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T

Theseus

.
Location
Edinburgh
Due to a mechanical I am now doing my commute on my hub geared and brake utility hybrid as opposed to my light and direct fixed gear.

One thing that has struck me is that on the fixed, I would be putting my effort into going as fast as I could for as long as I could. Other commuters are a target to catch up with. Not because I want to scalp them, just because they are a mark to aim for.

However on the hybrid it is a a completely different approach. I know it is a slow and heavy bike and so the target is to keep going at as steadily as possible. If this means that I drop a few gears on a climb or just let it roll down the hill, so be it. If someone passes me, fine, good on them.

I am not saying that one approach is better than the other, just that my approach to riding has changed to fit in with the bike I am on.
 
Tynan

Tynan

Veteran
Location
e4
yeah yeah
 
chap

chap

Veteran
Location
London, GB
Touche said:
Due to a mechanical I am now doing my commute on my hub geared and brake utility hybrid as opposed to my light and direct fixed gear.

One thing that has struck me is that on the fixed, I would be putting my effort into going as fast as I could for as long as I could. Other commuters are a target to catch up with. Not because I want to scalp them, just because they are a mark to aim for.

However on the hybrid it is a a completely different approach. I know it is a slow and heavy bike and so the target is to keep going at as steadily as possible. If this means that I drop a few gears on a climb or just let it roll down the hill, so be it. If someone passes me, fine, good on them.

I am not saying that one approach is better than the other, just that my approach to riding has changed to fit in with the bike I am on.
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I prefer a more laid back approach, if I want to race I'll wait for the BWC or join a club. Although, depending on the model (and the Brompton is certainly good for this) there is comfort in knowing that should the need occur, you can keep at the tip of the wind.
 
OP
OP
T

Theseus

.
Location
Edinburgh
hackbike 666 said:
Due to a mechanical what?

My commute bikes are not designed for speed but rather to get me there consistently without faffing about.
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"mechanical" as in mechanical failure. Usually I have no faffing about with the fixed gear, but sometimes things can and do go wrong. A brief summery of the failure is in this thread.
 
H

hackbike 666

Guest
Touche said:
"mechanical" as in mechanical failure. Usually I have no faffing about with the fixed gear, but sometimes things can and do go wrong. A brief summery of the failure is in this thread.
Click to expand...

I remember once I believe I sheared the rear sprocket.
 
chap

chap

Veteran
Location
London, GB
summerdays said:
What about getting a dutch style bike next ... just imagine how laid back you might become:evil::biggrin:
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Those things make one feel as if they are gliding across the city. Here's a depressing fact for you, the Dutch up until relatively recently used to call them 'English bikes'.
 
summerdays

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
chap said:
Those things make one feel as if they are gliding across the city. Here's a depressing fact for you, the Dutch up until relatively recently used to call them 'English bikes'.
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That's not depressing if you look at it the right way :laugh:... they are saying the English are genteel ... now we just have to learn to look like them when on the bike.
 
chap

chap

Veteran
Location
London, GB
summerdays said:
That's not depressing if you look at it the right way :laugh:... they are saying the English are genteel ... now we just have to learn to look like them when on the bike.
Click to expand...

True, you know what they say about the glass being half empty or half full :biggrin:
 
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