xB_Nutt

My first time riding a fixed gear in to work today was great. It was actually the first time I rode a fixed gear on the main roads so I was definitely taking a chance. I just bought the Masi last week and since then it has rained every day. It's much too nice to ride in the rain, at least for now. I shaved about 10 minutes off my 8 mile commute compared to the Cannondale tank I usually ride in. I was praying that no one pulled out in front of me, since I am not sure what I would have done if I needed to stop quickly. I guess I will get over that once I can control the bike a little better. I have figured out how to slow myself down with my legs, but an emergency stop would be tough at this stage in the game. I like the fact that the fixed gear works different leg muscles, you can definitely tell the difference when you get off the bike. That's all, just wanted to share my excitement with people I know might understand...

DataJunkie

You should at least run a front brake IMHO.
I commute on a fixed salsa casserole with rear and front brakes. The rear only sees use when I flip it to SS.

timothyday

Congrats on the Masi and getting it in rotation.
+1 for the brake though. IMO, a front brake inspires a lot of confidence and makes riding fixed a lot more fun.

xB_Nutt

Oh yea, I'm running a front brake. I am crazy, but not that crazy I guess I need to just practice some controlled panic stops with the front brake and resisting the pedals.

HardyWeinberg

So I am totally obsessing over a SS/FG (flipflop). I am this >< close to pulling the trigger on a wheelset which will really push me over onto the slippery slope of looking for other parts, which hasn't really happened yet. I think I have a lot of the parts in the workshop already shoved under various odds and ends, just need some cleaning, and at the end can move pedals and seatposts around from my other 2 bikes.

alicestrong

Glad you are having fun, so am I!

I've gone from the empty park, to the MUP, to the street...

I'm working up the courage to do my first group ride on the fixed.

cyclefreaksix

Tomorrow will be my first fixed commute and I'm really quite excited about it. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I bought a FG bike because I thought it would be more physically challenging and help me get into better shape. I'm just a little disappointed to find that it's actually much easier and LESS taxing than my geared hybrid tank of a bike. Regardless, I'm loving the simplicity of riding fixed. Ya wanna go faster? Pedal faster. Ya wanna go slower? Pedal slower. No worries about gear selection or extreme cross chaining, etc, and maintenance should be a snap. I have a front brake and am in the process of adding a rear brake just in case I ever want to ride in freewheel mode. I'm also contemplating putting on a rack, but I'd just hate to ruin the clean, simple lines of the bike. Ahhh, 'scuse my ramblings...

jyossarian

Learn to skip. It scrubs speed fast and will slow you down quick. If you can ambi-skid, you'll slow down even faster. Keep in mind that it'll also increase wear and tear on your tires, but not as much as excessive skidding. Keep your head up so u know when to slow down and hold back, and when to pick it up and dart forward.

As for putting a rack on your bike, I've got a rack, kickstand and fenders on mine plus I use a pannier. The clean look might be ruined, but there's no denying I use mine for commuting first and foremost so that's what it's outfitted for.

d2create

Wow, saving 10 minutes on a 8 mile trip is a HUGE difference.

JeffS

I you want to stop, use focus on using the brake correctly.

Everything else is about trying to conform to someone else's definition of cool. I'm not saying that learning to "play" with the bike isn't fun, but as soon as someone starts talking about how fast they can stop without a brake I realize they've lost all perspective...

CliftonGK1

Welcome to the club!
I've got an '88 Trek 400 ss/fg conversion that I ride to work once or twice a week. I use the ss side to get to work (2.25mi downhill that loses 600+ feet of elevation is not the most awesome way to start a fixed commute). I flip it at lunch and ride home on the fixed cog.

anthegreat1

just started today commuting on my FG. Stand up and resist if you need to. Do u have foot retention? Pull up in addition to pushing down to resist the pedals.

noglider 

I recently bought this bike from Nashbar. I like it a lot. You can't beat the price. I changed the tires and pedals right away. It's a lot cheaper than converting a bike. They also have a SS/FG with straight handlebars for a little less.

jpdesjar

congrats on your first fixed commute, i remember mine being exciting too
i have learned to always look ahead so that i can be prepared to make a move so i don't often have to stop abruptly...people here offered up some good advice by using a skip stop but you'll find the front brake combined with back pedaling works fine

nahh

Awesome! I'm going to start commuting on my fixed gear soon, I've been riding it for 6 months, but haven't commuted with it yet. Maybe tomorrow...
Practice skip stops, if you can get the hang of skipping while applying the front brake you'll get really good stopping power.
And whatever you do, don't look like a tarckstar...

jyossarian

If you don't endo. Be careful doing this.

xB_Nutt

Thanks for all the advice and congrats. I made it home too. Can't wait to do it again...

Flimflam

Get used to "letting go" of the pedals and letting them move your feet, that's what coasting becomes on a FG. Use your front brake when you "coast", and you can begin to backpedal, too. Put more weight further back if you fear endo's... front brake control on a FG is the same as any other bike though, don't go overboard and over the bars

Skip-stopping and using your front brake will effect a good combo to slowdown/stop - you'll probably learn to look further ahead and find your way through issues/traffic to avoid the all-out stop. If you're riding fixed, I'd absolutely recommend foot retention and personally think clipless is the way to go. As someone said above you can stand up and really haul on the drivetrain to slow it down, pulling up on the lead foot while pushing hard on the back foot - it works remarkably well once you're used to the technique. Just practice, take your time and it'll all come to you.

Trackstanding might be considered a "trick", but it can be very useful - and having good balancing skills is, IMO, never a bad thing.

I use my FG as my primary transportation and commuter, it has two bottle cages, full fenders, a Brooks saddle and I've got a rack ready to go on there, too. Don't need to worry about "look", IMO.

Enjoy the ride!

AngryScientist 

the only advice i will expand upon is to definitely practice your emergency stopping procedure. dont wait until a car pulls out in front of you and you need the "trial by fire" technique. find some empty road or parking lot and practice stopping from speed. good luck, and keep having fun out there!

jpdesjar

i really enjoy trackstanding at lights on my commute...it's such a good skill to have