dollars modern race bikes.

Soon I will be writing about the true weight of a bike and the new bicycle tunnels that are under construction in our area under some pretty major roads.

P.S. anyone want to buy a Trek Madone or a Trek 1.5?

My Schwinn World - Angle View

My Schwinn World - Front View

My Schwinn World - Drive Train

David's 1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour

David's 1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour

This is David's 1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour.  It was found in a barn missing the front wheel and the rear brake caliper had the tiniest little broken finger that holds the cable yoke in place.   The yoke cable did not seat properly so the rear brake did not work.  I believe that is why the bike showed little wear except for years of dust.

The frame had hardly a scratch on it and with all new cables and housing, modern brake levers and a comfortable seat this may be the best looking and conditioned 40 year old Le Tour you will ever find.

See the restoration at John Recycled Bicycle Blog. 

1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour - Front View

1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour - Rear View

1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour - Drive Train

1973-74 Schwinn Le Tour - Bar View

Emmett's Upgraded 80's Bianchi Commuter

Emmett's Upgraded 80's Bianchi Commuter

Hello My name is Emmett, from Waukegan ,IL.
This is my daily commuter bike I put together with different parts from ebay, local shops and craigslist finds.
I wanted a strong comfortable lugged steel frame, with speed and climbing ability with good looks.
The frame is a late 80's Bianchi Alante MTB. original components left on the bike include, brakes, shifters, exage rear derailleur, seat post. 

Upgrades include, Campagnolo Mirage road bike triple crank 52/42/30, Campy BB, road bike triple shimano front derailleur, stem and zeus clamp and handlebars with lock on grips. Serfas saddle (looking for something better). 26" Mach1 510 wheelset with shimano hubs, shimano 7 speed HG cassette 11/28. Panaracer Pasela TG 1.25 all black tires. 
She rides great, shifts smooth, handles great, faster and smoother than expected, very comfortable ride. Just a great feel on the bike. I put more into it than expected but it was worth it. 

My next project is an old peugeot I think '79 got on craigslist for very cheap, all original very clean. For weekend riding, and for looks.
Will send pics of that one next.
Thanks.

Beautiful Bianchi Emmett,  Great job on the build and modifications.
John Z.

Emmett's Upgraded Bianchi Commuter - Angle View

Emmett's Upgraded Bianchi Commuter - Left View

Dave's Baby Blue Schwinn Continental

Dave's 1973 Schwinn Continental

This is Dave's Schwinn Continental.  I restored it and he purchased it a around 2 months ago.  So far he has put a couple hundred miles on it a week.  I am very happy that he is putting it to good use, it is a very nice riding and solid bike and the baby blue and white looks great.  If you have a bike you would like to submit to the gallery please use the link in the tabs above.

Dave's 1973 Schwinn Continental

Drive Train View

Lite Touring - 137 Miles - Gurnee to Elkhart Lake, WI

Bicycle - First Day After Build

Hello,

     Tomorrow is a big day for me.  Life has been a mess and my bike has always been my savior when things are bad.  So tomorrow I am planing some lite touring to give me some time to clear my mind and just be on my bike riding.  I will be traveling from here in Gurnee, IL to Elkhart Lake, WI for a family function.  I will have to hitch a ride home with family Sunday because of time restraints on Monday.
     You may look up the route on Google Maps.  Just enter Hillside Court Gurnee, IL and Elkhart Lake, WI and make sure you select traveling by bicycle.  The route will be taking me up through Kenosha and Racine, where I have lived for the the last 12 years and know the route quite well.  The Milwaukee stretch of the route makes me a little nervous, but it should not be to bad, Milwaukee has a nice path system along the lake.
     The route I will be taking is the Ozaukee interurban Route.  Over all the route is 137 miles and Google says it will take 11 hours 53 minutes.  The weather forecast is for 75 degrees with a 5 mph wind from the west south west, so conditions will be perfect.  I think I am a lot stronger cyclist then Google has figured for the 12 hours they estimate.  I think I will be in the 9-10 hour range.  If it was a multiple day tour I would be a lot slower conserving energy for the following days.
   
Here is a list off all that I packed.
2 Tubes
Tire Patches
Tire Levers
Park Tool Multi Tool
1 chain Tool
Bike Pump
6 Bottle of Water
2 Bottles of Water in the cages
6 Granola Bars
1 lb Dried Fruit
1 lb Almonds
1 Canister of Gatorade Powder
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of shorts
1 pair of riding pants
2 t-shirts
1 dress shirt
1 sweat shirt
Under ware and Socks
1 phone
1 IPod
1 IPad
Bag for my pills

Bare Bike

Panniers

All That I need To pack

Loaded Bike

     I started riding at sun up.  The bike at first was out of balance, I had to stop and move some things around.  The ride was moving fast.  I did not think to take any photos until after Milwaukee, I have ridden the area from Gurnee to Milwaukee so many times that it just didn't seem photo worthy.  I rembered to start taking photos around Port Washington Wisconsin.
     The air was pretty cool at the beginning, started by wearing riding pants and a sweat shirt, but quickly shed those around the 20 mile mark.  I do not really like the first 25 miles through Gurnee over to the North South path and then through Kenosha.  There are a lot of busy roads and the scenery is all the same.  Around Washing road in Racine around where I use to live, is when the ride starts to get interesting.  I love the section of trail from Washington road to Milwaukee,  there is a lot of trees, twists and turns and parks along the way.
     The Milwaukee section does nothing for me either.  Skyscrapers, cars and pollution don't really interest me.  But the Ozaukee County Interurban trail is really nice, scenery is not much yet, but the trail is very interesting, and there is a lot of city stuff to look at.
     Just out side of Port Washington is where the trail and scenery gets interesting, in my opinion anyways, I love the rolling farm country and small towns of this type of trail.  I arrived in Port Washington around 11:00.  The trail was closed for construction so I had to take the detour on a gravel road for about 4 miles.  It was all new loose gravel with no area packed down.  It was slow going and I worried about getting a flat, but I lucked out.

Port Washington Scenery

Gravel Road Detour

     The first small town I reached was Belgium, WI.  I really liked this section of trail, the weather was getting warm and there was a lot of dips in the trail where the cool air has not warmed yet.  It was refreshing to hit the coolness.  The path from Belgium through Cedar Berg and into Oostberg was tree lined and beautiful.  With all that has been going on this summer with my family, this was about the time in the ride that my spirits really started to lift and my body was getting into a very fast and efficient rhythm.  I am not sure exactly, but this must have been in the 80-90 mile range of the ride.
     I love the small towns along the trail.  Belgium, Cedar Grove and Ooostberg is like looking back into time.  There is just small main street with a few small stores.  The sad part is most of the buildings are empty and run down.  It makes me think of what could be.  Oostberg looked like it was trying to revive a little with restaurants and a beautiful train depot turned into a bicycle trail head.  It is amazing what can happen when a community embraces cycling.
     This part of the trail was not well maintained, a lot of weeds, flowers and grass was over growing the path, but it had a beautiful affect.  I snapped a few photos of flower and grass all the path.

Belgium Farm

Small Town of Belgium, WI

Abandoned Belgium Mill

Trail Side Daisy

Trail Side Grass

Path from Belgium to Oostberg

Oostberg Trail Head

      The next 10-12 miles was from Oostberg to Sheboygan Falls.  At Oostberg according to the map, the bike trail turns north east into Sheboygan, I just needed to continue north because I was eventually turning west, the trip into Sheboygan would have added around 10 miles to my route.  At this point I left the trail and took County Road A and then Hwy 32 into Sheboygan Falls.  This was a very nice road, the speed limit was 55 mph, but there where hardly any cars, I saw more tractors and bicycles then I saw cars.  This was also a demanding section of the route, it seemed as it was all up and down on very steep grades.  When I got into Sheboygan falls I took a 20 minute break in a park to eat and drink and let the muscles loosen up.
     I liked Sheboygan Falls, it felt like a classic American town that still felt small.  There where signs around town for the falls, I road around a little looking for them, but could not find them.  On the north side of town I  turned west catching the Old Plank Road Trail that follows Hwy 23.

Sheboygan Falls River

Sheboygan Falls Bridge

      I rode Old Plank Road Trail for about 6 miles into the town of Plymouth.  The trail is very nice, but it follows along a four lane highway, so it was loud and unscenic.  In the town of Plymouth I turned north on Hwy E.  Hwy E was a beautiful ride.  No traffic, but huge hills up and down with a lot of curves and trees.  This was near 130 miles in and I was getting pretty tired.  I am embarrassed to say I had to walk a few hills at this point, legs where just dead, and I was to close to my destination to stop and rest.
     The last mile into the Osthoff Resort, where the family gathering was, may have been the best part of the ride.  It was all tree covered winding roads and little bridges.

River Along Old Plank Road Trail

Hwy E

Last Mile to Resort

     I was extremely tired by the time I made it to my destination, but my spirits have not been this high in a very long time.  I left a lot of mental baggage out on the trail and having time with all my family, aunts, uncles and all really help.  This was exactly what I needed to re-enthuse myself for life.  I am so proud of myself for making it this far, and only in about 9 hours.

My bike & I at the End

I will be adding a few more thoughts about the trip after it sinks in for a few days.

Until Later,

Thanks
John Z.

Marking a huge life Change with What Else? A Tattoo!

 


 The last month plus has been huge changes for my family.  None of them good.  So to remind myself to keep moving forward, or as Albert Einstein said "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.", I got this tattoo.  I actually drew it about a year ago and never got around to getting it.  So on Saturday when I had a long lonely day to myself, I thought now is the time.
     The art work is my own, also the pasty white cyclist tan is my own.  My arms are actually very skinny, I am built like a bean pole.  So I Guess the camera does add 10 lbs.  The photo does not do it justice, but it turned out very nice.  Bicycles and riding is my life, riding is what gets me through hard times.  I thought there was no better reminder then a bicycle tattoo.  But I guess I will find out in the future and the tattoo thing could all be cliche in the end.

Thanks for Looking,
John Z.