Zwift Chat

[<Tommy>]

I ride a track bike around London. There’s a good trick for getting tension on the back wheel and setting it straight. Just get a bit of cloth or a tea towel and jam it between the seat tube and the rear wheel. You can fold the cloth over as many times as you need until it is able to wedge properly. Doing this means the chain will be tight and you can make small adjustments to the wheel position. I don’t know how well I’ve described that but I can take a photo if anyone wants it. You need to carry an alan key or preferably a ratchet socket with you in case you get a rear wheel puncture but it’s no hassle. I ride fixed rather than singlespeed and I’d highly recommend trying it. It’s really something different. So maybe try and get a flip flop hub

 

[Norry1]

I'm thinking about getting a Genesis flyer on C2W (my employer are moving offices in Feb and will be a 6-7mile commute). Anyone got the flyer, CdA or anything else based on the frameset and care to share an opinion?

It would be my first single speed bike - has anyone here regretted going SS? Is it a faff to get the chain tension right after re-fitting the rear wheel, or just a case of pull the wheel in as hard as possible and tighten? There is an option to buy with hub gears for an extra couple hundred quid but the commute is flat, and a lot of people seem to love the simple joy of single speed.

I had fixed bikes a few years ago (before Zwift) and loved them. There is just something about them tat is so satisfying. I found iteasy to set the rear wheel and I am useless with anything mechanical. Had the scariest moment on a bike going down a steep hill once when my legs were spinning so fast I couldn't get my hands off the bar to hit the brakes. Thought I was a goner!

 

[BurningLegs]

Thanks @<Tommy> - I can picture that tea towel trick to apply the right pressure. Sounds no more difficult than getting a wheel on past a derailleur to be honest, but something to try in the garage before on a grass verge or bus stop! The bike I'm looking at does have a flip/flop so will have the option to progress onto fixed at some point

@Norry1 - that is something I have heard a lot, people often seem to fall in love with fixed and describe it as liberating? Will be baby steps for me - start out SS and learn the route etc before thinking about fixed, and try to avoid any scary hills

 

[<Tommy>]

Thanks @<Tommy> - I can picture that tea towel trick to apply the right pressure. Sounds no more difficult than getting a wheel on past a derailleur to be honest, but something to try in the garage before on a grass verge or bus stop! The bike I'm looking at does have a flip/flop so will have the option to progress onto fixed at some point

@Norry1 - that is something I have heard a lot, people often seem to fall in love with fixed and describe it as liberating? Will be baby steps for me - start out SS and learn the route etc before thinking about fixed, and try to avoid any scary hills

This is my track bike

Probably a ‘slightly’ bigger frame than you will need!

I love it to be honest. It makes me very happy to ride it. In fact I’ve just ordered a new frameset if that’s a good endorsement. It’s going to take 4 months before it arrives but maybe I’ll start putting up some pictures when I begin to build it up because I’m hoping it’s a bit special.

 

[Joffey]

This is my track bike View attachment 561135

Probably a ‘slightly’ bigger frame than you will need!

I love it to be honest. It makes me very happy to ride it. In fact I’ve just ordered a new frameset if that’s a good endorsement. It’s going to take 4 months before it arrives but maybe I’ll start putting up some pictures when I begin to build it up because I’m hoping it’s a bit special.

Nice bike but do you have a trailer that attaches to it so you can take your chihuahua with you on your rides?

 

[Norry1]

If I had more room, I'd get another. I have 4 bikes and Wendy has 2 - and there is no more room really

 

[BurningLegs]

Nice bike @<Tommy> - got that stealthy assassin look! No brakes though?!

I live reasonably close to an indoor banked velodrome (Calshot) so would like to think I could flip the wheel round and have a go round there at some point!

 

[bridgy]

I had fixed bikes a few years ago (before Zwift) and loved them. There is just something about them tat is so satisfying. I found iteasy to set the rear wheel and I am useless with anything mechanical. Had the scariest moment on a bike going down a steep hill once when my legs were spinning so fast I couldn't get my hands off the bar to hit the brakes. Thought I was a goner!

You were really selling it to me until the bit where it nearly killed you

 

[<Tommy>]

Nice bike @<Tommy> - got that stealthy assassin look! No brakes though?!

I live reasonably close to an indoor banked velodrome (Calshot) so would like to think I could flip the wheel round and have a go round there at some point!

I took the pic before I put the brake on. I think if you went on the velodrome they normally want you to use wheels uncontaminated by outside type gunk. But if it’s that’s the case they’d prob lend you some to put on your frame.

 

[<Tommy>]

If I had more room, I'd get another. I have 4 bikes and Wendy has 2 - and there is no more room really

Sounds to me like Wendy has too many bikes!

 

[Whorty]

I'm thinking about getting a Genesis flyer on C2W (my employer are moving offices in Feb and will be a 6-7mile commute). Anyone got the flyer, CdA or anything else based on the frameset and care to share an opinion?

It would be my first single speed bike - has anyone here regretted going SS? Is it a faff to get the chain tension right after re-fitting the rear wheel, or just a case of pull the wheel in as hard as possible and tighten? There is an option to buy with hub gears for an extra couple hundred quid but the commute is flat, and a lot of people seem to love the simple joy of single speed.

I've got a 2015 flyer that I ride SS and love it. I did the 100 mile ToC on it in 2019 without any issues. I can easily grind up hills of up to 10% around here but anything steeper and I'd need to change the gearing (mine is about 69 inches I believe). Never has a puncture but then the first thing I did was add puncture resistant tyres SS/FS for flattish commutes is a breeze, you'll love it

 

[BurningLegs]

I've got a 2015 flyer that I ride SS and love it. I did the 100 mile ToC on it in 2019 without any issues. I can easily grind up hills of up to 10% around here but anything steeper and I'd need to change the gearing (mine is about 69 inches I believe). Never has a puncture but then the first thing I did was add puncture resistant tyres SS/FS for flattish commutes is a breeze, you'll love it

Thanks @Whorty - I will use the standard tyres to begin with (37mm “all terrain”) and hopefully they’ll be sturdy enough. Only thing I’m thinking about doing straight away is dyno hub and lights, plus guards and rack. Definitely won’t look as sleek as @<Tommy> ‘s stealth fighter!

I’m going to have to wait for stock availability and the C2W application window to align, hopefully that’ll be spring 🙏

 

[CXRAndy]

I have a Genesis Day One. I enjoyed the single speed, but eventually decided to make it a geared hub drive. Having fitted Di2 levers I went with Alfine 11 Di2. Geared it down, added panniers, dynamo lights . I had the rear wheel made up with 36 spokes to take touring weight and strength

 

[kipster]

Nice bike @<Tommy> - got that stealthy assassin look! No brakes though?!

I live reasonably close to an indoor banked velodrome (Calshot) so would like to think I could flip the wheel round and have a go round there at some point!

Calshot, where I broke my collarbone hitting the deck on the banking.

 

[kipster]

I took the pic before I put the brake on. I think if you went on the velodrome they normally want you to use wheels uncontaminated by outside type gunk. But if it’s that’s the case they’d prob lend you some to put on your frame.

They generally want you to hire their bikes if you don't have a dedicated track bike, they are normally fairly good but all use look pedals in my experience