[SDCBC] Fwd: [CBC] Wired mag article on city bikes

[Jim Baross]

John & Bill:
I expect that you may have several different bikes, each best suited 
for different uses, as do I... having had and used a fixie since the 
70s. Let's perhaps be a little more accepting of others choices for 
their own bicycling.

A fixed gear bike can have a place in a bicyclists stable; not suited 
well for all purposes, but certainly a fun alternative for some and a 
challenging training bike for others.
I do not agree that use of a fixie is "simple" and easy. A one-speed 
bike with freewheel and maybe a coaster brake has few gagets/tools to 
learn to use (hand brakes and umpteen gears), but using a fixed gear 
bike is a very challenging steed... and yes, not best suited for 
hilly terrain, weather, etc.

But, still a fun choice for some.

At 07:00 PM 9/27/2007, you wrote:
>Absolutely, positively not! I am the guy who converted an old Avanti 
>track bike (wedding present in 1973 from my wife's brother) from 
>inch-pitch fixed gear to a freewheeling 4-speed by re-engineering a 
>SunTour derailleur claw to work backward on the track dropout.
>
>Fixed-gear / single-speed is merely a silly passing fad. Once those 
>folks get really hooked on serious cycling, they will gradually 
>learn the immense benefits afforded by multispeed transmissions, in 
>traffic, on hills, against headwinds, etc. (I really do have to 
>donate my spare copy of "The Dancing Chain" to our downtown 
>storefront.) Choosing the most efficient gear for the moment's 
>conditions is one of the great joys of cycling, even (particularly?) 
>for those of us who use old school nonindexed downtube levers or barcons.
>
>John E.
>
>----- Original Message ----
>From: Jim Baross <JimBaross at cox.net>
>To: sdcbc at bikesandiego.org
>Cc: caboforum at topica.com
>Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:38:35 PM
>Subject: [SDCBC] Fwd: [CBC] Wired mag article on city bikes
>
>FYI.
>Do you ride a fixie or one-speed yet?
>