Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fresher legs with fixed gear

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centuryman
11-29-08, 09:32 AM
After 35 years of freewheel riding I took up fixed gear about 2 weeks ago. My legs feel fresher after a fixed gear ride than after a similar freewheel ride. I wonder if the constant leg movement on the fixie results in less blood pooling in the legs than when coasting? Has anyone else experienced this?

gestalt assault
11-29-08, 09:36 AM
that sir is what the French call "souplesse"
Severian
11-29-08, 10:27 AM
My theory: fixed gear riding makes "maintenance" pedaling much easier. You're expending less energy to keep the bike going at one speed (particularly that speed that your gear ratio is best at). Thus, your legs feel fresher at the end of a ride.

andre nickatina
11-29-08, 11:31 AM
You're doing active recovery throughout - same as on a road bike if you hammer really hard in a big gear, and then shift down to a much easier gear and do some high RPM spinning to relieve the 'burn'.
filtersweep
11-29-08, 11:46 AM
I think your body will adjust and your legs will eventually feel as dead as ever. I find no real difference among any of my bikes.... other that the fact that a change of pace is always nice.
twoflats
11-29-08, 11:51 AM
I noticed it too. I think the reason is that because you're constantly moving your legs, you clear the built up lactate from your muscles much better than if you were to coast. After noticing this, I stopped coasting on my road bike unless necessary and I found that my endurance was greatly increased.
CharneK
11-29-08, 11:28 PM
There's also the through-the-dead-spot effect of riding fixed. I find you expend a lot of excess energy when accelerating on a SS at the point when your cranks are vertical.
divineAndbright
11-30-08, 09:36 AM
Like someone said above it has more to do with the fact just the momentum of riding is pushing the pedals more than you think you are pushing the pedals.

Ride nothing but your fix gear for a month and hop on the road bike and go for a ride, it will kick your ass.
westokyo
11-30-08, 12:08 PM
I find no real difference among any of my bikes.... other that the fact that a change of pace is always nice.

Same here.