Fixies

[Deleted member 1258]

Fixies on a commute? Well for 1 it gives you carte blanche to jump red lights. And 2 it gives you a chance to waggle your arse in the air whilst trying to trackstand when you do stop at that once in a blue moon red light

I don't jump red lights and have never totally mastered the track stand, you wont find me waggling my arse in the air. Why are you quoting stereotypes?

 

[Bicycle]

I don't jump red lights and have never totally mastered the track stand, you wont find me waggling my arse in the air. Why are you quoting stereotypes?

He's from Orpington.

You know what people from Orpington are like.... One stereotype after another...

 

[ianrauk]

I don't jump red lights and have never totally mastered the track stand, you wont find me waggling my arse in the air. Why are you quoting stereotypes?

Oh lighten up..... it was a joke

 

[ianrauk]

He's from Orpington.

You know what people from Orpington are like.... One stereotype after another...

Actually I am not, thank you very much.

 

[lukesdad]

Oh lighten up..... it was a joke

A sense of humour in commuting

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Oh lighten up..... it was a joke

You should have added some smilies and made it obvious.

 

[lukesdad]

You should have added some smilies and made it obvious.

...and no sense of humour in commuting

 

[zigzag]

over the years i commuted on: geared, geared, single speed, fixed, single speed, hub geared, geared, fixed, single speed.. each type of gearing has it's benefits, but i think the reasons for so many fixies/ss bikes on city roads are "fashion", simplicity, low maintenance and fun. i like all my bikes and commute on three of them depending on weather or mood. (i've replaced a fixed cog with a freewheel recently as it better suits my needs)

 

[Trevrev]

I'd like to give a "Fixed" wheel bike a try, but most people i see riding them struggle on the slightest hill.
Apart from one guy i see most days when i'm on my later shift, he just glides along. Looks like he's putting no effort in what so ever. He seems to have mastered the art of the "Fixed" wheel.
As for track standing... Leave it for the track!

 

[PpPete]

I've yet to master the track-stand but fixed is definitely my weapon of choice for urban riding. Trev - how tall are you ? If 6' plus you can come and try mine.

 

[tyred]

I'd like to give a "Fixed" wheel bike a try, but most people i see riding them struggle on the slightest hill.
Apart from one guy i see most days when i'm on my later shift, he just glides along. Looks like he's putting no effort in what so ever. He seems to have mastered the art of the "Fixed" wheel.
As for track standing... Leave it for the track!

They've selected the wrong gear ratio for their terrain.

 

[Trevrev]

I've yet to master the track-stand but fixed is definitely my weapon of choice for urban riding. Trev - how tall are you ? If 6' plus you can come and try mine.

Thanks for the kind offer Pete, but being a mere 5' 6", i think i have no chance on your bike........LOL...
It's a shame really as you are so close to where i work.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'd like to give a "Fixed" wheel bike a try, but most people i see riding them struggle on the slightest hill.
Apart from one guy i see most days when i'm on my later shift, he just glides along. Looks like he's putting no effort in what so ever. He seems to have mastered the art of the "Fixed" wheel.
As for track standing... Leave it for the track!

If n+1 strikes just buy an off-the-shelf cheap fixed, unless you are confident you can build one yourself and meet the challenges this sometimes involves. At the end of the season the usual suspects sell them off by the shedload at knock down prices. I got my Charge Plug half price. If the bug bites you can then build or convert one. I'd never have a fixed as my only bike, and would quite like a 3 speed fixed as I get even older, but they are HUGE fun to ride.

Be prepared to tinker with the gearing, and expect to change the gearing as you get stronger and more used to it. I take mine on club runs, once you get used to the flywheel effect and realise you have to engage your core and upper body to climb hills, there are few things more satisfying than overtaking your fellows on their multi-geared lovelies; as they shift down you just shift.

Track standing is an excellent basic skill to master even if you don't do it at the traffic lights. The ability to track stand just for one or two seconds can be incredibly useful in traffic even on a freewheeling or geared bike.

 

[goo_mason]

The only things that's prevented me from trying a commute on mine is the thought of trying to fix a rear puncture if I got one. I've not had the wheel off since I put it on, and it was a bit of a trial with spanners and 'walking' the wheel back into the drop-outs (mine isn't a fixie-specific frame, it's a steel 70s Puch racer). I don't fancy that sort of faff in the cold, dark & wet somewhere - at least not without a good go at repeatedly doing it at home first until I had got the knack!

 

[fossyant]

The only things that's prevented me from trying a commute on mine is the thought of trying to fix a rear puncture if I got one. I've not had the wheel off since I put it on, and it was a bit of a trial with spanners and 'walking' the wheel back into the drop-outs (mine isn't a fixie-specific frame, it's a steel 70s Puch racer). I don't fancy that sort of faff in the cold, dark & wet somewhere - at least not without a good go at repeatedly doing it at home first until I had got the knack!

Adds say 5 minutes to a tube replacement. Only had one whilst on the roads.

Fixed is certainly my choice for a commute. It's also my crappy weather bike too ! Oh, and a 'cheap knock up' it wasn't