Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Knee injuries

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paulimym
03-16-09, 05:10 AM
I would like to know if riding single speed or fixed gear can cause knee injuries because we need to push harder going uphill. Thinking of getting one but I'm concern.Thanks in advance:o
seanile
03-16-09, 05:20 AM
its more the stopping thatll get ya over time
ZiP0082
03-16-09, 06:08 AM
I believe that good bike fit and fairly low gearing on fixed gear will reduce any knee damage. If I've adjusted my bar height/saddle height/saddle positioning, sometimes I'll notice more of a strain until I get it into the sweet spot.
dougland89
03-16-09, 09:32 AM
48x19 safe/ fairly conservative?
vegipowrd
03-16-09, 09:38 AM
Every once in a while I accidentally run myself into the ground over the weekend. I just switch to my geared bike for a few days and get back to normal pretty fast. If you are having more serious problems it may be from fit or gearing too high/low. Braking only with your legs will mess you up bad if you're not ready for it. It seems to use a different set of muscles than normal riding develops.
Take it slow for the first few months and you should be fine.
vegipowrd
03-16-09, 09:41 AM
48x19 safe/ fairly conservative?
Is that a question or a statement?
I wouldn't call that conservative, but that's because I haul a bunch of stuff and live in a hilly town. If I was going to a coffee shop in Chicago on a windless day, then sure, it would be conservative.
dougland89
03-16-09, 09:51 AM
question asking if that is too harshf or my knees or not?
Jabba Degrassi
03-16-09, 10:02 AM
A nice low gear ratio and front/rear brakes and you should be fine.
Depending on how hilly your area is, fixed may or may not work for you. The easier it is to climb a hill, the faster you will have to pedal downhill. Depending on the condition your knees are in, fast spinning may be completely out of the picture, so a low-gearing single-speed may be the best compromise until your knees feel better.
Dustintendo
03-16-09, 11:52 AM
will resisting the pedals screw up your knees? i know skidding can over time
iansmash
03-16-09, 11:59 AM
well considering that it's the same force, i would say probably
paulimym
03-16-09, 05:01 PM
Thank you guys for your opinions and comments. Really appreciates. The bike I have in mind comes with front and rear brakes, so I don't need to use pedal braking. It also comes with flip flop wheels.
I'll start off with the free gear first before flipping it to fix gear. So as long as I get the sitting/height position right and not to over strain I should be fine. Thanks again friends for your valuable input.:thumb:
Btw this is the bike I have in mind. Its SE bike, manufacturer is more into BMX bikes
ZiP0082
03-17-09, 06:03 AM
The Lager should be fine, I'd just stay away from their lowest-end model, the Draft.
vegipowrd
03-17-09, 09:50 AM
question asking if that is too harshf or my knees or not?
The operative part is "my". It just depends on how you ride, what you carry, how long you ride and where you are going. Watch out for early warning signs: pain behind the knee, tightness around the knee, pain below the knee, etc. Take it easy (switch bikes) for few days if you get any of that. Think about switching gears if it happens often. If problems get worse you will have to take more time off and that sucks.
exhumed
03-17-09, 10:08 AM
The Lager should be fine, I'd just stay away from their lowest-end model, the Draft.
I agree. I saw a Draft at my LBS ysterday and the components looked so cheap. Especially the crankset.
paulimym
03-18-09, 04:33 AM
The operative part is "my". It just depends on how you ride, what you carry, how long you ride and where you are going. Watch out for early warning signs: pain behind the knee, tightness around the knee, pain below the knee, etc. Take it easy (switch bikes) for few days if you get any of that. Think about switching gears if it happens often. If problems get worse you will have to take more time off and that sucks.
Thanks for your advise. Will certainly keep it in mind.:thumb:
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