Originally Posted by
defrag
With the same ratio , it's easier to climb a hill on a fixed gear than on a single speed.
Why is this? It seems like if you keep your freewheel engaged, it is mechanically indistinguishable from a fixed gear. I always assumed flip-flop hubs with a taller fixed ratio were set up that way to make descents more tolerable when fixed.
I could see how a fixed gear would make you a stronger rider which would in turn make hills easier at a given ratio.