WIKI:
A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle, sometimes known as a fixie) is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast, because the pedals are always moving when the bicycle is in motion.
The sprocket, or cog, is threaded or bolted directly to a fixed rear hub. When the rear wheel turns, the pedals turn in the same direction.[1] This allows a cyclist to apply a weak braking force without using a brake, by resisting the rotation of the cranks, and also to ride in reverse.
Quick back story:
So I was living in San Diego and feeling pretty down about being so far from all my friends back in Ohio. It got progressively worse as I started getting stuff piled on me at work, working 4 or 5 hours extra every night, coming in on weekends, the list goes on. I would stay in my room from the time I got home from work until the time I left for weeks at a time. I needed a hobby. One night I was walking to Jack in the Box, significantly intoxicated like usual, when I saw a bicycle in a shop window. "Man, I could really use on of those." I went home and did research on those types of bikes. Seemed pretty cool so the next day I dropped almost $600 to have a new bike rushed to my house. I put it together and logged over 500 miles in the first week alone. Needless to say, I was hooked. I joined bike groups, did HUGE rides all over San Diego (read: Critical Mass), and had easily the best time of my life on more than one occasion (yeah, its possible to have multiple best times of your life!). After just a couple days of riding I had a better outlook on things. I felt refreshed, stronger, more alive. It was awesome! I think that shift from rock bottom depression to amazing life-long memorable times has cemented bicycles in my brain until the day I die.
I frequently pick up old bikes and convert them into fixies. Its a subcultural thing. Some people call us hipsters, maybe you have heard that before. We ride in city traffic, many with no brakes, run stop signs, and get to where we are going long before you do.
Anyway, its therapeutic for me to take a bike that is nothing and make it into something.
Here is where it started:
Then I picked up some random pieces and made this:
Then painted it:
Now I'm changing it again and upgrading parts to look like this:
Stripped the frame:
Primed frame, first coat on forks:
Redid the bars:
Frame 90% painted:
Wheels:
Finishing it up tomorrow and assembly by Saturday I hope! Also picking up another frame this weekend to flip and possibly sell.
Thanks for checking it out!
mike.