Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Platforms? Really? What gives?

There are several fixed gear rides around the campus where I go to school and I've recently noticed that many do not have any sort of "foot retention devices". I don't understand this. It seems dangerous and just flat out terrifying to me. I personally need to have my feet somehow nailed to those pedals in order to feel like I have any sort of control. Is there anyone out there riding a fixed gear with platform pedals and actually HAPPY about it?

Tom

I ride platforms w/ RELoad Lockdown straps. Best of both worlds.

I ride one of my fixed geared bikes without foot retention. It's really not that big of deal. I do have front and rear brakes.

it's pretty nice if you have a really low gear ratio. My friend's bike is like this but is set to about 60 gear inches. I've ridden it many times it feels just fine with big BMX pedals

Yes. There is no need for any "foot retention system" if you have brakes and know how to pedal correctly.

I ride without pedals, but I have a front brake

You ^^ ride without pedals? You must be talented, I've never been able to master this :D

I had clips and straps on my commuter bike but took them off cause it just takes more time to get in/out of them. It's not worthwhile for me. I run brakes, and I don't have a problem with it. My other bikes are clipless but I'm not gonna hobble around campus in my cycling "shoes."

My son rides fixed without foot retention. He prefers it.

I am waiting on parts for my first fixed gear build and I won't be getting foot retention. Mainly I ride wearing sandals unless it is snowy/slushy, then I wear waterproof boots. In neither case would I want straps, and my sandals aren't cycling sandals so they won't accomodate clipless pedals.

they side without foot retention until the first mishad. then they get foot retention, a brake, and a helmet.

Apparently, tricycles were invented for murdering children....

http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photofiles/list/483/863tricycle.jpg

I ride without pedals, but I have a front brake
May the force be with you.

I have Crank Brothers Mallets on my Langster, big platfroms with the clipless in the middle. I often ride not clipped in. I run the same setup on my mtn bike, and often I am not clipped in. You just get used to it.

For me, at less than about a 65in. gear inches (or so), it's no problem. You are rarely able to go fast enough to run into a problem.

I have a fixed 29er (with a brake) and 66in. that I run that way. I use it for short errands and doddles around the neighborhood.

Gee, maybe they have an actual brake on the bike.


There are several fixed gear rides around the campus where I go to school and I've recently noticed that many do not have any sort of "foot retention devices". I don't understand this. It seems dangerous and just flat out terrifying to me. I personally need to have my feet somehow nailed to those pedals in order to feel like I have any sort of control. Is there anyone out there riding a fixed gear with platform pedals and actually HAPPY about it?

Tom

It seems dangerous and just flat out terrifying to me. I personally need to have my feet somehow nailed to those pedals in order to feel like I have any sort of control.

Learn how to ride a bike?

Is your fixed gear seriously the first bike you've ever ridden? If not, did all of those other bikes require your feet to be "nailed to those pedals" in order for you to have any sort of control?

I ride BMX platforms. No straps. With a Front Brake. 46-16 gearing on 23c tires.

I am in control. I can start, stop, trackstand, ride up and down curbs and stairs, etc. just fine.

I am unable to bust phat skidz... Though I'm not sure whether to attribute that to a lack of foot retention or a lack of effort.

I'm not opposed to foot retention. I ride clipless on my mountain bike. Flats for BMX and Trials bikes - which are for tricks, unlike a fixed gear road bike.

I planned to try riding clipless on the fixed gear, but am pretty determined not to now, knowing that I strike fear and anger into the noobs of the bike world.

i would think if you have two brakes foot retention, although nice to have, isn't SUPER necessary on a fixed gear.

although, personally speaking, when i bomb down hills on a fixed gear bike (i have a low gear setting so i spin like crazy) i would definitely want foot retention on a fixed gear bike, however many brakes, just because the way the peddles start spinning i would not want my feet to be bucked off the peddles like a bull bucking a bull rider and have my feet in the air with the peddles spinning frantically...

maybe they just have coaster brakes? i have a coaster brake 700c bike, skidz for days!

i ride once a while with normal shoes on my click pedals to bars and the grocery store - if you know what you are into you ride like it. don't think people on the campus are going that fast...

http://media.torontolife.com/dynimages/pothole.jpg

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http://0.tqn.com/d/bicycling/1/0/L/1/-/-/dimension_platform_pedal.jpg

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http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/meat%20grinder.jpg

Apparently, tricycles were invented for murdering children....

have you ever seen a kid on a tricycle go down a hill? HAH!

I ride without pedals, but I have a front brake

Must have one of those downhill bikes I keep hearing about where you ride a ski lift or something to the top of a hill so you can just roll down.

Wow... interesting. Thanks for the insight. I of course meant to disrespect to those who ride without foot retention. Just curious.

No, I am no noob to the fine art of bicycle riding, but now I have to wonder... What kind of correct pedaling technique am I not learning because of my reliance on being strapped down or clicked in?

That would be the Sick Mash technique.

Apparently, tricycles were invented for murdering children....

http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photofiles/list/483/863tricycle.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUOws0TV1Oo

There are several fixed gear rides around the campus where I go to school and I've recently noticed that many do not have any sort of "foot retention devices". I don't understand this. It seems dangerous and just flat out terrifying to me. I personally need to have my feet somehow nailed to those pedals in order to feel like I have any sort of control. Is there anyone out there riding a fixed gear with platform pedals and actually HAPPY about it?

Tom

Over five years have passed since i first saw the foot retention question asked, and people STILL prefer to starting a thread about it vs. searching.

This forum is so bizarre...

sorry...

The fixed gear rides locked up around my campus look like they'd cause debilitating bodily damage from the fit issues alone, so maybe they just don't care.

bahaha. Yeah, there seems to be an unwritten rule of no seatpost shall be visible around here. Campus bikes, beaters, whatever.

bahaha. Yeah, there seems to be an unwritten rule of no seatpost shall be visible around here. Campus bikes, beaters, whatever.

The colourful fixies I see seem to go by the rule of saddles tilted 10-25 degrees forward. At least beaters have an excuse of sorts.

Over five years have passed since i first saw the foot retention question asked, and people STILL prefer to starting a thread about it vs. searching.

This forum is so bizarre...
and the other threads about what bike to get and sizing we'll just yell "SEARCH!!!" :D

The colourful fixies I see seem to go by the rule of saddles tilted 10-25 degrees forward. At least beaters have an excuse of sorts.

The first time I read this I thought you said sandals tilted 25 degrees and I got very confused.

i run brakeless fixed with clipless pedals and crocs. im kind of a big deal so yah...

Apparently, tricycles were invented for murdering children....

http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photofiles/list/483/863tricycle.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JtZkNXfes4

Man i've never used a foot retention device. You just gotta be an aware rider dood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUOws0TV1Oo

That looks like it is a blast.