Fifty Plus (50+) - Single Speeds/Fixed Gears, Why??

:twitchy: I've noticed that no matter the type of bicycle, there seems to be a LOVE of many riders of Single Speed or Fixed Gear bicycles, even the MTB types on this forum seem to be single speed gaga?
Like most of us, I started riding as kids on single speeds, I progressed to a 2 speed, 3 speed, 5 speed, 10 Speed, 18 Speed now ride a 24 speed. I understand the fixed gear for a velodrome/track set up but WHY would someone want to ride this type of bicycle on the road?? LOL, maybe it's because I'm worn out and the body is suffering from "mileage" instead of age that I NEED all the gears I can get! I'm drolling over the 10 speed clusters on some of the upper level MTB's I can't dream of affording and I've even noticed that some of these have bailed on the "wonderful, marvolus, dreamy" triple chainring set for a "compact double", oh I can hear my arthritic knees howling already:o What is this maddness of reverting back to the days of childhood and singlespeeds that has taken over the world's bicyclist's?? :D

Easy answer: light weight, low maintenance.

Also remember when average Joe's began riding choppers because it gave off the aura of a bad boy biker. Well bike messengers are also considered "bad boys" and a lot of them ride single bikes, so do the math.

Because

As Loyal Readers will no doubt recall, I've noted numerous times that fixed gear riding is not for everyone. Nor is the joy of fixed gear riding easy to express using words, hence the limitation of forums such as this.

My recommendation is that you simply try it. If you "get it" then you'll like it and no one will have to tell you why. If you don't "get it" no amount of reading other's words will help. Some say it's a Zen thing . . . I don't know Zen, so I can't verify that bit!

I can say that I do "get it" and I like it so much that I really do look forward to a fixed gear ride, i.e. with more positive anticipation, that most multi-geared rides.

Having said all that, I do use multi-geared bikes for double-centuries, rides in the mountains or extreme hills, etc. Every type of bike has it's place.

BluesDawg said it best . . .

Rick / OCRR

I roll my eyes at the whole fixie thing. Most of the time people are riding fixies for all the wrong reasons. However, I am considering setting up an old steel frame I have as a fixie for training purposes. I have a great 40 km mostly flat route with minimum traffic and stops and it makes a great training ride. It's a perfect route for a fixie. I am told that riding a fixie really improves your pedalling and makes it much smoother. I could use that.

I am told that riding a fixed gear really improves your pedalling and makes it much smoother.

This is true, yes.

Rick / OCRR

Its an option in the bicycling world, just like there are a wide variety of cars. FWIW, why would anyone need 24 gears on a bike? Or why would anyone want to buy a fully-loaded Cadillac SUV when a simple car like a Toyota Yaris would work just as well for basic motor transportation?

I got a 'fixie' cheap at a garage sale. Tried it for a while and it wasn't my 'thing', so flipped the rear wheel and made it a single speed. It works great on the flats where I live (some small hills for a little extra workout), and its turned into my regular ride. As mentioned above they are pretty basic bikes with simple construction, easier to maintain that a deuralliered bike (sp), and light weight. Not for everyone, but I'm satisfied with it.

I understand the simplicity factor. I have seen some very clean looking fixed gear road bikes. And I have even contemplated a SS somewhere down the road. But cliping in on a fixed gear sounds a little more complicated than I like. And clipping out sounds like a panic. I know people can do it and some seem to enjoy it but to me it looks like an accident waiting to happen. I would like to try and understand the advantage a fixed gear has to a SS. Because I do love down hills. :D

This whole movement needs to be investigated at the federal level.

I'm pretty sure that arthroscopic surgeons are secretly funding this - at the same time they are pricing condos in Hawaii and some nice, big boats.

They are just waiting patiently for the tidal wave of single speed riders whose knees have "suddenly" stopped working.

I think the fixed gear / single speed movement will soon need a bailout.

single speed fixie = great training and simple and sexy

I converted an old Gitane into a fixed, didn't like it, but love it as a single speed. I have five bikes, including a full carbon fiber dura ace Trek and my single speed is the second lightest bike I own, second only to the Trek. I've probably rode that ss more than all of my bikes combined last summer. The simplicity and ease make them a lot of fun. Try it and see.

... If you "get it" then you'll like it and no one will have to tell you why. If you don't "get it" no amount of reading other's words will help. ... Rick

For those who "get" anything, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.

I tried fixed very briefly in 1973 when my wife's brother gave me a Swedish Avanti track bike (complete with 1" block chain) as a wedding present, and I quickly decided it definitely was not my thing.

I can understand the attraction of fixed gear because it does something unique, and many would argue that I could use some spin smoothness training, but I really do not "get" single speed freewheel at all, because it does nothing I cannot already do with any of my bikes.

I roll my eyes at the whole fixie thing. Most of the time people are riding fixies for all the wrong reasons. .

Thank goodness there are those of you who know better. :rolleyes:

I converted an old Gitane into a fixed, didn't like it, but love it as a single speed. I have five bikes, including a full carbon fiber dura ace Trek and my single speed is the second lightest bike I own, second only to the Trek. I've probably rode that ss more than all of my bikes combined last summer. The simplicity and ease make them a lot of fun. Try it and see.

That I understand. I have my favorite gear on my road bike that I use most anyway. Not that I don't use the others but I would say most of the time I only use 4 gears. Unless we are talking a long hill and then I use them all. Half on the way up and half on the way down. So for a jump on and take down town to the hardware store bike a SS makes sense. For now the MTB does that task. I wouldn't leave the road bike where I couldn't see it long enough to go into a store. The ReviveLX is for Starbucks and Pie on a weekend morning. :love: well sometimes I have to skip the pie if I haven't put in the miles for the week. :innocent:

I own 4 road bikes, 2 fixed gear bikes, a tandem, a hardtail mountain bike, a single speed mountain bike and an old mountain bike with skinny slicks and drop bars set up for commuting. Each one is different, and gives a different experience even when riding the same routes.

Look at how many different types of mountain bikes there are now. I remember when they were all about the same.

You don't play golf with just one club, do you? You play better with a full bag.

I own 4 road bikes, 2 fixed gear bikes, a tandem, a hardtail mountain bike, a single speed mountain bike and an old mountain bike with skinny slicks and drop bars set up for commuting. Each one is different, and gives a different experience even when riding the same routes.

Look at how many different types of mountain bikes there are now. I remember when they were all about the same.

You don't play golf with just one club, do you? You play better with a full bag.

Very good point. But we don't play with Niblets and Mashies any more. :D

'tis better to succeed by the power of your legs than to resort to the artiface of a derailleur :D

That's an old quote but I've lost who said it.

Fixed gear riding is different to single speed and you would do well not to confuse them - it's a bit like comparing a recumbent with an upright. The difference of course, is that with fixed, your legs move with the rear wheel whether you like it or not. However, that single difference opens an entirely new world in cycling and brings out a new volume of skills to learn.

You have far more control over your speed when riding fixed because your legs come into play in both directions and in many parts of the pedalling circle with positive pressure, negative pressure and neutral pressure. You can actually control your rate of acceleration (down hill) and deceleration (anywhere) by the resistance of your legs (not back pressure, resistance). You have far more control on loose or slippery surfaces - freewheel bikes are scary on gravel after riding fixed. It's easier to just loaf along on a fixed gear bike than a geared bike. Hills are more of a challenge when riding fixed but the power flows to the pedals in a manner that allows you to ride hills on a gear you couldn't pull with a freewheel.

In another thread, I compared a fixed ride with a geared ride over a circuit that involved a decent dose of ups and downs. No-one seems to have spotted it, but partway into that ride, I hit a down hill stretch at 52km/hr which equates to a cadence of 154 :eek: You HAVE to be able to ride that smoothly to do it, you can't just sit there and let your legs be dragged around (not if you want to survive the experiene) and I challenge any of you to hit a similar cadence on your geared bike - it can be done because it's just pedalling technique, but can you? You just don't get those experiences with a freewheel - hell, I rarely go above a cadence of 110 on my geared bike yet any ride on my fixed sees me topping 120 and far from being scary, it's a great feeling, like being part of a turbine, just as riding really fast is a buzz. Mind you, it's not often you have your HRM beeping frantically when riding DOWN a hill :D

There's the simplicity of the beast. The clean lines. You don't realise how much pfaffing about there is with gears until you compare them with a bike that doesn't have them.

And yes, fit brakes, they open up even more skills to learn and master, the people who take them off just don't understand that they are lessening the experience.

As for the whole hipster business, that's like saying that everyone who rides a bike with gears is trying to be Lance Armstrong complete with the attitude ... and it's kinda sad that the industry in this country has swallowed both lines.

And yes, I'm perverse enough to enjoy the 'huh?' reaction of non-fixed riders :D

Richard

I just finished converting my first nice bike (got it used in about 1975) to a fixed gear.
I love cycling, and for me, a roadie at heart, this is just another way to ride. It makes me pay attention, it's interesting. Going downhill is an adventure.
I got a flip flop hub with it, but only used it once. In for a penny.... and all.

I am too old to be hip, but I'm faking it. I don't have any extra stuff on the bike. It's "pure"
But I still feel the need to know how far I've gone, so (don't tell the cool folks) I stash my Garmin in my jersey pocket so I can read my stats after a ride.

Here's my bike. I still need (not want, but need) a red chain.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3260773387_0db3153ea5_b.jpg

I won't comment on the whole "fixie" phenomenon other than to note that a certain percentage of riders have always enjoyed fixed gear riding and will no doubt continue to enjoy it after the hipster kids have moved on to the next fad.

Beyond that I just want to address the comment about "riding a fixie really improves your pedalling and makes it much smoother." This is sort of true, but generally not for the folks who are riding around in the 49x16 or what have you. Many generations have depended upon the fixed gear during the off season to improve their pedaling, but this has traditionally been done in extremely small gears -- like 42x22 or so. There is no magic in the fixed gear: pedaling smoothly at high cadence is only encouraged by practicing smooth pedaling at high cadence -- a not always enjoyable exercise which is enforced by a small fixed gear. Riding a large fixed gear does not perform this except down hills. In other situations, the fixed gear actually encourages lousy pedaling, as the pedals carry the riders legs through the dead spots in each pedal stroke. Many a rider has discovered, after a winter of riding the 49x16, that his pedal stroke has gotten quite a bit worse!

fixies are like computers.........just a passing fad.

Pshaw, I had a fixie back when I was 12. You see, I had one of those bikes that you shifted from the grip and had three gears. Well, it wasn't working as well as I wanted so I took it apart, and when I put it back together, I lost a few pieces.

And it transformed my bike into a fixie! I wish I known though, I thought it was just broke... ;)

I won't comment on the whole "fixie" phenomenon other than to note that a certain percentage of riders have always enjoyed fixed gear riding and will no doubt continue to enjoy it after the hipster kids have moved on to the next fad.

Beyond that I just want to address the comment about "riding a fixie really improves your pedalling and makes it much smoother." This is sort of true, but generally not for the folks who are riding around in the 49x16 or what have you. Many generations have depended upon the fixed gear during the off season to improve their pedalling, but this has traditionally been done in extremely small gears -- like 42x19 or so. There is no magic in the fixed gear: pedalling smoothly at high cadence is only encouraged by practicing smooth pedalling at high cadence -- a not always enjoyable exercise which is enforced by a small fixed gear. Riding a large fixed gear does not perform this except down hills. In other situations, the fixed gear actually encourages lousy pedalling, as the pedals carry the riders legs through the dead spots in each pedal stroke. Many a rider has discovered, after a winter of riding the 49x16, that his pedal stroke has gotten quite a bit worse!

So while I have nothing against the fellow that switches to a large or medium fixed gear for entertainment purposes, it is a mistake to expect it to improve your pedal stroke.

HTH!

You find this a lot in the single speed forum where people say that riding fixed ruins your pedal stroke ... then you find out they're running 80 gear inches or the like - they have no choice but to mash so it's no wonder their action is ruined.

I like 70 gear inches (42x16 on my bike) because a cadence of 90 equates to 30km/hr which isn't a bad speed on urban roads and it allows you stop and start easily. The downside is that you find yourself working at a cadence up near 100 when the road is flat and open and when it tilts downwards ...

Unless you have a good pedal action, you bounce on the seat at higher revs and it's darned hard to get that right when your legs are forced into motion - it's probably harder to ride smoothly on a fixed gear bike than with a freewheel because you can't hide with a fixed gear whereas with a freewheel, you can cheat, even if you don't notice it. This is something I've worked out riding the two back to back ... after a year of lazy commuting on a geared bike that resulted in a ruined pedal action, something I'm clawing back now.

You only improve your skills if you work at them and do them properly - the equiptment can not do it for you ... despite what the marketing men would have you believe.

Richard

Like whatever dude.

You find this a lot in the single speed forum where people say that riding fixed ruins your pedal stroke ... then you find out they're running 80 gear inches or the like - they have no choice but to mash so it's no wonder their action is ruined.

I like 70 gear inches ...

Richard

True -- mashing the big gears is hard on the knees and hard on one's pedal form. The traditional 2nd gear on a 3-speed or single gear on a coaster brake one-speed is about 66 gear-inches, so your 70-inch figure makes sense on a lightweight bike. For the various local hills I regularly ride, I also need something around 50 inches, which is the traditional first gear on a wide-range 3-speed.

True -- mashing the big gears is hard on the knees and hard on one's pedal form. The traditional 2nd gear on a 3-speed or single gear on a coaster brake one-speed is about 66 gear-inches, so your 70-inch figure makes sense on a lightweight bike. For the various local hills I regularly ride, I also need something around 50 inches, which is the traditional first gear on a wide-range 3-speed.

I'm looking forward to the new 3 speed fixed hub from Sturmey Archer. Although I've offered a few thoughts on my gear selection, I'm now leaning towards having something like your 66 on the middle ratio - there's a small jump higher and a large jump lower so I'm looking at the middle gear for hilly stuff, the top gear for flat and the bottom gear for the occasional monster (my 'granny' so to speak).

The sad part about that hub is that you're moving away from one of the attractions of ss/fixed - simplicity, but at least it'll still be one chainline, one cog and all the virtues of riding fixed with the downsides softened a little (not being able to coast is NOT a downside).

Richard

This is an interesting thread for me. I'm about to purchase my first FG/SS bike - I'll pick it up when I visit my daughter in Manhattan next week. I think I'm going to have a blast. I love the youthful energy I see that people - most of them less than half my age - bring to the sport, at least in Los Angeles and New York. I want to tap into some of the energy, that sense of being young, the sense of freedom I have when I ride any of my bikes, that I had when I was young, in years, a long time ago.

'tis better to succeed by the power of your legs than to resort to the artiface of a derailleur :D

That's an old quote but I've lost who said it.

Fixed gear riding is different to single speed and you would do well not to confuse them - it's a bit like comparing a recumbent with an upright. The difference of course, is that with fixed, your legs move with the rear wheel whether you like it or not. However, that single difference opens an entirely new world in cycling and brings out a new volume of skills to learn.

You have far more control over your speed when riding fixed because your legs come into play in both directions and in many parts of the pedalling circle with positive pressure, negative pressure and neutral pressure. You can actually control your rate of acceleration (down hill) and deceleration (anywhere) by the resistance of your legs (not back pressure, resistance). You have far more control on loose or slippery surfaces - freewheel bikes are scary on gravel after riding fixed. It's easier to just loaf along on a fixed gear bike than a geared bike. Hills are more of a challenge when riding fixed but the power flows to the pedals in a manner that allows you to ride hills on a gear you couldn't pull with a freewheel.

In another thread, I compared a fixed ride with a geared ride over a circuit that involved a decent dose of ups and downs. No-one seems to have spotted it, but partway into that ride, I hit a down hill stretch at 52km/hr which equates to a cadence of 154 :eek: You HAVE to be able to ride that smoothly to do it, you can't just sit there and let your legs be dragged around (not if you want to survive the experiene) and I challenge any of you to hit a similar cadence on your geared bike - it can be done because it's just pedalling technique, but can you? You just don't get those experiences with a freewheel - hell, I rarely go above a cadence of 110 on my geared bike yet any ride on my fixed sees me topping 120 and far from being scary, it's a great feeling, like being part of a turbine, just as riding really fast is a buzz. Mind you, it's not often you have your HRM beeping frantically when riding DOWN a hill :D

There's the simplicity of the beast. The clean lines. You don't realise how much pfaffing about there is with gears until you compare them with a bike that doesn't have them.

And yes, fit brakes, they open up even more skills to learn and master, the people who take them off just don't understand that they are lessening the experience.

As for the whole hipster business, that's like saying that everyone who rides a bike with gears is trying to be Lance Armstrong complete with the attitude ... and it's kinda sad that the industry in this country has swallowed both lines.

And yes, I'm perverse enough to enjoy the 'huh?' reaction of non-fixed riders :D

Richard

I saw the 154 downhill post previously and decided not to comment.

Since you bring it up again and challenge us geared bikers...In December last year, we did some long interval hill climb simulations on the trainer followed by high speed cadence 125 for 2 minutes with the last 30 seconds at max cadence on GEARED ROAD BIKES WITH A FREEWHEEL. I hit 145 cadence @ of 47 mph. The guy next to me hit 152 and my wife 135. It is no problem hitting high cadence on a road bike.:thumb:

I do not see that leg speed and the ability to put out power at high cadence has anything to do with a fixed gear versus a geared bike. As both a trackie and a roadie, I train at slightly higher cadence on the road to compliment the track work. One needs higher cadence at the track otherwise you would be in too high a gear to accelerate. 50+ men hit 185 and above at the track putting out a lot of power. BTW, last year, I hit 37 mph in a flying 200 meters at the track in an 86 inch gear.

My point is there is no value in using 125 plus cadence on a geared bike - other than power training. You run out of power to overcome wind resistance long before you run out of gears or cadence. At the track, one needs a wide range of cadence since one only gets one chance to select the right gearing.

I do not ride fixed on the road so those that do can figure out what gearing, cadence and technique works for them.

The primary reason I ride fixed at the track is that the chicks dig it.:D

Fixed gears have their place. They are great for training.

However, you don't see them in bicycle races. Multi gear bikes have taken those over for a reason. Humans are underpowered and gearing helps to maximize one's abilities to a wide range of situations.

I believe that most fixed gears are like most things bought for vanity.

I suspect that the satisfaction that people experience when riding a fixed gear bike is similar to what I feel when double-clutching a car with a non-synchromesh first gear. It puts one in tune with the basic dynamics of the machinery. Some of the people in Canada like them for winter riding because there is no freewheel mechanism to freeze at -40 or so.

At one time, I considered making my Specialized Crossroads into a singlespeed (but not fixed) to make it less maintenance-intensive, better suited to winter riding, and be able to have a chaincase. Buying a bike with hub gears turned out to be a better solution for my use.

I think that there are good reasons for singlespeed or fixed. Personally, I view the bicycle as a labor-saving device, so gears are good. Furthermore, coasting is one of the best things about bikes, so fixed is out. However, everyone has their preferences and priorities, and single/fixed seems as valid as anything.

Paul

Lots of people find ss/fg more fun.

If you think it needs more justification than that, you probably don't like fun.

The old saying still applies, regardless of your age......Chicks dig fixed gear....:D
Make sure you wear a knit hat so they can't see the grey hairs (or dome, as the case may be...)

Why not?? ;)

Like PaulH, I like to draw an analogy between fixed (or SS) and driving a manual tranny car (with or without 1st gear syncro!). (My 4 wheeled ride is a 5 speed '02 Subaru WRX wagon.)

I posted at length and with considerable eloquence ( :) ) my early impressions of riding fixed some time ago when I built my conversion out of equal parts curiosity and boredom. Search on my name in this forum for posts w/ "fixed" or variations thereof if you're curious.

I ride both fixed and geared. It's just a different way to enjoy riding, and maybe even improve strength/technique. But like others have said, it's not for everyone.

Like many have said already, it may not be for everyone but hey, whatever turns your crank. Cycling is fun in any of it's forms. I'm probably never going to be a racer, a unicyclist, or a BMX'r but I can certainly appreciate those that carry on the passion. I am very new to fixed gear riding - on my second week actually. There was a time when I never would have considered fixed gear but a lonesome frame, some spare parts and a few dollars was all it took to get me started. The first thing I noticed straight away was how different it was from any other type of riding I do. Very much like learning to ride all over again, I think it will make me a better rider overall. I think it will increase my leg speed - there's no such thing as coasting. I am learning how to better modulate my brakes and I have to be more aware of everything I do.

don't knock it 'till you've tried it...

train safe--

Realized as a commuter I could probably pull all the hills in my area w/t right ss gearing. So, I had an old rb I loved and had for years. Had it sandblasted/powdercoated. Bought all the components to make the singlespeed conversion. Went to a fellow bike-geek's house on a Saturday night and we drank dark beer and built my bike. Had a great time. Riding singlespeed has made me a stronger rider. Looking forward to getting a fixie. For 2 reasons: Because I want one and because I can get one. Simple as that. :thumb:

Ok Once again I understand the simplicity of one gear. I see the importance of selecting that gear carefully. But what I don't yet get is why give up the coasting ability of a SS for a FG? On an FG you are always working aren't you?

On an FG you are always working aren't you?

Yep! Which is exactly why it is unlike any other type of riding (well, except for perhaps, a unicycle). It is different. It's challenging. It makes you pay attention.

Ok But what I don't yet get is why give up the coasting ability of a SS for a FG?

Coasting is bad for you and makes you lazy!

Riding a FG on rolling terrain makes you thinks about your elevation gain/loss. It teaches you how to conserve momentum which helps when we get back on our multi-speep road bikes.

Since I started riding FG I seldom coast on ANY of my bikes. That makes it a better workout when you have a short amt of time to ride.

Just wanted all to know, I was just wondering about FG riding, nothing against it as some say, it's all what turns your crank;) See I can totally see getting a old "ridged" MTB and say putting a 3, 5, 8 speed internal hub and making it a commuter/winter bike, heck even a SS (although I can hear my arthritic knees screaming, For GODS sake NO!!!:eek:) still I'll have to pass on FG, just seems a bit to extreem for me. For all you that FG, ENJOY!:thumb:

If your legs get tired on the fixed you can just relax them and let the momentum take over. It's kind of like coasting...

But what I don't yet get is why give up the coasting ability of a SS for a FG? On an FG you are always working aren't you?

Just let your feet go noodley....it's like coasting, and it' a good feeling. It's better than sex.

Just let your feet go noodley....it's like coasting, and it' a good feeling. It's better than sex.


Dang, I'm must not be doing it right then. It's nice and all, but...


You'll have to explain and demonstrate the technique when we do that ride with Rick.

:)

Dang, I'm must not be doing it right then. It's nice and all, but...


You'll have to explain and demonstrate the technique when we do that ride with Rick.

:)

The only thing that is somewhat awkward is reaching down, retrieving, and replacing the water bottle. :D

The only thing that is somewhat awkward is reaching down, retrieving, and replacing the water bottle. :D



Oh, well that helps explain it.

I don't have a water bottle on the fixed...:D ;)

Oh, well that helps explain it. I don't have a water bottle on the fixed...:D ;)

Well, I do have a water bottle on my fixed gear bike . . . two actually, and I find it no more difficult to get a drink than when riding my multi-geared bikes, since I don't coast when I get a drink on those bikes either.

Now regarding being better than sex . . . I can't agree there. Unless you define "better" differently than I do, which is certainly possible. Regardless, cross training is important, so both are good!

Rick / OCRR

Plus, hopefully George will be joining us on the Mar. 22nd ride. Haven't gotten a reply back from him or Robert Foster yet. Maybe I should make a new post about the ride?

I sort of agree with the waterbottle thing - it seems harder because I'm lazy on the geared bike and coast when putting it back, the reality is that for me, it's not really a problem.

One thing that's intrigued me for a while and which I think I've finally answered is: why is it so easy to slip your second foot into the toe clip as you move off on the fixed gear bike whereas it's rare to manage it on the geared bike?
Fixed - move off, slip foot into toe clip as the pedal rises for the first time, no problems
Geared - move off, miss the clip, wind up with foot on back of pedal, do a few revolutions with the clip scraping on the road, coast and pfaff about getting your foot in.

I used to think it was the pedals, then used the same pedals on both bikes (during the great pedal rebuild debacle).
Then I thought it was sheer laziness when on the geared bike but determined efforts failed to improve my hit rate much.
Then I got my gear changes wrong at a set of lights one day and the answer dawned like a flickering match at the end of a smoke filled tunnel. When riding geared, I change down when I stop and have got into the habit of taking off in a really low gear, too low probably. On the fixed gear, you're stuck with a high gear take off. With the low gear, that rear pedal comes up very quickly as you move off and so you just don't have time to cleanly slip your foot into the toe clip. With the higher gear take off, the pedal comes up slowly and with my fixed gearing, it's just right for a clean and neat slip into the toe clip. A few experiments with the geared bike and higher gear take offs confirmed the theory but it might still be bulldust.

Not that this is evidence of any advantage of one over the other mind you, but it's always interesting to track down the reasons for things and, even more interesting, what it was about the circumstances that led you to learn something.

Richard

With the fixed gear, taking off, clipping in, and clipping out to a stop are gracefully done in seamless motion......and I like that. :D

With the fixed gear, taking off, clipping in, and clipping out to a stop are gracefully done in seamless motion......and I like that. :D

I also love the feel of slowing down then the final stopping move with your foot applying pressure on the rearwards pedal and holding it - no brakes, just seamless simplicity.

Of course, it also means that the pedals are in the wrong spot to move off again and you often find the wrong foot did the stop (if stopping by a kerb where I like to sit on the saddle with one foot on the kerb/raised thingy). Neither lifting the rear wheel to spin the wheel nor walking forward a bit are particularly elegant but ...

Richard