Training & Nutrition - Fixed Gear Road Training

Im curious who rides their fixed gear for training in the off season. This is my first off season with a fixed gear and I've been riding it exclusively for a couple weeks now. Logged about 250-300 miles.

I'm riding both on rollers and out on the road depending on time and weather factors. Its unclear to me when the benefits of riding the fixed kick in for road race purposes. Also curious how long people ride fixed during the winter as well.

I've read many articles that talk about the benefits, but have yet to see something that says, you need to do it for X amount of weeks. I'm sure its different for everyone but is there some average time folks ride fixed?

I bought a new road bike for the 05 season(its under the christmas tree now)but plan on riding the fixed gear for at least the rest of the month if not longer. My first early bird road race will be around the end of january.

cheers-
Jim

I think many roadies overlook the benefit of intense spinning that you can do on a fixed gear.

Going downhill and spinning at 130+ rpm seems to make my overall spin more fluid on the road bike.

Also, I'm finding that a fixed gear bike on rollers works better than a geared bike. I'm not sure but it may have to do with the direct pedaling action.

I agree that even after my low mileage on the fixed gear bike I "feel" like my legs are spinning in a much more fluid motion. Since I havent ridden the geard bike yet I dont know for sure.

Its alot of fun regardless to ride the fixed gear rig although there are a couple hills around here that Im not geared correctly for thus I end up out of the saddle turning about 2 RPM :) But for the most part Im OK.

Jim

If you checkout the Fixed gear forum and search the threads you will find many people saluting the benefits of riding a fixie. I myself dont ride for training purposes - but since I have started riding fixed, I have noticed an enormous improvement in my form and my quick exertion. Once you learn to climb those hills you realize force you never have had to use - the easist way to get up a hill on a fixie is to sprint. As I have heard someone say before, riding fixed is like always have a trainer nipping at your heels - you can never wimp out or slow down on a hill, cause it just gets harder.

Very beneficial. Any serious time spent on a track bike/fixed is going to help you overall. Trackies have the most efficient, fluid pedalling action of any cycling discipline.

Keep it up!!