anyone ride fixed in the winter?
08-21-14, 10:17 PM
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anyone ride fixed in the winter?
I saw this video in Montreal of this fixed gear group, they were riding in the dead of winter in the snow, looks like they didnt have any trouble riding in the snow. Anyone have experience?
08-21-14, 11:00 PM
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I ride my fixed-gear MTB in the winter with studded tires, but I'm not sure yet whether that's better than a simple coaster brake. With either one, it's pretty obvious that any slipping is due to the tire losing traction on the ground, rather than your rim brake freezing up.
I ride my fixed-gear MTB in the winter with studded tires, but I'm not sure yet whether that's better than a simple coaster brake. With either one, it's pretty obvious that any slipping is due to the tire losing traction on the ground, rather than your rim brake freezing up.
08-22-14, 10:04 AM
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I'm a fan of riding fixed in the winter. I can usually feel the slip well enough to take control of the bike before falling off, which might be one benefit of fixed over coaster. There's no derailleurs to clog up, and I only run a front brake on the winter fixed gear, so there's really not much to maintain. The issues I've had with getting through deeper fresh snow (more than 6") are presumably related to my tire choice, not the gearing.
I prefer fixed for most applications though, so I might be biased.
I prefer fixed for most applications though, so I might be biased.
08-22-14, 11:38 AM
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Got a link?
I ride my fixed-gear MTB in the winter with studded tires, but I'm not sure yet whether that's better than a simple coaster brake. With either one, it's pretty obvious that any slipping is due to the tire losing traction on the ground, rather than your rim brake freezing up.
I ride my fixed-gear MTB in the winter with studded tires, but I'm not sure yet whether that's better than a simple coaster brake. With either one, it's pretty obvious that any slipping is due to the tire losing traction on the ground, rather than your rim brake freezing up.
08-22-14, 01:38 PM
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08-22-14, 02:05 PM
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~>~
Riding FG in the winter is what serious club riders did for the last century or so, not unusual in the least, just part of the normal training regimen.
I still put most of my FG miles on in that season for the same reasons we did >40 years ago.
-Bandera
I still put most of my FG miles on in that season for the same reasons we did >40 years ago.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 08-22-14 at 02:09 PM.
08-23-14, 12:11 AM
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Riding a fixed gear bike in the winter works really well if you are used to riding one and are comfortable.
Since the cranks are always turning some people may get tripped up, especially if they hit a patch of ice or frozen ruts etc.
I prefer a single speed coaster with studded snow tires and fenders because I find it easier to just balance in the "attack position" and coast over unpredictable patches of ice, slush, frozen ruts, metal or wood bridges.
I like the simplicity of not having change gears or the brake pads, cables etc freezing up. I found out the hard way one winter after a rain storm during the day and at night everything was frozen when the weather changed from 30 degrees + to -20.
Fixed and Coaster is very similar except you can coast on the coaster (duh...lol).
I just like the option of being able to coast when I have to.
Since the cranks are always turning some people may get tripped up, especially if they hit a patch of ice or frozen ruts etc.
I prefer a single speed coaster with studded snow tires and fenders because I find it easier to just balance in the "attack position" and coast over unpredictable patches of ice, slush, frozen ruts, metal or wood bridges.
I like the simplicity of not having change gears or the brake pads, cables etc freezing up. I found out the hard way one winter after a rain storm during the day and at night everything was frozen when the weather changed from 30 degrees + to -20.
Fixed and Coaster is very similar except you can coast on the coaster (duh...lol).
I just like the option of being able to coast when I have to.
08-27-14, 06:41 PM
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