Habits
 

Woke up to a rain storm today. For the first time in three weeks, I left the fixed gear at home and took in my 'normal' commuter bike. $%$# near killed myself twice trying to figure out how to stop. Those funny levers on the handlebars sure can be handy!

Don't try to skid :D

Two words for the rain sans brakes = hockey stop

I switch between them without any thought, ride the fixed 90% of the time.
The biggest difference is not the freewheel, but the frame geometry, so one bike (the CX) feels more twitchy, but I get over that after a few miles.
However I have found I do now have a habit of going much slower around corners (to avoid pedal strike), than I used to, which doesn't flow as well when riding with a group.
Al

It took me a while to get used to the difference between the SPDs on my folder and the Looks on my road bike, not to mention the totally different geometry. It's all good now. Both are "my bike", if you know what I mean. I'm happiest riding the one I happen to be riding. :)

Today was my first time back on the gearie for about 2 weeks and it felt downright weird when the pedal hit the top of the stroke. Can't really describe it but it was very strange.

I often hear of folks mentioning this 'weird' difference, but as much as I try, I don't notice it. I'm sure its there, but perhaps I can't sense these nuances.
Al

I don't really notice it either when going back to freewheel after riding fixed. For me pedaling still feels the same...but occasionally when I coast or pedal backwards (on the freewheel), I get this wierd sensation that my BB has been overtightened, until I figure out that its the other foot pressing down.

I find that in general bike commuting makes me a pathetic creature of habit, and that the slightest changes disorient me quite out of proportion.

Tell me about it. If I head out to the farmer's market or wherever on the weekend, I'll be halfway to work before I remember, "Ohh yeah I should have turned right not left out of my driveway".

It's much worse than when I was driving or walking. I think its the zen state you get into when your bike is whirrring along like the uber-machine that it and you are together.

I took the mtb yesterday after riding my fixie fairly exclusively, to the point I'd forgotten how to clear the mtb computer's memory. I found myself pedaling down hills instead of coasting like I usually did. Luckily I didn't forget how to use the brakes.

And one becomes intimately knowledgable about every crack, bump, hole, tar lump and watches the progression of dead animals decay, debris gettting embedded in the asphault, glass being cleared by car tires.
Then blamo, a light timing changes and your whole day seems out of whack.

Al

Last week when I drove to work I was still thinking about how I had to pack celan underwear, a washcloth and soap. It took me until I was about to leave before I remembered that I didn't need those items.

I have to resist the urge to move into the left turning lane when walking to the supermarket instead of going to the corner then crossing.

I was thinking about this on the way in today. I think the weird feeling I was describing when returning to the freewheel bike is that your leg is expecting to be pulled over the top. When you can coast, nothing happens and your leg goes, "Hey, what's the deal?"

I've never ridden fixed, so pay no attention to me. But...
If the pedal feels different at the top of the stroke, doesn't that imply that you're not applying power through that part of the stroke? If you were, logically there would be no difference in feel. Only if you're letting the bike drag your feet through that part of the stroke should there be any difference.

I think that is a good point. I don't change my power transfer ways fixed or free.
Al

Just curious, but why take a geared bike out and subject all the moving parts to water intrusion when the fixed gear laughs in the face of bad weather? I rode fixed all winter, from 27 below to 12 inch snows, and had nary a mechanical problem. Just curious, not making any assumtions first...

"I've never ridden fixed, so pay no attention to me. But...
If the pedal feels different at the top of the stroke, doesn't that imply that you're not applying power through that part of the stroke? If you were, logically there would be no difference in feel. Only if you're letting the bike drag your feet through that part of the stroke should there be any difference."

-I would say yes. My Commuter (non-fixed) bike is the first clipless pedals I have had other than first generation looks. All my other bikes have been strapped. I do not know if I have developed some bad pedaling habits or if I have too much play in these new-fangled Shimano clip things, but I've got some bad circling at the top of the stroke when I switch back to it after riding fixed for a while (with straps). I'm going to rachet the springs down until I nearly strip the allen screws and see if that helps. If not, back to straps I go.

Yes, that sounds right because where it occurred was near a stoplight. I was softpedaling where, if I were riding the fixie, I'd start to resist the pedals to slow down. Since there's nothing to resist, the pedals just stop. But when I'm riding steadily, no problem and in fact I feel like I spin better circles thanks to riding fixed during the winter.

I rode fixed today for the first time in about 2 weeks. Bad, bad habits have crept in from all the time on geared bikes lately. Nearly got ejected once due to attempting to coast and I felt like a total newbie trackstanding. How quickly we forget...