Originally Posted by
takenreasy
Back in April I converted my Cross Check to fixed gear. It was all that I rode for 3.5 months. Then I all of a sudden the bike felt too limiting. Meaning that any over the top sized hill was a no go, most doable hills required extra effort and planning, no coasting down hills, no coasting down hills and no coasting down hills. You get the idea. Lately I’ve been thinking of converting it back and focus on the positives fixed gear riding offers. Like its fun and keeps me interested in riding just for pleasure! Anyone else go back and forth with similar thoughts and end up sticking with fixed gear riding?
I agree it does take some planning and bit of mechanical ability. I'll switch out the cog or chain ring sometimes depending on the ride I'm doing. I run lower gears for riding around town and put on a higher end when riding out on the flats with a group of multi-speed riders.
Having a variety of gears (and a few chains with master links) helps a lot.
But on hills, you're either going to grind going up or spin like a mad man going down.