Fixed - starting off

[bigfella]

Well I did my first fixed ride the other day, did 10 miles. Was good fun and seemed to get on ok. The only thing I have a problem with is starting off, for example, at some traffic lights on a geared / SS bike you can "reset" your pedal position.

Whats the nack here? Front brake on, raise rear wheel slightly and reset the crank position?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Whats the nack here? Front brake on, raise rear wheel slightly and reset the crank position?

Yep!
Or, learn to stop in the right position.
Or stop where ypu can lean against a post/railings so no need to unclip.
Or, learn to trackstand!

 

[gaz]

Trackstand!

Either what you said above, or stop at a comfortable position to start off in.

 

[Fab Foodie]

O, forgot... pull a stoppie and re-adjust cranks before landing the rear wheel.
Or, skid stop to the right position.

 

[Hugo15]

I also found after a few weeks I had leant to ride very slowly (still can't trackstand!!) which meant I didn't need to unclip as often.

 

[bigfella]

Thats what I did at the time after looking like a pen15. Just rode slowly up to lights.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thats what I did at the time after looking like a pen15. Just rode slowly up to lights.

What's wrong with that? What's nice about a fixie is that you tend to ride more smoothly and conservatively. Why race to the lights and slam on the brakes (apart from doing stoppies!)?

 

[Tharg2007]

no need for anything fancy, try stopping, unclipping, then lift the rear up by the saddle by hand - reset.

 

[bigfella]

What's wrong with that? What's nice about a fixie is that you tend to ride more smoothly and conservatively. Why race to the lights and slam on the brakes (apart from doing stoppies!)?

No I meant nearly falling off!

 

[Fab Foodie]

No I meant nearly falling off!

Ah well, there is that to get used to!

 

[4F]

Come to a stop and put one foot on the ground. Apply brakes, lean forward unweighting the back wheel and move clipped in foot to desired start position.

 

[GrasB]

Learn to track stand... my technique is slow almost to a stop then bunny hop pulling the 'front foot' into position, grab the back brake before you land & clip out/track stand.

 

[ASC1951]

no need for anything fancy, try stopping, unclipping, then lift the rear up by the saddle by hand - reset.

Yep, that's my technique too. Usually I try to adjust my pace first, though.

 

[Ian H]

Moving the starting pedal round is more difficult with two heavy panniers on the back. I rode two 200k brevets up to the AUK agm in York last week, on a 64" gear.

 

[totallyfixed]

That's the thing about fixed, you soon learn to think ahead much more than on a geared bike, I think you become a better rider for it as you anticipate everything. I always track stand now but it's best to get confident at it as nothing worse than trackstanding at the head of a couple of lines of cars then falling over