downhill on a fixed wheel

mooro

I have had a fixed for about a year now and try to use it for some mid week work for the legs but.....

there are very few flat roads where we are and descending on it is an absolute nightmare.

I assume I am just doing it wrong as i think you are supposed to be able to control your cadence and keep the bike under control. When i try and keep the natural cadence of the descent things are fine, when i try and slow down using my cadence rather than the brakes i just look / feel stupid as my legs start shooting all over the place....

is there a particular knack to doing this?

Bronzie

The only time I tried to control my speed down a 10% hill using just my legs, I ended up fishtailing all over the road. I just use the brakes now and let my legs "freewheel".

Bronzie

...

robrauy

On hills I try to hold on with my legs as long as possible without using my brakes so that I am still in control and could stop. When I eventually lose it and my legs are spinning crazily I'll often brake to get back the control and try again.

Other times I just let my legs run till the bottom, though I don't really enjoy the feeling too much. In this situation I'll try to keep a little forward pressure on the pedals to reduce the risk of am unshipped chain!

genki

I'm alright up to about 160rpm but for long steep descents I unclip my feet and freewheel. The bike's a bit less stable and make sure you keep your legs away from the spinning cranks :roll:

Thick Tester

Oil your knees and you'll be reet

shedhead

HTFU mate, depending on what gear you're running, keep your action smooth till you spin out & as above, feather your brakes until you can keep up again.

You know your going quick if you see your chain stays swaing from side to side on a "speed wobble"

Jaeger

shedhead wrote:

HTFU mate, depending on what gear you're running, keep your action smooth till you spin out & as above, feather your brakes until you can keep up again.

You know your going quick if you see your chain stays swaing from side to side on a "speed wobble"

Useful. :roll:

mooro

Bronzie wrote:

The only time I tried to control my speed down a 10% hill using just my legs, I ended up fishtailing all over the road. I just use the brakes now and let my legs "freewheel".

thats what i end up doing, but then feel that some backward resistance should be good for a bit of leg power development.


5.45 tomorrow morning off for 90 mins so will have a go.....

mooro

..

mooro

[getting coat]

Bronzie

Mooro wrote:

thats what i end up doing, but then feel that some backward resistance should be good for a bit of leg power development.

Can't see how back-pedalling is ever going to help improve your normal pedalling technique.

jonnyv

The unpleasant reality of going downhill on a fixed wheel is one reason why I think the whole cult of the 'fixie' is overdone. The idea that you can maintain control through sheer leg power, without recourse to the brake, is a total myth. A 'fixie' is great for riding round town, and obviously on the track, but keep it away from anything sloping.

liversedge

jonnyv wrote:

The unpleasant reality of going downhill on a fixed wheel is one reason why I think the whole cult of the 'fixie' is overdone. The idea that you can maintain control through sheer leg power, without recourse to the brake, is a total myth. A 'fixie' is great for riding round town, and obviously on the track, but keep it away from anything sloping.

+1

lae

^ I don't even think they're good around town. After a year or so of commuting I put a freewheel on my fixed gear and I think it's far more useful in stop-start traffic.

I still use a fixed gear for a bit of training every now and then though. And it is certainly good fun.

dreamlx10

'fixie'

Fixed