davidmcowan

Can someone explain to me why I've read so often that fixies are good for winter commuting. And while we are on the topic would it be wise to add something that is a slick for when teh snow falls? Last winter I did it on slicks but had a couple of questionable incidents and this winter i won't have as much braking power to rely on due to my fixie.

grolby

I think that the reasoning is that the fixed wheel gives you a very good feel for exactly what the traction situation at the rear wheel is. Also, it's possible to slow down by resisting with your legs in case brakes freeze up, less mechanical complexity, etc.

I think that, although this is true, lots of bikes make good winter commuters. I've ridden in two winters with rim brakes and derailers. The first winter was a bit sketchy due to crappy brakes, but the next one was fine. However, I rode most of that winter on a bike with hybrid (front derailer, 3-speed hub) gearing. I still had rim brakes, which wasn't a problem. This winter I'll be riding a 3-speed Schwinn frankenbike and expect to have no problems.

As for tires, you might want to try cyclocross or MTB knobbies, depending upon wheel size. This is definitely more critical on the front wheel, you can probably get away with a slick or inverted tread semi-slick on the rear. Just don't go too fast, no matter what kind tires you're riding on .

I-Like-To-Bike

Possibly because those who think that is true write about it frequently. Also depends where you do your reading and whose posts you read/trust..
Even more relevent, depends on how you and your sources define "good for commuting."

Cyclist0383

I think it's largely a fad. Wait three years and see how many people are advocating riding a fixie in a real winter.

While I love riding my fixie during dry weather, I don't think I'd like to try it in winter. As a winter commuter I find that when I get off main roads I often need to use my granny gear due to deep snow. Also, winter road conditons change rapidly, from deep snow, to ice, to packed snow, to dry roads. For safetly and efficiency I find that each of these conditions needs it's own gearing.

If you live somewhere that has a mild winter, or cleans it's streets like a German grandmother cleans her house, go for it. Otherwise look for something with gears.

From December to April I use Nokian 106 studded tires.

dobber

As a fixed rider (not exclusively), my only comment as to the benefit / suitability of fixed gear in the winter is the lack of gearing and brakes to get mucked up. Basically less maintenance.

Then again, it depends on your "winter". Winter for me is -20F and hard packed snow.

davidmcowan

Oh, i should have specified that I live in Denver with fairly mild winters and snow off the road within a day or two.

-=(8)=-

I became a fixie convert last winter, my first in
Vermont and the longest of any area Ive lived in.
Because I could not keep up with the salt and slush that were ruining
my junk geared bikes got me thinking about it, and then actually
doing it sealed the deal. I cant elaborate any further here but you
do have waaay more control in slippery conditions by being directly
linked to the wheel instead of relying on a mechanical third party that
might be affected adversly by the afformentioned undesrable elements.
I wouldnt go slick, but contrary to popular belief a skinny tire works better
in the snow for me. A 28 with Cyclo-X tread I think would be ideal.
That being said, I am not using my fixed this winter because even though it
was bought in the winter as a beater I have fallen in love with it and cant
stand to see its premature aging vis-a-vis icky road chunder !!
I will be splitting hairs and using a S.S. hub braked single speed after the
first snow. Opinions vary wildly and often get ugly. This is my opinion for what
its worth

marqueemoon

You do get instant feedback about your level of traction when riding fixed, and of course there's less of a drivetrain to get mucked up, but the latter is true for singlespeed as well.

What I definitely don't like about riding fixed in the winter is darkness. Riding dark pothole-ridden streets in the rain on a skinny tired bike I can't coast on is just not my idea of fun. Also, more reaction time is required in the dark and resisting with your legs and a front brake alone may not be enough. Also, if you run two brakes you don't have to rely so heavily on being locked into the pedals to stop, so you run platform pedals and wear boots if you want.

Finally there is the issue of fenders and handling. A road, cross, or touring frame with horizontal dropout is really the way to go. Slick roads are not a good place for track geometry, and if you want to run fenders, horizontal dropouts make it much easier to get your wheel out when (not if) you get flats.

Sooo... If I were setting up a fixed gear for winter commuting it would have to have:

fenders
horizontal dropouts
two brakes
fat tires

I just prefer singlespeed for nasty/wet/dark conditions though. It's a lot less stressful than riding fixed.

TheDL

This is sorta out in left field but, so I assume all you folks who live in places where they salt the roads ride aluminum bikes with full alloy components in the winter?

Cyclist0383

Nope. I a ride steel frame which has been treated with Frame-Saver. It also gets a lot of TLC over the summer.

Mos6502

I can't imagine any reason fixed would be better than a singlespeed which can coast in slick conditions, a coaster brake probably being best if you're winter riding on only one gear. If anything you're probably more likely to break traction going over icey spots on a fixed gear than you are on something which allows you to coast. Three speeds work fine too, all of those gear keeping cozy inside their hub.

LóFarkas

To the naysayers: get a clue.

Soooo many people have had derailers cables, derailers, freewheels etc. gunk and freeze up. BMX freewheels actually coast forwards sometimes.
Fixed just works. You have few drivetrain parts, and the ones you have are bombproof. Whatever happens, the chain will stay on, you will have drive, you will have braking even if the brake pads are blocks of ice and the rim is covered by a film of ice. You can control the braking on the rear wheel very finely, which is nice on slippery roads. A front brake is very warmly recommended, though.

Plus the slush does less damage, and a full drivetrain change is cheaper anyway.

becnal

An internal hub transmission and foot brakes are also unaffected by winter conditions. And you still get to coast.

-=(8)=-

Coasting is NOT a plus in slippery conditions....

Cyclist0383

Get a clue, not everyone rides the same way as you.

I take care of my bikes and the only problem I had last winter when it was -30c was that the grease in my hubs froze and the hub would not engage properly for the first kilometer or two. Same thing would have happened with a fixie, except when the snow gets deep I can change gears and ride through it instead of walking.

MichaelW

In the UK the tradition for many club riders was to use a fixie over winter but one with clearance for wider tyres and fenders. It is simple, nothing to go wrong and is good for training legs. We dont get much deep, heavy snow but people ride fixies in the 3-4" that we do get. Your style of winter bike really should reflect the kind of winter you have.
It was not the only kind of winter bike, some people used a hub geared racer style bike or ordinary derailler race bikes.

I-Like-To-Bike

The OP asked about what is good for winter commuting? Is that what you are writing about?

I-Like-To-Bike

Is that right?

Mos6502

I've never had a freewheel freeze up, at least not in Colorado - we get a lot of snow, but it doesn't get very cold. I suppose if you lived somewhere in the northeast where it does get very cold that could happen. And now I'm in washington, so supposedly I'll get even less snow now and it still won't get very cold.
Can somebody point out why not being able to coast would be better in slippery conditions? I'd think coasting would prevent you from sideslipping accidentally, but I can't think of how not being able to coast would improve anything.

ghettocruiser

I always find it interesting that there is NEVER any concensus on winter equipment.

CBBaron

Actually this problem would not happen on a fixie as the hub does not engage anything. The fixie hub is only bearings between the axle and hub. The cog is directly attached to the hub which drives the wheel. Nothing to freeze up and fail to work.
Still you do have a point about having several gears for various road conditions. My winter fixie has a considerably lower gear than my summer ride and so is somewhat slower in good conditions. When the snow starts acculumating the relatively narrow 35mm studded tires cut through pretty effectively and have only left me walking on heavily rutting walking paths. My main reasons for fixie riding are lack of require maintence and reliably. I use brakes front and rear on a touring bike converted to fixed. Even if the rim brakes are ineffective I still have braking capability. And my drive train never lets me down. Cleveland sees lots of snow so the road crews use plenty of salt. They also are pretty efficient in removing the snow so I seldom deal with deep snow or icy roads but salt and slush are very common. These conditions play hell on derailers and rim brakes but do not really affect fixed gears.
Still to the OP I would definately recommend using at least one brake on your fixie to improve stopping.
Craig

CBBaron

Coasting is fine in slippery conditions it is braking that is the problem. With experience you can coast through a ice patch as easily with a fixie as you can with a freewheel bike, but the fixie will provide you a better feel of the available traction when you try to brake. If you lock up the rear wheel on a freewheel bike you don't realize it until the wheel starts to move sideways. On a fixe you get immediate feedback. This may be the difference between going down and keeping the bike under you. It a small advantage but one combined with the reduced maintence and improved reliability makes it well worth it to me.
Craig

rykoala

I got laughed at at a LBS when I told them I ride a studded tire fixed gear in the winter for commuting. They thought their Surly Pugsley (https://www.surlybikes.com/pugsley.html) would be better I guess. I am pretty happy with my set up. I am going to gear it around 50 gear inches this year, last year was 70 and it was too high for the really nasty days. This winter I also have two wheelsets. One with slick tires that is single speed and one with studded tires that is fixed.

Last year I really liked riding fixed with studded tires in the snow. And the ice. One morning, the worst of all winter, was nothing but sheets of ice for the whole 5.5 miles to work. Cars were all over the place. I motored on like it didn't matter. I was also in boots that are NOT clipless and on platform pedals. I figure its the best combo. With the low gearing, you don't need clipless as badly. That doesn't mean I haven't thought about how to make my boots clipless though

Take care, hope this helps!

becnal

Sure it is. It lets you keep your feet to the sides and close to the ground if you think you are about to slip.

CBBaron

That Pugsley is great in really nasty conditions. I guess if I could stomache riding a bike as nice as my Pugsley on winter roads it would make a fine commuter able to handle anything you could throw at it. My only concern would be the puncture resistance on the Endomorph.
However given my disdain for maintence during adverse weather and my lack of stomache for watching a bike new bike with $100 rims and $300 hubs detoriate in the relentless salt I will have to stick with my cheap fixie. Plus I havn't figured out how to make a good fender to fit around that beast of a tire.
Craig