Learning Curve
 

Alright, I just got my ** ***** and it had a flip flop hub.

I got it converted with cheap parts, SOMA. So now I have fixed. Riding it around, I almost died a million times.

I flipped over my bars in the parking lot of my dorm.
I flipped over my bars over the speed bumps near the soccer field. Twice.
I hit a stopped car.
I fell numerous times trying to get on.
I smashed my knee trying to coast. 1000 times.
I sacked my self learning how to skid. Enough times to not have children.
I smashed the back of my legs because my feet came off the pedals.

I can say that I think I'm getting better. But the learning curve seems to be very very long, and I just wanted to know if anyone had the same problems starting to ride fixed, and if there are any tips to follow when starting to ride fixed.

Thanks.

Step 1: Install brake.

I still have both breaks on.

Step 2: Stop trying to skid.


Just ride around and stop worrying about skidding and all that stuff, it will come naturally at some point.

do you have traps-n-straps on those pedals?

I'm a little confused as to how you've managed to crash so many times already, but keep with it and I'm sure you'll be on top of it soon enough, just don't stop pedaling.

well....are you suggesting I should just ride normally?
I guess I can try that. I ride 2hrs per day, I spent 1hr today in an empty parking garage which was fun.
How long before I stop trying stupid things?

^^missed that other one...
I have the straps folded down for now...Im going to put one on tomorrow and leave the other off..as an emergency. and umm....I dont know how i crashed that much, i only got it done on saturday. sunday was my big day, and i hit that car on the way back from the shop...lol...the speed bumps were sunday evening. and the rest were all the time.

heh... I hadn't even heard of that frame before so I looked it up... if yours look anything like the bike they have on their site I'd imagine those bullhorns are part of the problem... drops would be a lot more forgiving and lead to less endos. but I'm sure you'll get used to what you've got.

not using the straps would definitely make kick-stopping extremely difficult.

holy ****. are you sure you arent secretly filming a national lampoons movie?

I had a bad accident five minutes after getting my first fixed -- tried to coast at about 18 mph, ended up eating pavement.

Once I put toe clips on (and learned immediately how to flip in without coasting), I had a much easier time not coasting. I found that my feet ended up flying off the pedals at the top of the turn without toe clips for the first few days, so my suggestion would be to put them on and immediately get used to them. Since then, I haven't had problems at all.

Find someone who rides fixed to help you along.. LoRok did so for me, showing me the proper way to skid and trackstand and tighten down the traps while riding.

step 1. Flip the wheel to freewheel.

Is that a joke? One strap?

use the straps and cages. they are your friend. i dont know how you can ride fixed without them. then again you do have both brakes.

my tip: learn to pedal in a circle.
good fixed 101:
http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm

It should not be that hard, maybe riding fixed isn't for you. My learning curve was about half a block. If you aren't going to use your clip/strap setup (or go clipless if that's your thing) you should not be riding fixed.

haha...maybe its just the strapless thing...the guy at the shop said practice on that...maybe ive been practicing too much...lol..cause ive been riding flats for 2 days...let me try this again today...RIGHT NOW!...before breakfast and before classes

something is definitely wrong with you. i propose you give up.

Get your inner ear checked...

do you have trouble riding a normal bike in the city?

I think it might be that part sandwiched between the inner ears.

Az

don't suck

it took me up and down the block about 5-10 times till i ventured out about 5 miles....

hardest part to get used to, was flipping the second strap on while still moving. now i dont really have to think about it unless i miss ;)

I'm guessing coordination isnt your strong point, so unless you wanna just flip that wheel over keep practicing. and learn to backpedal. it sounds like you're relying on the brakes. (hitting stopped cars)

awww, we are so mean, but damn funny...

Alright, lets give the kid a break. Just listen to what everyone said (minus the wisecracks). Forget the skidding. Use your brake. Use your straps. And get some practice in. It will become second nature in no time.

Maybe you should throw a freewheel on the other side just to get used to it.
Or maybe you are riding a bike that is way to big for you. Cause it shouldn't be that hard to get on.

i suggest you sign up for a 24 hour scavenger hunt around your city, that is what i did on the day i got my first fixed. that was the first non-mountain bike i had ridden and the first time in streets. My only problem was almost falling asleep and getting almost bucked off. you need to be one with the bike (hehe) I also had to tow some long-boarders

wear flat shoes ie indoor soccer shoes / slip-ons, something that is not treadless though, you need that to learn to flip your pedals on the fly.

I just started riding fixie not too long ago. My first couple rides were stressful but I think this was largely because I was being more timid than anything else. I was wobbly because I was afraid of picking up speed and not being able to stop. Once I realized that it was probably more dangerous to go slow because of fear of speed than to move at a decent clip but be in more control I was a lot better off.

Might not be applicable to the OP's situation but it helped me get from completely sucking to moderately sucking.