What happened when I tried out fixed

vorsprung

If you are thinking about trying out a fixed gear bike, read this first

http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/no-known-fix/

Executive summary: I didn't like it

YMMV

goonz

Sounds like he simply wimped out.

MonkeyMonster

I had always pretty much figured fixed was for commuting or track [training] tbh. Big cycles as you say - why do that to yourself when going downhill...

slowbike

MonkeyMonster wrote:

I had always pretty much figured fixed was for commuting or track [training] tbh. Big cycles as you say - why do that to yourself when going downhill...

A colleague rode fixed for the (short) commute - he said it was very handy in the snow as he could use his legs to help control the speed downhill - better than rubbing through another set of pads/rims ...

I've not had the balls to try single speed let alone fixed - on the commute anyway - an 8% gradient to take both ways doesn't help ...

dav1

Your post does cover well the first phase of taking up fixed riding. I am now a convert after getting through those phases.

First time down a big hill scared the s*** out of me, as did those hard kicks that almost send you over the bards when subconsciously attempting to freewheel.

It has to be said that learning to ride fixed is a commitment, in some respects it feels a bit like learning to ride all over again at the start.

I stuck with mine through the "bike controlling me" phase and after a couple of weeks started to get the hang of it. I think it was really a couple of months before I felt I had acquired the skills to ride it properly though. Once that day came I truly fell in love with riding fixed. Now I feel like I am more in control of it then I am any of my geared bikes. The connection you get with the bike and the road is unique, you feel fully in control of the speed of the bike without touching the brakes. You feel like you know exactly what's under the rear wheel and exactly how much power it will take. It feels to me like stripping a bike back to the bare essentials so that all you do is pedal and enjoy the bike for everything it is.

Its also made me a better overall rider. I am stronger now from single speeding. I can spin faster and ride more efficiently. I have more power in a low position and I can apply the power much better over rough surfaces to keep my speed after having no choice but to keep pedalling.

goonz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6roX9u4sQVk

This will help you make your decision...

vorsprung

goonz wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6roX9u4sQVk

This will help you make your decision...

No this will

http://youtu.be/Vn29DvMITu4

daddy0

vorsprung wrote:

goonz wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6roX9u4sQVk

This will help you make your decision...

No this will

http://youtu.be/Vn29DvMITu4

The fixie movie was boring, but OMG that MC SpandeX is awful!

Initialised

I think I'm going back to mountain biking after watching those!

Back on topic, would a Coaster Brake be a decent half-way house for some one wanting to transition from SS to Fixed?

wgwarburton

Initialised wrote:

I think I'm going back to mountain biking after watching those!

Back on topic, would a Coaster Brake be a decent half-way house for some one wanting to transition from SS to Fixed?

No.

Cheers,
W.

wgwarburton

vorsprung wrote:

If you are thinking about trying out a fixed gear bike, read this first

http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/no-known-fix/

Executive summary: I didn't like it

YMMV

When I first started riding fixed I was surprised by the ferocity of the experience. It didn't take long to adjust, though, and once you embrace it and learn to Go with the Flow you get that slightly zen sensation of Unity or Connectedness with the bike that fixie aficionados bang on about...

I love it. It's that same glorious feeling of humming along the road with the wind in your face and the road under your wheels. .. only More So.

Persist.

Cheers,
W.

goonz

Initialised wrote:

I think I'm going back to mountain biking after watching those!

Back on topic, would a Coaster Brake be a decent half-way house for some one wanting to transition from SS to Fixed?

You sure?

*warning* not for faint hearted.

http://policejnidenik.cz/wp-content/gal ... CN0629.jpg

Initialised

goonz wrote:

Initialised wrote:

I think I'm going back to mountain biking after watching those!

Back on topic, would a Coaster Brake be a decent half-way house for some one wanting to transition from SS to Fixed?

You sure?

*warning* not for faint hearted.

http://policejnidenik.cz/wp-content/gal ... CN0629.jpg

How, just how?

ddraver

Initialised wrote:

I think I'm going back to mountain biking after watching those!

Back on topic, would a Coaster Brake be a decent half-way house for some one wanting to transition from SS to Fixed?

No, that would make no difference really...Just do it, ignore Vorsprung, he just needs to work on hid bike handling skillz :P :P

roger_merriman

I rode my Fuji fixed for a while when I first had it, I agree there is something about fixed motion.

But I found that it inhibits moving your body weight ie such as unweighting over speed bumps pothole etc, you risk pedal strike cornering and end up at hamster cadences even on quite mild downhills.

I guess it depends what you use the bike for, I used it for rides into the Surrey Hills a SS makes much more sence and rather than hills/courners being a pain they are fun, and there is nothing like the look of pain a fixie rider gives once they have spotted the freewheel as you overtake ;-)

Kieran_Burns

Well, my list still fits:

Snob (Roadie) Freak (SS) No-knee Freak (FG) Perve (CX) Clueless (MTB) Beginner (Hybrid) Grandad (Folder) Flat cap man (Tourer) Child (BMX) Porn-Star (Recumbent)

You're just asking for your knees to explode on those damn things.

edhornby

fixed gear is great for commuting (low maintenance) and track, and shorter distances or in flatter places

it's not the best solution for long rides or really hilly places like devon etc because you end up spinning the gear out or popping your knees on the climbs

the secret is to relax but that takes time....

veronese68

Initialised wrote:

goonz wrote:

You sure?

*warning* not for faint hearted.

http://policejnidenik.cz/wp-content/gal ... CN0629.jpg

How, just how?

Always, always, always make sure you have bar end plugs fitted, they are a vital safety feature. You really don't want to land on a handlebar end that doesn't have one.

iPete

I've not read the blog but given the OP lives in Devon, it isn't going to be a great fixie experience!

I do from time to time enjoy smashing the fixie up and around the Surrey Hills but it works best on the flats and short climbs.

ddraver

I should add that if you ride fixed you are making a decision to ride everywhere much slower simply because you can't use the optimum gear ratio for the road/gradient/wind etc...

I would further add that actually the point of fixie riding is that you ride a lot slower and chill out a bit. It turns cycling back into a way of getting around rather than a race, much like Dutch Bike does

goonz

Its always a race, it would just be more of a race with more gears.

jds_1981

ddraver wrote:

I should add that if you ride fixed you are making a decision to ride everywhere much slower simply because you can't use the optimum gear ratio for the road/gradient/wind etc...

Much slower? Not that I can tell on my commute at any rate. Only bike I'm much slower on is my mtb which hsa gears, but also knobbly tyres....

cookeeemonster

jds_1981 wrote:

ddraver wrote:

I should add that if you ride fixed you are making a decision to ride everywhere much slower simply because you can't use the optimum gear ratio for the road/gradient/wind etc...

Much slower? Not that I can tell on my commute at any rate. Only bike I'm much slower on is my mtb which hsa gears, but also knobbly tyres....

Wouldn't a strongish headwind make a big difference?

I remember thinking this after I ended up not getting a SS in favour of a steel cx bike instead...which I'm now considering swopping

goonz

Last nights headwind was a bitch. I just peddled harder.

rjsterry

Veronese68 wrote:

Initialised wrote:

goonz wrote:

You sure?

*warning* not for faint hearted.

http://policejnidenik.cz/wp-content/gal ... CN0629.jpg

How, just how?

Always, always, always make sure you have bar end plugs fitted, they are a vital safety feature. You really don't want to land on a handlebar end that doesn't have one.

Indeed. A really nasty bruise is still better than retrieving the little cylindrical plug of flesh from inside the bars.

ddraver

jds_1981 wrote:

ddraver wrote:

I should add that if you ride fixed you are making a decision to ride everywhere much slower simply because you can't use the optimum gear ratio for the road/gradient/wind etc...

Much slower? Not that I can tell on my commute at any rate. Only bike I'm much slower on is my mtb which hsa gears, but also knobbly tyres....

In London it makes very little difference doesnt it because you always end up catching up at the lights. So for it to make any difference to your time (on any bike) you need to MUCH faster or MUCH slower...which is why fixed makes much less of a difference

iPete

CookeeeMonster wrote:

jds_1981 wrote:

ddraver wrote:

I should add that if you ride fixed you are making a decision to ride everywhere much slower simply because you can't use the optimum gear ratio for the road/gradient/wind etc...

Much slower? Not that I can tell on my commute at any rate. Only bike I'm much slower on is my mtb which hsa gears, but also knobbly tyres....

Wouldn't a strongish headwind make a big difference?

No, this is when fixed is maximized to drop people SCR style. :twisted:

dav1

I don't feel slower fixed now that I am used to it. I was to start with though.

I do find that it requires a health dose of Rule #5 when a challenger appears and your SCR points are at stake, especially with the extra -1 for ditching the gears with my hairy legs. In all seriousness though (and as I said before) I have had to become a better and stronger rider to handle it and keep a decent pace.

marcusjb

Over mixed terrain, fixed is a little slower overall for sure. Short sharp uphills will often be faster on fixed, because you can't be lazy and click down a gear or two, so you just have to get on with it. Long shallow draggy climbs also a little quicker. Longer, steeper hills is where it will all get more challenging and may involve resorting to the 24 inch gear if it is too steep to tack up.

Downhills, much slower in general - though a really good fixed rider with smooth, straightish descents won't give that much away to a geared bike.

I ride fixed for commuting and some training riding, I only do about 5000 km a year fixed, but I love it.

I also regularly ride with fixed riders tackling some real proper long rides. I am in awe of them, 600 plus hilly km is hard enough with gears; on fixed is just bonkers.

I have a new fixed bike coming (condor tempo to match my fratello) and intend to tackle some longer rides on it (but will probably choose flatter rides to start with!).

meagain

"You're just asking for your knees to explode on those damn things."

A myth I think that was put to rest many years ago on the Fixed bit (when it was a NEW fad) of old C+ Community.

pastryboy

Very little difference in my fixed/geared speeds overall when it comes to commuting. I have done longer rides on fixed and found it no trouble at all.

For me, overall, the upsides of fixed outweight the downsides which is why I've stuck with fixed for my main ride for the last few years. I like the instant feedback you get when slowing down or speeding up it feels better than relying on brakes and gears.

Knee problems are a myth - only trouble I've ever had was when I tried to stop with just my legs at 25+. That felt like my knees had exploded.