Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Stuff that makes you forget that you're riding fixed.

I've been riding fixed for daily for a few months now, but today I slipped up and tried to coast. The reason: I saw a couple walking by and one of them was wearing a leopard-print sombrero, and the other was done up like a conehead. My brain just couldn't not be shocked, so I almost ate it.

Anyone else ever have a similar experience.

Back when I first started I had some typical dickhead motorist yell something particularly inflammatory (can't remember exactly what) and I was so flustered I forgot to keep my legs moving and ended up hitting a curb and bailing. Luckily I didn't actually fall over, but I had to change my route because I couldn't deal with rolling up next to them at the next red light.

At this point I'm pretty much immune to both motorist **** talk and coasting.

used to try to coast if i rode my road bike for a few days. i just did that for a whole week now and getting back on it felt like i was getting back on a normal bike :eek: actually i can go between the two pretty ok now without even having to think about it. coasting and having brakes is nice though. also being able to spin really fast all the time. but getting back on the fixed wheel made me be less sweaty when i get to work in the mornings...cadence is lower.

Bumps. The little sharp ones maybe an inch or so tall or even railroad tracks or other small gaps... On my road bikes i'll coast and hop the front wheel if necessary. I tried that once on the fixed gear. :lol: :(

(i didn't fall but it is a bit freaky when the bike tries to eject you...)

It happens very rarely. I ride both fixed and geared bikes and I can make the transition pretty easily. However, once I slapped a freewheel on a bike that I was used to riding fixed. It freaked me out about ever other block...my feet kept coasting whenever I wanted to slow down. I quickly went back home and put a fixed cog back on.

I never had a problem trying to coast while riding, even my first day on fixed, except for this one spot of a highway where I would hop up on the sidewalk when I was coming home from the grocery store. For about the first 6 months I would stand up to go over the bump on the sidewalk ramp, and I'd forget to pedal every time. (I've since become a stronger rider and now take the lane like I'm 'posed to.)

I think I've gotten to a point where I never forget I'm riding fixed although I split my time between riding my fixed and SS pretty frequently.

the first couple of days on my fixed bike i kept instinctivley trying to coast over the train tracks on my road. never bailed, but got that uncomfortable slight "lift" that reminds us all that our bikes are keeping us in check.

just earlier today, I was hauling ass and I came to a spot where there's a dip where one road meets up with another one that's eroded by water and so there's just a hole going all the way across the dip in between the roads now. *takes breath from long run on sentence* I tried to pull up and wheelie over the hole, but my rear wheel landed squarely in it. Instinctively, I attempted to coast and bunnyhop it, like on my bmx, and my chain made a horrible noise, and my legs siezed for a second before I realized what I was doing and started pedaling again.

I try to coast after a long hard acceleration. I quickly get reminded by the bike what I need to do.

Also trying to reach for a water bottle gets me. I am running some tri cages on my seat post now and haven't even attempted to drink while riding.

One time I finished an insane sprint on my fixie and didn't feel like spinning back down to rest so I just unclipped both feet and coasted for a while. Was a bit tricky to catch those pedals, even with double-sided SPD pedals :p

the first couple of days on my fixed bike i kept instinctivley trying to coast over the train tracks on my road. never bailed, but got that uncomfortable slight "lift" that reminds us all that our bikes are keeping us in check.

I ride both road and fixed, and when I go back/forth I seem to forget. It only takes one slip up and I'm back in the game though..

Regarding the OP's comment of just simply forgetting that you are riding fixed; that hasn't happened to me yet! It seems like I have some form of muscle memory that keeps things in check...

PS: I love posting over bumpy spots in the road.. riding fixed has dramatically improved my riding skill..

I am at a point where I have to remember that I can actually coast or shift gears on some bikes as I have almost cured myself of that nasty coasting habit.

Some friends down at a LBS told me about some putz who came in and threw down the money on a brand new Pista. Then he ordered himself about $2k worth of components. Anyway, said hotshot when picking up the completed bike is asked whether or not he's comfortable riding fixed. Of course the guy responded as if it were no big deal.

He was promptly bucked clear over the handlebars. I walked into the shop maybe 15 minutes after this fiasco and all the shopfolk were still laughing about it.

everyonce in a while i forget and try to coast

seems random

more than that i forget i can coast on my road bikes and am shocked to find no resistance

when i coast on my beach cruiser it scares me. i immediately think my cog is spinning off and i'm about to lose it.

i've never tried to coast on my track bike.

in fact, when i ride freewheel i forget to coast.

I split my time between road and fixie, and yeah, I invariably get bounced - ONCE! - in the first two miles. After which, I remember which bike I'm on and there's no more problem.

If anything, on a normal Sunday I'll take a road bike out for about 25 miles, and then do the fixie for 15-20 - and the pain in the leg muscles the next day reminds me how much time I spend coasting on the road bike.:rolleyes:

Some friends down at a LBS told me about some putz who came in and threw down the money on a brand new Pista. Then he ordered himself about $2k worth of components. Anyway, said hotshot when picking up the completed bike is asked whether or not he's comfortable riding fixed. Of course the guy responded as if it were no big deal.

He was promptly bucked clear over the handlebars. I walked into the shop maybe 15 minutes after this fiasco and all the shopfolk were still laughing about it.

Yes, that's hilarious - now take the same kind of idiot, put him in a motorcycle shop (Ducati) and watch the stories that come out of that incident. Five years later, the shop's been closed for two, and the ex-employees still bring the guy up over a few beers.

I have no problems going from freewheel to fixed. I put the most miles on the fixed but my commuter uses a freewheel yet riding fixed don't affect my use of a freewheel.

My experience is the opposite. Twice I forgot I wasn't riding fixed. First time, I reached for the brake lever and it wasn't there (y'know, by the stem). Second time, I unclipped my left foot, but rested my right foot just as it was behind the top of the stroke. Hurt my crotch in the process.

this forum makes me wish i could forget i'm riding fixed.

Only really happens when i ride a bike with a freewheel, for a long distance and even then not usally, as after riding fixed i never coast, i just don't do it anymore.

this girl i saw downtown had the biggest roundest nicest booty i've seen...and it made me forget i was riding fixed and i crashed. i bet sitting in a chair is kinda like sitting on a booster chair with her booty. my bike is ok.

only happens if i've been riding a freewheel for a period of time than go back to fixed. and that doesn't happen much.

the only time i really ever forget to pedal or have the urge to just coast is when i am standing up on my bike (not climbing) because usually i would just have the pedals sit horizontal and just coast but i really had to learn to keep pedaling while standing.

i've never tried to coast on my track bike.

in fact, when i ride freewheel i forget to coast.

I have the exact same problem when i go mountain biking. Has caused some interesting pedal strikes but overall i think it has improved my MTBing quite a bit

the only time i really ever forget to pedal or have the urge to just coast is when i am standing up on my bike (not climbing) because usually i would just have the pedals sit horizontal and just coast but i really had to learn to keep pedaling while standing.

You rode BMX at some point, I'm guessing?

I just realized that it probably happened to me because I'm used to standing in the pedals and looking around whenever I stop for a moment on my pedicab

once i was really stressed and i was speeding off to look at a new apartment i was gonna move to. i was very distracted and not thinking and i hopped on my bike, accelerated really hard and then tried to coast. i was ejected and it was terrible. my hip still feels weird inside and it happened 4 months ago.

also sometimes when i am am on a major highway, and i am going fast in traffic and i see a big pothole i have to really think and resist coasting over it. this is less of an issue as time passes and i forget what coasting was like.