Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - what to do about hills?

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Tom_The_Bikeman
03-05-04, 04:22 AM
All those nice pictures made me think (oh the agony!)

I've got a jolly nice Cilo that I've used as a fixed gear SS, but my commute is marked by two largish hills...

What do you guys do when surmounting hills using a fixed gear (note: I'm not worried about going UP, it's comming down that's the hard part...) I just spin out, and I hate to lose the gravity assist due to stoopidly braking the whole way.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Tom

familyman
03-05-04, 06:01 AM
Just part of the game, you can't go so fast down hill. Part of your all conquering energy getting up the bugger is necessarily lost for safety purposes.
You can also just learn to spin like mad. Say for example that you're running about 70 inches. If you can learn to spin at 200 then you'll be capable of 40 mph (or whatever the kph equivalent is over there in Switzerland) That should be fast enough right?
Tom_The_Bikeman
03-05-04, 06:09 AM
You can also just learn to spin like mad. Say for example that you're running about 70 inches. If you can learn to spin at 200 then you'll be capable of 40 mph

my average speed on my fast bike is 20-24 mph with stoppage for lights and all...I can spin about 120 or so, easily, but this depreciates style-wise rather quickly at higher rpm. I'll have to check it on my ride home tonight.

I miss riding the fixed gear...the rainbow chain is soo cool...*snif*

thanks,
Tom

ImprezaDrvr
03-05-04, 09:06 AM
What's stupid about braking on a downhill if it's steep enough that you're liable to have a leg ripped off?

I brake a lot at once and then backpedal for as long as I can, or brake a lot at once and then spin out. Nothing wrong with using a brake, no matter what the fixie grouches say.
fixedgearhead
03-05-04, 04:03 PM
I find that when I descend hills when the revs get high enough if I let my legs just relax and "Go Gumby" as somebody once called it, there is a moderating effect of retarding higher rpm spinning that happens. All my bikes are now brakeless and I ride some pretty steep although not terribly long hills and that is what works for me. Understand that fixed gear will never be as fast as multi geared on long downhill stretches.

fixedgearhead