Going to give it a go tomorrow
- Thread starter 3narf
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
wheres_my_beard
Über Member
- Location
- Norwich
You'll love it!
Good luck
Keep saying to yourself "DON'T STOP PEDALLING" out loud (You'll be amazed and how your natural habits to freewheel will kick in at key times when you least want them to, i.e. once you reach cruising speed, turning, stopping, mounting kerbs (especially challenging when your feet are out of usual alignment for this - i have pinch punctured a couple of inner tubes when I have screwed this up), in fact most situations when you are not accelarating really.)
I think I use a little more energy getting about riding fixed but I get places quicker and arrive much happier.
My knees took a while to get used to fixed gear riding, especially getting used to using them to assist slowing (not so much the constant pedalling), as this kind of strain was completely alien to me. A way to avoid this is probably to just use a back brake tho.
Good luck
Keep saying to yourself "DON'T STOP PEDALLING" out loud (You'll be amazed and how your natural habits to freewheel will kick in at key times when you least want them to, i.e. once you reach cruising speed, turning, stopping, mounting kerbs (especially challenging when your feet are out of usual alignment for this - i have pinch punctured a couple of inner tubes when I have screwed this up), in fact most situations when you are not accelarating really.)
I think I use a little more energy getting about riding fixed but I get places quicker and arrive much happier.
My knees took a while to get used to fixed gear riding, especially getting used to using them to assist slowing (not so much the constant pedalling), as this kind of strain was completely alien to me. A way to avoid this is probably to just use a back brake tho.
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
Bets on you keeping it fixed !
wheres_my_beard
Über Member
- Location
- Norwich
Good luck, I reckon you'll keep it fixed too.
Just watch for the bits where you always freewheel. Even after few weeks there's one spot where I drop under an underpass and roll up to a roundabout it takes a lot of will not to try and coast - other than that it's a doddle after the first couple of goes
Just watch for the bits where you always freewheel. Even after few weeks there's one spot where I drop under an underpass and roll up to a roundabout it takes a lot of will not to try and coast - other than that it's a doddle after the first couple of goes
zigzag
Veteran
i've tried commuting on fixed for about a week four years ago. then swapped to freewheel for couple of reasons - couldn't squeeze between the stationery traffic and the curbs without pedal hitting the curb; couldn't be flexible about shoes, and carrying spare pair wasn't an attractive idea. now i use geared bike mainly because it has superior disc brakes. i still have a frame and bits for fixed bike - maybe i will resurect it, good fun!
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
If you can't filter without your pedal hitting the kurb then you are filtering when you shouldn't be. Filter on the right!
OK, I did it!
It was hard, I suppose partly because the fixed gear is 77" instead of the freewheel's 73".
I had a 'moment' early on when I tried to stop pedalling to adjust my position on the saddle. Didn't help that I was wearing my cheapiest Decathlon shorts, but I realised just how much I usually move around on the saddle. I stopped at about halfway on a quiet bit, mainly to practice stopping, and again at a light and that was it.
I didn't really find it a problem having to pedal constantly; I suppose I must be pedalling most of the time anyway.
I didn't like not being able to sprint without it coming back to bite me, also having to cover the brakes (ie ride with my hands in a different position) on the downhill bits. I think the pace was a lot steadier and more even; it took me about an extra 5 minutes on the 17.5 mile ride.
I HAVE flipped back to freewheel; my ride home is totally different to the ride here, and the traffic frightens me at the best of times.
Not sure what advantage the fixed gear is supposed to give me, but I will be giving it another go on Saturday morning.
It was hard, I suppose partly because the fixed gear is 77" instead of the freewheel's 73".
I had a 'moment' early on when I tried to stop pedalling to adjust my position on the saddle. Didn't help that I was wearing my cheapiest Decathlon shorts, but I realised just how much I usually move around on the saddle. I stopped at about halfway on a quiet bit, mainly to practice stopping, and again at a light and that was it.
I didn't really find it a problem having to pedal constantly; I suppose I must be pedalling most of the time anyway.
I didn't like not being able to sprint without it coming back to bite me, also having to cover the brakes (ie ride with my hands in a different position) on the downhill bits. I think the pace was a lot steadier and more even; it took me about an extra 5 minutes on the 17.5 mile ride.
I HAVE flipped back to freewheel; my ride home is totally different to the ride here, and the traffic frightens me at the best of times.
Not sure what advantage the fixed gear is supposed to give me, but I will be giving it another go on Saturday morning.
wheres_my_beard
Über Member
- Location
- Norwich
WAY TO GO!!
I'm still getting the hang of sprinting then getting in the seat as my legs whizz round.
Personally it's the challenge of fixed that I love. You can't doze off like so many cyclists do (from experience).
You need to switched on and tuned in, or you'll fall off. My road awareness is waaaay more on the ball than it ever has been, and I think I have become more ballsy in traffic too ( i have always enjoyed cycling in heavy traffic).
Keep trying it and it will suddenly click, and you'll really enjoy it.
Saying that I don't do huge distances, but for city use, you can't beat the connectedness you get from ridding fixed, especially with clippless pedals.
Are you riding 46t front and 16 back?
I'm still getting the hang of sprinting then getting in the seat as my legs whizz round.
Personally it's the challenge of fixed that I love. You can't doze off like so many cyclists do (from experience).
You need to switched on and tuned in, or you'll fall off. My road awareness is waaaay more on the ball than it ever has been, and I think I have become more ballsy in traffic too ( i have always enjoyed cycling in heavy traffic).
Keep trying it and it will suddenly click, and you'll really enjoy it.
Saying that I don't do huge distances, but for city use, you can't beat the connectedness you get from ridding fixed, especially with clippless pedals.
Are you riding 46t front and 16 back?
zigzag
Veteran
i have few narrow stretches on my commute with stationary traffic (near bank, moorgate, on tooley street, jamaica road), where filtering on the inside is safer due to cars/buses coming the opposite way and leaving very little space. i have to go through 27 traffic lights in less than 5miles..
Why so high ?
That's going to make starting and accelerating harder isn't it?
I run 48x18 (~70) and sometimes feel that maybe a little high, but mostly it seems fine for accelerating into gaps in traffic and getting away from lights.
Spinning is good, over the 3500miles so far this year my average speed on the fixed is ~17mph.
--
Dan
wheres_my_beard
Über Member
- Location
- Norwich
I'm on 42/16 (70"), which the bike came with. It's great for accelerating, and for braking/slowing, but is a bit spinny down hill. I like the responsiveness in traffic but miss the higher speeds (my usual max is around 23mph before feeling like I'm going to bounce myself off the bike) of previous bikes - I converted my Carrera Subway to single speed with 48/14 (90"), which was great for speed but the QR couldn't hold the rear wheel straight so the tyre kept rubbing on the frame after a hard ride.
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
Another one on the dark side me thinks 
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Just ride it!
Dont over-complicate it, riding fixed is no different to riding geared once you have made the initial adjustment, bollocks to it requiring extra attention, as far as I'm concerned that is just romanticising. Also, if riding fixed makes you more likely to fall off, then there is something fundamentally wrong with the cyclist.
Dont over-complicate it, riding fixed is no different to riding geared once you have made the initial adjustment, bollocks to it requiring extra attention, as far as I'm concerned that is just romanticising. Also, if riding fixed makes you more likely to fall off, then there is something fundamentally wrong with the cyclist.
