First Fixie

[Glow worm]

I've got 24 gears on my main bike, and sometimes that's not enough. And I live on the Fens. Think I'll give the fixie thing a miss!

 

[Maylian]

My brother has 4 fixies, can't say there my cup of tea but the one he picked up this weekend is stunning. Matt black full carbon, nicest example of a fixie I've seen in Southampton, might even have a sneaky go on it whilst I've "leant" him one of my bike locks....

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I came back to riding fixed about four and a half years ago, since then I've not seen more than 3 or 4 around Coventry, they are not common round here either.

I imagine it is harder work, alot harder than a geared bike because you cannot change when it gets a bit to hard.

They are great fun, I do more fixed miles than geared miles, I commute on fixed and do winter club rides on it, I don't find mine any harder to ride than my geared bike.

 

[musa]

Don't underestimate fixed/ss I did better on it than my geared bikes now next bike shall return to fixed/ss

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A fixed gear is a harsh mistress

 

[Deleted member 1258]

A fixed gear is a harsh mistress

You'll have to explain that one to me.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I was passed (in some style) on a long climb on the Malverns some months ago by a group of 5 or so thirty-something mates out for a blast on their carbo-fantastic, very-this-year, just-like-Cadel, top-spec road burners.

Every one in a helmet that matched or complemented his team kit. Glasses like Lance, colour-coordinated bidons.. the lot.

When I'd gasped up to my resting point at the summit, they were all having a chat and (I think) comparing wheels. I'm not sure quite why...

Anyway, I got off my bike and sort of folded in a retching sweatpool of difficult breathing. They were nice guys (despite the superfluity of carbon) and one of them said:

"Steel and single-speed up there... Respect". (Very SW2 circa '89)

I just about managed to gasp "Not... single... speed... Fixed".

It was funny. There was this hushed awe and they went quietly back to discussing spokes or bottle cages or energy gel...

In truth, a fixed goes better up bastard climbs than S/S, but I did enjoy the ten seconds of silent awe.

Fixed is fun and fixed is harmless and sometimes fixed means you can get away with climbing like a fat, middle-aged loser.... despite the fact that you are one.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You'll have to explain that one to me.

They say a picture paints a thousand words....

a moment's lapse in concentration, a nice rough road surface, and despite one hell of a lot of commuting on fixed, you can get a cheap nose job on the NHS.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Don't really tend to forget now,but I know what Greg means.

 

[Keith Oates]

Many years ago I had a ride on a mate's fixie and did the "trip over the handlebars". Since then I've never ridden another one but seeing all the comments on here I was thinking about giving it a try. Thanks Greg, the thoughts are now safely stowed at the very back of my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

They say a picture paints a thousand words....

a moment's lapse in concentration, a nice rough road surface, and despite one hell of a lot of commuting on fixed, you can get a cheap nose job on the NHS.

Ouch, how long ago did that happen? heal quick. Going over the handlebars, I presume that's what happened, could just as easily happen on a geared bike as a fixed, what did you?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Don't really tend to forget now,but I know what Greg means.

It wasn't that I forgot I was riding fixed, but if, at some speed, you inadvertently get disconnected from your pedal(s) it can go pear shaped faster than you can control.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Ouch, how long ago did that happen? heal quick. Going over the handlebars, I presume that's what happened, could just as easily happen on a geared bike as a fixed, what did you?

Middle of last month. 99% fine now. Must be, I'm going touring for a few days in Scotland from this evening. The bits that really, really, hurt aren't in the picture, hip, knees, elbows.

I feel, for all sorts of reasons, the particular circumstances of this off wouldn't have happened on a bike with a freewheel. Fixed is less forgiving of mistake by the pilot, I think.

Many years ago I had a ride on a mate's fixie and did the "trip over the handlebars". Since then I've never ridden another one but seeing all the comments on here I was thinking about giving it a try. Thanks Greg, the thoughts are now safely stowed at the very back of my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't let it put you off. I've ridden my fixed since. The bike wasn't at fault, the rider was.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

It wasn't that I forgot I was riding fixed, but if, at some speed, you inadvertently get disconnected from your pedal(s) it can go pear shaped faster than you can control.

That can happen on gears as well, I can remember one of the lads on a club ride a few years ago doing that, became unclipped on the upstroke, hit his knee on the handlebars and went down as those of use behind him scattered and managed to avoid him, Fortunately he got of with lumps and bumps.

 

[BentMikey]

No that's a good example of a "fixie" bike as ridden by idiotic hipsters. It however isn't a good example of a proper fixed gear bike as ridden by serious cyclists such as fossy & my self.

This one is plenty proper enough for me.