So fixed gear riders on here?
Discussion
This guy isn't on PH but isn't too bad...
http://www.vimeo.com/9824201
Worth watching all the way through...
http://www.vimeo.com/9824201
Worth watching all the way through...
Three weeks in and enjoying it quite a lot.
Still very nervous about pavement pedal-strike when filtering between pavement and cars.
Also, I only ever unclip my left foot so my one attempt at a track-stand ended in disaster as the bike tilted to the right.
No idea how people manage without a back brake though - my legs are a very poor substitute, perhaps they get stronger...
Still very nervous about pavement pedal-strike when filtering between pavement and cars.
Also, I only ever unclip my left foot so my one attempt at a track-stand ended in disaster as the bike tilted to the right.
No idea how people manage without a back brake though - my legs are a very poor substitute, perhaps they get stronger...
Rico said:
This guy isn't on PH but isn't too bad...
http://www.vimeo.com/9824201
Worth watching all the way through...
Very impressive!http://www.vimeo.com/9824201
Worth watching all the way through...
I have been riding almost exclusively fixed for about 9 years. It is great but not the religious experience some people claim. Excellent off-road in the right conditions with tremendous powerslides on loose surfaces.
For what it is worth, my nuggets of advice are:
Downhill is the problem, not going up.
Lockring - absolutely no need for my style of riding (no skip stops).
Brakes - At least a front, rear if it is hilly or you have no lockring. Two very good brakes if going off-road.
Pedals - I use SPD's, small (narrow) pedals really reduce the likelihood of pedal strike in corners.
Watch out for toe overlap, you don't notice that it is a problem until you go fixed.
Never stop pedalling, especially when jumping off kerbs.
For what it is worth, my nuggets of advice are:
Downhill is the problem, not going up.
Lockring - absolutely no need for my style of riding (no skip stops).
Brakes - At least a front, rear if it is hilly or you have no lockring. Two very good brakes if going off-road.
Pedals - I use SPD's, small (narrow) pedals really reduce the likelihood of pedal strike in corners.
Watch out for toe overlap, you don't notice that it is a problem until you go fixed.
Never stop pedalling, especially when jumping off kerbs.
Yup, got a fixie but haven't ridden it since being at uni. Got me pretty fit over summer and is a lot of fun, but like Clarkey said, big downhills are a serious problem and you can find yourself out of control very quickly. Also I would always recommend having something to connect you to the pedals - be they SPDs or toe clips (if you're ghey). Make sure you have a front brake as well.
mchammer89 said:
Anyone who rides fixed with flat pedals is a complete idiot IMO unless it's very low speed stuff or trick riding or something. Also, a lockring is a must (again, IMO) especially if you have no rear brake.
A few years ago I would have agreed about the lockring but I put some slicks on my spare singlspeed wheelset (no lockring thread) and bunged a fixed sprocket on because that is all I had in the box of bits. It has never moved at all since but then I only really 'resist' to modulate speed rather than full-on braking. I agree that with no lockring a rear brake is a very wise move - lets face it, a rear brake is always a very wise move.AnotherClarkey said:
mchammer89 said:
Anyone who rides fixed with flat pedals is a complete idiot IMO unless it's very low speed stuff or trick riding or something. Also, a lockring is a must (again, IMO) especially if you have no rear brake.
A few years ago I would have agreed about the lockring but I put some slicks on my spare singlspeed wheelset (no lockring thread) and bunged a fixed sprocket on because that is all I had in the box of bits. It has never moved at all since but then I only really 'resist' to modulate speed rather than full-on braking. I agree that with no lockring a rear brake is a very wise move - lets face it, a rear brake is always a very wise move.I remember a time the threads on my lockring stripped and I had to cycle to the bike shop to get a new one, front brake only and no lockring is not a good combo, to make matters worse, some idiot stepped out in front of me, I grabbed the brake as hard as I could and snapped the cable! Brakeless with no lockring, also very bad.
You're right that a rear brake is a sensible thing to do, but in the same way that getting a geared bike is a sensible thing to do. I chose fixed for better training, and braking with your legs really gives them a good workout, if I had a rear brake I would use it without thinking, thus wasting a good leg workout, just as if I rode geared I would change gears without thinking to make my life easier.
All of the above is my own opinion of course and some will disagree. However I don't think anyone will argue that if you're riding fixed on anything on but flat ground at less than 10mph or so, you need some sort of foot retnetion.
Edited by mchammer89 on Monday 15th March 12:19
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