Commute on a fixie

Skippy2309

Anyone commute on a fixie?

I am tempted to go for a single-speed fixie, I am plenty strong and fit enough to power it up the hills and over long distances, just wondering if anyone else uses one and if its safe.... I know one guy who said they are amazing who uses them to commute into the city but i am still unsure....

I know couriers use them but them guys are just crazy!!!!

so are they a good idea?????

_Brun_

Yeah, plenty of us. Don't be scared of the search button, it won't bite you.

marksteven

ive got 2 a pimped langster & a concorde i often do my 12 mile comute into canterbury on 1 , it took me about 5 mins to get used to them , they defo make you stronger go on try it

itchieritchie

Been riding a single speed Genesis Flyer (GREAT bike btw!!) for 2 years on my commute now and no hassles. It has a flip-flop hub so you just flick the wheel around and it becomes a fixie. I personally have NEVER tried it that way, but am tempted now. You sound like a stronger rider than me though so if you're up for it, then you could go fixed straight away. Thing is, it's dangerous in my opinion because it takes practice. SS teaches you to rely more on your own body power for speed, rather than gears, and also how to winch yourself up those hills. It's a different way of riding and provides the perfect transition to fixed, which is but a step away. Also depends what route you take and how long you go for. I fly down the Euston Road every morning, and back late at night, so for me to have gone fixie immediately would've meant certain death! Fixed is definitely the way forward in terms of fitness and serious urban cool - if that's your thing - but take it easy. My advice would be to get a Langster, Flyer, Charge or similar that has a flip-flop hub. Then you have the choice. One thing's for certain though, MIX IT UP AND MOVE ON FROM GEARS! You're doing the right thing. Best of luck and wave if you see a duct taped Flyer with white stickers (cowhide pattern!) huffing and puffing up the Pentonville Road...!!

Mithras

Kona Paddy Waggon for the last 3 months...rides lovely and don't ever wish for anything else (except another fixxie)

monkeycowboy

20 miles each way every day for about 3 months on Felt Dispatch (48x18) with panniers and mudguards.

Routes in my sig.

Ive lost a load of weight, am loads fitter and zoom along on my geared bike when I use it on the weekend.

TRADESIZE

when i trained for end to end recently i done lots of 80 mile training rides on my fixed.

obviously i did end to end on a road bike.

its not dangerous.

but it is addictive

Oddjob62

See Carly in sig. Love her, love riding fixed.

wgwarburton

Skippy2309 wrote:

Anyone commute on a fixie?

I am tempted to go for a single-speed fixie, .... I know one guy who said they are amazing who uses them to commute into the city but i am still unsure....

I've just got the Winter Hack back on the road- fixed conversion of a Dawes road frame (running 48x19 ATM).
Saves trashing my "nice bike" though the winter, parts are cheap, it's fun to ride and makes me feel more hardcore(!!! I think it's a midlife crisis thing :-).

Give it a try.

Cheers,
W.

peter,vj

I`ve been commuting on a converted fixed for nearly 2 years now. 19 miles each way. Loved it from the start. I can react quicker and stop faster than my road bike. I`m a stronger climber now. Once you are used to it you soon find yourself riding in the zone after a few miles. Legs spinning mind focused.

Can not imagine any other way now.

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

peter,vj wrote:

I`ve been commuting on a converted fixed for nearly 2 years now. 19 miles each way. Loved it from the start. I can react quicker and stop faster than my road bike. I`m a stronger climber now. Once you are used to it you soon find yourself riding in the zone after a few miles. Legs spinning mind focused.

Can not imagine any other way now.

I agree with this! I ride single speed because I don't like spinning down all the Bristol hills, but even so one gear is perfect for commuting.

I find my reaction times are much quicker - you are always in the 'right' gear and so no what to expect from the pedals. Need to get out of trouble in a hurry? No gear change, you're just gone. Really useful for riding fast in traffic. I actually came in on the road bike the other day and it felt very fussy and overcomplicated.

The other thing it teaches you is to carry momentum much better. You plan how (and at what speed) you approach traffic lights more carefully so you don't have to power up from a standstill, which over time makes for a remarkably smoother and more flowing ride.

Going up hills is no problem (though I don't tackle the 20% climbs any more). Just put youer head down and go; think of it as interval training. I'm fitter too; I've lost 1.5 stone since going single speed in the Spring.

RedJohn

I commute on a fixed as well, converted from an old road bike that I bought new 20 years ago.

Usual commute at the moment is about 2.5 miles, which is a bit short really, though sometimes I take the long way home just for fun.

Uphills are OK, just get out the saddle and honk up. Downhills are ... entertaining! I've seen 150rpm on my computer :-) Though I have fairly low gearing, 42 x 18, because quite a bit of the ride is on a shared cycle path which is very slow. Don't see why it should be dangerous though - where'd that come from?

I think it's made me a better rider too, I run much higher cadence on my "normal" bikes than I used to, climb faster, and generally ride faster too.

el_presidente

My commute recently increased from 6 to 12 miles and I mothballed my fixed in favour of a geared bike, fearing the mileage increase. I am now slower on the geared bike and it is much less fun. I am re-instating the fixed forthwith.

ince

Do it, been riding my fixed 46-16 over nine miles on and off since the start of summer. I like it for the variation from the road bike. It's nice to mixed it up, I also fine I pace myself better, thinking of whats ahead and how strong I feel.

I also find it more relaxing, I only have the one front brake. My feet are the rear. So I tend to give myself more space in traffic and more time on the approach to stops, give ways etc.

symo

Would love to this winter but the reality is that devons long up hills and long steep downs means single speed is my best chance.

ex-pat scot

20 miles each way each day for me on my modded Langster.
42 x 16 fixed - teaches me to spin, allows me to bowl along the flat bits at 20-22 and just about low enough to winch up the 1-in-6 hill near home.

Advantages:
-weight
-simplicity
-lower maintenance
-running costs (esp winter, with all the cr@p on the roads. Not having mechs means less to get clagged up and worn out)
-theft proofness. (a clubmate's fixed was swiped at a cafe stop, but the thief tried to freewheel round the first bend, fell off and broke both collarbones. Divine justice!)

You can turn most old bikes into a perfectly decent fixie for very little cash.

DevUK

Sorry to potentially hijack this thread, but I wondered if anyone had any feedback on the following bikes. I'm looking at a Charge Plug 2010 and the SE Lager 2010. I wondered if anyone had any experience with, or thoughts about them?

ride_whenever

ex-pat scot wrote:

-theft proofness. (a clubmate's fixed was swiped at a cafe stop, but the thief tried to freewheel round the first bend, fell off and broke both collarbones. Divine justice!)

priceless!

randi

the fixie commute is addictive. Started riding it March/ April and now have done 2000 kms on the bike. the other bikes are not even getting a look.