Going Single Speed

[Rob3rt]

I can understand the reason why Penny Farthings were fixed -they didn't have freewheel technology in those days- but I can't understand what the advantages of fixed wheels are these days. I tried it, but after being launched off the saddle a couple of times I decided that having to concentrate on keeping my legs pedalling constantly was taking my attention away from what was happening on the road, so I gave it up.

I dont see why riding fixed would require any more attention than riding any other bike other than a brief learning period not unlike that with clipless pedals, once you give it enough time (much less time than you spent learning to ride a bike in the 1st place) then it should come naturally.

Also I found that the ability to control speed using my pedalling rate was beneficial to the attention I paid to the road, rather than hurtling up toward lights then slamming on the brakes I tend to keep my attention further up ahead than I would riding geared and then adjusting my speed gradually only using the brakes when neccessary. This seems to help with to spotting other hazards and giving more time to react too.

Each to their own, if people dont like riding fixed, thats fair enough, no point riding a bike that you dont enjoy, what other people ride makes no difference to me.

 

[musa]

Fixed is good when you really wanna have full control. Good exercise nd workout I ride both fixed nd ss depends.

It's not for everyone that's for sure

 

[smokeysmoo]

Just ridden my Langster SS for the first time on todays commute and I was generally impressed. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy riding fixed, and to be honest I prefer the 48:18 fixed ratio to the 48:17 SS ratio, (what a difference on tooth makes!), but it's simple enough to swop the freewheel to 18T.

The only problem I had was a strange rattle that appeared on my way home, then I realised the lock nut on the fixed cog had undone itself and was jingling around, D'oh! So I'm off to my shed now to sort that out

 

[JDP]

I dont see why riding fixed would require any more attention than riding any other bike other than a brief learning period not unlike that with clipless pedals, once you give it enough time (much less time than you spent learning to ride a bike in the 1st place) then it should come naturally.

Also I found that the ability to control speed using my pedalling rate was beneficial to the attention I paid to the road, rather than hurtling up toward lights then slamming on the brakes I tend to keep my attention further up ahead than I would riding geared and then adjusting my speed gradually only using the brakes when neccessary. This seems to help with to spotting other hazards and giving more time to react too.

Only been riding fixed for a few months but +1 to this.

I also find that if I switch back to SS after a few days fixed I tend not to freewheel much and just keep pedalling anyway.