Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Jobst Brandt a bit of an arrogant (non-)know-it all

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.misc/browse_thread/thread/e980463fd73d4d47/820b437929b86281?lnk=st&q=fixed+gear&rnum=2#820b437929b86281

*yawn*

Please share your wealth of knowledge...........

Jobst Brandt has a terrible name. He should change it to Rex Painford or Clayton Hateface to gain credibility.

Please share your wealth of knowledge...........

fixed gear riding IS good for fitness

ditto to everything sheldon and others posted after him...

and although no one mentioned it in the google thread, my hamstrings get way more strengthening than they ever could possibly on a freewheel bike

']Jobst Brandt has a terrible name. He should change it to Rex Painford or Clayton Hateface to gain credibility.

:roflmao:

That is a rather dusty old nugget.

I wonder if he still feels that way.

I agree that he is a bit of an arrogant know-it-all... my fave is his scientific analysis of resonant frequency in frames that causes high speed shimmy. Pure comic gold.

If Jobst Brandt is a "(non-)know-it-all", then I'd love to hear what your other sources of information are... opinions are like a$$holes, and just because he doesn't agree with you (or Sheldon) on this point doesn't make him a valuable resource. Don Walker (another great resource) says he doesn't think GT track bikes are worth $300. What slander is he deserving of?

The dude is a mechanical engineer, and has 30+ years racing and working with bicycles. I'm going to hazard a guess he knows a bit more about bikes than the average BF member.

I'm going to hazard a guess he knows a bit more about bikes than the average BF member.
You have obviously never witnessed the miracle that is MERTON.

I didn't see what was wrong with what he said. There isn't anything specifically harder about riding a fixed gear unless you just don't have self control to stay in one gear. And also heart rate monitors are the only way to go to really really train aerobically and otherwise go to the gym!

']You have obviously never witnessed the miracle that is MERTON.

Ahh yes MERTON. Has he actually ridden a bike yet? Or is he still talking about someday, when they let him.

I have talked to him a couple of times, arrogant is a good word.

I have talked to him a couple of times, arrogant is a good word.
MERTON or Jobst? :p

Jobst. Talking to Merton is like walking after getting off the Tilt-A-Whirl

Fixed gear riding IS a fetish. Does anyone here seriously deny that? I always had the sense that many fixed riders insist on fetishizing the fixed gear bike above any other form.

Is there any credible evidence that fixed gear riding holds any health related advantages over riding a conventional bike? Does it matter? If you need that kind of justification to ride fixed, that's your issue, not his.

Brandt is arrogant, but he's right on this topic, as he seems to be on most.

This was the only jewel i could find from that link:


"Some people used to claim that, if enough monkeys sat in front of enough
typewriters and typed long enough, eventually one of them would reproduce
the collected works of Shakespeare. The internet has proven this not to
be the case."

has no one addressed the issue that fixed gear riding does way more for your hamstrings than freewheeling?

has no one addressed the issue that fixed gear riding does way more for your hamstrings than freewheeling?
Stretching my hamstrings does a lot more for them than a freewheel or fixed gear bicycle does.

your statement comes from the fact that a fixed gear "may" improve your spinning. Someone on a freewheel can benefit their hamstrings just as much as on a fixie, it just depends on your stroke; or if you really know how to pedal a bike.

Next time you get on your fixed gear, make a consious effort to purely ride by pulling rather then pushing. (where it is applicable of course, push when you go down, which is a bit more then a quarter of a full stroke and pull the remaining stroke) Only then will you have really used your hamstrings.

Stretching my hamstrings does a lot more for them than a freewheel or fixed gear bicycle does.

So does doing leg curls, unilateral squats and single leg presses at the gym.

I don't know the man, but there was nothing inaccurate in what he wrote in the above link.

your statement comes from the fact that a fixed gear "may" improve your spinning. Someone on a freewheel can benefit their hamstrings just as much as on a fixie, it just depends on your stroke; or if you really know how to pedal a bike.

Next time you get on your fixed gear, make a consious effort to purely ride by pulling rather then pushing. (where it is applicable of course, push when you go down, which is a bit more then a quarter of a full stroke and pull the remaining stroke) Only then will you have really used your hamstrings.

nah...I'm actually referring more to backpedaling

I don't know the man, but there was nothing inaccurate in what he wrote in the above link.
I agree.

I think endform hit the nail on the head. Fixed gears are less versitile training devices than geared bikes for a number of reasons, but offer other advantages that geared bikes don't.

I also don't lift weights.

Jobst Brandt has been around a long time.

I have his excellent book, "The Bicycle Wheel", I have applied his advice, and in the very few cases where I looked carefully into the statements he made, he has always been correct in technical matters.

The guy is strongly opinionated, but he does support his opinions with at least reasonable arguments. I don't particularly agree with his statements on fixed gear riding, but training often crosses into the realm of the subjective-- there is no universally right answer and everyone is different.

He also doesn't like eyeglass mirrors, so what?

Jobst flunked out of charm school. Like so many engineers, Jobst is convinced that the rest of the world is incapable of rational thought and, while he is usually correct about mechanical engineering, he can be a bit of a boor.

backpedaling, hamstrings, backpedaling, hamstrings...no one has yet responded to this

backpedaling, hamstrings, backpedaling, hamstrings...no one has yet responded to this


Maybe...until they fail. Then not so much.

Maybe...until they fail. Then not so much.

maybe backpedaling works your hamstrings until they fail? I'm having a hard time understanding what you're saying

When I'm backpedaling, I'm applying backpressure to the cranks. But, no matter which way you slice it, backpedaling or forward pedaling, you only work your hammies when you are pulling up. Pushing down (like on the rear pedal when backpedaling) still works your quads.

The effect of working your hammies on a fix by backpedaling is the same as pulling on the backstroke of a freewheel bike. It's not exclusive to the fixed gear domain.

you can lead a horse to water...

When I'm backpedaling, I'm applying backpressure to the cranks. But, no matter which way you slice it, backpedaling or forward pedaling, you only work your hammies when you are pulling up. Pushing down (like on the rear pedal when backpedaling) still works your quads.

The effect of working your hammies on a fix by backpedaling is the same as pulling on the backstroke of a freewheel bike. It's not exclusive to the fixed gear domain.


you are not using the same muscles...or at least not using them in the same way when you backpedal as opposed to forward pedaling....'s simply not true

... my fave is his scientific analysis of resonant frequency in frames that causes high speed shimmy. Pure comic gold.

That article confused me. I wasn't sure if he was just a d¡ckhead or trying to be funny. Still don't.

If he's an engineer, probably the latter. The Sense of Humour - one that the rest of the population considers funny - is removed at birth.

you are not using the same muscles...or at least not using them in the same way when you backpedal as opposed to forward pedaling....'s simply not true


How much of your time do you spend backpedalling? As much as a defensive politician?

Who cares what Jobst Brandt thinks? He's a physics dude, he digs bikes. I'm a dude, I like bikes, I think fixed gears are great, but are they the best thing ever? Uhhhhhh...... Maybe....... for SOME things. Are they the best training tool ever? Well, frankly, no. He's right. Is there ANY benefit to them as a training tool? ABSOLUTELY! You can certainly use one to better your cycling abilities. Is it the best, most efficent training tool for the purposes people use it for? Probably not. The truth of the matter is that it DOESN'T MATTER. People who like them will use them to do the things they like to do, and people who use heart rate monitors and all that can and will use them to do the things they like to do with them.

How much of your time do you spend backpedalling? As much as a defensive politician?

Who cares what Jobst Brandt thinks? He's a physics dude, he digs bikes. I'm a dude, I like bikes, I think fixed gears are great, but are they the best thing ever? Uhhhhhh...... Maybe....... for SOME things. Are they the best training tool ever? Well, frankly, no. He's right. Is there ANY benefit to them as a training tool? ABSOLUTELY! You can certainly use one to better your cycling abilities. Is it the best, most efficent training tool for the purposes people use it for? Probably not. The truth of the matter is that it DOESN'T MATTER. People who like them will use them to do the things they like to do, and people who use heart rate monitors and all that can and will use them to do the things they like to do with them.

point and match

Yeah, but Brandt calls fixed gear an 'old fetish' and riding one an 'odd practice'. Obviously he's not old enough to remember what people rode before the invention of the derailleur, and not young enough to see that people actually enjoy the simplicity, durability and hipsterness of fixed gear.

Sure, it 'doesn't matter' what anyone thinks really, people will do what they do and justify it however. I don't think that people should get high and mighty about their choices when challenged, but I also don't think self proclaimed experts should jump down peoples' throats either.

The original poster is simply asking for feedback on fixed gear riding, and Jobst comes along before anyone has even replied with the good ol' "Oh oh! Here we go again in spreading myth and lore."

My experience is predominantly with singlespeed mountainbikes, and I can say one thing unequivocally, despite the fact I don't have a scientific study to back it up -

Because you can't slack off on the hills, singlespeeding forces you to climb as efficently as possible given the conditions. Because of this, you are not tempted to shift down (because you can't) into your comfort zone, forcing you to work and concentrate harder. When riding with geared folk, you are forced to concentrate on your spinning and the quality and efficiency thereof, otherwise you won't be able to keep up.

I'm assuming the same would apply to fixed gear, with even a higher degree of concentration required.

Now, if Jobst or anyone else wants to deal in absolutes, then sure, you can argue that there maybe other methods of training that are maybe more 'efficient' than 'training' on a singlespeed mountainbike or fixed gear, but the fact remains that there ARE benefits to be had.

And how can riding fixed gear improve my fitness? Well, for starters, I'd be riding instead of sitting here in front of the computer....

Yeah, but Brandt calls fixed gear an 'old fetish' and riding one an 'odd practice'. Obviously he's not old enough to remember what people rode before the invention of the derailleur, and not young enough to see that people actually enjoy the simplicity, durability and hipsterness of fixed gear.

Sure, it 'doesn't matter' what anyone thinks really, people will do what they do and justify it however. I don't think that people should get high and mighty about their choices when challenged, but I also don't think self proclaimed experts should jump down peoples' throats either.

The original poster is simply asking for feedback on fixed gear riding, and Jobst comes along before anyone has even replied with the good ol' "Oh oh! Here we go again in spreading myth and lore."

My experience is predominantly with singlespeed mountainbikes, and I can say one thing unequivocally, despite the fact I don't have a scientific study to back it up -

Because you can't slack off on the hills, singlespeeding forces you to climb as efficently as possible given the conditions. Because of this, you are not tempted to shift down (because you can't) into your comfort zone, forcing you to work and concentrate harder. When riding with geared folk, you are forced to concentrate on your spinning and the quality and efficiency thereof, otherwise you won't be able to keep up.

I'm assuming the same would apply to fixed gear, with even a higher degree of concentration required.

Now, if Jobst or anyone else wants to deal in absolutes, then sure, you can argue that there maybe other methods of training that are maybe more 'efficient' than 'training' on a singlespeed mountainbike or fixed gear, but the fact remains that there ARE benefits to be had.

And how can riding fixed gear improve my fitness? Well, for starters, I'd be riding instead of sitting here in front of the computer....


My point certainly isn't that anyone is right or wrong, just that there are better things to do than sit around and call people names because they said something you didn't like. Personally, when I hear an ass talking to me, I figure, hey, maybe I should avoid this zone where the farting is going on. If you don't go near the ass, what comes out of the ass shouldn't bother you. If the ass is more famous than you, who cares! Maybe if you keep your words of a cleaner scent than they do, YOU will get famous! AMAZING!