Fixed/Single Speed Commuting

SimonAH

Important notes on this dismount however;

1) Do not do this at more than walking pace as it looks more like you fell off somehow if you are then running behind the machine..... Think elegant and effortless balletic grace and slow speed.

2) This is much easier with clips and flat pedals than with SPDS or equivalent. Took me a little while to transition (and memorably accidentally clipped back in with the left foot on one attempt....not cool)

itboffin

Not sure how I missed these replies (perhaps I was drunk/hungover) anyway surely those answers alone are enough of a reason NOT TO RIDE FIXED.

Sounds like a pretty convincing answer to the question really.

davis

itboffin wrote:

Not sure how I missed these replies (perhaps I was drunk/hungover) anyway surely those answers alone are enough of a reason NOT TO RIDE FIXED.

Sounds like a pretty convincing answer to the question really.

Naww.... them ratchet things is new-fangled and therefore not to be trusted, right?

Think I'm gonna have to build a SS. It will not be FG; I'm ugly enough already.

Fireblade96

Well, 1 week after starting this fixed lark I'm still relatively intact. I even made it home from the pub yesterday without serious mishap !
Some aspects I quite like - speed control without needing brakes, particularly on slippery surfaces (there's a wooden bridge I cross daily which is very slippery when wet), and the lovely silence.
Less good is the need to reset the pedal/wheel when trying to dodge through traffic, and the fact I can't blast flat out down the big hill or corner with abandon.
Overall, on my 5-mile commute I reckon FG is 2-3 mins slower than SS just because of the extra faff.
I'll probably stick with it for another week to see whether it suddenly clicks, otherwise I'll be shopping for a new, quieter SS freewheel.

clarkey cat

I like riding fixed. I feel so, like, connected to the road, man.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/20 ... 06/fitness

jonny_trousers

I've toyed with the idea of flipping my flip-flop back to fixed for a while now for the simple reason that I'm sure it has to be a useful aid towards creating a smooth, even pedal stroke, but I've come to the conclusion that the benefit of a freewheel in urban traffic makes single speed the better option for me.

clarkey cat

I find the only benefit of SS is the ability to keep your left pedal lifted over the kerb when sneaking down small gaps.

SimonAH

And anyway I filter to the right (lots less risk of being squished)

roger_merriman

clarkey cat wrote:

I find the only benefit of SS is the ability to keep your left pedal lifted over the kerb when sneaking down small gaps.

I like to corner fast aka banked over, while fixed does give a very different feeling and is fun, it's not as fun as swooping though the bends, which yes I do on the commute, I also plummet downhills but thats hardly on the commute.

the only real disadvantage to SS is it's not as Kool as cats.

jonny_trousers

clarkey cat wrote:

I find the only benefit of SS is the ability to keep your left pedal lifted over the kerb when sneaking down small gaps.

Well that's certainly one of the big ones, Roger mentions another. It may be just me, but I find I can follow a smoother line when riding within a small gap when freewheeling at speed. I also prefer the ease of repositioning the crank to achieve maximum power when it's wanted.

I do get the fun in riding fixed, but on balance I think I'll stick with SS.

majormantra

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

I've toyed with the idea of flipping my flip-flop back to fixed for a while now for the simple reason that I'm sure it has to be a useful aid towards creating a smooth, even pedal stroke

I've been riding fixed on my commuter for 3 years and I actually think that's a bit of a myth. It may help you be more adaptable to different cadences but since the pedals turn regardless, it's still perfectly possible to have very un-smooth power delivery on fixed.

SimonAH

Actually I disagree. If you don't develop a smooth souplesse then you find yourself bouncing out of the saddle very fast on descents.

jds_1981

As SimonAH says, from around 140rpm you need to be spinning well.

itboffin

Yep takes practice but it comes soon enough, i'm back to fast smooth sub 10 miles commutes on and off road, but it's back to a geared bike for tomorrows & Friday's longer hilly route.

N+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1

majormantra

That's true, you have to be 'supple' at high revs. It's still possible that your power delivery isn't that smooth though. I've done over 40mph on my fixed (just under 200rpm) which requires very free spinning legs to avoid mad bouncing. At that speed though the bike is basically pedalling you ("In Soviet Russia...") so it's less a case of smooth power delivery and more one of smooth pedal stroke. Which I suppose could well be what Jonny meant.

jonny_trousers

MajorMantra wrote:

... so it's less a case of smooth power delivery and more one of smooth pedal stroke. Which I suppose could well be what Jonny meant.

It was

jds_1981

Noticed two fixed gears today with any sort of clip. First one was front brake only, not sure about the second. Fair weather fixies?

iPete

This rank weather has got me looking at SS bikes! :evil:

Like the look of the black Cinelli Mystic Rat [lighter than my roadie off the peg!] but I'd love something with carbon belt drive! I bumped into the lfgss lot also getting the train back from a long ride and one of them had a very nice bianchi and another a Surely Steamroller that I liked the look of.

Koncordski

My Genesis Flyer frame has turned up today, must get on to ebay and finish shopping for parts. It's a 2009 so the plain white colour scheme but they threw in a pair of carbon forks so it looks quite JDM esque.

gtvlusso

In anyone's experience: Do half link chains stretch less than normal chains?

dhope

iPete wrote:

This rank weather has got me looking at SS bikes! :evil:

Like the look of the black Cinelli Mystic Rat [lighter than my roadie off the peg!] but I'd love something with carbon belt drive! I bumped into the lfgss lot also getting the train back from a long ride and one of them had a very nice bianchi and another a Surely Steamroller that I liked the look of.

Not sure what there is OTP apart from the Trek District that has a belt drive.
Steamroller is bombproof, I was looking at one before getting by Gary Fisher Triton (also worth considering)

itboffin

How can I fashion a temp water bottle holder on my Dolan track bike, no frame mounts you see

Paul E

itboffin wrote:

How can I fashion a temp water bottle holder on my Dolan track bike, no frame mounts you see

You used to be able to buy camelbaks with a running/jogging holster, maybe one of them ont he bars or under the seat?

Or get a triathlon type behind the seat holder

iPete

Hai thread! Was lookin for this one... Have one week of FG commuting under my belt, looove it! Off down to Sigma to get all the freaking different tools you need for a track bike to change my cogs. Not been a cheap venture

itboffin wrote:

How can I fashion a temp water bottle holder on my Dolan track bike, no frame mounts you see

Elite VIP bottle cage clamps..

itboffin

Very nice, i might just pop to halfords and buy a couple, ta

itboffin

Ordered a couple of sets from halfords <£5 delivered I also ordered a seat post top peak adapter oh and some tacx Tao light cages

Now to convince myself I can still commute SS everyday

iPete

Linky to the topeak adapter? Need to find myself a pump that fits onto something..Anyone recomend a frame pump that doesn't need bolts to fit?

itboffin

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=74876

Here you go

iPete

cheers!

Now can anyone recommend some oversized low drop road bars?

Turns out Deda Newtons are too skinny where your hands sit and too big a drop [142mm]. Anything to match 3T Ergonova?[123mm] They also seem to have a much nicer grip.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/3t-ergonova-pro ... handlebar/



P-X Carbons look good but have been out of stock for ever.

itboffin

Yeh what's with the skinny bars I have to use two wraps of tape or lizard skins on my track bike.