Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - newbie on a fixed gear bike

just got myself a fixed gearbike.
what are the do's and don't in riding a fixed dear bike?
like can i use my speedplay ......
hope i did not make a bad choice in buying a fgb...

Thanks to who ever removed that picture :)

As for fixed gear riding, don't corner too hard until you know where your pedals will hit. Prepare for the feeling that your bike will try to throw you over the handlebars. Just relax, focus on what you are doing, and you will fall in love just like the rest of us.

don't coast.

don't coast.


for reals...

and learn to absorb the force of the pedal coming up with your knee, and your elbows/hips.

remember...there's no f###ing brakes!!!!!!!!!!!!

and go fast... that's all

Do's:
1) Drink
2) Fornicate
3) Ride Every Where
4) Search the Archives of the Forum

Don'ts:
1) Drive a Car
2) Go to Starbucks
3) Get Caught
4) Wear a Brown Belt with Black Shoes (or vise versa)

Listen to Slayer! ;)

Don't scream "Outta the way! No Brakes!" when you go barrelling down Williamsburg Bridge, it'll start a 2 month long flame war on Craigslist.

And no it wasn't me who did that, I've never ridden without brakes.

I have a least a front brake on all four of mine and both on the bike with the ss/fixed hub. Start of slowly and learn how to control the bike. Find out how to feather your speed by gentle resistance against the pedals. Learn how to skid stop. I can do almost an entire ride without needing the front brake, but it's nice to have when the unexpected happens.

The bike will remind you to keep pedaling, as even oldtimers can attest to. Don't let your speed get out of control on a downhill. You gain momentum very quickly, even on a slight incline. Fixed-gears are quite enjoyable once you master the skills. It only took me a few miles on a borrowed bike for me to get the basics down. Your milage may vary.

Don'ts:
...
4) Wear a Brown Belt with Black Shoes (or vise versa)
i only have brown belts. and i onyl have black shoes.

how did i get myself into such a mess?

fsnl
sparky

i only have brown belts. and i onyl have black shoes.

how did i get myself into such a mess?

fsnl
sparky


get a white belt. they go with everything.

I found this useful

http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm

get a white belt. they go with everything.

Or be like Pat Boone and get white shoes to wear with everything

Do:
Practice skidding, then show off by skip-stopping whenever you're riding with people.
Keep your chain at the proper tension.
Make sure your chainring doesn't come loose.
Let people you know very well go on short test-rides in order to generate fixie riding buddies.

Don't:
Forget you're riding fixed gear and get a stem in the teeth.

First off, loose the belt and use your NY Krypto lock to hold your pants up... or just buy pants that fit.

Pay attention, be aware. For the most part you shouldn't have to skid stop (unless of course you are showing off). You should be aware of where the traffic lights are ahead and time your peddling accordingly. Riding these bikes is all about becoming one with them and your surroundings (and flying down California street in San Francisco, without brakes of course). Oh yea, and as far as the brake thing goes, keep that front one on when you first get the bike. Start to use it less and less. When you find that you never use it, loose it. I really think it's a big part of the experience of fixies to ride without the brake. If you have it to depend on and use it once in a while then I would say you're not getting the full experience out of the bike. On the other hand, if you are unable to pay that much attention to your surroundings or plan on being on the phone during your commute, then keep the brake, it's not worth getting killed.

don't wear lycra. Unless it's from long defunct messer company. Or underneath your Carhartt's. And don't wear any trousers that go below your knee. That applies for the winter, too

on a similar note...:
tuck in your shoe-laces.

fixies are particularly vicious when anything gets trapped in the chainwheel.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=52322

fsnl
sparky

Don'ts:
4) Wear a Brown Belt with Black Shoes (or vise versa)
whatever

And don't wear any trousers that go below your knee. That applies for the winter, too
so i hafta dress like a friggin Hobbit to ride a fixed now? :eek:

depending how baggy your trousers are, if you ride long enough, they'll get caught in the chain enough times that they'll end up as cut-offs anyways.

think of dressing like a hobbit as a pre-emptive solution.

fsnl
sparky

I usually to a douple fold on the pant legs. Once to just under the knee, then fold that in half. I ruined a wheel throwing a chain, and it won't happen again. They're carharts most of the time, but I can't just cut them off. They have a 'slight' dress code at work. One of the items is no short pants :(

how do you practice skidding and what is the proper tension on a chain.