Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.jasonyates
09-15-05, 10:59 PM
Haha, I've been riding nothing but fixed gear around town for the last couple years, and I realized I have become very accustomed to it. Reading a comment in another thread about whether or not having a brake was safer got me thinking about it, and I think it is your comfort level and riding style on the bike that keep you safe more than anything.
The reason I know this is because I recently built up a singlespeed freewheel to cruise around on and I am all over the place on that thing. My hands aren't used to having to squeeze the brakes, so stopping is very uninstinctive at this point. Coasting feels so foreign that every time I slacken my legs and they just stop I experience a moment of horror until I remember what is happening. Also, I never realized it before, but I counted on the pressure in the pedals to be able to shift my weight while manuevering. Going into a right turn lets say, as the right pedal comes up you put a little pressure on it and that puts you into your lean while also allowing you to control your speed through the turn. I don't have that same feeling of control on the freewheel, but more the opposite as my legs just hang their disconnected.
That is what I miss the most riding this freewheel. I didn't even know I was doing it, it was basicly just a reflex that my body learned from riding, but on the fixed gear I would constantly be recieving feedback through the pedals and making adjustments. Now I can't do that. It's basicly a comfort thing -- if I only rode this bike around for a while I'm sure I would do fine with it. I think you develop a big connection with a fixed gear though. Instead of just being the accelerator your legs really become the control center for the bike. I don't know what my point is, other than that I just sold my track bike and now I think I need another!
The reason I know this is because I recently built up a singlespeed freewheel to cruise around on and I am all over the place on that thing. My hands aren't used to having to squeeze the brakes, so stopping is very uninstinctive at this point. Coasting feels so foreign that every time I slacken my legs and they just stop I experience a moment of horror until I remember what is happening. Also, I never realized it before, but I counted on the pressure in the pedals to be able to shift my weight while manuevering. Going into a right turn lets say, as the right pedal comes up you put a little pressure on it and that puts you into your lean while also allowing you to control your speed through the turn. I don't have that same feeling of control on the freewheel, but more the opposite as my legs just hang their disconnected.
That is what I miss the most riding this freewheel. I didn't even know I was doing it, it was basicly just a reflex that my body learned from riding, but on the fixed gear I would constantly be recieving feedback through the pedals and making adjustments. Now I can't do that. It's basicly a comfort thing -- if I only rode this bike around for a while I'm sure I would do fine with it. I think you develop a big connection with a fixed gear though. Instead of just being the accelerator your legs really become the control center for the bike. I don't know what my point is, other than that I just sold my track bike and now I think I need another!