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Old 7th September 2007   #1
Kelvin
 
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LondonFGSS-on-sea - Brighton fixies

Know there's a few of us on here, but sure there's a few more in the woodwork.

Doesn't sound like we have the curse of "the white horror" tm yet but sure it won't be long...

so fess up
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Old 7th September 2007   #2
pip
I've counted about seven fixies since I've lived here, its not exactly a massive scene. Not helped by the fact that no-one really stocks any track stuff above stock bikes.

Seen:

Couple of steamrollers/Langsters
1 x chrome pista
1 x Battleship gray pista
1 x Custom black frame
1 x lovely old chrome track bike
1 x Condor pista
1 x Guerrotti fixie
1 x Spalding fixie
1 x Flyer
1 x Heavily taped fuji

Although obviously if you go down Preston Park on a wednesday night, you'll see about about 50 more, but as those folks don't ride on the road, they don't count.
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Old 7th September 2007   #3
Kelvin
 
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what goes on down preston park?

There's a couple of langster and a white & purple track bike I see occasionally on my brighton out to shoreham commute.

Plus me wheezing on a still too shiny fuji
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Old 7th September 2007   #4
hippy
 
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I'm guessing Preston Park is a velodrome? track racing?
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Old 7th September 2007   #5
pip
Theres a 'velodrome' in the loosest sense of the word in Preston Park. Its really just a slightly banked oval and is all that remains of the real velodrome that was there.

Racing is between April-August each year.

See here for details of the ghettodrome:
http://www.runtrackdir.com/details.asp?track=brighton-pp
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Old 7th September 2007   #6
Kelvin
 
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never even knew that was there completely oblivious
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Old 7th September 2007   #7
Elvis
 
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preston park is a nice track, more like a running track than a velodrome though! i went down most wednesdays this summer and the racing was excellent. most fixed riders there are just for the track though. but as pip says the fixies are around. i know a few of the buys you mention pip in passing but it's still a small scene i reckon. must admit, i kinda like it that way. as kelvin says, curse of the "white horror" hasn't hit us yet. all the hipsters in brighton ride shoppers :D
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Old 7th September 2007   #8
photoben
 
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You guys are brave riding fixies down in Brighton - I thought everyone was on MTB down there (good countyside). Plus are there any flat bits in Brighton? Last time I was there it seemed like the whole town was made of hills?
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Old 7th September 2007   #9
Kelvin
 
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might have a wander down there this weekend then,

Not quite enough of us yet to form a polo team yet then!
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Old 7th September 2007   #10
photoben
 
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I might be down on Sunday and bring the bike if anyone is around?
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Old 7th September 2007   #11
Elvis
 
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Quote:
photoben:I might be down on Sunday and bring the bike if anyone is around?
yeah might be around dude, let me know.

and yes brighton is basically a series of hills. just makes you stronger :)
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Old 7th September 2007   #12
photoben
 
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Ahh, not coming down now, my Brightonian mate is coming up. But now I know you're around I'll give you the heads up when I'm next down.
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Old 7th September 2007   #13
Elvis
 
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cool.
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Old 7th September 2007   #14
Kelvin
 
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come to us it's easier than coming to you, plus we have the sea
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Old 10th September 2007   #15
RichC
 
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The heavily taped Fuji spotted in Brighton must be mine, never seen another like it.
Been doing the Kemp Town to Hove work run on my fix for a year or so now, cycling up North Street now its 1 way is a daily challenge/headache depending on my mood.
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Old 10th September 2007   #16
Elvis
 
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Quote:
RichC:The heavily taped Fuji spotted in Brighton must be mine, never seen another like it.
Been doing the Kemp Town to Hove work run on my fix for a year or so now, cycling up North Street now its 1 way is a daily challenge/headache depending on my mood.
i know, it's a right pain in the arse! probably going to be like that for years!
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Old 10th September 2007   #17
RichC
 
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Quote:
Elvis:
Quote:
RichC:The heavily taped Fuji spotted in Brighton must be mine, never seen another like it.
Been doing the Kemp Town to Hove work run on my fix for a year or so now, cycling up North Street now its 1 way is a daily challenge/headache depending on my mood.
i know, it's a right pain in the arse! probably going to be like that for years!
Tell me about it, its still double laned but try and get an on-coming taxi or bus to give you an inch is impossible. I've chased and abused many a taxi/bus in my red mist much to my shame!
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Old 10th September 2007   #18
Elvis
 
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i'm always a bit scared they'll run me over. but i do like it when they wave their fingers at me like they're my fucking teacher!!

seafront is the way for me. always too tired to tell with the arseholes in the morning.
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Old 10th September 2007   #19
Kelvin
 
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yeah i usually opt for the seafront on my route out to shoreham, western road is full of buses either cutting you up or refusing to overtake when they have plenty of room
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Old 10th September 2007   #20
Kelvin
 
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where's reccomended shop-wise aswell, went into syd 2s in hove and they looked like they'd never seen a fix before,

living two secs from evans i need convincing to go elsewhere
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Old 10th September 2007   #21
Elvis
 
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baker street are the best imo for fixed/ss stuff. alot of them ride them and they have an excellent wheel builder. then either them or rayments for all other types of cycling.

but there is a good second hand shop selection in brighton. g-whizz in hove is always worth a browse. the guy that runs it is a proper bike dude and good for a nerdy chap. granddad's bikes in the london road market is good for old frames and bits and pieces. and the new volunteer workshop Cranks in kemptown is a nice place too.
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Old 10th September 2007   #22
Conan
 
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yeah bloody hell your dedicated riding a fix in brighton, lived there for 2 years and could hardly walk up some of the hills!! Hahah never knew that thing in preston park was a velodrome at one point, used to play cricket in there now n again and skate round there.
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Old 11th September 2007   #23
RichC
 
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Yeah I second Baker Street, very good knowledge of fixies, also Aarons in London Road market for vintage/salvage bits. Never heard of Cranks in Kemp Town will have a to try and find it sometime. Is Syd 2's the shop in Hove on Blatchinton Road if so the lad there has trouble identifying a bike period, let alone a fixie and I once saw him charging an OAP £2 to pump up her tyres, shocking!!
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Old 11th September 2007   #24
Elvis
 
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Cranks is pretty new I think. They’re open fri and sat 11-6pm, Chapel Street, Kemptown. Go check them out, nice guys.
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Old 11th September 2007   #25
RichC
 
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Quote:
Elvis:Cranks is pretty new I think. They’re open fri and sat 11-6pm, Chapel Street, Kemptown. Go check them out, nice guys.
Cheers mate I will, I always thought Brighton would benefit from a workshop kinda set up.
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Old 11th September 2007   #26
pip
Cranks has a bike film festival on Friday. They're showing Belleville Rendezous (Triplets of Belleville) and others from 7pm. Think its 2 quid. May be down there to check it out.
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Old 11th September 2007   #27
RichC
 
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Thats sounds cool, might try and wriggle out of prior commitments to make it. Are they showing other movies, do you have anymore info or anything online about the film festival or Cranks?
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Old 11th September 2007   #28
pip
I'll I've got is a flyer that says the following:

"Cranks Presents:

Cinecycle - Bicycle Film Festival

Belleville Rendezvous and more

Friday 14th September 7pm

Cranks is a volunteer run DIY bicycle workshop open Friday and Saturday 11-6
Find us at 22 Chapel St, just off St James St.

Entry to cinecyle 2 quid"

Can't tell you anything else...
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Old 11th September 2007   #29
RichC
 
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Cheers anyway, I live in that neck of the woods so I'll keep my eyes out for a flyer.
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Old 11th September 2007   #30
Elvis
 
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www.cranks.org.uk is their site but not much up there yet.

I might go check that film thing as well.
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Old 11th September 2007   #31
Kelvin
 
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Yeah not exactly the most illuminating website in the world...

Might have to go to baker street from now on then, also loving the respect people have for our hill climbing prowess!
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Old 11th September 2007   #32
Elvis
 
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Quote:
Kelvin:also loving the respect people have for our hill climbing prowess!
I've always loved climbing hills. Particularly good in Brighton cos of the excellent views!
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Old 11th September 2007   #33
RichC
 
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Quote:
Elvis:preston park is a nice track, more like a running track than a velodrome though! i went down most wednesdays this summer and the racing was excellent. most fixed riders there are just for the track though. but as pip says the fixies are around. i know a few of the buys you mention pip in passing but it's still a small scene i reckon. must admit, i kinda like it that way. as kelvin says, curse of the "white horror" hasn't hit us yet. all the hipsters in brighton ride shoppers :D
The hipsters wont take over Brighton as there are 2 things you need for riding a fix in this city that a hipster would never allow himself to be seen with.
1. Dropbars for going up the hills.
2. Front brake for going down the hills.
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Old 11th September 2007   #34
Elvis
 
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very true mate :)

although i did see the skinny jeans brigade looking at my ss the other day. i could see the cogs turning in their brains. they seem happy with their natty folding shoppers though. some of the bikes actually look quite cool. What am I saying!!
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Old 11th September 2007   #35
RichC
 
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True, I've no problem with more people being interested in fixies aslong as its for the enjoyment of the cycling rather than just a hip accessory. It happened with skateboarding but the ones who didn't like falling over stopped soon enough. Same will happen with going up hills in Brighton on a fix, you've got to enjoy that perverse pleasure of reaching the top (especially now winters on its way)
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