Commuting - Fixed gear or single speed commuting?

Hi,
Kind of new here..
I just bought my first track/road bike yesterday.. It's a 2008 Fuji Track, everything is stock except for some Soma bullhorns. Prior to this, I probably hadn't ridden a bike since 2006.. I used to ride my 20" BMX everywhere with my friends all day long.

Today I took a trip to my friends house which is about an 8 mile round trip. I did not realize how much more tiring a fixed gear is, but I was pretty tired. It wasn't even very hilly at all, just a bit windy. But then again, I'm not exactly in good shape. Not overweight or anything.. just not in shape.

When I was initially looking for what bike I wanted.. I was looking for one with a flip flop hub, but when I got home last night from getting my bike, I realized the Fuji Track doesn't have one. Do you guys think I should invest in one? Either way, I know I'm going to struggle a bit, I'm just curious, what you guys prefer for commuting between fixed and single speed?

The Main reason why I'm asking is because I'm planning on riding my bike to work and back, which would be a 24 mile round trip as soon as I feel comfortable with longer commutes.

EDIT: also wanted to ask is my gearing was alright for me. Everything is pretty much flat around here, I have to go up/over a bridge once in awhile, but other than that.. everything's flat. My stock config is 48/15.

Hi,
Kind of new here..
I just bought my first track/road bike yesterday.. It's a 2008 Fuji Track, everything is stock except for some Soma bullhorns. Prior to this, I probably hadn't ridden a bike since 2006.. I used to ride my 20" BMX everywhere with my friends all day long.

Today I took a trip to my friends house which is about an 8 mile round trip. I did not realize how much more tiring a fixed gear is, but I was pretty tired. It wasn't even very hilly at all, just a bit windy. But then again, I'm not exactly in good shape. Not overweight or anything.. just not in shape.

When I was initially looking for what bike I wanted.. I was looking for one with a flip flop hub, but when I got home last night from getting my bike, I realized the Fuji Track doesn't have one. Do you guys think I should invest in one? Either way, I know I'm going to struggle a bit, I'm just curious, what you guys prefer for commuting between fixed and single speed?

The Main reason why I'm asking is because I'm planning on riding my bike to work and back, which would be a 24 mile round trip as soon as I feel comfortable with longer commutes.

EDIT: also wanted to ask is my gearing was alright for me. Everything is pretty much flat around here, I have to go up/over a bridge once in awhile, but other than that.. everything's flat. My stock config is 48/15.


So you have a track bike with high gearing, bullhorn handlebars, and it's fixed, to boot? That's not the bike I would choose for a 24 mile round trip, no offense.

If I was choosing, I would pick something with multiple gears. You don't need a triple, but something with an 8 speed hub would be ideal for you. That being said, having the ability to switch between fixed and single speed would be much better than dedicated fixed gear.

Was your decision to buy the bike you have motivated by logic or fashion? A fixed gear isn't something you just jump into. You're going from a BMX to a track bike. Big difference, I think. Be careful.

48/15 is really high gearing... well suited for use on a track, but not on a commute. Try getting a 17 or 18 tooth cog.

Most folks are comfortable with 70-75 gear inches for off-track riding. You can use Sheldon Brown's Gear Calculator (http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/) to get an idea of the gear ratios various combinations will give you.

And don't listen to the naysayers... riding fixed gear is fun, it's a good workout, and replacement parts are cheap.

brakes.

Gear it down a bit... get a 16t rear cog for starters.

Also, bring your rain gear in a backpack... and spare socks.... and a change of clothes for when it rains... and keep spare shoes at work...

lol

Get some rides in and see how it goes. Fixed gears are an acquired taste and take a while to get used to. I have a fixed gear I commute on occasionally, windy days can be a challenge with higher gearing.
I have a couple of touring bikes, they're my favourites for commuting, I can carry my work stuff on the racks and they're a pretty comfortable ride.

So you have a track bike with high gearing, bullhorn handlebars, and it's fixed, to boot? That's not the bike I would choose for a 24 mile round trip, no offense.

If I was choosing, I would pick something with multiple gears. You don't need a triple, but something with an 8 speed hub would be ideal for you. That being said, having the ability to switch between fixed and single speed would be much better than dedicated fixed gear.

Was your decision to buy the bike you have motivated by logic or fashion? A fixed gear isn't something you just jump into. You're going from a BMX to a track bike. Big difference, I think. Be careful.

Riding BMX from ages 10-17 might have something to do with it.. Maybe since I was 10, it was about fashion too. I wanted the small cool looking bike. And I was out on my bike daily, riding from morning to night. It was nice to have that feeling where I didn't need gears to get up a hill or something. Yes, I bought my bike cause it looked super cool, but there were plenty of geared bikes that looked cool as well. I just thought, since I had ridden single speed all that time, it wouldn't make much of a difference.


48/15 is really high gearing... well suited for use on a track, but not on a commute. Try getting a 17 or 18 tooth cog.

And don't listen to the naysayers... riding fixed gear is fun, it's a good workout, and replacement parts are cheap.

Thanks for the tips buddy. I'll try them out.

I'm riding single speed for the winter, since there's less to go wrong and it's easier to clean. Did 48/17 for the fall, went down to 48/19 in the winter. I can't really take advantage of downhills or tailwinds or traffic drafts with 48/19, but it cruises so nice at 14-16mph on level ground.

Gear down, get a brake, and take it easy. Should be no problem.

Thanks again. I had a frontbrake installed the day I bought it, so I think I'm good. I actually bought it in Sacramento as well, at thebikebiz.. though, I live in the bay area.

It will take a few weeks, but after awhile you will find yourself being a stronger rider from the commute. Just got done my SS commute home, which is only 4 miles, but I decided to take the highway instead of the backroads where the hills are steeper. Thankfully at 3:00 am, there was only one vehicle that passed me the entire trip.

I just started back this season commuting on a SS, as I was using a MTB last year to go back and forth. I find the 1st few weeks more tiring than ever, but it seems to help immensely when I go out road racing with my friends and MTB'ing on the weekend.

I would also say that a track bike is not the optimal bike for commuting due to it's geometry which will impart a harsher ride... a road or touring frame will ride better and will have allowances for fenders and wider tyres which also make things more plush and reduce to possibility of flats.

I commute 12,000 km a year and most of those miles are done on a pair of fixed gear bikes; my fixed road bike sees the dry roads and my fixed mtb sees wetter weather and snow.

My thought is that if I am only going to be running one gear it will be fixed and my touring bike (another fixed gear) runs 2 fixed cogs instead of a fixed free combo.

I do have a few geared bikes that see a fair bit of use too but for sheer simplicity, efficiency, and low maintainence, nothing beats a well made fixed gear.

And they are also really fun to ride.

I commute to work on a fixed gear bike. However, my commute is short (~5.5 miles each way, rolling hills), and I am in decent shape. I would not be daunted my a 12 mile trip. I would, if I were you, drop the gearing down to about 72 gear inches. Maybe change your cog to a 17t. Also, please add on at least a front brake.

If you're serious about commuting, then you may want to consider fenders, lights (essential, if you're traveling at night), a reflective vest, and maybe a large saddlebag or panniers to carry your stuff.

Even though I like the idea of commuting fixed, it may be a better idea to get a decent geared bike, so you can really enjoy your commute.

EDIT: Whoops! Just noticed that you have a front brake.

Even though I like the idea of commuting fixed, it may be a better idea to get a decent geared bike, so you can really enjoy your commute.

I really enjoy my commute... at least 80% of that enjoyment comes from doing it on a fixed gear.

Mine is a 26 km round trip if I take the shortest route possible.

bah humbug

One can enjoy a long commute on a fixed gear just as well as a geared bike. I once had this incorrect opinion until I switched to a fixed gear. Now I wonder why I would ever bother with a geared bike for commuting.
Then again I am a wee bit loopy. My route is 56 miles RT 3 times a week with a 1000 feet of climbing on the way in.

Gear down and it should not be a problem. I also threw a set of raceblade fenders on mine. Not perfect but they are better than nothing. I may eventually jury rig a set of full fenders.
Also, if you are getting in shape it will be a wee bit more tiring with riding a fixed gear.IMHO God knows mine beats me down. :p

Have fun!

Long rides on a fixed gear are more than possible and something that would have been commonplace when my Lenton was sold back in 1955.

I did a metric and a full century on this bike last year... it runs two fixed cogs (16 and 18) on a double stepped hub with a 46 tooth front chain ring.

I have also commuted on this bike although it is not a regular in the commuting rotation.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/lentonshop3.JPG

Fixed gear bikes are for lazy people, like me. I sooooo love the flywheel effect and the fact that the bike pushes the pedals through the dead spots for me. That distance is not a big deal on a fixed. Before you know it, it won't feel like work to push that gear.

Hi,

The Main reason why I'm asking is because I'm planning on riding my bike to work and back, which would be a 24 mile round trip as soon as I feel comfortable with longer commutes.

EDIT: also wanted to ask is my gearing was alright for me. Everything is pretty much flat around here, I have to go up/over a bridge once in awhile, but other than that.. everything's flat. My stock config is 48/15.

I did a 24 mile roundertripper in the hills of Vermont for a year or so on a Fixie before
I went to a SS. You get used to riding the distance so tiring out will not be a problem
all the time but the stuff that I would worry about on your commute is if you are in
rush hour traffic, how much stop & go is there ? That stuff gets sort of old fast on a
fixie unless you are a real die-hard. Another thing I found frustrating is limited top
speed...when you gear for traffic, and stopping and starting, you wish you had more
gear when youre hammering.....I love fixies, dont get me wrong, but you might want
to go SS for a while until you are totally comfortable with your commute and where
any problem points are along the way.

My stock config is 48/15.

As others have mentioned, that's too high...

I would go buy an 18 and see how that feels. Once you're comfortable there, consider dropping a gear at a time until you find the right combination for you.

+1 to everyone that said gear down and put a brake on. Get a 17t cog so you have at least 17 skid patches, 34 if you ambi-skid. Since you may not be used to skipping/skidding in a hurry, slap a front brake on. Keep your pant leg out of your chain and keep riding. You have to build your stamina and endurance back up after taking a few years off.

Just so you know, a bmx freewheel will thread on a track hub. You will need two brakes then though. Gear down a little bit, and your 12 mile commute should be easily doable in under an hour.

Wow, thanks everyone. You guys are a lot nicer than the FG/SS people.. haha.

It's funny that we tend to think of our fg bikes as short-trippers. It may be that most of us use them for urban adventures and errand running, but I've found that the fg really shines on the open road (unless you have mountains to climb, of course). The constant pedalling builds endurance and suppleness in a way that can't be duplicated on a geared bike.

24 miles is fine on a fixie, but I +millionth on the gear down. I have a very flat commute, 18 miles one way, and I'm riding my single speed 42x17. If it was fixed I might go 44x17 or 42x15, just so I wouldn't spin out, but I like where my RPMs are for most of my ride-right around 90.

Your knees will get sore on a flat commute with tall gearing unless you have the uber-strength to spin that tall gear!

Fixes are fun, and if you feel good with the geometry then go for it.

Personally I wouldn't ride a track bike outside of a track, but I have short arms and like a more relaxed position for my commute.

Good luck!

It's funny that we tend to think of our fg bikes as short-trippers. It may be that most of us use them for urban adventures and errand running, but I've found that the fg really shines on the open road (unless you have mountains to climb, of course). The constant pedalling builds endurance and suppleness in a way that can't be duplicated on a geared bike.

I think these fellows would agree.
http://www.the508.com/2004web/fixedfeature.html

My fastest century ever was logged on a fixed gear. I found some problems with butt fatique over the 100 miles but it was a lot of fun.

Great link, Sawtooth. And I notice that these guys are climbing 10% grades on their FG bikes. Hard core.

Awesome.

I took mine out this weekend. A portion of my 60 mile route was 500ft+ of climbing in several miles. Did that ever hurt...

I rode my 42x16 20 miles RT last year with some moderate rolling hills. I say give it some time, like a few weeks, and then reevaluate. It's tough to get a good feel if you're not in shape like you will be in a few weeks time. I prefer the consistency that the fixed gear provides. My commute now is only 7 miles each way and it feels too short and I feel like I"m not getting as good of workout. The traffic is also more congested here in Boston compared to the burbs.

interesting thread, i had my first commute today on a bike i built from spare parts, only 4.5 miles each way, its a single speed and i came to bikeforums to see if ss is not the way to go for commuting, after thinking about it a realize that its probably the squishy organic bit thats the weak point right now, after reading this i will stick with the ss and let my body catch up

gearing is 46/16

daotan - For a new convert to the church of Monogearism I would suggest lowering your gearing a little... a 42:16 is a nice gear to run on a single speed road bike (69 gear inches) as it will give you enough room to deal with headwinds and climbs... but that still will be work. This is the gearing I set up on most of my builds in the shop and new riders seem to deal with that well and many experienced riders also run this gearing.

A 46:16 is putting you in the track bike gearing range (79 gear inches) and it will all be fun until you have to ride any distance into a headwind or climb any hills.

Anyways...

I worked out the gearing using 700/25 wheels and if you run something other than that like a 26 or 27 inch wheel, the gearing will change a little.

I also commute fixed gear. I wanted a bike that was minimal maintenance for all-condition riding and it's worked out well for me this winter. If I could only keep my fingers out of the rear sprocket when cleaning my chain, ouch. I know this is a danger but I've done it twice this winter cleaning my chain.

My route is flat and I ride 42x15 in the summer and 42x17/19 in the winter. I have a surly dingle cog so I can switch gearing if desired (i.e. when the snow comes while at work).

Part of the reason I like riding fixed gear is that I get more of a work out on my 20 mi. RT commute.

For help with gearing selection check out my calculator (link in signature).

daotan - For a new convert to the church of Monogearism I would suggest lowering your gearing a little... a 42:16 is a nice gear to run on a single speed road bike (69 gear inches) as it will give you enough room to deal with headwinds and climbs... but that still will be work. This is the gearing I set up on most of my builds in the shop and new riders seem to deal with that well and many experienced riders also run this gearing.

A 46:16 is putting you in the track bike gearing range (79 gear inches) and it will all be fun until you have to ride any distance into a headwind or climb any hills.

Anyways...

I worked out the gearing using 700/25 wheels and if you run something other than that like a 26 or 27 inch wheel, the gearing will change a little.

definitely looking into a gearing change asap

The only other advice I can add.....

Give yourself some extra time on your first fixed commutes. At least til you get really used to riding fixed, and your gear ratio.

Definitely gear down. An 18t cog would probably be about right with your 48t chainring. 48x18 skidding won't be great for your tires, but you can decide later which of the more skid-friendly adjacent cog sizes are better for you:17t or 19t. See the calculator link in testtube's signature.

For what it's worth, 47x17 works well for my commute in the warmer months. My winter commuter is running 42x17, which is just about perfect to push my studded tires over this winter's frozen bumps.

I don't know any better. I've been commuting roundtrip 22 miles on an enforced singlespeed for nearly a year now. 48x11 on an XLG Nashbar Cyclocross frame and 700c wheels 32mm tires.

I meant for it to be a 27 speed, test rode it before hooking up the rear derailler and decided it wasn't necessary. Got caught in time crunch between test ride and commute to work. Never got around to futzing with installing the shifter cable.

It's flatter than a pancake where I live. If the ride to work is really a hard head wind, I manually drop the chain into the middle chainring. Hey, they used to do this in the TDF, once upon a time.

I used to commute on a mtb with gears. I remember trigger shifters and the bang made when I upshifted.

I'm nearly 55, just under 200 lbs, 6ft 2, 36 inch cycling inseam. Bike has 175mm cranks. Commutes always include rack and panniers. It only takes me a few revs to start building speed from a dead stop. Once underway, I love to stand and mash.

In my case, the panniers are a stabilizing ballast for standing up and charging into a headwind. When the panniers come off, the bike is squirrelly while standing.

Your mileage will indeed vary!

Another fixie commuter here. 42x17 and 700x32C cyclocross tires. I'll probably change to 15t cog and slicks for summer.

For the bad weather I bring my beater conversion out - 42:17 is a great ratio, lots of room in that gear IMO. If you gear down, give it some time you'll get a good idea of whether you want to carry on.

Good luck and welcome to the crazy commuter world :p

I seem to put down the best commute times when I am on my fixed road bike just as long as the weather isn't evil... then I use the other fixed gear which still gets me there in the same amount of time as I would riding a geared bike.

When I started out SS commuting, I was actually on a 24-speed bike, but only used 1 gear. Due to the age/condition of the parts, it didn't shift well, so I just stopped shifting altogether, using a 48x18. I eventually took off the shifters and derailleurs, and got a Spot SS spacer kit. The rest is history. I did try riding fixed to work and back, but the longest stretch I have without a stop sign or a light or a JAM is about 4 blocks, and I just haven't got the hang of trackstanding. I also have two sections of my commute where I get to 50 km/h on descents, but I found I couldn't spin fast enough in a gear that would also let me climb those same hills on the way home. I would like to get a FG for road riding, although a couple of my favourite loops have extended 80 km/h descents...

Anyway, I agree that you should run an easier gear, at least until you get used to the feel. I am on a 48x17 [700x25C and 37C studded] right now, which I will be changing to 48x16 this summer.

Mine is 42/18 fixed over rolling/hilly terrain about 24 miles R/T. Its actually a fun change from the geared cross bike and MTB's I race on.

i commuted on my singlespeed concord freedom deluxe for the better part of last year with a 42x16...it's a great gear since i don't have too many big hills on my route mostly just some long gradual slopes, simple and easy to maintain and such a money saver...jumped on the bike this morning after not having commuted in a month or so because feb is was just full of storms

by the way does anyone know anything about concord frames?
i know they were built in japan and it is a nice lugged frame...not much out there about them

thanks

I like to refer to that gear ratio as "Ronnie and Joe." (You'll get that if you followed the NFL in the 80s.)

Mine is a 42-15 SS commuter made out of an old 80s univega. Works well for me on very flat terrain here. I don't regret doing it at all. I only ever used one gear anyway. One gear is all you need! (sometimes)

Four of the bikes I used for commuting were either fixed or single speed. The shortest round trip worked out to 20 miles but I'd often take longer routes out/back extending to 30+ miles occasionally. Most was done on my Cross-Check with 42/17 but I'd often take the GTB with 47/15 or the Peugeot SS at 43/16.

You get use to it, it's really no more difficult than a geared bike.

Pretty much anything you can do on a geared bike, you can do on an SS or FG bike.

I figure that I was carrying at least 30 pounds of stuff in the paniers yesterday as besides my tools and lock I also had a bunch of bike parts and other misc gear which brought the total weight of the bike to at least 60 pounds.

It runs 64 gear inches which is pretty close to the low gear I have on my fixed gear touring bike that runs 66 and 75 gear inches fixed albeit with skinnier tyres.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/kuwiefixdrop2.jpg

I figure that this bike will take me on a few centuries this summer and more than a few metrics.

My 2 cents. I live in SF and commute every day on my track bike. Definitely run a front brake, especially on a commute of that length. Brakeless will make you tired and more accident-prone at the end of the day. Get a couple good tough tires with puncture protection - i've been running Schwalbe Stelvio Plus for 8 months with zero punctures. Make sure you carry extra gear and tools with you. I run bullhorns because it's easier to climb hills and offers multiple hand positions for those long rides. Get a pair of clip-on fenders like SKS Race Blades for the rainy times - not as good as full fenders, but it's all you'll be able to fit on a track bike. As far as gears go, I started with a 46x16 and gradually geared up, peaking at 49x16 for a few months, which really makes you strong but freight train starts uphill are no fun. I'm at 47x16 now which is perfect. Definitely gear down to start, then you can adjust it as you get stronger. Hope this helps.