TimothyH

I'm a very experienced road rider. I recently purchased a SSFG, flipped the wheel and rode fixed for the first time today.

Pedaling along felt very normal but is there a technique to starting and stopping with grace and style?

I've seen fixed riders do a little jump off the saddle just as they come to a stop or come to a complete stop while still in the saddle and extend the unclipped foot "tippy-toes" to the ground. Picking up the bike by the seat to rotate the cranks before starting and walking the bike with one foot while the other is still clipped to turn around are all things I have seen fixed riders do. I totally get why after trying FG for the first time today.

Coming from a road background, starting and stopping like this (I had enough self-respect to not pick up the back of the bike by the seat) made me feel like an uncoordinated fred at best. Isn't there a technique to starting and stopping which leaves a rider with some dignity? Or is looking like a clutz part of the "track bikes are supposed to be difficult to ride" allure of fixed gear?


-Tim-

SCK

I usually just stuff the bike into the back of a car or panic-crash into curbs. That way all of the things you described seem more graceful.

SquidPuppet

I don't understand what that means.

Nagrom_

Everything about you is awesome.

seau grateau

You're not supposed to stop.

prooftheory

Can't stop, don't want to.

Scrodzilla

Oh good, another episode of When Roadies Ride Fixed is on.

Kindaslow

I think it is personal and he does not like you! Maybe he heard about you having issues with the WI cranks???? You know, it is possible....

Andersper

Sheldon Brown had some good tips on starting and stopping.

Nagrom_

I wonder what it's like living life so worried about what strangers think about you.

SquidPuppet

I don't understand what this means either.


You haven't gone out in public with your bike dressed like that, have you?

Kindaslow

Just road her this morning! Only the extreme bike nerds have issues with the WI style. My only question is whether you take that as a compliment or not???

by the way, smooth as silk!

SquidPuppet

That's what counts most.

TimothyH

Thank you.


-Tim-

hairnet

Coming to a stop, time it to have your clipping out foot at the bottom/clipped in foot up top. Hold your front brake, lean forward, rotate the crank to where you want it. Or be a ****** and just track stand. Or do whatever works at the moment and forget about it.

Huffandstuff

If I want to really impress the high school girls, I sit on my top tube and as my right foot comes to the 3 o'clock position I come to a stop and unclip my right foot then casually lean my forearms on the handlebars.

Works everytime.

Regulatori

Sometimes I think people make aspects of riding too complicated. It's like snowboarding, skateboarding, and so many other hobbies...you will most likely look/feel like a goofball at first but figure out what works best as you become more comfortable.

I've been riding road and mountain bikes for many years and just started riding fixed gear last month....in all honesty, if someone asked me the proper way to mount/dismount a bike, I would have no clue. It's just one of those things I've never paid attention to...things like "That guy angles his foot really strange when dismounting!" has never crossed my mind.

Just do what feels comfortable/natural..who cares what looks "graceful." As you get more comfortable you'll begin to make small changes without noticing. Sometimes I think people worry about stuff that 99.99% of the population isn't even aware of or cares.

cafesuada

Me neither. I do it all the time. I guess I lack self respect.

JohnDThompson 

Much easier to come off the seat, squeeze your front brake while stopped and push forward on the handlebars. The raises the rear wheel off the ground and you can easily spin it into a good location for when you start.

hardboiled718

style, grace, and dignity

Night_shift

TejanoTrackie 

https://youtu.be/LjVUc_UWldw

TenSpeedV2

As I approach the light or stop sign, get your feet where you want them, and then just skiddddddddddd the rest of the way. Lock the wheel up and slide on that rear tire for days. 5 feet, 500 feet, doesn't matter. Skidddddddddddd. Whip it side to side for more wow and street cred. The last whip I did ended up with me sliding and whipping it into a 360 front wheel manual with one hand on the bar, the other snapping a mad pic to post to the Instagramz.

SquidPuppet

Ha ha. I as well. I don't have front brakes so almost every stop requires me to push or pull a pedal with my ankle, shin, or calf. I don't even think about it, it's just been programmed in my head since childhood.

And unlike Sheldon Brown, I've never "ruined" a Brooks saddle by using it to lift a bike. WTF's up with that?

cafesuada

Yeah. Not really sure how a saddle would be ruined by lightly lifting it up.