my first fix
04-18-05, 07:20 AM
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aspiring dirtbag commuter
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i myself just took the first fixie ride of my life this morning coming to work.
the back story:
saturday after my mtb ride (where i ran into heluvastella, who i think put the final push in my head to finish this thing) i had some time and a hankering to drink a couple afternoon beers so i got to work finishing off the bike while quenshing my thirst.
couple hours and 3 beers later she was done. now the hard part; i gotta try and ride this thing....
with the parts i had (my idiot self bought the wrong size front ring) i could only get a 42x18 gear ratio which wasn't that bad to start i figured, i would sart off gently.
so on a spin around my neighborhood i was quickly reminded of how much i usually coast. you wanna position your pedals to start? not without spinning your wheel you don't! you wanna adjust your goods on the saddle; don't try and coast or the bike will MAKE you pedal.
i felt the bucking feeling a couple times in my test-ride but it was never overwhelming, still i didn't really feel all to confident trying to get used to riding that thing. especially down hills of any steepness! after f-ing around for ten-fifteen minutes i realized how tired i was and how i was riding again tommorrow so i hung up the bike for some couch time.
fast foward to today:
this morning my legs hurt from two excellent days of trail rides, and i was just reading somewhere about the goodness of a nice easy recovery ride after a day or two of hard efforts. as i was getting ready to ride to work i think; hmmm 42x18 WOULD BE EASY.
i also think, i am never gonna ride this thing if i don't just hop on, so i bolt on a water bottle cage pump up the tires and it's off to center city.
other than the occasional feelings of getting bucked when i'd go to adjust myself on the saddle it was pretty good. since i was recovering i really just used the break for the hills and didn't really try to brake using my legs TOO MUCH... but man even with the little i did, it is kinda hard! i think it will be a while till i can safely ride without using the brakes too much, but it is also fun being able to control your speed so precisely on the flats! i can see how this type of riding has it's own thrills!
got to work was about 10 minutes slower than usual. it was mostly due to the fact that downhills now have to be gingerly ridden (my brake hand was even a little sore from so much use on my big downhill!). but it was cool. i am gonna try this for a while before i rush to judgement but, for now at least, i can still definitely see the value of coasting!
i'll try and post a picture tonight...
the back story:
saturday after my mtb ride (where i ran into heluvastella, who i think put the final push in my head to finish this thing) i had some time and a hankering to drink a couple afternoon beers so i got to work finishing off the bike while quenshing my thirst.
couple hours and 3 beers later she was done. now the hard part; i gotta try and ride this thing....
with the parts i had (my idiot self bought the wrong size front ring) i could only get a 42x18 gear ratio which wasn't that bad to start i figured, i would sart off gently.
so on a spin around my neighborhood i was quickly reminded of how much i usually coast. you wanna position your pedals to start? not without spinning your wheel you don't! you wanna adjust your goods on the saddle; don't try and coast or the bike will MAKE you pedal.
i felt the bucking feeling a couple times in my test-ride but it was never overwhelming, still i didn't really feel all to confident trying to get used to riding that thing. especially down hills of any steepness! after f-ing around for ten-fifteen minutes i realized how tired i was and how i was riding again tommorrow so i hung up the bike for some couch time.
fast foward to today:
this morning my legs hurt from two excellent days of trail rides, and i was just reading somewhere about the goodness of a nice easy recovery ride after a day or two of hard efforts. as i was getting ready to ride to work i think; hmmm 42x18 WOULD BE EASY.
i also think, i am never gonna ride this thing if i don't just hop on, so i bolt on a water bottle cage pump up the tires and it's off to center city.
other than the occasional feelings of getting bucked when i'd go to adjust myself on the saddle it was pretty good. since i was recovering i really just used the break for the hills and didn't really try to brake using my legs TOO MUCH... but man even with the little i did, it is kinda hard! i think it will be a while till i can safely ride without using the brakes too much, but it is also fun being able to control your speed so precisely on the flats! i can see how this type of riding has it's own thrills!
got to work was about 10 minutes slower than usual. it was mostly due to the fact that downhills now have to be gingerly ridden (my brake hand was even a little sore from so much use on my big downhill!). but it was cool. i am gonna try this for a while before i rush to judgement but, for now at least, i can still definitely see the value of coasting!
i'll try and post a picture tonight...
Last edited by max-a-mill; 04-18-05 at 09:35 AM.
04-18-05, 09:14 AM
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I rode my fixie around for my first distance yesterday. I agree with the point on you can't move around to fix your privates. That and turning to look over my shoulder in traffic are two areas that I coasted that I didn't really think about. I didn't come close to going over the tops but I did have trouble getting clipped out a couple of times.
04-18-05, 10:07 AM
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On the issue of adjusting privates:
On longer rides, padded shorts will help keep your privates in check. Wear loose but form fitting shorts/pants over and you won't have to wiggle around. Or get some MTB style baggies or some Pearl Izumi shorts with padding inside.
And; saddles. I've noticed a world of difference from going from a decently padded saddle (Flite) to a minimal padded saddle (SLR). The more padding, the more adjustment. The less padding, the less to get in the way of things it seems. It's a bit hard for a week or two when getting a minimal saddle but once your butt wears in, you become one with the saddle.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
On longer rides, padded shorts will help keep your privates in check. Wear loose but form fitting shorts/pants over and you won't have to wiggle around. Or get some MTB style baggies or some Pearl Izumi shorts with padding inside.
And; saddles. I've noticed a world of difference from going from a decently padded saddle (Flite) to a minimal padded saddle (SLR). The more padding, the more adjustment. The less padding, the less to get in the way of things it seems. It's a bit hard for a week or two when getting a minimal saddle but once your butt wears in, you become one with the saddle.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
04-18-05, 10:30 AM
#6
aspiring dirtbag commuter
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oh i had padded shorts (nice castelli's actuially). i wouldn't dream of riding without padded shorts on anything longer than a couple miles. i think the thing is when i could coast i'd just stand up while coasting a bit and let my "stuff" adjust itself then sit back down all adjusted and comfy... and that just doesn't happen with this ride yet!
and the saddle is my favorite wtb that i have on about 5 other bikes. it is comfy on everything with a freewheel so i am guessing it is not the saddle or my shorts but my under-carriage that needs to get used to fixed riding.
and the saddle is my favorite wtb that i have on about 5 other bikes. it is comfy on everything with a freewheel so i am guessing it is not the saddle or my shorts but my under-carriage that needs to get used to fixed riding.
