fixed gear easier than single speed (momentum)?

[mustang1]

When riding a fixed gear, you have the momentum of the wheel assisting in forward movement. Assuming that is correct, does that mean rmaintaining speed on fixed gear is easier than freewheeling on single speed?

Same question for going uphill.

And if you want to make any comments about a spesh langster alternative, please do so. I'm vaguely interested in buying an ssfg and may plump for a 2015 langster (bull horns model).

 

[ColinJ]

Go to Thread Tools (above, right) and there you should find an Edit Thread Title option.

 

[andyfraser]

It seems logical that the wheel turning would help when riding fixed. I honestly don't know whether it does or not. I haven't noticed maintaining speed being easier. I have noticed that going up hill is easier than I thought it would be and acceleration is fast if I put in a kick.

I've been ridding this with bullhorns since March and I'm very happy with it.

 

[Citius]

When riding a fixed gear, you have the momentum of the wheel assisting in forward movement. Assuming that is correct, does that mean rmaintaining speed on fixed gear is easier than freewheeling on single speed?

Same question for going uphill.

The question doesn't really make sense. If you freewheel, you begin to slow down. If you stop applying power to the pedals on a fixed, you still slow down. There is no particular benefit to riding fixed up a hill, apart from a minor weight advantage. You still have to pedal it.

 

[Milkfloat]

In theory on the fixed you would slow down faster as you have the resistance of your legs that are doing little work to overcome.

 

[Ian H]

I've ridden fixed on and off for 30 odd years. One thing it does is 'encourages' you to pedal more. On gears I freewheel far less than many cyclists. If you use a sensibly low gear it helps develop souplesse. However I find that swapping back to gears I sometimes get, out of the saddle, a lag over top-dead-centre where I've got used to the fixed carrying my legs round. That presumably means I'm slightly less efficient uphill on fixed (though there are many variables).

 

[Dan B]

But singlespeed is boring.

 

[Sharky]

Assuming the same (lowish) ratios, I find very little difference between the two. There is certainly a different sensation with fixed and can make you feel more in control, but I terms of easiness, very little difference on the flat or climbing. But on a long ride, a fixed gives you very little scope to ease your position and comfort on the saddle, so I now favour SS. And when descending, the necessity to limit cadence on fixed sometimes, by braking or back peddling, reduces your speed, so again I now believe that SS produces overall higher average speeds than fixed.

Moving to higher ratios where top end cadence isn't a limiting factor as in time trials, I would stick with the pure fixed.

Re boring, wasn't bored hitting 44mph on a fixed once!

Cheers Keith

 

[MrFixed]

Seems more efficient for uphill depending on the gradient because it's mechanically simpler, there's no loss of power to the back wheel, but all depends on gearing I suppose.

 

[robgul]

Fixed seems to be easier to ride with the "momentum" aspect ..... again as suggested it depends on the ratio. I've just acquired an SA 3 speed fixed wheel but have yet to try it out ... should be fun.

And fixed gear : The single gear with an absolutely basic drive-train gives minimal friction. With a reasonably low weight bike on 23mm tyres the responsiveness is fantastic. You kick down, you shoot forward. The lack of a free-wheel gives an amazing intimacy with the road. The lack of gears is not much of a problem - it's more a state of mind. Going up a hill you just step on it, going down you just pedal like mad. And ... you are never in the wrong gear! :

Rob

 

[4F]

See how "easier" it is down a really steep hill