Fixed Gears

For those of you who are not familiar with Fixed Gears, they are the new trend in the biking world. Single speed bikes that have a fixed gearing (no coasting) and usually go sans brakes (you slow by putting reverse pressure on the pedals).

Anywho, I got a chance to shoot with a couple friends and finally put my new filters to work! 5D + 24-70L. Stacked a 3 stop ND and CPL for a loss of ~5 stops. Got some vignetting around 24mm, but I just stayed away from that end. It was sunny 16 out, and HOT. Since my camera is limited to 1/200th (I get banding at 1/250th on my 5d) when using my flashes, the filters allow me to shoot at f2.8 midday when it would otherwise be too bright. Lighting was a boomed AB800 on full w/ beauty dish.

Nice Work. The style of bike is similar to what I had as a kid 40 years ago!

Everything old is new again!

I know! I have a thing for vintage Italians. Too bad I had to sell mine for a car =[Here's my old ride:

I've begun to like wider crops, so I was playing with 16:9
Same setup, but I used a 430 bare and zoomed on the pineapple instead of my AB.

Nice! Reminds me I need to go ahead and convert mine to fixie!!

Fixed gears are so not new. As kids (40 years ago) we used to get a good head of steam on then just stand on one peddle and bob up and down. Its amazing what small pleasures we had before computer games.

neil_r wrote in post #9657962
Fixed gears are so not new. As kids (40 years ago) we used to get a good head of steam on then just stand on one peddle and bob up and down. Its amazing what small pleasures we had before computer games.

Heh, yeah I'm not implying that they are anything new, just pointing out that they are the new fad. Especially with the hipsters!

Ainoko wrote in post #9660391
Heh, yeah I'm not implying that they are anything new, just pointing out that they are the new fad. Especially with the hipsters!

Ah but do they stand on one pedal and bob up and down like nutters

your fixed bear hipsters are missing the neon cloths and oakley frogskin glasses or possibly a scarf (even though your in hawaii)

but seriously your second picture is your best one..although i would crop out the pull out couch

Lol @ kompakt's comment; so true! At least the guy is wearing denim cutoffs.

But yes, the 2nd image is really great and i find the B&W rendering to work out really well.

<-- fixed gear rider here. hipster, not so much. i used to [pulled hammy 2 years ago and started using the cage] commute 8 miles one-way to work everyday including one decent hill/mountain. everyone used to ask how in the world I rode up a certain steep street in town... but its not going up hills that kills the legs, its going down the hills that gets ya! i've ridden with some very good fixed gear/track guys and NO ONE could ride my route without hand brakes, i don't care how well someone can skid.

Thanks for posting these, great results from ND mid day + flash!

KrautFed wrote in post #9660717
<-- fixed gear rider here. hipster, not so much. i used to [pulled hammy 2 years ago and started using the cage] commute 8 miles one-way to work everyday including one decent hill/mountain. everyone used to ask how in the world I rode up a certain steep street in town... but its not going up hills that kills the legs, its going down the hills that gets ya! i've ridden with some very good fixed gear/track guys and NO ONE could ride my route without hand brakes, i don't care how well someone can skid.

Thanks for posting these, great results from ND mid day + flash!

Props, any hill on a single speed is studly. I couldn't imagine a fixie.

OP: Why don't you send your camera in to fix the banding issue?
It seems kind of inconvenient.

Ainoko wrote in post #9660391
Heh, yeah I'm not implying that they are anything new, just pointing out that they are the new fad. Especially with the hipsters!

That's correct. Now, the question is do they race bike???

KrautFed wrote in post #9660717
<-- fixed gear rider here. hipster, not so much. i used to [pulled hammy 2 years ago and started using the cage] commute 8 miles one-way to work everyday including one decent hill/mountain. everyone used to ask how in the world I rode up a certain steep street in town... but its not going up hills that kills the legs, its going down the hills that gets ya! i've ridden with some very good fixed gear/track guys and NO ONE could ride my route without hand brakes, i don't care how well someone can skid.

Thanks for posting these, great results from ND mid day + flash!

Good for you but the ultimate testament of your "cycling greatness" is whether or not you race bike and how many times you place? And at what race category?

cccc wrote in post #9661394
Props, any hill on a single speed is studly. I couldn't imagine a fixie.

OP: Why don't you send your camera in to fix the banding issue?
It seems kind of inconvenient.

Nothing is wrong with my camera, it's just the sync speed of the flash.

TooManyShots wrote in post #9661475
That's correct. Now, the question is do they race bike???

Actually, yes they do. They had a special fixed division in a local Time Trial this past weekend. There were around 6-7 people in the race.

I've raced on my fixed gear in local crits as well. I never placed, but I stuck it out to the end =P