NO OFFENSE JUST ADVICES

SELANGOR FA

The Selangor Football Association (Malay: Persatuan Bolasepak Selangor), also simply as Selangor FA, are a Malaysian football club representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The club was founded in 22 February 1936 but has actually had a football team since 1921,^[1] which participated in the Malaya Cup (laterHMS Malaya Cup, known today as the Malaysia Cup). FAS were also one of the founding members of theMalayan Football Association (the predecessor of the modern Football Association of Malaysia).The team currently playing in Malaysia Super League, the top division of Malaysian football league and the 80,932-person-capacity Stadium Shah Alam has been the home ground since 1994.

History

Selangor have won a record 32 Malaysia Cups, 6 first division titles, 5 FA Cups, 8 Charity Cups, 13 King's Gold Cups and 1 Agong's Cups. The Red-Yellows have completed treble in 1997, 2005 and 2009. In 1984 the treble covered the Malaysia Cup, League Champion and Charity Shield. Both 1997 and 2005 trebles covered the Domestic Cup Double (Malaysia Cup and FA Cup) while the 2009 treble covered the Double (Super League and FA Cup). 1997 was the most successful year for them as they won 4 trophies (Malaysia Cup, FA Cup, Charity Cup and King's Gold Cup) and runners-up for Agong's Cup.

the CHAMP

Professional wrestler John Cena took home the United States WWE Championship, defeating The Big Show in March 2004 in Wrestlemania XX.

SynopsisJohn Cena was born April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts. Calling himself "The Prototype," he captured the UPW title in 2000. In 2001 he signed a contract to work at Ohio Valley Wrestling. He captured the OVW heavyweight title in February 2002, then made his WWE debut that June. Two years later, he took the United States Championship. Since then he has notched many wins and titles.

Early Life

Professional wrestler, actor. Born John Felix Anthony Cena on April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts, the second of John, Sr. and Carol Cena's five boys.

At an early age, Cena showed a passion for sports and working out. By the time he was 15 he was a regular gym rat and, after graduating high school, Cena headed off to Springfield College in Massachusetts to study exercise physiology and prove his worth on the football field. At Springfield, Cena turned himself into a Division III All-American offensive lineman and team captain.

In 2000, the new college graduate left the Bay State despite his father's wishes, seeking a new life in California as a body builder. It wasn't an easy transition for the 6-foot 1-inch aspiring star. He had just $500 in his pocket to make it across country and get settled. To make ends meet, he folded towels and cleaned toilets at a Gold's Gym in Venice Beach. And because he couldn't afford an apartment, he shacked up in his 1991 Lincoln Continental.

Foray into Wrestling

But the turning point came in early 2000, during a casual conversation Cena had with a wrestler at Gold's who encouraged the gym employee to take classes at Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), a former World Wrestling Entertainment developmental company.

For Cena, the suggestion of making a go of it as a wrestler wasn't an entirely outlandish idea. His father, John, Sr. (a.k.a. Johnny Fabulous) made a living as a wrestling announcer and businessman. As a kid growing up in suburban Massachusetts, the younger Cena spent many hours glued to the television set as he watched his wrestling heroes such as Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and Shawn Michaels go at it in the ring.

As a wrestler himself, Cena's ascension was rapid. Calling himself "The Prototype," the ambitious Cena captured the UPW title on April 27, 2000, in San Diego, California. Over the course of the next year, Cena drew the attention of WWE executives, and in 2001 the young enterntainer signed a developmental contract with the company to work at Ohio Valley Wrestling

WWE Debut

Cena captured the OVW heavyweight title in February 2002, then made his WWE debut that June when he signed up with the Smackdown roster. Just two years later, Cena took home the United States Championship, defeating The Big Show in March 2004 in Wrestlemania XX.

In the years since, Cena has notched many wins and titles. In 2007, he became the first wrestler to ever come up victorious against Edward "Umaga" Fatu.

Along the way Cena, whose good looks and sculpted body have earned him the title "The Marky Mark of Wrestling", has greatly increased his celebrity. Like Hogan, Cena has proven that his showmanship in the ring crosses over into venues outside of it.

Ventures Outside Wrestling

Through the production wing of WWE, Cena has starred in two action films,The Marine (2006) and 12 Rounds (2009), the latter featuring the wrestler trying to save his girlfriend from a gang of terrorists in New Orleans.

In addition, Cena, wYou Can't See Me, hit record stores in 2005. The recording debuted on the U.S. Billboard chart at No. 15. His credits also include appearances on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.

ho has long had an affinity for hip-hop culture, became a recording artist when his rap album,

For Cena, who has battled hip and back injuries in recent years, the chance to expand his resume allows him to keep his name in the spotlight once his wrestling career ends. In particular, Cena sees a lot of opportunities in film.

Cena married his girlfriend, Elizabeth Huberdeau, in July 2009. In May 2012, Cena filed for divorce, allegedly shocking Huberdeau. Their messy separation played out in the media, but they eventually settled in July of that year
.

Marshall Bruce Mathers

Biography

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on October 17 1972 to his mother Debbie Briggs-Mathers and his father Marshall Bruce Mathers II. Debbie was only 15 when Marshall was born. Not long after Marshall was born, his father packed his bags and left the family, never to be seen again. This wasn’t the end of a tough run for Marshall and his family; it was only just the beginning. Marshall got moved around to different houses and because of this he attended many schools. His mom finally settled down in a house in Detroit. Marshall was only 12 years old. The maximum time he spent at the one school was 3 months. He got bullied at every school he attended and later got back at them by dissing them publicly in his songs.

Marshall did pretty well in school considering the circumstances until he got to year 9. He failed for the third year in a row and decided that he had had enough. School just wasn’t for him, so he left to work on what he was most passionate about: rapping. He had been lip-synching to hip hop songs ever since he was 4 and if he wasn’t a comic book shop owner he had this dream to be a rapper. He started getting a name for himself when he was 17, even though he got into the rap game when he was 14. He was using the initials from his first and last names to form his rap name “M & M” which later became “Eminem” because of his race, he got rejected by people all the time, even though he was a really talented rapper. Determined to prove everyone wrong, he forced himself to go on radio shows and participate in freestyle battles. In 1995, Marshall recorded his first album titled Infinite, which only sold about 1000 copies. That same year, his high school sweet heart, now wife, Kim, gave birth to his only child, a little girl named Hailie Jade Scott.

Having nothing to lose, flat broke and in desperate need for money to support Hailie and Kim, Marsh set out to rave about his life in general where he caught ear of hip hops hard to please underground. Out of this came the Slim Shady Ep named after his alter ego. Em, down to his lest dime, participated in the 1997 Rap Olympics in LA aiming to win the $1,500 cash prize he badly needed. He battled for an hour throwing back every diss he was thrown and managed to get into the grand final. Unfortunately for Em, he lost due to a slip up. Furious that he had lost, Marshall didn’t even notice that he had been spotted by a few producers from interscope records, who got hold of his demo, Infinite. Dre eventually tracked him down, and recorded em’s second album, The Slim Shady EP then followed by The Slim shady LP, recorded in 19. Then in May 2000, Eminem worked with Dre again to record em’s third album, The Marshall Mathers LP. It featured artists such as Dre, Snoop Dogg, X-Zibit, Nate Dogg, D-12 and the beautiful Dido, who sings the chorus for “Stan”. This album debuted at number 1 on the US albums chart, and won three Grammys and was the first rap album to ever be nominated “Album Of The Year”, selling more than 8 million records in America alone. He stunned critics by performing his #1 hit single “Stan” with Elton John, shooting down all homophobic remarks.

Marshals’ album sales were skyrocketing but things weren’t going well with his wife Kim. A month after the Marshall Mathers LP was released, Em was involved in a brawl outside a Detroit club, where he allegedly pistol-whipped a man for kissing Kim. In august that same year, Em filed for divorce. In April 2001, Marsh was sentenced to 2 years probation, stemming from the weapons charge. This same year, he reconciled with Kim for his daughter, Hailies’, sake, but it only lasted for a few months, this time it was Kim who filed for divorce, in August.

2002 was a big year for Marshall. He branched out into the world of acting, filming with esteemed director Curtis Hanson. 8 mile was produced. Based on em’s own life, he played lead role of a character very much like himself, Jimmy Smith Jr. Jimmy is nicknamed “Rabbit” by his mother, Stephanie, played by Ems’ wife Kim. While filming 8 mile, he was busy during scenes making up the songs “Lose Yourself” and “8 Mile”. “Lose Yourself” was named the underdog anthem of the year.

As well as his first movie 8 Mile, Em released his 4th album, The Eminem Show. He revealed the more mature, slightly subdued side of himself. The Eminem Show fired some of his usual attacks on the likes of lead singer of Limp Bizkit, Fred Durst and Moby as well as fresh attacks on Osama Bin Laden. This one album alone had many hits, including Without Me, Cleanin Out My Closet, Sayin Goodbye to Hollywood, Sing For The Moment, Superman, and Business. He even sings on the album-on a song made especially for his daughter Hailie, the only girl in his life for whom he has respect for.

BUGATTI

The Bugatti company and, most particularly, the company’s founder Ettore Bugatti are venerable fixtures in the world of automobile engineering.

From the very beginning, Bugatti’s unique constructions and high aesthetic standards have enthralled the public and spawned a virtually boundless passion in those fortunate enough to own such automotive works of art.

The origins of this outstanding company’s history are intrinsically tied to that classic automotive era of the interwar years, and the image of Bugatti in this period was influenced most significantly by the sport of motor racing. Not only the company drivers but numerous amateurs, too, secured hundreds of Bugatti victories. The private drivers, however, were of a kind that would be unimaginable in modern-day Formula 1 races. Many industrialists, affluent publishers, and a large number of noblemen as well as the occasional gigolo cultivated motor racing as a costly and very hazardous hobby.

Safety standards – a matter of course today – were unheard of then. The daredevil motorists, some of them women, drove without helmets, with open tops, and the windshields didn’t even offer protection against dirt and rain. Engine breakdowns, axle fractures, and tyre punctures occurred frequently and often led to severe accidents. But for the European and American socialites, these dangers were part of the sport’s fascination: cars in a seemingly untouchable leading position could fail at any moment, upsetting the entire field. And one should keep in mind that leads in those days weren’t measured in milliseconds but could amount to many minutes in longer races.

The proud owners and the motley crew of those drivers, for whom love and pain, victory and death were always just a heartbeat apart, were the source of many unforgettable tales. As we look back today, these extraordinary people seem to be characters out of romantic novels – and yet they were a very real, if slightly eccentric, part of

modern times.

First Driving Report (1910)Raymond MaysRoyale Driving ReportLouis ChironPierre VeyronDeath of a DancerElisabeth JunekRéné Dreyfus

 

Reggae Legend

Introduction

Overview of Bob's Legacy

The Bob Marley biography provides testament to the unparalleled influence of his artistry upon global culture. Since his passing on May 11, 1981, Bob Marley’s legend looms larger than ever, as evidenced by an ever-lengthening list of accomplishments attributable to his music, which identified oppressors and agitated for social change while simultaneously allowing listeners to forget their troubles and dance.

Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his 1977 album “Exodus” was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC. Since its release in 1984, Marley’s “Legend” compilation has annually sold over 250,000 copies according to Nielsen Sound Scan, and it is only the 17th album to exceed sales of 10 million copies since SoundScan began its tabulations in 1991.

Bob Marley’s music was never recognized with a Grammy nomination but in 2001 he was bestowed The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor given by the Recording Academy to “performers who during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.” That same year, a feature length documentary about Bob Marley’s life, Rebel Music, directed by Jeremy Marre, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video documentary. In 2001 Bob Marley was accorded the 2171st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, in Hollywood, California. As a recipient of this distinction, Bob Marley joined musical legends including Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder and The Temptations.

In 2006 an eight block stretch of Brooklyn’s bustling Church Avenue, which runs through the heart of that city’s Caribbean community, was renamed Bob Marley Boulevard, the result of a campaign initiated by New York City councilwoman Yvette D. Clarke. This year the popular TV show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon commemorated the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s passing with an entire week (May 9-13) devoted to his music, as performed by Bob’s eldest son Ziggy, Jennifer Hudson, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz and the show’s house band The Roots. These triumphs are all the more remarkable considering Bob Marley’s humble beginnings and numerous challenges he overcame attempting to gain a foothold in Jamaica’s chaotic music industry while skillfully navigating the politically partisan violence that abounded in Kingston throughout the 1970s.

One of the 20th century’s most charismatic and challenging performers, Bob Marley’s renown now transcends the role of reggae luminary: he is regarded as a cultural icon who implored his people to know their history “coming from the root of King David, through the line of Solomon,” as he sang on “Blackman Redemption”; Bob urged his listeners to check out the “Real Situation” and to rebel against the vampiric “Babylon System”. “Bob had a rebel type of approach, but his rebelliousness had a clearly defined purpose to it,” acknowledges Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, who played a pivotal role in the Bob Marley biography by introducing Marley and the Wailers to an international audience. “It wasn’t just mindless rebelliousness, he was rebelling against the circumstances in which he and so many people found themselves.”

FIXIE

What is a "fixie"?

In Australia, "fixed-wheel" is the normal term for the subject of this article—meaning the opposite of freewheel, and "fixed-gear" usually refers to a single-speed bicycle.

A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle, sometimes known as a fixie) is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast, because the pedals are always moving when the bicycle is in motion.

The sprocket, or cog, is threaded or bolted directly to a fixed rear hub. When the rear wheel turns, the pedals turn in the same direction. This allows a cyclist to stop without using a brake, by resisting the rotation of the cranks, and also to ride in reverse.

As a rule, fixed-gear bicycles are also single-speed bicycles—bicycles without derailleurs, with a single sprocket attached to the rear hub, and a single sprocket attached to the crank. Most fixed-gear bicycles only have a front brake, and some have no brakes at all. Exceptions do exist: for example, Sturmey-Archer produces 3-speed fixed rear hubs for multispeed fixed-gear bicycles.

 

Uses

The track bicycle is a form of fixed-gear bicycle used for track cycling in a velodrome. But since a fixed-gear bicycle is just a bicycle without a freewheel, a fixed-gear bicycle can be almost any type of bicycle.

A fixed/freewheel rear hub (flip-flop)

Some road racing and club cyclists used a fixed-gear bicycle for training during the winter months, generally using a relatively low gear ratio, believed to help develop a good pedalling style.In the UK until the 1950s it was common for riders to use fixed-gear bicycles for time trials. The 1959 British 25 mile time trial championship was won by Alf Engers with a competition record of 55 minutes 11 seconds, riding an 84 inch fixed-gear bicycle. The fixed-gear was also commonly used, and continues to be used in the end of season hill climb races in the autumn A typical club men's fixed-gear machine would have been a "road/path" or "road/track" cycle. In the era when most riders only had one cycle, the same bike when stripped down and fitted with racing wheels was used for road time trials and track racing, and when fitted with mudguards (fenders) and a bag, it was used for club runs, touring and winter training. By the 1960s, multi-gear derailleurs had become the norm and riding fixed-gear on the road declined over the next few decades.Recent years have seen renewed interest and increased popularity of fixed-gear cycling.

In urban North America fixed-gear bicycles have achieved tremendous popularity, with the rise of discernible regional aesthetic preferences for finish and design details.

Dedicated fixed-gear road bicycles are being produced in greater numbers by established bicycle manufacturers. They are generally low in price and characterized by relaxed road geometry, as opposed to the steep geometry of track bicycles.

Fixed-gear bicycles are also used in cycle ball, bike polo and artistic cycling.

A fixed-gear bicycle is particularly well suited for track stands, a manoeuvre in which the bicycle can be held stationary, balanced upright with the rider's feet on the pedals.

 

Advantages and disadvantages

One of the perceived main attractions of a fixed gear bicycle is low weight. Without the added parts required for a fully geared drive train, a fixed gear bicycle weighs significantly less than its geared equivalent. Also, a fixed gear drivetrain is more mechanically efficient than any other bicycle drivetrain, with the most direct power transfer from rider to the wheels. Thus, a fixed gear requires less energy in any given gear to move than a geared bike in the same gear.

In slippery conditions some riders prefer to ride fixed because they believe the transmission provides increased feedback on back tire grip.

Descending any significant gradient is more difficult as the rider must spin the cranks at high speed (sometimes at 170 rpm or more), or use the brakes to slow down. Some consider that the enforced fast spin when descending increases suppleness or flexibility, which is said to improve pedalling performance on any type of bicycle; however the performance boost is negligible compared to the benefits of riding a free wheel.

Riding fixed is considered by some to encourage a more effective pedaling style, which is claimed translates into greater efficiency and power when used on a bicycle fitted with a freewheel.

When first riding a fixed gear, a cyclist used to a freewheel may try to freewheel, or coast, particularly when approaching corners or obstacles. Since coasting is not possible this can lead to a 'kick' to the trailing leg, and even to loss of control of the bicycle.

Riding at high speed around corners can be difficult for the novice rider, as the pedals can strike the road, resulting in possible loss of control.

 

Brakeless

Cyclist riding a fixed gear bike without brakes

Many urban fixed-gear riders think brakes are not strictly necessary, and brakeless fixed riding has a cult status in some areas. Brakes and their cables are said to add extra bulk to the simple appearance of a fixed gear bicycle. Many riders claim that the experience of riding brakeless creates a "oneness with the road". Particularly in urban environments, it forces the rider to be more aware of their surroundings because of the inability to bring the bicycle to a stop quickly.

Other riders dismiss riding on roads without brakes as an affectation, based on image rather than practicality. Riding brakeless can be dangerous, is prohibited by law in many jurisdictions, and may jeopardize the chances of a successful claim in the event of an accident.

 

Technique

It is possible to slow down or stop a fixed-gear bike by resisting the turning cranks, and a rider can also lock the rear wheel and skid to slow down or stop on a fixed-gear bicycle. Such a move is initiated by unweighting the rear wheel while in motion by shifting the rider's weight slightly forward and pulling up on the pedals using clipless pedals or toe clips and straps. The rider then stops turning the cranks, thus stopping the drivetrain and rear wheel, while applying body weight in opposition to the rotation of the cranks. This causes the rear wheel to skid, and slow the bike. The skid can be held until the bicycle stops or until the rider desires to continue pedalling again at a slower speed. The technique requires a little practice and using it while cornering is generally considered dangerous. A wet surface further reduces the effectiveness of this method.

On any bike with only rear wheel braking, the maximum deceleration is significantly lower than on a bike equipped with a front brake. As a vehicle brakes, weight is transferred towards the front wheel and away from the rear wheel, decreasing the amount of grip the rear wheel has. Transferring the rider's weight back increases rear wheel braking efficiency, but a front wheel fitted with an ordinary brake might provide 70% or more of the braking power when braking hard .

 

Legality

Australia – In every state, bicycles are regarded as vehicles under the Road Rules. By law, a bike is required to have at least one functioning brake.

Denmark – All bicycles are required to have working brakes on both wheels, as well as reflectors and bells.

France – To be approved for road traffic, a bike must have 2 brakes, 2 lights, numerous reflectors, and a ringer. However the laws are rarely enforced, and the sight of all kinds of non officially approved bikes is quite common.

Germany – All bicycles are required to have working brakes on both wheels, as well as reflectors and bells. In Bonn a local court accepted that the fixed-gear mechanism was suitable back brake, but high-profile crackdowns specifically targeted fixies in Berlin, in an attempt to control what police described as a "dangerous trend"

New Zealand – By law all bicycles must have a minimum of "...a good rear brake..."–and those made since 1 January 1988 must also have "...a good front brake..."

Spain – All bicycles are required to have an adequate brake system on front and rear wheels, plus a bell.

United Kingdom – The Pedal Cycles Construction and Use Regulations 1983 require pedal cycles "with a saddle height over 635 mm to have two independent braking systems, with one acting on the front wheel(s) and one on the rear". It is commonly thought that a front brake and a fixed rear wheel satisfies this requirement .

United States – The use of any bike without brakes on public roads is illegal in many places, but the wording is often similar to "...must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person operating the cycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level and clean pavement..."which some have argued allows the use of the legs and gears. The retail sale of bikes without brakes is banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – but with an exception for the "track bicycle" (...a bicycle designed and intended for sale as a competitive machine having tubular tires, single crank-to-wheel ratio, and no free-wheeling feature between the rear wheel and the crank...).

 

Conversion

Many companies sell bicycle frames designed specifically for use with fixed-gear hubs. A fixed-gear or track-bike hub includes special threads for a lockring that tightens in the opposite (counter-clockwise) direction compared with the cog. This ensures that the cog cannot unscrew when the rider "backpedals" while braking.

A horizontal dropout on a steel frame road bicycle converted to a single-speed. The derailleur hanger (below the axle) and an eyelet (above the axle) for mounting a fender or rack, both integral parts of the original frame, are now unused.

For a variety of reasons, many cyclists choose to convert freewheel bicycles to fixed gear. Frames with horizontal dropouts are straightforward to convert, frames with vertical dropouts less so. One method is to simply replace the rear wheel with a wheel that has a track/fixed hub. Another is to use a hub designed for use with a threaded multi-speed freewheel. Such a hub only has the normal right-handed threads for the cog and not the reverse threads for the lockrings used on track/fixed hubs. The sprocket on a hub without a lockring may unscrew while back pedalling. Even if a bottom bracket lockring is threaded onto the hub, along with a track sprocket, because the bottom-bracket lockring is not reverse threaded, the possibility still exists that both the sprocket and locknut can unscrew. Therefore it is recommended to have both front and rear brakes on a fixed-gear bicycle using a converted freewheel hub in case the cog unscrews while back pedaling. It is also advisable to use a thread sealer for the cog and bottom bracket lockring. The rotafix (or "frame whipping") method may be helpful to securely install the sprocket.

Bicycles with vertical dropouts and no derailleur require some way to adjust chain tension. Most bicycles with horizontal dropouts can be tensioned by moving the wheel forward or backward in the dropouts. Bicycles with vertical dropouts can also be converted with some additional hardware. Possibilities include:

• An eccentric hub or bottom bracket allows the off center axle or bottom bracket spindle to pivot and change the chain tension.
• A Ghost or floating chainring is an additional chainring in the drive train between the driving chainring and sprocket. The top of the chain moves it forward at the same speed that the bottom of the chain moves it backwards, giving the appearance that it is floating in the chain.
• A magic gear—the right math can calculate a gearing ratio to fit a taut chain between the rear dropout and bottom bracket. Also, using a chain half link and slightly filing the dropouts to increase the width of the slot increases the chances of finding a magic gear. It is worth noting that the magic gear setup is controversial, due to inevitable chain stretch and subsequent slippage that can lead to serious injury.
• "Run out" is the name for varying chain tension due to a lack of perfect centering of either/or the chainring or sprocket. Higher end components are often machined to higher tolerances and can assist with run out issues.

Separate chain tensioning devices, such as the type that attaches to the dropout gear hanger (commonly used on single speed mountain bikes) cannot be used because they are damaged as soon as the lower part of the chain becomes tight.

Additional adjustments or modification may be needed to ensure a good chainline. The chain should run straight from the chainring to the sprocket, therefore both must be the same distance away from the bicycle's centerline. Matched groupsets of track components are normally designed to give a chainline of 42 mm, but conversions using road or mountain bike cranksets often use more chainline. Some hubs, such as White Industries' ENO, or the British Goldtec track hub, are better suited to this task as they have a chainline greater than standard. Failure to achieve good chainline, at best, leads to a noisy chain and increased wear, and at worst can throw the chain off the sprocket. This can result in rear wheel lockup and a wrecked frame if the chain falls between the rear sprocket and the spokes. Chainline can be adjusted in a number of ways, which may be used in combination with each other:

• Obtaining a bottom bracket with a different spindle length, to move the chainring inboard or outboard
• Choosing a bottom bracket with two lockrings, which gives fine adjustment of chainring position
• Respacing and redishing the rear wheel, where permitted by the hub design
• Placing thin spacers under the bottom bracket's right-hand cup (Sturmey-Archer make a suitable 1/16" spacer) to move the chainring outboard
• Placing thin spacers between the chainring and its stack bolts to move it inboard (if the chainring is on the inside of the crank spider) or outboard (if the ring is on the outside of the spider)
• Placing thin spacers between the hub shoulder and the cog- only recommended in the case of a freewheel-threaded hub, which has sufficiently deep threads for this

 

Competition

There are many forms of competition using a fixed gear bike, most of the competitions being track races. Bike messengers and other urban riders may ride fixed gear bicycles in alleycat races, including New York City's famous fixed-gear-only race Monstertrack alleycat.

There are also events based on messenger racing, such as Mixpression, which has been held nine times in Tokyo. Trick demonstrations have been held since the late 1800s in the US and Europe;while they continued into a competitive form in Europe (Artistic Cycling), subsequent to the recent widespread popularity and advancement of fixed gear bikes, trick competitions have also now established themselves at venues in the US and Asia. European competitions include solo and team balletic movements on a controlled, flat surface; US and Asian competitions often include "park" and "flatland" styles and venues, a la BMX. Other competitions include games of "foot down" and bike polo.

In 2006, Adventures for the Cure made a documentary film on riding across the United States on fixed gears; they repeated this feat as a 4-man team at the 2008 Race Across America.

Fixed gear riders sharing the specific philosophy are also seen at the Single Speed World Championships.

 

Maintenance and upkeep

Maintaining a fixed gear is relatively easy because it has fewer parts than a geared bicycle. The sprocket should be checked regularly to make sure there is no damage to any teeth and that no object is grinding it as it turns with the rear wheel. The chainring should be checked similarly for any damage.

It is imperative (for road riding, at least) that the chain is sufficiently tight that it is impossible for it to derail from either the chainring or sprocket. This generally equates to "no visible slack". A derailed chain can cause a variety of undesirable consequences, such as a locked rear wheel or, worst of all, destruction of the frame if the chain becomes caught around the crank arm and pulls the rear triangle forwards. On a fixed-gear bicycle without hand brakes, even a relatively benign derailment means a total loss of braking ability. Tensioning aside, a chain is significantly less likely to derail if the chainline is accurate and the chain is a traditional "full bushing" type with limited lateral flexibility. Because the difference between a tight and a slack chain equates to only very minor elongation of the links, chain tension should be visually checked at least weekly, especially if the bicycle is ridden in wet or dirty conditions.

As with any other bicycle, the chain should be checked making sure the master link is securely latched. The chain can be lubricated monthly for smooth riding. Also, as needed, the brakes should be tightened as they wear and tire condition observed for possible puncture locations. Air pressure in the tires, tire alignment, brake handle placement, and rust should be monitored on a daily basis because they can change very easily during a jarring ride.

 

Subculture

Sweden

Community

The fixed-gear movement is spreading over the globe, and is growing in Sweden. A cornerstone of the Swedish fixed-gear society is the Internet based forum Fixedgear.se, with over 2300 registered members. This makes up for the main meeting ground and discussion forum for Swedish fixed-gear riders and enthusiasts.

There are also several bicycle clubs throughout Sweden with a fixed-gear niche. Komet Club Rouler is a club based in Gothenburg, annually arranging Svart Katt and other fixed-gear oriented activities. Svart Katt has been internationally recognized and is considered Sweden’s largest alley cat by number of participators, according to Cog Magazine. KCR’s equivalent in Malmö is called Pista Malmø, arranging ”Thursday's rides” every Thursday, for all bikes and riders.

Popularity factors

Several factors contribute to the recent rise in popularity of fixed-gear bicycle. A rider from Stockholm interviewed for an article about the phenomenon notes that riding a bike imparts a feeling of freedom to the rider. You are free to go wherever you want, whenever you want. A sense of belonging is also important; as the rider says, "all who cycle are my friends". Riders unknown to each other commonly greet each other when on bikes. As in many subcultures, this feeling of belonging is a key factor in recruiting and retaining participants.

The fact that many fixie riders ride brakeless in defiance of local law could also be viewed as a contributing factor to its popularity; it provides an outlet for minor rebellion.

Russia

Fixed Gear Moscow

During the year 2007, a few activists started assembling and riding fixed gear bikes in Moscow. There had been people riding fixed gear bikes on the street in Moscow prior that time, but it had never developed into any feasible subculture. And in 2007 that situation started to change, since fixed gear bicycles started appear more and more in foreign media, attracting more people to its concept.

The group of riders used to communicate with each other and share ideas for rides in a blog system Live Journal under a Fixed Gear Moscow community. As interest and the number of people willing to join in grew, the community was separated from Live Journal and a separate web site was created to host the blog and the forum.

Up till 2012 Fixed Gear Moscow organized numerous alleycat races, tournaments and other events to keep community growing. Several side projects were initiated by members of Fixed Gear Moscow and are still in development.