Kisah perjalanan: Januari 2011

Car Free day ke 2 : Bersama FIXIE baru

Label: fixie

No freewheel: This image emphasizes the simplicity, and indeed appeal of the fixie bike. http://media.photobucket.com In Jakarta, a city well known for its congestion, smog filled sky and blurred horizons, an opposing sub-culture is on the incline. And in this case they are literally pedalling up hill. Yes, we’re talking about fixie-bike culture.

Fixed-gear bikes originated as the humble transportation mode of many global postal and messenger services.
Simplicity had always been the essence, to keep them lightweight, increase speed and efficiency, and also to avoid parts being stolen when deliveries were being made.
In it’s purest form, the fixie-bike has no brakes, the chain is shorter and wider than on other bikes,
and often the rear cog is bolted directly to the hub, so the pedals are always moving when the bike’s in motion. Therefore don’t count on “coasting” on a fixie, because it won’t end well.

Chasing rainbows: Some of the pre-made bikes at Citra Bike. Isabelle TolhurstNew York writer Jocko Weyland, author of The Answer Is Never: A Skateboarder’s History of the World, and cultural commentator makes the assumption that, “there are no fenders, and the rear wheels are probably bolted onto the frame to deter theft.” He goes onto say that “you slow down by reversing the pedals, or skidding, or doing a skip stop. And that’s just the beginning of the differences between your run-of-the-mill 10-speed and a track bike, or fixed-gear bike — fixie for short — as it is also known.”
The trend has inspired major cities around the world, including New York, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Berlin and Paris. A visit to the right suburbs, at the right times will leave you awed by a myriad of color, steel, seat and wheel hurtling past at often unfathomable speeds.
And while the country might be lagging behind when it comes to providing adequate infrastructure for bike riders, fixie-bike culture is very much up to speed, and just like the bike itself, appears to be void of brakes. Ganjar Galuh Mugraha (Dadat), Rangga Ilham (Rangga) and Bagus Arinta (Bagong) are members of a group who call them selves “Glowxie — since 2X10”, which makes up just one small splinter of the fixed gear community.
The trio say they fell in love with the sensation and freedom of brakeless riding, but also claim that “it’s a definitely a fashion thing.”
When the group look fondly out at their creative offspring (as each bikes is custom made from the bottom up, with some parts taken from their rusting predecessors of the 1970s and 1980s) parked neatly on the sidewalk, it reiterates just how passionate and appreciative they are of its simple form and beauty.
Glowxie take to the streets together about twice a week, cruising around areas like Kemang, Monas and Sudirman, though admit they don’t always fancy an early awakening for car-free Sundays. But even if partying occasionally gets in the way of a dawn cruise, fixed-gear riding is not a habit they’re going to break any time soon. “We’re addicted!” said Bagong.
A glance into Suropati Park on a Friday night also confirms this is no flash-in-the-pan craze.

Fixie addicts: Dadat (from left), Rangga and Bagong represent their fixie crew, Glowxie — since 2X10. They regularly ride around the Kemang area. Isabelle TolhurstFixed-gear riders can be seen gathering to perform tricks; the more experienced teaching amateurs new skills, showing off and admiring combinations and chromes, or just hanging out.
And though men seem enthusiastically accounted for in the scene, women too play a role in the fixed-gear revolution — taking the boys for a ride when it comes to pulling off skids and stunts like Kakatiara Nasution (Kaka).
Kaka started riding in early 2010, and akin to many fixie riders, says she “just loves the color and simplicity.” She rides with a crew of about 25 people, called “Cixie” (Cikini Fixie), and embraces the challenge of being one of the few girls who do tricks. However, Kaka confirmed that she is not totally alone, and knows many female riders who are certainly proud and outspoken about their demographic.
“There are lots of girls!” says Kaka. “Many of them are my friends.”
Their websites, Cixie chix and Reflectéur Bandi paint an impressive picture of the effeminate contribution to the scene in Jakarta.

Reinventing the wheel: A worker at Cyclo Bike Co. in Kemang works on a wheel, just one of many stages in building a custom made fixie-bike.Isabelle TolhurstIn the birth place of every uniquely crafted vehicle — the now not so reticent bike shop — walls are spattered ceiling high with wheels, frames, chains, pedals, toe cages, handgrips, tyres, seats, hubs; and creativity reins free. And though the fixie-bike prides itself on elegance through simplicity, the price tag is not often so naïve, and the local industry has quickly become a lucrative one.
Custom made fixed gear bikes can range in price from anywhere between “Rp 15 million; where the frame alone can be worth Rp 10 million,” and “Rp 1.8 million; if we really try to press the budget,” says Piter Jong, who has taken over ownership of his parents bike shop, Citra Bike, on Sumur Batu. The shop has been in existence for 22 years.
“I think it became so popular because of the design and color. It’s possible for each rider to choose their own colours, and combine parts as they like. And Indonesians tend to like things they can do together — we call it “kong kow;” it means hanging out — and fixie-bikes are a great thing to talk about. Also, I think many young people like the challenge of brakeless riding,” he says.
“Finally, I think it’s a fashion thing too…sometimes when people come into my shop and pick a particular part I ask them, ‘why do you choose this part, it’s not very comfortable?’ they simply say, ‘because it looks good’.”
Piter’s eight permanent staff work tirelessly in grease-stained shirts to complete fixie-designs and orders that come in, usually completing between five and 10 bikes a day.
“For me here, the maximum amount made in one day from sales was about Rp 50 million,” he estimates.
Looking at the cycling community more broadly, the Bike to Work (B2W) initiative — chaired and co-founded by Toto Soegito — has campaigned determinedly over the past five years for improved infrastructure and designated bike lanes, though progress has been slow.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed road traffic injury as “one of the fastest growing epidemics in Southeast Asia,” and the 2008 Regional Report on Status on Road Safety claimed that cyclists accounted for 13 percent of the over 16,000 annual road fatalities. And despite the campaign being backed by much of the fixed-gear community, riders remain undeterred. The same unwavering confidence seems to apply when it comes to wearing helmets, which is not yet a legal requirement for cyclists in Indonesia. “My bike, my rules!” says Rongga bluntly.
And while others have been quick to condemn the pace at which policy supporting the cycling community progresses, Piter is not without praise.
“I think that some credit needs to be given to the government for the car-free day. I don’t think as many people would have started riding if it wasn’t for that.”

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/25/pedal-power.html

Label: fixie

Asal muasal Sepeda FIXIE

Disebut Sepeda Fixie karena fixed gear. Artinya, gear belakangnya itu fixed, nggak dinamis. Jadi kita ngga bisa ngegowes lepas ke belakang. Kalo ngegowes ke belakang, yang ada sepedanya jadi jalan mundur, inilah letak keunikannya disamping ngga ada rem. Ban sepeda Fixie juga tipis, sehingga ringan ketika di genjot. dan yang lain menarik pada bagian stang. Dimana stang atau handlebar sepeda Fixie dibuat dengan tegak lurus. Minimalis desain menjadi ciri sepeda single speed ini. Remnya adalah kekuatan kaki kita untuk menahan pedal yang selalu berputar ke depan.
Gimana cara mendapatkan Sepeda Fixie?

Kalo agan punya budget yg berlebih, agan bisa beli jadi sepeda fixie, itung2 menghemat waktu dan tenaga
Harga sepeda Fixie untuk minimum dengan komponen seadanya dapat mencapai 1.5 juta. Harga sepeda Fixie yang cukup lumayan sekitar 2.5 juta atau lebih. Sedangkan harga sepeda Fixie rakitan tipe generic dengan komponen cukup baik mencapai 3.5 juta keatas. Tipe sepeda fixie bermerek umumnya berada di atas 4 juta, tergantung komponen yang sedang in.
Tapi klo aboi emang pengen dapetin sepeda yg bener2 pas dihati aboi,aboi bisa ngerakit sendiri biarpun jauh lebih repot dari beli jadi,yang penting hati puas
Caranya,beli dari rangka kosong sudah banyak dijual,atau bisa memilih rangka polos dan di cat sendiriatau bisa juga mengunakan frame sepeda balap lama. Komponen dari roda dilepas dan diganti dengan komponen sepeda Fixie yang simpel. Untuk ukuran frame sepeda balap tua umumnya masih bisa dipakai, rata rata sepeda Fixie dirancang untuk ban 700C.Ingin meninggalkan sejarah pada sepeda, boleh juga mempertahankan bagian stang road bike. Sisanya boleh di modifikasi.
Apa yang perlu dipertimbangkan dalam modifikasi Frame sepeda lama ke Fixie?

Tidak semua frame sepeda bisa dijadikan Fixie. Bila ingin merubah sepeda lama menjadi sepeda Fixie ada baiknya memperhatikan penyanggah roda belakang yang ada.
Gambar bawah ini adalah bagian gear hub belakang. Sepeda Fixie mengunakan tiang hub permanen dengan mur, dan berbeda dengan rancangan sepeda MTB atau Road Bike modern yang mudah dilepas pasang.

Bila sepeda lama anda ingin dirubah, sebaiknya memperhatikan kedudukan garpu roda belakang.
Tetapi apabila masih bingung untuk memodifikasinya, sebaiknya konsultasi dengan penjual. Apakah kedudukan frame sepeda anda dapat dipakai untuk Fixie atau tidak.
Urusan warna ban

Mengingat rancangan sepeda fixie akan terlihat modis, maka warna ban mengikuti warna sepeda sehingga akan terlihat lebih matching. Umumnya ban sepeda Fixie mengunakan ukuran saat ini seperti Road Bike (sepeda balap) atau Hyrid Bike (sepeda dalam kota) dengan velg / Rim 700c dengan ukuran ban 19 – 23 C. Harga ban sepeda Fixie bermacam macam, ban tanpa merek bisa dibeli hanya seharga puluhan ribu saja. Tapi untuk model bermerek terkenal harganya bisa melambung diatas 125 ribu dari produk CST tipe Wireband.
Headset sepeda Fixie

Salah satu komponen penting untuk sepeda Fixie adalah bagian Headset. Bagian ini sebagai penghubung frame dan fork/garpu depan sepeda fixie. Agar awet sebaiknya menggunakan tipe bearing. Harganya jauh lebih mahal, sekitar 250 ribu.
Bagian Rim atau Velg sepeda Fixie

Ada 2 pilihan. Pertama rim klasik dengan bentuk seperti velg sepeda biasa atau sama dengan rim sepeda Hyrid berukuran 700c. Yang sedang tren adalah velg lebar.
Satu catatan saja, untuk komponen roda sepeda Fixie adalah komponen paling mahal dari seluruh sepeda. Harganya mencapai 2 juta untuk roda depan dan roda belakang dengan merek yang berkualitas.
Urusan Sparepart crank Fixie

Namanya sepeda kalangan muda, tidak terikat dengan pabrikan atau merek. Semua suka-suka,dan dikabarkan dari mulut ke mulut atau melalui komunitas Fixie. Hunting komponen merupakan ritual dari komunitas sepeda Fixie.
Salah satu sparepart yang suka dicari seperti Crank merek Sugino 48 gigi,hanya dijual 250 ribu. Crank tersebut banyak dipakai oleh pencinta sepeda Fixie. Bukan saja bagus, tetapi ringan karena dibuat dengan bahan aluminium. Yang lain dapat mengunakan crank sepeda gunung seperti produk dari Shimano Alivio. Hanya bagian ring crank dalamnya dilepas, dan hanya mengunakan ring utama saja.
Gaya dan Model Sepeda Fixie