18 June 2011

Do You Ride A "Fixie" Or A Bike With A Fixed Gear Into The Sunset

If I count the miles I pedaled going to and from yesterday's ride, I did about 45 miles all together--on Tosca, my fixie.


Of course, I've cycled many more miles than that in one ride.  However, it's been a while since I've ridden that many miles on a fixed gear.


Today I rode only a few miles, albeit on a fixed gear.  Notice I said "a fixed gear" as opposed to "my fixie."  A few months ago, I fitted a fixed gear to Marianela.  However, I don't think of it as a fixie:  I think of it as my commuter/utility bike, which I just happen to be riding with a fixed gear.


I think the difference in the way I think about each of them has to do with the fact that Tosca is a bike that's made to be used with fixed gears, while Marianela started life as a late '70's ten-speed bike.






Anyway, Marianela seems to have this thing for sunsets.  So after a brief late day ride, I found myself having a picnic in Astoria Park.  The food consisted of a hero sandwich from Sal, Kris and Charlie's of Astoria.  It's one of those old-school Italian-American sandwich shops that seemed to be everywhere in the NY Metro area when I was growing up.  You probably wouldn't want to go there if you are a vegetarian.  I might become one, some day.  But not tonight.  I ordered something called "The Bomb."  (I mean, how could I not, with a name like that!)  Let me tell you, it was worth every damn calorie, gram of sodium and whatever of cholestrol I downed.  I didn't order it with mustard or mayo, but I did get oil and vinegar, which were perfect on this sandwich!


I almost feel guilty for not having shared, even if these people were enjoying each other's company:




After eating that sandwich, I probably could have attached a chain to my bike and pulled this train into the sunset all by myself:




The light inside that train alone would be worth the ride.  Heck, I wouldn't even mind being inside the windows of that building underneath the trestle, even if it is a water treatment plant.  But I got the best view of all--after riding my bike.



3 comments:

  1. I don't recall you ever discussing how Tosca's build differs from what it would have been as a multigear bike other than derailleur hangar.

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  2. Beautiful! I saw nothing as spectacular as that riding this weekend, so thanks for taking me along for the ride via this post. Oil and vinegar on a Bomb... that sound so good.

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  3. Steve: Tosca has a somewhat tighter geometry than Arielle or Helene. I can notice the steeper angles because I'm bent over a bit more than I am on Arielle, even though both have the same handlebars and stem, set up at the same height from the steerer tube. Also, I am more forward on the saddle on each one, and each of them uses the same seatpost and saddle.

    Sue: It was worth every calorie and every gram of sodium and fat. At least I'm not going for blood work this week!

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