Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - new to this not-shifting thing...

Hi guys --

Been riding seriously about 5 years now. Started out at 245 or so, now down to 212. I have a steel road bike (Kona Kapu), an aluminum MTB and a custom lugged steel roadie built and on the way (with a stop over at NAHBS).

A couple of weeks ago one of my riding buddies spotted a lugged steel bike from the same builder on ebay. It's an older build from Ira Ryan, and is finished in a more classic brown, with a TT within 1/2 cm of what he is building for me.

And now it's mine. :) I've already changed out the stem and bars (silver) and need to change the crank arms as 165s are simply too short for me (I ride 175s on the road bike -- I'm about 6'3.5). Beyon that, plans are for a front brake and a bike for simple, fast workouts when I don't have 5 hours for a long ride.

It rides amazingly well -- feels very alive under me. Haven't come off yet, and have built up the confidence to ride with clip less on it, although I have yet to go anywhere but a local park for laps. So far have managed 22 miles, and got her up to 29.5 mph.

Any tips on how to set it up and how to get my brain used to not mashing up a hill and then stopping (without the ability to coast, that has given me a mighty shove a few times...)?

Looks awesome. You'll get used to the lack of coasting soon enough.

Depending on what you plan on using this bike, I'd change up the gearing accordingly. If you're looking for short, intense workouts, up the gearing and go tackle some hills. Just be careful going back down them without brakes if your gearing is too steep.

...Any tips on how to set it up and how to get my brain used to not mashing up a hill and then stopping (without the ability to coast, that has given me a mighty shove a few times...)?

Ride. Repeat.


You'll be fine. The key is to make sure that your gearing is sufficiently low for the hills that you plan to ride. What is the gearing on your bike?

Thanks, guys. Gearing is 49x17. Feels about right -- sustained on flats is comfy cadence-wise around 15-17mph, and with a high spin 30 seems doable.

That's awesome going fixed is so fun I remember my first couple rides were awesome not knowing how to stop and learning how to slow down and ride safe. I would try to just get use to the crank arms if I were you instead of spending more money unless you have it. I ride a thrasher trick bike to commute with 160 crank arms that came with it. Then i'll switch to my surly steamroller with 170s and I notice a difference at first then after a few minutes im fine and it doesn't bother me.