Finally, I'm on a fixie...
#1
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Finally, I'm on a fixie...
Ok, so, many of you know that I got my Bianchi in the other day, and today was my first day to ride. I LOVE FIXED. But, clipless... is another story. I've already taken quite a few falls because I can't get my feet out, but I'm getting used to it all, the whole swivel foot to get out, and that shouldn't be a problem in a week or so, like second nature I hope.
Trying trackstands tonight, (gotta learn sometime), I found it made my back hurt? and I couldn't do it at all, (that's where a lot of my spills came from, losing balance and not getting feet out to catch myself.)
Any tips, suggestions, advice, well wishes, ANYTHING, for the noobie would be great. Already love cycling, now I love it more with a fixed.
Trying trackstands tonight, (gotta learn sometime), I found it made my back hurt? and I couldn't do it at all, (that's where a lot of my spills came from, losing balance and not getting feet out to catch myself.)
Any tips, suggestions, advice, well wishes, ANYTHING, for the noobie would be great. Already love cycling, now I love it more with a fixed.
#2
MADE IN TAIWAN
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SF
Posts: 2,438
Bikes: Tarmac, Humble, Makino, Schwinn
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
practice trackstands without being clipped in... that should help a bit. What pedals did you end up getting?
#3
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Some shimano's my LBS had. I don't know... road cleats, I don't really know if I like it. I feel like I'm going walk around with bruised hands and knees forever.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,363
Bikes: DW
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
everyone falls the first time w/ clipless. s'ok. won't kill you. just gotta retrain your brain and muscle memory to do something earlier than you used to do something.
here's a bunch of info you might find helpful. https://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm
here's a bunch of info you might find helpful. https://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm
#5
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, that site is definitely in my favorites. I don't know why my back hurts so much when I try and trackstand. :\ Straining to hard? Thinking to hard? I don't know. Anyone else have problems like this?
Thanks for the input guys.
Thanks for the input guys.
#6
Bow$$
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bodymore, Murderland
Posts: 2,013
Bikes: Surly Instigator '02, Schwinn Traveler fixed conversion, '02 Fuji Track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
were you carrying a boulder by chance?
#7
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
the pedals...
the shoes...
Damn, forgot take my boulder off after work. I'll remember to do that next time.
the shoes...
Damn, forgot take my boulder off after work. I'll remember to do that next time.
#8
like, really sloppy
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: calipornia
Posts: 2,285
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
road shoes are a drag.. you should try mtn shoes and spds or eggbeaters.. or pedals with straps and clips
#9
Better than you since 83!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Up a big F'ing Hill
Posts: 1,117
Bikes: Fixed Gear 79 Schwinn Sprint
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sloppy robot
road shoes are a drag.. you should try mtn shoes and spds or eggbeaters.. or pedals with straps and clips
#11
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by eddiebrannan
probably just tensing way too much because too much to think about all at once.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 894
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The clipless usedtoness will come in time for sure, probably no matter what pedals and shoes. I used to be terrified to ride in town with clipless; now when I ride my beater with platform pedals I'm terrified my feet will just slip off, or I'll dump if I have to take sudden evasive action. Lost a sandal once on the main drag in the rain, the odd click click click of walking around in shoes and cleats sure beats that.
I practiced falling down on grass for a while, and still don't have the nerve to fall down. Trackstanding on a slight upward slope is easier for me; I actually still do it better on a freewheel bike, but after a few weeks I learned it's easier and actually pretty fun to go reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slow fixed, which will help the balance on a full balanced stop.
congrats!
I practiced falling down on grass for a while, and still don't have the nerve to fall down. Trackstanding on a slight upward slope is easier for me; I actually still do it better on a freewheel bike, but after a few weeks I learned it's easier and actually pretty fun to go reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slow fixed, which will help the balance on a full balanced stop.
congrats!
#14
Cornucopia of Awesomeness
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: not where i used to be
Posts: 4,847
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
newbie clipless tip #1.... crank the cleat tension all the way down until you're confortable clipping out. Some pedals come with the tension cranked all the way up.
#15
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, I loosened the tension on the pedals the lowest it will go so I can get out while I learn. Thanks everyone.
#16
knucklehead
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: East Village, NYC
Posts: 520
Bikes: Rocky MT Track, Vivalo, Pista Concept, De Bernardi Track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what gearing are you running? stock 48/16?
You ought to shorten it up a bit to get the hang of controlling your bike.
18 or 19t cog on the back.
You ought to shorten it up a bit to get the hang of controlling your bike.
18 or 19t cog on the back.
#17
nerd hyphy
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 833
Bikes: merckx/presto/gitane
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
maybe relax on the whole trackstand thing. your back could just hurt from stress and tension. just go out and ride and get used to everything. let your muscles build up and let your body and reflexes adapt. then it may be easier to learn all the fun stuff. my wife got her first fixie and learned to ride and brake and do skids in about three hours but she paid for it for days after that. maybe taking it easy is better at first
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 89
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are you new to all of these, riding fixed, clipless shoes and trackstands? If so, I'd say get used to just riding the bike, once you're comfortable then learn to track stand. Once that's mastered, then add the clipless pedals.
#19
))<>(( forever.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 249
Bikes: 2006 bianchi pista, giant polo junker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks jon. Yeah, I devote a couple hours every night to go ride for a bit. Trackstand and all that after I'm done with my ride. Skidding is next. (Kinda scared to do that since I already fall so much.)
Should I really switch gearing from the stock? Does it make that much difference?
Should I really switch gearing from the stock? Does it make that much difference?
#20
Bicycle Rider
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Decatur and Athens, Ga
Posts: 141
Bikes: 1987 schwinn super sport with full 89 dura ace build, 1987 schwinn tempo fixed gear
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
while I have nothing relevant to add to the discussion, skidding is easy as pie so dont worry about that. Just remember, as counter intuitive as it may seem, the faster you are going the easier it is.
#21
knucklehead
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: East Village, NYC
Posts: 520
Bikes: Rocky MT Track, Vivalo, Pista Concept, De Bernardi Track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by xunwedsailorx
Thanks jon. Yeah, I devote a couple hours every night to go ride for a bit. Trackstand and all that after I'm done with my ride. Skidding is next. (Kinda scared to do that since I already fall so much.)
Should I really switch gearing from the stock? Does it make that much difference?
Should I really switch gearing from the stock? Does it make that much difference?
Makes a huge difference in learning how to control the bike. A shorter gear (than 48/16) is gonna make it easier to learn all of the stuff.....
#22
J.A.M
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 1,230
Bikes: Pista
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
if you plan to skid alot go with 48 x 19. more skid patches. .... 48 x 18 has 3 i think.
__________________
The Bianchi That Could
The Bianchi That Could
#23
Elitist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times
in
77 Posts
Trackstands are overrated.
Spend your days getting comfortable with riding, accelerating, slowing, turning, and stopping your bike as well as getting in and out of your pedals.
Spend your nights taking care of the muscles that you've been working out.
BTW, I know your next questions will be about skipping and skidding. Those are overrated, too. Work on the fundamentals and the rest will come in time.
Wax on, wax off.
Spend your days getting comfortable with riding, accelerating, slowing, turning, and stopping your bike as well as getting in and out of your pedals.
Spend your nights taking care of the muscles that you've been working out.
BTW, I know your next questions will be about skipping and skidding. Those are overrated, too. Work on the fundamentals and the rest will come in time.
Wax on, wax off.
#24
WTF?
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: livin' the dream
Posts: 462
Bikes: trek cross, gt mtb, khs track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jamtastic
if you plan to skid alot go with 48 x 19. more skid patches. .... 48 x 18 has 3 i think.
#25
hateful little monkey
Join Date: May 2003
Location: oakland, ca
Posts: 5,274
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by carleton
Trackstands are overrated.
Spend your days getting comfortable with riding, accelerating, slowing, turning, and stopping your bike as well as getting in and out of your pedals.
Spend your nights taking care of the muscles that you've been working out.
BTW, I know your next questions will be about skipping and skidding. Those are overrated, too. Work on the fundamentals and the rest will come in time.
Wax on, wax off.
Spend your days getting comfortable with riding, accelerating, slowing, turning, and stopping your bike as well as getting in and out of your pedals.
Spend your nights taking care of the muscles that you've been working out.
BTW, I know your next questions will be about skipping and skidding. Those are overrated, too. Work on the fundamentals and the rest will come in time.
Wax on, wax off.