Time trialling on a fixed

[Firestorm]

Ah . North London. My parents were in East London clubs . The Penguin and the Buccanneers

 

[jazzkat]

Not wanting to deliberately raise the dead but I thought I'd let you know how I fared.
At the end of last season my last geared ride was a PB of 25:35 on a lumpy course.
I had a go on my fixed last night (2nd ride of the season) running 90 inches and got a new PB of 25:25 on a slightly windy night. So I was quicker!

 

[Old Plodder]

Not having to think about gear changes leaves you to concerntrate 100% on your ride, congrats on a new PB.

 

[MikeG]

Some guy just broke our Club record for a "sporting" (ie hilly) 20 miler on a fixie.......by miles. It's called taking the mickey.

 

[Profpointy]

Do not stop pedalling as you cross the line. I did and remember thinking whilst 6 foot off of the ground in a horizontal position that the landing was going to hurt.

I only just avoided falling off doing that the day I bought my fixie - I must have gone at least several hundred yards from the shop before "easing off" before traffic lights - never done it since

 

[screenman]

Not having to think about gear changes leaves you to concerntrate 100% on your ride, congrats on a new PB.

Never though about gear changes, after a while you just do it naturally.

 

[fossyant]

My old club mate used to do it loads on the Cheshire Courses. Lumpy as well, but having commuted on fixed for 5 years, yes it can and does work.

 

[screenman]

I organised a forum ride near Oswestry, a couple of years ago; one of those who attended, was 'Mick the Quick'. Mick won the National 50 TT in 1956, he came 2nd in 1957. In 1958, he won the National 25 & the 50TTs. He was the first person to win both events in the same year.

In the same year, he came 12th in the National 100; he suffered a double wheel breakage and did the last 20 miles on a marshal's bike. In 1959, he won the National 50 TT again . . . I believe that he was the last person, to win a National TT on fixed.

Mick certainly can still turn a wheel; on the forum ride, he had no problems keeping up with all the other riders - I'm hoping to get him out on another forum ride this year.

I've enormous respect for guys of that era; Mick tells me, that he'd frequently cycle up to 30 miles, just to get to a convenient spot, to hitch a ride from a lorry. He said that at events, some riders would provide other riders with accommodation; but if there was no accommodation to be had, he'd sleep in a barn, or even under a hedge. They certainly were tough, in those days !

Spookey, I was in the Royal Hill Pub near Melverley a few days ago and someone there was talking about this guy Mick.