Fixi Kruza

Yeah, I know, I haven't been around much lately. Hell, it's summer, and in addition to that, I've been jettin'bout on my new Fixi Kruza. I'm really liking this thing.

It comes from fairly humble beginnings; Lexy, recycler extrordinaire, as well as a good friend, passed along to me, an old Royce Union 12 speed, built around 20 years ago, using some of the heaviest materials known to man. The frame is small; 17 or 19 inches, which works well for me. It was originally intended for use in El Lextal, our Smellington to Hamden bike tour, which, unfortunately, has been canceled for this year, since xTal has gone and tore up her ACL bouncing on Lexy's trampoline.

I had planned to make it a fixi pretty much right from the get go. I've been watching Al, and then Lily, gettin' hooked on fixi. After riding Lily's old fixi, I knew that I would have to have one too. The key piece is the rear wheel; a 700c x35 rim on double fixed gear hub, built by Chris of Spoke and Wheel in Bridgeport.

This one is definitely a cruiser though. The chain ring, which is original equipment, is huge; 52 teeth, and the cog I'm using has only 13. That's a pedal to wheel revolution ratio of 1:4. That's 4 wheel revolutions for every full pedal cycle. It's slow when the light turns green, but it picks up speed fast. The seat is a plush Specialized Body Geometry plus, sitting atop an Avenir suspension seat post. The handlebars are Soma Noah's Arc, with 2 inches missing from each end, hangin' off of a Avenir adjustable stem, sittin' as high as it can go. The pedals are Wellgo Fixed gear pedals, with MKS toe clips, and no straps; which is how I like it. It's comfy enough for long flat rides in the country, and the high gear ratio makes it a fast commuting machine.

I've been riding without skull protection, but Sheryl's recent spill, and subsequent hospital time, scared me. I won't be doin' much night ridin', until I get a helmet, and some blinky lights.