Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Fixed Gear

Whats the deal with fixed gear? Why have it?

It's different, it's fun, less parts to break and if you build a fixed gear with low enough gearing you'll have great help with nailing down your spin.

Wouldn't it be crazy hard on hills?

That depends on your gearing. My commuter bike, the EAI Brassknuckle in my signature has low enough gearing, 50-something gear inches, to let me climb the hills(small ones) in my town without much effort. This of course limits my top speed to around 18 mph on it, and my average is probably somewhere around 15 mph

What I don't like about fixed gear bikes is that you can't coast downhill. Otherwise they're kind of fun.

unclip, rest feet on fork crown, enjoy ;-)

don't do this if there are intersections, kids, anything but lawns beside the road, and yeah, you probably want a brake too just to be sure ;-)

Fixies are fun, but they're not for everyone. If you climb hills in the small chainring, coast alot, don't ride clipless and don't stand up when taking off from dead stops, and aren't willing to change, it probably isn't for you. If you're willing to give it a try knowing full well that it could be more of a challenge and that you'll have to change your riding style, then it may be for you. And if you try it, definitely run at least a front brake if not two brakes.

i've been thinking about getting a fixie next spring. seems it would be a lot of fun.... Shuck, what's your take on fixies with freewheels or free hubs or flip flop hubs?

thanks in advance,

be,

jim

what's your take on fixies with freewheels or free hubs or flip flop hubs?




I'm new to all this, but wouldn't a freewheel make is not a fixed gear?

I'm new to all this, but wouldn't a freewheel make is not a fixed gear?
You can get flip flop hubs that are fixed/free. I've got one and never used the freewheel.

It is fun and offers a change of pace from your usual ride. I also tend to ride fixed and single speed early in the year to build up some condition for the hills.

If you are mechanical, try converting an old road frame over to fixed gear (if you are clever and the bike you start with is in good shape you won't need much more than a rear wheel). It is a fun project, a good way to learn more about bikes, and if you don't like it you can likely flip it on Craig's List for what you have into it (or even a little more in many markets).

Fixed gear is great for the track and for some early season training, but for riding on the street all the time? No.

Its a bike that is in the wrong gear 95% of the time and you can't go around corners fast because you will hit a pedal, since you can't stop pedalling.

Its mostly a hipster thing. Put on your checkerboard Vans, some Manpri (capri pants for men so your pants leg doesn't get caught int the chain) pants, get lots of tats and a $300 messenger bag and you are too cool.

I've had my eye on the Specialized Langster Seattle as a short commuter, but I can't help but think a few things I do regularly would become tricky. It seems like getting in the clips would be harder without coasting, as would hopping curbs. My commute is short, but there's a stop sign every block, so I'm actually thinking about ditching clips and going platform only on one of my bikes. Then again, trackstands are supposedly easier with a fixie, so I might not have to get out of the clips as often.

I've been back and forth about fixies a lot after having raced track when younger. I rode one in college and enjoyed it, but never really had to ride more than a couple of miles for anything at all. Then I jumped back on one for my commute this spring and rode it for a while before realizing I just like a freehub better. So, I mostly ride a single speed, which is an amazingly freeing experience after riding a fixie for some months, but I have decided I'm tired of standing on the pedals for hills...so, I'm getting an internally geared hub.

The whole reason I even took up a fixie was because I HATE derailleurs so much and will only tolerate them when they're the best choice (long road rides, MTB riding, etc...). I figured my commute was flat enough I could ride fixie and be fine, and it is, but I really like enjoying my ride spinning at a nice pace.

Fixie is REALLY fun when weaving through downtown traffic on a coffee run or just going to the museum. But, for a practical every day bike it's quite annoying.

Fixed gear is great for the track and for some early season training, but for riding on the street all the time? No.

Its a bike that is in the wrong gear 95% of the time and you can't go around corners fast because you will hit a pedal, since you can't stop pedalling.

Its mostly a hipster thing. Put on your checkerboard Vans, some Manpri (capri pants for men so your pants leg doesn't get caught int the chain) pants, get lots of tats and a $300 messenger bag and you are too cool.

The inaccuracies of your post are laughable but understandable due to stereotypical douchbaggery that people like to associate with track bike riders on the street.

Fixed gear is great for the track and for some early season training, but for riding on the street all the time? No.

Its a bike that is in the wrong gear 95% of the time and you can't go around corners fast because you will hit a pedal, since you can't stop pedalling.

Its mostly a hipster thing. Put on your checkerboard Vans, some Manpri (capri pants for men so your pants leg doesn't get caught int the chain) pants, get lots of tats and a $300 messenger bag and you are too cool.


Now, now. We can come up with a negative stereotype for every kind of riding if we want to. It doesn't make for a particularly compelling or helpful argument, though.

I have to defend San Rensho a little here because while I can find some fun to be had on a fixie it really does seem like an overblown cult fad.

Between a fixie and a single speed the only part to break is the brakes (pun entirely intended)! Now, I abhor a derailleur as much as the next guy, but excepting what improvement my spin will gain I just don't get anything out of a fixie except more difficulty going downhills (as if UP wasn't bad enough on a SS).

The only thing I can think is that the Jamaican messenger style crept into the minds of many sub-culturists and took over.

Now, on the other hand, I have seen some pretty sick stuff being done on a fixie and if I was a teenager with more time to kill than I knew what to do with, fixie trick riding would have been a hell of a way to get some kicks.

coming from an old fat-ass, though, there really isn't much of a point to fixies unless you a) want to train your spin (great for the off-season) or b) want to look cool.

Now, now. We can come up with a negative stereotype for every kind of riding if we want to. It doesn't make for a particularly compelling or helpful argument, though.

Hey, I have a track bike and I ride it on the track, and sometimes on the road for training. Alright, my sarcasm level may have been a little high, but I stand by what I've said and nobody has seriously refuted my major points, namely:

1. That a fixed gear rarely gives you the optimum gear for the conditions you are riding in.

2. That you have to go very slowly around corners to prevent pedal strikes.

3. Fixie riding is in large part a fleeting fashion.

The inaccuracies of your post are laughable but understandable due to stereotypical douchbaggery that people like to associate with track bike riders on the street.

I don't think he is that far off though, yes a certain type of rider, messangers with tattoos and wardrobes that would give Mr. Blackwell the vapours, like fixies, that is a stereotype that doesn't cover all fixie riders. However the technical part, about greater chance of pedal strike and not being in the most efficient gear much of the time, is, I think accurate. A fixie may be fine in a place like Manhattan which has been made artificially fairly flat, but some of the hills around here, heck the 20 gear inch granny on my MTB is barely high enough for some of them.:eek:

3. Fixie riding is in large part a fleeting fashion.

http://sheldonbrown.org/raleigh-international/images/raleigh-int-nexus1.jpg

Pretty sure that Sheldon's love of fixies in not fleeting...

San Rensho:

1. The gearing is a compromise that allows you to ride comfortably for the majority of your daily terrain. Obviously, having extra gear choices allow you to closely match your optimal spin to your terrain, but being limited to one gear widens your comfort range IMO.

2. I don't go around corners very slowly.

3. It might be fashionable, but w/ all fads, it'll stick w/ some people while others will drop it when it goes out of fashion. The people it sticks with will have realized it's a bike, it's fun and they enjoy it.

I love my fixie, but it is a current fad right now and you can't deny that aspect of it. Although for daily commuting I would take a single speed freewheel almost anyday.

There are utilitarian fixies with lower gearing and more lax angles, but there are also bike shops all over pushing track bikes (and other inappropriate bikes) for commuting use because they are in style. Three of my neighbors have shown me their new bikes which have all been track bikes and are killing their knees, but the shops still sold them as ideal for daily commuting.

There is also the recovered vintage (or just old frame) fixies. These are really popular in my area since you can get a very nice bike for ~$150-$300 that is inexpensive, dependable and still fun to ride. However in my area there is a co-op which makes these bikes readily available. In many areas this is not the case.

FWIW......I'm thinking about building a fixie for training purposes and track riding. I just need to pull the trigger on the rear wheel and crank mods. I just haven't had the time yet.

I've never had a cornering problem on my fixie, I'm more worried of the tires losing grip than pedal strike. Of course on a converted roadie or tourer this can be a problem but most track frames have high enough bottom brackets. I don't think anyone would call me a hipster either, i'm too old, don't drink or smoke pot :-P

FWIW......I'm thinking about building a fixie for training purposes and track riding. I just need to pull the trigger on the rear wheel and crank mods. I just haven't had the time yet.

If you are going to ride on a really steep track, be aware that a road bike to fixie conversion will usually give you less pedal clearance than a track bike. Nothing worse than going slow around the top of the track, catching a pedal and sliding down!

The inaccuracies of your post are laughable but understandable due to stereotypical douchbaggery that people like to associate with track bike riders on the street.

that is right.

on a fixie you are always in the right gear. so pedal harder on the steeps. pedal faster on the downhills.

learn all disciplines, become a better cyclist and aerobic beast

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I don't like fixies, but I love singlespeeds. i gots to have a freewheel

but otherwise I love 1 gear.

FWIW......I'm thinking about building a fixie for training purposes and track riding. I just need to pull the trigger on the rear wheel and crank mods. I just haven't had the time yet.
Gonna race Tom?

Gonna race Tom?

Thinking pretty strongly about it.....I just have to convince crazylady. She's seen some of the crashes and broken bones at the Velodrome.http://www.comicguide.net/images/smilies/biker1.gif

I'll be doing a Velo Clinic in the spring to get my Cat IV license.

Hey, I have a track bike and I ride it on the track, and sometimes on the road for training. Alright, my sarcasm level may have been a little high, but I stand by what I've said and nobody has seriously refuted my major points, namely:

1. That a fixed gear rarely gives you the optimum gear for the conditions you are riding in.

2. That you have to go very slowly around corners to prevent pedal strikes.

3. Fixie riding is in large part a fleeting fashion.


1. Actually your in the right gear to make you a stronger and faster spining rider all the time.
2 If you lean but leave your bike level and just turn the wheel then you'll be fine. Its the center of gravity your shifting after all.
3 True, but if its such a struggle then not many people would be riding them. The fun and sense of connection you get outweighs the downfalls.