Twenty Inch said:
Ever flown on a plane bonj? Next time you do, have a look at the landing gear.
If it's good enough for a Boeing 747....
I wouldn't fly on a plane that only had one wing.
mickle said:
Fixed is more efficient Bonj, your mistake is in thinking of the transmission in isolation. Certainly the absence of jockey wheels reduces tranny drag by a tiny factor but fixed is no different to single freewheel in this respect. The real efficiency benefit of a fixed transmission comes from the fact that the pedals are mechanically linked to the total mass of bike and rider. Instead of having to pedal through top dead centre of the pedal stroke the momentum of your body weight drives your pedals (and your legs) over. This is more biomechanically efficient as your legs only drive through the power stroke, which is what they do best.
That sounds like an attempt at confusion.
Your legs only have to drive through the power stroke, yes, but it is only during this phase of the pedalling where there is anything other than minimal resistance to the pedalling.
mickle said:
Once you are up to speed on a fixed wheel you settle in to cruising speed, its like 'freewheeling' but on a fixed this means riding along without exerting any pressure on the pedals. Your legs are still spinning but your muscles are not consuming much fuel or oxygen. Its like keeping your car in gear on a downhill rather than relying on the brakes. Tiny changes in the amount of effort going into the pedals control your speed. You can ride along using very little energy but because your legs are still turning your cardiovascular system doesn't slow down as it does when you freewheel.
you're still using energy. In fact, probably at least 95% of the energy as you would be if you were riding a freewheeled bike. The energy required to get the pedal back up to the top is negligible, but it's the notion that it isn't which is what your fallacy that it's somehow like a kind of perpetual motion machine relies on.
mickle said:
Fixed wheel riding is the finest cardiovascular activity you can do
By what definition do you define 'finest'? It doesnt' use any upper body muscles for a start, like say swimming.
mickle said:
I'm coming to the conclusion that you are a just a wuss and you're just too much of a scaredy puss to ride fixed. If you were genuinely interested in dispelling some of the untruths and lies you claim people are writing you would at least give it ago. But no. Cluck, cluck, cluck.
Until you're brave enough to actually try it why dont you shut the fcuk up.
'Bravery' and 'scaredness' has nothing to do with it. If I decided I wanted to try it it would just be a matter of getting used to it, and the fixie brigade are very keen to say how fast you get used to it. It just wouldn't suit the type of terrain I ride on. i.e. up and down hills. If I lived somewhere that's as flat as a pancake like say, york, or even where I'm staying now, near lincolnshire, then i'd possibly consider it. But for my commute it would be absolutely ridiculous. Trust me on this.
mickle said:
Pontificating on a subject about which you have zero experience isn't big or clever.
Maybe not, but I
am right.
I don't need to try it to know what it would be like.