Spring Break
Bike club gears up for weekend trek
Richard Stern
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Sports
Every Tuesday at 7 p.m., members of SJFixed, a group of bicyclists, gather in front of the SJSU Event Center for a weekly ride through the streets of San Jose.
"We started SJFixed with five riders and last week had a record 57 people riding with us," said Mark Cosio, a senior marketing major. "The group that rides on Tuesdays has men and women of varying levels of fitness, but we all come together for a group ride."
The "fixed" in SJFixed means fixed gear, a term that describes a bike that doesn't have the ability to coast.
The pedals move in the same direction as the rear wheel whenever the rear wheel is moving. Riders can go forward or backward, but the pedals are always moving when the bike is moving.
"A basic bike starts at around $350," he added. "But, an older classic road bike is perfect for converting to a fixed-gear bike.
"They have horizontal drop-outs (the place where the rear wheel attaches to the frame) and all you need is a fixed-gear wheel set. They usually cost between $100 and 150," Cosio said.
Cosio said SJFixed had been in existence for two-and-a-half years and currently has over 230 members with no hierarchy. SJFixed members log on to their web site to get updated information on rides and club activities.
"People just come on the forum, introduce themselves and they are welcomed," Cosio said. "SJFixed has really grown because on a lot of other fixed gear forums, there is an elitist attitude. Everyone on SJFixed is cool. You can come out and be friends with 50 to 60 people. It is definitely a good environment."
One person who said they enjoy the environment is Tina Truong, a senior at Heald College in San Jose.
"I had a friend who had ridden fixed gear for around five years and that is how I got into it," Truong said. "It excited me."
Truong rides a frame that her grandfather raced "back in the day." She changed the wheel set to ride fixed gear.
"Riding is therapy for me," she added. "When I have a bad day, I jump on my bike to clear my head and it makes me feel a lot better."
"We started SJFixed with five riders and last week had a record 57 people riding with us," said Mark Cosio, a senior marketing major. "The group that rides on Tuesdays has men and women of varying levels of fitness, but we all come together for a group ride."
The "fixed" in SJFixed means fixed gear, a term that describes a bike that doesn't have the ability to coast.
The pedals move in the same direction as the rear wheel whenever the rear wheel is moving. Riders can go forward or backward, but the pedals are always moving when the bike is moving.
"A basic bike starts at around $350," he added. "But, an older classic road bike is perfect for converting to a fixed-gear bike.
"They have horizontal drop-outs (the place where the rear wheel attaches to the frame) and all you need is a fixed-gear wheel set. They usually cost between $100 and 150," Cosio said.
Cosio said SJFixed had been in existence for two-and-a-half years and currently has over 230 members with no hierarchy. SJFixed members log on to their web site to get updated information on rides and club activities.
"People just come on the forum, introduce themselves and they are welcomed," Cosio said. "SJFixed has really grown because on a lot of other fixed gear forums, there is an elitist attitude. Everyone on SJFixed is cool. You can come out and be friends with 50 to 60 people. It is definitely a good environment."
One person who said they enjoy the environment is Tina Truong, a senior at Heald College in San Jose.
"I had a friend who had ridden fixed gear for around five years and that is how I got into it," Truong said. "It excited me."
Truong rides a frame that her grandfather raced "back in the day." She changed the wheel set to ride fixed gear.
"Riding is therapy for me," she added. "When I have a bad day, I jump on my bike to clear my head and it makes me feel a lot better."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Butch Cosio
posted 9/25/08 @ 2:50 PM PST
This is good article as it promotes friendship and health instead of competition.
Tina Truong
posted 9/25/08 @ 3:06 PM PST
Thanks for interviewing me!
GUYS and GALs: come out and ride with us. we're having Tuesday and Thursday night rides now so feel free to visit out forum and join our group!
www. (Continued…)
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