boostbutt

I love cycling on my old Colnago with new ultegras. I've been thinking of getting a fixie as a spare bike, perhaps ride that once or twice or week but my roadie will still be my main battle tank for cycling.

I was wondering if riding both will complement each other in a way (in terms of my body and fitness)? of will they actually harm my road cycling skills?

Anyone has this combination here?

rdubbz

sure, why not. work on those mashing skills. just don't call it a "fixie". ;-)

riff

Yes! Fixed gears are fun, and a great way to start out cadence drills in the spring. If you get a flip flop hub, you'll have a nice, low maintenance commuter. If you start with some reasonable gear, like 42/16, you'll be able to handle moderate hills, and not kill your knees.

Please mount at least the front brake - again, to save knees & for safety.

schnee

If you go back and forth pretty often you won't develop any bad habits.

If you ride the fixed too much you might find yourself not lifting your foot on the up-stroke on the roadie.

If you ride the geared too much you might accidentally try to coast standing up on the fixed, and believe me you'll only do that once or twice.

TVS_SS

Its all about performance...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

Jquest

+1

I ride my fixed gear twice a week to work on mashing and endurance. And like the other gent said....be careful about not pedaling or you'll get thrown right over the front. Especially if your standing up. And by all means......please! At least one brake on the bike.

JonRidesBikes

Ive got a fixed and a CAAD9-6. Love them both

igknighted

Get one because they are hella fun, not because it is a training tool. It might help your technical skills (knowing about how much power/braking force you can put to the wheels safely, for example), but if you just want fitness stick to your road bike.

BMWdoc

I did, easier to maintain. I dont worry so much if I get caught in the rain but I only use it to commute.

h0axwa7k

I started riding on a fixed gear last summer and am about to finish putting my first road bike together this week (post forthcoming). The fixed gear has been a lot of fun.. great commuter, bulletproof, nearly maintenance free. Although I run and work a very physical job, I'm sure the fixed gear has put a lot of muscle on my legs I doubt I would have had I not started riding.

I say go for it.

MadGrad

I was so opposed to having a fixed-gear because of all the hipsters in my neighborhood, but I built one up from an old frame I found by a dumpster, and I love it. It's a great simple hard-knocks bike for riding in the rain, home from the bar*, or to the corner market. Go for it!


*poster does not encourage incredibly stupid drunk-cycling. Trust me, it's a bad idea.

ch3n207

Sure if you want to end your cycling life sooner, go ahead and f*** up your knees.

heavyMetal

Blasphemy!

iareConfusE

Yep, I ride a fixed gear because I like a change of pace sometimes. Just don't forget to keep pedaling.

spinerguy

Same thing here. Go for it.

PedallingATX

Yeah, I love riding my FG bike. I got one after I had been riding road bikes for a while already and got completely hooked. I think I neglected to ride my road bike for almost an entire month b/c I was riding the fixed so much. great fun. Don't think it will make you stronger, but riding is riding and anything to get you out there more is going to make you stronger, so I guess in that way it will be beneficial to your cycling career.

Also, whoever said it's bad for your knees, it's not. At least if you use a brake it's not.

droobieinop

Do it.

I built up a fixie before getting back on my road bike, which I'd not riden for nearly 10 years.

I really think its done me great. I've been playing with the gearing as I've changed frames and wheels. Currently unriden since switching wheels last week (not been able to remove dura ace lack ring), it has a 53x16 (87 GI) and I've been riding a 53x17 (82 GI). The latter being my usual cruising gear on the group rides.

Personally, I think riding fixed has created a vast improvement over a relativly short period of time. I do forget that I can coast on a geared bike, but that also means that I might be faster out of the turns since you can't coast through turns while fixed.

F4UX3/2

I live in San Francisco so by law I'm required to have one, but It's not a fixie! it's a single speed, that doesn't coast and only has 1 break. It's also a super fun way to destroy tires. get one

Howzit

Sad to see the "fixie" fad/trend spill from school kids to road cyclists.

Get a fixie, you will "fit in" And make sure you get a messenger style bag to go with it. Adds to the hip factor.

yellowjeep

I hate to say it but even with all ******bagery that comes with being one of "those guys" with a fixed gear I do miss mine. It really was pretty fun to ride around on when I lived in Chicago. I have been contemplating picking up another Kilo TT for a while now, I still have some extra Huffy decals too.

Lucky07

I ride mine as a commuter and keep the wheel flipped to the freewheel side, as my feeble brain would always forget which bike I was riding.

rdubbz

maybe some of us were riding track bikes on velodromes before it was trendy. take your elitist d0uchebaggery elsewhere. you should be encouraging cycling.

crispy010

build one, despite what others have said it is a good training tool - it will help with leg power, your pedaling form, and increase your maximum cadence.

And it's hella fun

coasting 

i just started to use a ss for short journeys getting around town. i don't know if it is doing any good for my cycling fitness or technique, but it sure as hell is a lot more convenient than the main road bike for start stop and leaving the bike in places when i go into a building. the typical trip is faster than by car every time.

DataJunkie

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