err... I don't get it! Please enlighten me....

jeepie

In this photo

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/t200-championship-50-10-39591

what is Warren going to do if he has to stop on a dime during his descent?

His hands are in one place and his brakes are in another.

Why are fixed bikes designed like this? Seems v. odd to me, but perhaps I'm missing something! Please let me know what I'm missing!

spasypaddy

its for style purposes and he will just lock his legs up to stop

rjsterry

I think it's just a funny camera angle rather than a serious descent.

rml380z

It's just fashion against function.

Kinda like have fabulous shoes that you can't walk in.

Wooliferkins

You control your descent speed with your legs on a fixed as you cant just completely switch off your leg muscles and coast. You can do it up to a point then body kicks in says NO! So he wont be descending as fast as on a geared bike and much more focused on controlling the speed.

Clever Pun

rml380z wrote:

It's just fashion against function.

Kinda like have fabulous shoes that you can't walk in.

no not really, the mini brake lever is for more city styled riding when having your head up is useful.

I personally still have hoods on my fixed bikes as I find it easier getting up hills with them

ex-pat scot

I run fixed with road hoods.
I spend most of my time with the hands on the hoods, and when descending I have them on the drops feathering the brakes.

I really don't understand the 'cross top lever style. Took 'em off my 'crosser.

I just don't see how a decent FG/SS road bike can be safe and comfortable without road hoods.

_Brun_

My fixed came equipped with road levers, but spending most of the time riding on the tops of the bars I ditched them for a finger brake. Much better around town, although I'll admit I miss the hoods for climbing.

Presumably in Warren's case, he can see the road ahead of him and is confident enough that he's not gonna have to suddenly haul on the anchors.

Oddjob62

Clever Pun wrote:

rml380z wrote:

It's just fashion against function.

Kinda like have fabulous shoes that you can't walk in.

no not really, the mini brake lever is for more city styled riding when having your head up is useful.

I personally still have hoods on my fixed bikes as I find it easier getting up hills with them

Also a mini brake is easier to remove if you want to take your bike on the track.

Headhuunter

My god, is that bike really £849?? For an ultra basic steel fixed? What an utter rip off... Fashionistas have a lot to answer for!

Clever Pun

Headhuunter wrote:

My god, is that bike really £849?? For an ultra basic steel fixed? What an utter rip off... Fashionistas have a lot to answer for!

It's 531 so not ultra basic...

wgwarburton

Headhuunter wrote:

My god, is that bike really £849?? For an ultra basic steel fixed? What an utter rip off... Fashionistas have a lot to answer for!

I walked past Alpine in Edinburgh at lunchtime- they had a Trek Carbon District in the window- with a colour scheme Hotblack Desiato would love. Carbon frame, Gates carbon drive, carbon cranks etc.
Reduced from £2800 to £2300...

I'm sure it's lovely to ride but that struck me as a bit pricy for a single-speed. Didn't even have a flip-flop hub.

It did have proper drop-bar levers, though!!

Cheers,
W.

SimonAH

Headhuunter wrote:

My god, is that bike really £849?? For an ultra basic steel fixed? What an utter rip off... Fashionistas have a lot to answer for!

.....agreed, but that (gorgeous) Brooks saddle is one and a half on it's own........

Trying to self justify getting one to replace the Bonty saddle I scuffed up in my recent off...... :oops:

Wooliferkins

SimonAH wrote:

Trying to self justify getting one to replace the Bonty saddle I scuffed up in my recent off...... :oops:

You know you want to :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Mike Healey

Jeepie wrote:

In this photo

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/t200-championship-50-10-39591

what is Warren going to do if he has to stop on a dime during his descent?

His hands are in one place and his brakes are in another.

Why are fixed bikes designed like this? Seems v. odd to me, but perhaps I'm missing something! Please let me know what I'm missing!

What makes you think he's going downhill? Could be uphill - all depends on the camera angle

pst88

The fact that he's out of the saddle to me suggests he's either going up hill or sprinting on the flat.

jeepie

Don't think the camera angle is really to the point is it?

Let's say he's sprinting on the flat or going up hill then - what happens if a badger suddenly runs in his path? How does he stop his forward momentum?

And also if you have drops surely you would descend with your hands in this position on the drops as the handling will be so much nicer - oh, except when a car turns in front of you and you can't stop!

I just don't get it. I like the idea of a single speed winter bike, but so many of the lighter ones are set up like this which makes the drops unusable unless you can predict the future!

cougie

I wouldn't worry - i ride with my hands resting on my bar ends for long parts of my ride on the mtb. It's never been an issue - and this is for a photo shoot anyway - so it's quite a controlled environment.

_Brun_

Jeepie wrote:

Blah blah blah etc

How about you quit worrying about everyone else's impending doom, and try to enjoy riding a bicycle instead?

jeepie

Thanks for the comments Brun! Very helpful. I'm just interested in the idea of a fixed bike, but haven't ridden one and don't understand why the brakes are positioned so. Thanks for the clarifications!

_Brun_

You're welcome!