Branching the topic off a little (apologies, Dale) but I think one thing
that has revived interest in quality single-speed bikes a;nd frames built
for single speed use is the greater maintainance needs of contemporary
derailleur bikes. A 1960 road bike with Campagnolo Record or French parts,
a 1975 bike with Suntour Cyclone derailleurs, had roughly the maintainance
needs of a power lawn mower.
A 2002 bike with, say, Chorus 10 has the relative maintainance needs of an
Alfa-Romeo. A number of riders in my region admit that they have fixed
gear/single speed bikes because they don't like the speed with which their
derailleur bikes need new chains, cassettes, and cable maintainance!
David Felman
Vancouver, WA
> Does any one have any experience of using these front mechs, the ones that
> bolt to a threaded hole in the side of the tube? I have a few and fancied
> building a frame to use one as it should look very neat and tidy.
>
> A road / path frame would use a fixed wheel. Path really refers to track,
> although that may have been any thing from grass, cinder or concrete.
>
> By far the largest proportion of steel frames I see being raced at the
moment
> are on grass. The current "stock" track frames that are being sold do not
> have enough clearance for the heavier tyres needed for grass and cinder
> racing, consequently guys seek out older track and road/ path frames. It
is
> not un common to see frames from the 50s and 60s regularly being raced,
along
> with the odd Williams cottered and steel 3 pin Campag crank, BH hubs and
> Fiamme and Martano rims. You could mistake it for a vintage bike meet.
>
>
>
> Regards
> Martin Coopland, disappoint as my main Grass meet of the year, 4th August,
> has already been rained off! 100mm of rain in two days.