Why Fix?
ogre
Posts: 50
I'm trying to get used to this idea. I see lots of people around the city on fixed/singlespeed but i don't see the attraction.
Why are people doing it? :?:
Why are people doing it? :?:
Dry and warm days - FCN - 2
Dark wet cold - FCN - 7
Dark wet cold - FCN - 7
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Big Red S wrote:It's fun.
And there's almost no maintenance cost.
Agreed.
Plus better low speed control.
Cool trackstands at the lights!
Good for developing a fluid and flexible pedalling style.
Feel more "connected" to the bike.
No real extra apparent effort required, no great drop in pace over average terrain either. Many do long distance Audax and PBP on fixed.
Returning to gears often feels slow and just horrible.
It is a different style of riding, some like it others don't.
I've been riding fixed on and off since about 1984, still love it!0 -
Discussed recently here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12545433
I rode fixed last winter for the first time - only doing 2-3 x 25 mile rides a week as it was all I could fit in. Did do a few longer club runs on it but found it not really suited to riding amongst others on gears.
It's supposed to improve your pedalling style - as far as I'm concerned, the jury's still out on that one. I do feel stronger seated climbing on steady climbs. And probably more comfortable riding at high cadences (120rpm+) which is handy as I do a bit of track racing too.
There is less maintenance than with gears as the drive train if very simple.
And I'd agree it is generally great fun! (only exception is when I suffered a "death wobble" while trying to pedal at over 25mph down a long hill).0 -
Personally I've just built a fixie for commuting over the winter.
I built it from an old frame pulled from the tip and old parts I had lying around, total cost ~£70. At the end of last winter I had to spend ~£200 on replacing worn and seized parts on my road bike because of salt damage. So, hopefully by the end of the winter it will have saved me money as there is a lot less to go wrong.
I also read an article which gave one of the advantages of a fixed as you can't lock the back wheel on a slippy road if you need to stop in a hurry. Having commuted by bike through the last 2 winters I can definitely see this being an advantage. I've only ridden it twice so far but being able to slow down just a fraction by not pedalling as hard really does seem advantageous in slow moving traffic. All I really need to do now is remember to stop at the lights with my pedals at the correct angle because I can't back pedal!
Other reasons are that I fancied a new project and it gave me an excuse to add to the bike collection without too much cost!0 -
Ogre
Just try it and you will understand.
The fashion remark is bollocks by the way!!
Regards
Craig0 -
Why try it??? Cos its just another excuse for riding a bike.
Ive been a single speeder for a long time, on road and off, and fancied a change. Theres all kinds of reasons to do it, and all kinds of reasons not to, and i could spend a long time giving my reasons in detail. But at the end of the day, its all just about riding a bike.
Saying that, time to leave off work and go spin my way home in the chill. Ride safe!!!0 -
"as you can't lock the back wheel on a slippy road if you need to stop in a hurry"
Eh?? Ever tried an emergency stop because you learn to do a skid stop PDQ IME. Because your end up riding 90% of the time in the wrong gear you develop a more responsive and flexible pedalling style - fast pick-up for sprints plus lower back and quad strength for climbing.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0 -
it IS a fashion thing, or a 'microtrend' as i read somewhere once.0
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Microtrend
I love marketing speak.0 -
It's good for modulated control of the drivetrain, but you'll find out very very quickly on a wet day that it's still easy to slide the back wheel out. Don't believe everything you're told.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I\'m only escaping to here because the office is having a conniption0 -
its a bit of a myth that it is maintenance free- i have done 16K km on fixed in 2.5 years and it has cost me plenty- starting with a new bike I have worn out chainring, sprocket, ?4 chains, ?6 tyres and tubes, brooks saddle, bar tape and 2 sets brake blocks. maybe £350 worth? or 3.5 p a mile
and that doesn't include 2 crashes resulting in 1 bike written off, and 1 new front wheel- another £800 in total but all paid for by other people's insurers...
of course i would have spent at least as much on a geared bike (the chains might last longer but i have worn out blocks and deraiileurs before). but my point is, I wouldnt ride fixed for the cash saving, but because i like the feel of it.
also it keeps me fitter- people tend to over use gears to minimise resistance but it is pushing against resistance that makes you fitter and faster- I almost always pass anyone on a geared bike going up a (short) hill as they change down while I accelerate.fgg 16660 -
All I really need to do now is remember to stop at the lights with my pedals at the correct angle because I can't back pedal!
ps there is a solution to this- stop without worrying about pedal angle. put a foot down, squeeze front brake (if you have one...), lean weight onto front wheel,so back wheel almost lifts off ground, pull clipped in foot to the position you want- back wheel skids round easily if no weight on it.
sounds a bit long winded but takes a split second once youre used to it.
i know some people will say trackstand, but that is fashion bollocks, some people look bloody silly wobbling about in front of the lights twiddling their front wheels desperately to avoid puttinga foot down.fgg 16660 -
ogre wrote:I'm trying to get used to this idea. I see lots of people around the city on fixed/singlespeed but i don't see the attraction.
Why are people doing it? :?:
My main winter bike (a surly crosscheck) is SS/Fixed. I have to admit that the main reason is that I don't clean it and with a 1-speed drivetrain there is little to maintain or adjust so it is great as a practical just-get-on-and-ride bike.
I like to think there is some training benefit too, but I don't really think there is anything that you can't do on a geared bike. I'm not counting spinning like a loon downhill on fixed - that is not a good thing IMO!
Neil--
"Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."0 -
nmcgann wrote:I'm not counting spinning like a loon downhill on fixed - that is not a good thing IMO!
Teaches you how to pedal bloody fast though!
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About to take the plunge in to the world of fixed, like the look of the Specialised Langster, especially as it comes with a fixed one side and freewheel the other, want to see if I can get up the hills OK fixed before I attempt them downhill and find out I can't!! :shock:You can lead an elephant to water but a pencil must be lead0
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arrrrrghhhhhhh
langster langster
SIREN WOOP WOOP WOOP
er, yes, i've heard they make good starter bikes. pretty much all off the pegs come with flip flops these days. the flyer is much nicer looking.0 -
peejay78 wrote:arrrrrghhhhhhh
langster langster
SIREN WOOP WOOP WOOP
er, yes, i've heard they make good starter bikes. pretty much all off the pegs come with flip flops these days. the flyer is much nicer looking.
OK then peejay, convince why the flyer is worth the extra £100 over the spesh then?You can lead an elephant to water but a pencil must be lead0 -
no, it's an aesthetic thing (hence 'much nicer looking', there's nothing that 'fashionable' about either of these bikes really) the geometry is nicer, twitchier. better gearing. nicer brakes. nicer shape on the drops. better colour.
can you get a current langster that's not the london or another city edition?0 -
Thought this might be interesting to you all,
"Any time something gains enough popularity that it draws to itself people who never otherwise would have thought to do something like it, it will begin naturally to reflect cross sections of the greater populace. Yes, you'll awaken some people who will understand it and embrace it, but you'll also get the opinionated attention of unwanted wankers. Inevitably there begins a backlash of complaints about inclusion of people who 'just don't get it,' but as a result this itself prompts subsections."0 -
Perhaps the difference is that I've seen a Langster in the flesh, need to see a Flyer to give genuine opinion, will endevour to do so before I decideYou can lead an elephant to water but a pencil must be lead0
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go get the langster - don't listen to Peejay - ha hasn't taken his medication this week.
I have an 07 model in Peejays favourite rust colour - it's a great bike, a bargain price and an excellent intro to fixed riding.
Living by the coast I don't really see many climbs on mine but the 'slopey' bits I do see have been fine on std gearing.0 -
jbindman wrote:i know some people will say trackstand, but that is fashion bollocks, some people look bloody silly wobbling about in front of the lights twiddling their front wheels desperately to avoid putting a foot down.
A proper trackstand does not involve twiddling the front wheel at all.
People who twiddle their front wheel are not doing any kind of trackstand. They are merely trying to avoid putting their foot down in an ineffective way (unless the lights change in 5 seconds). Anyone who tries to do something, but does it badly looks "bloody silly"0 -
gkerr4 wrote:go get the langster - don't listen to Peejay - ha hasn't taken his medication this week.
I have an 07 model in Peejays favourite rust colour - it's a great bike, a bargain price and an excellent intro to fixed riding.
Living by the coast I don't really see many climbs on mine but the 'slopey' bits I do see have been fine on std gearing.
much to the annoyance of some on here I`ve also bought a Langster 08 in the green colour,should be here this week, new pedals,shoes and helmut etc are already in the Halfords store ( cycle2work ). Thought long and hard about the purchase and given the fact that seeing any other fixed wheel bike was pretty much impossible it leaves little option. Added to the fact that it was a bit cheaper I was able to buy extra stuff namely that above. Lets see howI get on, for arguments sake I quite like the compact look !
Puts on full flame proof jacket and retreats 20yrds :P0 -
Thats pretty much my reasoning/conclusion MrGrumpy, can't say that I can see how anyone can say the Langster is a bad bike, also have a liking for the compact geometry, you pays your money as they say!
I'm always open to opinions, especially if they agree with mine!!!You can lead an elephant to water but a pencil must be lead0 -
I believe that they are just littered about the place in London - place is overflowing with them apparently.
i'm the same as you in fife though - had never seen one before I got my own - and neither had my only local specialised dealer (who I have to drive 35 miles to get to!) - so I doubt I'll be bumping into any around here!0 -
I'm toying, well going to get myself a fixie... I was wondering if getting a flipflop if just half arsing it?
I'm looking at the condor pista at present (cycle to work scheme takes the edge off nicely)
thoughts?Purveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140
