Thoughts after a week with on my first FG/SS bike
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Thoughts after a week with on my first FG/SS bike
After a year and a half of commuting on road bike and a 29er (for when there is snow or I have to carry a lot of stuff), neither of which are conducive to mounting fenders and both of which have more gears than I ever use, I bought a SS/FG bike with fenders to commute with.
I rode it set up as single speed for a few days, then fixed for a few days, then single speed again. Here are my thoughts thus far:
I keep unconsciously tapping the sides of the brake levers - not with any intent to shift. I never noticed before, but I have developed a habit of fidgeting with my STI levers.
I love fenders. I love not having to swerve around puddles. I love not having wet shoes.
I like riding without shifting, but I like riding with shifting too. Variety is nice.
About the "connectedness to the bike" that fixievanglists rave about - if you are pedaling hard enough to keep the top of the chain taught, your are no more connected with a fixed gear bike than with any other chain driven bike. When you are not pedaling hard enough to keep the chain taught - do you really want to be that connected at those times? It is nice to be able to maintain a slow speed at intersections without repeatedly applying and releasing the brakes, though.
There are some things that I thought would take some getting used to when fixed that didn't - taking off, stopping, unclipping, turning my head to look behind me. There is one thing I had not thought of that I still have not managed to do while fixed - blow a not rocket.
I rode it set up as single speed for a few days, then fixed for a few days, then single speed again. Here are my thoughts thus far:
I keep unconsciously tapping the sides of the brake levers - not with any intent to shift. I never noticed before, but I have developed a habit of fidgeting with my STI levers.
I love fenders. I love not having to swerve around puddles. I love not having wet shoes.
I like riding without shifting, but I like riding with shifting too. Variety is nice.
About the "connectedness to the bike" that fixievanglists rave about - if you are pedaling hard enough to keep the top of the chain taught, your are no more connected with a fixed gear bike than with any other chain driven bike. When you are not pedaling hard enough to keep the chain taught - do you really want to be that connected at those times? It is nice to be able to maintain a slow speed at intersections without repeatedly applying and releasing the brakes, though.
There are some things that I thought would take some getting used to when fixed that didn't - taking off, stopping, unclipping, turning my head to look behind me. There is one thing I had not thought of that I still have not managed to do while fixed - blow a not rocket.
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About the "connectedness to the bike" that fixievanglists rave about - if you are pedaling hard enough to keep the top of the chain taught, your are no more connected with a fixed gear bike than with any other chain driven bike. When you are not pedaling hard enough to keep the chain taught .
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YeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeS! That's exactly when riding fixed gives you that connected feel, when you're not going all out. I really feel "at one" (I know, so cliche) with my bike at slower speeds, weaving through tricky situations, not so much topping out as fast as I can go. Give it a couple more go's, I bet you'll become hooked. When I made the switch from SS to fixed, it was a couple rides before I really started to like it. There's an adjustment period for sure.
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