Eeeeek Fixed!

lost_in_thought

Hello all!

I am awaiting delivery of my first fixed gear/fixed wheel bike for my commute. My old bike was a cruiser-style single speed with a rear coaster hub, so I'm used to the no-gears and the pedalling-really-hard-to-get-up-hills, and have the resultant legs of steel from riding a bike I can hardly pick up because it's so heavy.

However, I'm a little bit nervous about the pedalling thing, and the braking! When you brake, are you just pedalling more slowly, or actually pushing backwards or what? Is it impossible to do without toe clips or similar? How do you brake sharply? When you're going downhill can you just keep your feet moving without actually pushing or will that slow you down?

Eeek!

Any feedback much appreciated - it's all a bit doom and gloom on some other sites!

Olivia

johnnypipe85

Hi there!

I got my first fixed a couple of months ago and I fell in love immediately, you'll love it too!!

for slowing down using only your feet you have to "try" and extend your leg when the pedal is to the rear, thus putting your weight on it.
it is possible to cycle without toe-clip or spd, but it's a bit of a nightmare, especially down hill!
you need at least a front break, even if many people on here will tell you you need both.
you can only go so fast downhill without your legs falling off, so you have to make sure that YOU decide how fast to go, not the hill! i don't think you'll have too many problems in going too slow down a hill!!!

Enjoy!

Jon

Pete Beer

I would also recommend toe clips and don't practice on very steep bumpy down hills, my first ride on a fixed, I hit a pot hole, flat out, not good, the colour has drained from my cheeks just thinking about it. I got a fixed 3 years ago, then another, (for best), then another (vintage) then another, (tourer). It's fab you'll love it.

bonk man

I use front and rear brakes but it is hilly round here and I ride low gears so the cadence can get out of control so a rear brake can be used as a drag brake but if you brake too hard it easily locks up and can be a bit scary.

Dustine

I brake with the front foot by pulling back as it goes forward and down, and pushing with the backfoot to stop it coming up, if you see what i mean. I have managed to lock the back wheel once or twice, but do still use the front brake to slow down if necessary. i ditched the back brake as i live in an area without big long hills, and found front + legs was enough. Possibly would put it back on if i lived in an area with big hills, i would have to see. Arent interested in the snobs who think you arent doing it right if you have a rear brake though- if you want one, have one, its your bike, i say.

Definitely you should get some clipless pedals- i use Crank Brothers egg beater SL or Candy SL's on my bikes. Havent had any problems with knees since i started riding fixed (and was a single speeder before that). I was worried about that, but i think its very anecdotal- i know lots of geared riders and people who dont even bike with shot knees, who if they rode fixed would blame it on that.

lost_in_thought

Thanks guys!

Am getting a front brake fitted tomorrow evening, and then will be commuting on my new toy! Didn't feel happy about just having the rear wheel as a brake. And I have bought some new pedals and got my clippy shoes (I'm very bad at jargon) from home.

Excited now!

SamWise72

I'd personally put both brakes on, at least at first. Also, don't make your first ride a commute on busy streets - spend an evening riding it round a car park, and then quiet streets. The first time you need to brake unexpectedly, you'll try to coast, and feel as though you're going to get thrown off - you don't want that on the Westway at rush hour!

fluff.

I would go for 2 brakes as well initially, after having come back to my fixed wheel after a time away from it I rediscovered 2 things:

1) I cannot for the life of me seem to apply enough front brake to take all the weight off the rear wheel, it's like a gag reflex, something in my brain stops me yanking that hard on the lever.
2) as a result of 1 I end up doing a half baked skid, which is as effective in making my knees hurt as it is in slowing down.
So I think I'll retire from the field of attempting skid stops for good, and just use 2 brakes when needed, not as cool and trendy but I think I'll cope. I can still apply a bit of back pressure when slowing down gradually with no issues, but thats a whole different kettle of balls games.

lost_in_thought

Thanks again!

Well, I had a particularly hairy ride into work with just the wheel as the brake, managed not to crash into anything, and have a relatively good understanding of how to slow down and even stop with the wheel alone. Then went to Evans Cycles in Fulham Broadway, where Tim (aka the nicest bike shop guy ever) sorted me out a brake in the space of an afternoon. So I rode back from Fulham to Ealing this evening without worrying about stopping, and I love it!

Seriously it's great. I'll see how I go with just the front brake for now, I don't have too many qualms about braking hard with it - ignorance is bliss!

Thanks all for your comments.