Competitive commuters

[BentMikey]

I've seen blokes on the FNRTTC on fixed that were plain scary

What's scary about them, they take naps in bus shelters?

 

[Origamist]

Said like true fixie rider... from what I can tell long shallowish inclines are our forte. I'm on a 45/13 gear with 650x23c tyres (85.2") so the geared boys can't play the down hill card either considering I can hit 165ppm

When I was a TT training we'd push 52/14, which is just shy of 100 GI. Now I prefer 44/17,16 or 15 on 700c.

 

[Tynan]

What's scary about them, they take naps in bus shelters?

riding like they had all the gears, smooth and easy, including up Ditchling

 

[hackbike 666]

Good god...I wish I was that fit.

 

[Tynan]

indeed, still, that's fixie rules init, a serene cool visage while your lungs and legs are about to explode

 

[hackbike 666]

Im going to get one.....depending on whether I go on holiday next month....but I have quite a bit saved up so it should be possible soon.It's been ages since I rode a fixie and I have my eye on one in Evans.

Be great for the really early turns and I will try the Greentyre on that as well.

 

[Tynan]

I like the idea but i do use the gears plenty

And fixies are common as muck on my route, too many ridden by part timers too

 

[hackbike 666]

I like the idea but i do use the gears plenty

And fixies are common as muck on my route, too many ridden by part timers too

True.I'd use it for just the earliest turns methinx.

I do remember asking the bloke in Martins Mart I think it was about a fixed wheel and he told me they were only for old men.Still it was in the late 70's.

 

[MacB]

When I was a TT training we'd push 52/14, which is just shy of 100 GI. Now I prefer 44/17,16 or 15 on 700c.

Light training then? I use a 60/11 so that I don't spin out going up hill

 

[Keith Oates]

Did you mean 11/60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GrasB]

When I was a TT training we'd push 52/14, which is just shy of 100 GI. Now I prefer 44/17,16 or 15 on 700c.

Would you run 52/14 day in, day out though? That gearing on the fixie is what i run every day.

 

[BentMikey]

That makes me laugh with my 69". Still got to 38 downhill mind.

 

[Origamist]

Would you run 52/14 day in, day out though? That gearing on the fixie is what i run every day.

Hell no. For commuting it's mostly 44/16, (72GI), sometimes 44/15 (77GI) and for longer rides it's 44/17 (68GI).

I'd never run your gear in London, GrasB as it compromises acceleration too much.

 

[fossyant]

never seen a fixie yet (on the commute that is) that I couldn't pass, they peak at about 20mph in my experience, granted they're mostly fashionistas

Cruise speed is 21-23 on 74" - going about 110 RPM at 23mph is where the power/leg speed get's me without wind assistance or gravity - i.e struggle to maintain any more speed at that RPM. Can't drop a gear and put in more power so that's where geared road bikes pull away.

Wind assisted 25mph is OK. - downhill I can do about 32 at 160 rph, then my leg bearings start falling out.....

 

[Origamist]

A lot of people seem interested in their maximum cadence downhill - a better test of ability is trying to maintain a high cadence (115rpm say) on a medium gear over a significant distance (10 or 25 miles). I could never do a sub 25min 10 on 72", but could manage it "fine" on 90" +