--- Keith Whaley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Most interesting bike. > To these ol' eyes, it doesn't look like it's got but > one speed, and no > "coaster" rear hub, either... > Since you know his name, this shot probably has a > story too... <g> > > keith >
Keith, Yeah, I know Rafel; like me, he's a long-time bike messenger who recently quit <g>. He had just bought groceries, and I was just walking down the street and saw him, so I snapped. I think I just caught him as he first glanced up at me. It was a chance encounter, so neither of us expected to meet each other there. As for the bike, I think it's on old (maybe '70's?) Raleigh rode frame, converted to urban use. Flat bars, fixed gear rear hub, front brakes only, fenders. A lot of people who make similar conversions put a freewheel cog on the back (you can buy cogs with freewheels built into them, to put on single speed hubs). The advantage (to my mind) of using a fixed gear is that they're so much better in really messy weather: no waiting for calipers to wipe and dry the mush on the rim before you get braking power. Fix rear is great in the snow for getting the rear tire to the exact speed you want for cornering - no grabbing brakes. Also, brakes and derailleurs can freeze up pretty quickly in slushy icy conditions, leaving you with no brakes at all and possibly in the wrong gear. No worries there with a fix. Of course, one speeds aren't popular in San Fransisco and places like that! <vbg> Thanks for looking and commenting. cheers, frank ===== "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
