Coming along Abbeydale Road South this morning (heading towards the city) catching up with another cyclist and recognised, from quite a way off, that fluidity of pedalling and simplicity of chainline that immediately shouts out 'another fixer ahead'. I am not alone. I've got a lot of momentum and so sail by but he catches me up at the lights at the junction of London Road and Abbeydale Road and we chat on the way down towards town. Mutual positive comments about bikes and fixed gear riding. We both ride similar gearing (him 48x18, me 42x16). He hasn't seen many others on fixed in Sheffield but has seen more recently. I know Ian rides fixed sometimes and I've seen 2 other strangers plus another 3 fixies locked up in and around town. Its getting a bit more popular.
I recall a comment from another 'PedalPusher' on the list recently about Sheffield not being that hilly and how it is possible to get around without encountering anything too mountainous. He's right. You might have to choose your routes carefully and ride further as a result but thats no bad thing. Those that reckon utility fixed gear riding in and around Sheffield is for the marginally insane are just wrong. They are missing out on a whole lot of fun and lots less maintenance. Its NOT a fashion statement but who can fail to appreciate the beautiful, simplistic minimalism of a fixed gear bicycle.
A blog about cycling in and around Sheffield (and sometimes further afield).
2 comments:
My fixer plans are to get a new frame for it this year ready for winter. The old pug frame is just getting a bit long in the tooth, seized seat pin, and now the BB has seized to. Ill swap over all the parts and the Dynamo hub for a real winter bike. I would like a reasonably light fixer frame with track ends and mudguard eyes if possible
If you can stretch to it then the Il Pompino from On-One is supposedly a very good choice. Frame and forks £225. Everything you ask for in your spec. I want one!! And Il Pompino is Italian for 'blowjob' (apparently) as well! :-)
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