David Auker
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((drip, drip, pitter, patter))
This first real rain prompts me to pass on a couple seasonal thoughts/opinions to OBRA-land:
1. Ride a fendered fixed gear. There are a ton of reasons to praise their efficiency in wet weather...
A. Upkeep is simple (do you really want to subject an expensive drivetrain to gritty/wetty?).
B. You'll stay warmer (do you really want to coast down a decent in the wet?).
C. Speeds are lower, very controlled (do you really enjoy going into that wet curve with the uncertain braking iffies of a gearS coaster bike?).
D. It's a new skill...it's fun. You may actually want to get outside, rather than ride a trainer.
E. etc.
2. Riding in a low gear on a gearS bike isn't anything like riding fixed...don't fool yourself.
3. Tires: In my experience, Specialized S-Works are REALLY slippery in the rain. On a fixed, tires' adhesion can be readily checked by skidding...these tires don't even need that test, as I've had sideways slipping, even. They are "fun" to skid with, but require some care when cornering in wet. They are a pain to climb with out of the saddle, as power to the pedal can easily end up spinning the wheel.
Other than the slipperiness, they wear and ride quite well.
4. Please join these Portland fixed rides:
The Semi-Epic Fixed Gear Ride
Wednesdays through October, 9:00,
Chart House on SW Terwilliger.
Returns to same.
Approximately 40 miles, 3,000 ft of hilly. 42x18-ish.
=-=-=-ooo=-=-=-ooo=-=-=-ooo=-=-=-ooo=-=-=
The River City Fixed Gear Ride
Sundays through February, 10:00,
River City Bicycles on SE Martin Luther King.
1-1/2 hours of urban meander. Chatty.
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Thanks for reading - opinions may vary. ...I have been riding since '72, which should somewhat qualify me a valid opinion. I ride fixed 99% of the time, all year. It's not for everyone, but you really should give it a try to find out for yourself !! =David
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((drip, drip, pitter,
patter))</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This first real rain prompts me to pass on a couple
seasonal thoughts/opinions to OBRA-land: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. <U>Ride a fendered fixed gear</U>. There
are a ton of reasons to praise their efficiency in wet weather...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> A. Upkeep is simple (do you
really want to subject an expensive drivetrain to gritty/wetty?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> B. You'll stay warmer (do you
really want to coast down a decent in the wet?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> C. Speeds are lower, very
controlled (do you really enjoy going into that wet curve with the uncertain
braking iffies of a gearS coaster bike?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> D. It's a new skill...it's
fun. You may actually want to get outside, rather than ride a
trainer.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> E. <U>etc</U>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Riding in a low gear on a gearS bike isn't
anything like riding fixed...don't fool yourself.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. Tires: <U>In my experience</U>, Specialized
S-Works are REALLY slippery in the rain. On a fixed, tires' adhesion can
be readily checked by skidding...these tires don't even need that test, as I've
had sideways slipping, even. They are "fun" to skid with, but require some
care when cornering in wet. They are a pain to climb with out of the
saddle, as power to the pedal can easily end up spinning the wheel.
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Other than the slipperiness,
they wear and ride quite well. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4. Please join these Portland fixed rides: </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800000 face=Centaur size=5><U><STRONG><EM>The Semi-Epic Fixed
Gear Ride</EM></STRONG></U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Centaur><FONT face=Arial>Wednesdays through October, 9:00,
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Centaur><FONT face=Arial>Chart House on SW Terwilliger.
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Centaur><FONT face=Arial>Returns to same.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Approximately 40 miles, 3,000 ft of hilly.
42x18-ish. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#00ff00><FONT size=1><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial>=-=-=-ooo<FONT face=Arial>=-=-=-ooo<FONT face=Arial>=-=-=-ooo<FONT
face=Arial>=-=-=-ooo<FONT size=1><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face=Arial>=-=-=</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff0000 face=Centaur size=5><EM><STRONG><U>The River City Fixed
Gear Ride</U></STRONG></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Sundays through February, 10:00, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>River City Bicycles on SE Martin Luther King.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1-1/2 hours of urban meander. Chatty.</DIV>
<DIV>
<HR>
</DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM><STRONG>Thanks for reading </STRONG></EM>-
opinions may vary. ...I have been riding since '72, which should somewhat
qualify me a valid opinion. I ride fixed 99% of the time, all year.
It's not for everyone, but you really should give it a try to find out for
yourself !! =David</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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