Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

To spin or to mash?

Search
Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

To spin or to mash?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-20-16 | 06:15 PM
  #1  
daryldeal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: The most congested city in the world.

Bikes: Celt Steel Frame

To spin or to mash?

What is your preference? what is your pedalig style? thoughts pls.
daryldeal is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 06:23 PM
  #2  
Unkle Rico's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 10
From: dEnVeR

Bikes: CENTURION / LOOK / Bianchi

I like to ride from point A to B without dying while having fun
Unkle Rico is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 06:30 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 687
Likes: 5
I have crappy knees...

mashing hurts.

that leaves spinning.
FullGas is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 06:42 PM
  #4  
seau grateau's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9,948
Likes: 400
From: PHL

Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block

Spash.
seau grateau is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 07:00 PM
  #5  
Leukybear's Avatar
THE STUFFED
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,671
Likes: 21
From: San Francisco, CA

Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone SLR9 Gen 8

Depends on how many potatoes the recipe requires.
__________________
¿pɐǝɹ oʇ sᴉ sᴉɥʇ ƃuᴉʎouuɐ ʍoɥ ǝǝs

Originally Posted by veganbikes
Pound sign: Kilo TT
Leukybear is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 07:28 PM
  #6  
Altimis's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
I do smash (Spin + Mash lol)

Its depends what is your preferred commuting speed, I usually ride like flash (kinda dangerous, I knew)

So when heavy traffic, I looks like mashing and when its light and no cars around, I spin like crazy P.S. my gears ratio is 90+ GI
Altimis is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 07:54 PM
  #7  
daryldeal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: The most congested city in the world.

Bikes: Celt Steel Frame

Originally Posted by Altimis
I do smash (Spin + Mash lol)

Its depends what is your preferred commuting speed, I usually ride like flash (kinda dangerous, I knew)

So when heavy traffic, I looks like mashing and when its light and no cars around, I spin like crazy P.S. my gears ratio is 90+ GI
90 GI! you're a monster :O

Pics of teh drivetrain for proof if ya dont mind?

Kidding aside, what city u in? hows the elevation and traffic?
daryldeal is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 07:59 PM
  #8  
andr0id's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,522
Likes: 7
I set up my gears to give me same avg cadence as my road bike.

Depending on the season and terrain, that's 46x18 or 46x17. That gives me 18mph or 19mph at about 90 cadence. Top speed around 29 or 30...
andr0id is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-16 | 08:25 PM
  #9  
Altimis's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by daryldeal
90 GI! you're a monster :O

Pics of teh drivetrain for proof if ya dont mind?

Kidding aside, what city u in? hows the elevation and traffic?
OOps, my mistake, my GI is 87.8, not 90+ sorry my combination is 52x16 btw

I am no monster at all, I just love this combination and I can do it with comfort

And well, pic prove nothing though but I will post it anyway, I wish I could show you how I smash my pedal



P.S. sorry for big image, hope its fine here

My city homwtown is Bangkok, terrain mostly flat + bridge, no serious hill! traffic is terrible heavy here but mostly flowing, I just go with flow
Altimis is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 12:13 AM
  #10  
JeremyLC's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 2
From: Arlington, TX

Bikes: 2008 Surly Cross Check, 2010 Fuji Track Comp

Originally Posted by Altimis



[B]P.S. sorry for big image, hope its fine here [/B

What crankset and chainring is that? It looks like an IRD Defiant crank, but the logo is wrong.
JeremyLC is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 01:25 AM
  #11  
daryldeal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: The most congested city in the world.

Bikes: Celt Steel Frame

Originally Posted by Altimis
OOps, my mistake, my GI is 87.8, not 90+ sorry my combination is 52x16 btw

I am no monster at all, I just love this combination and I can do it with comfort

And well, pic prove nothing though but I will post it anyway, I wish I could show you how I smash my pedal



P.S. sorry for big image, hope its fine here

My city homwtown is Bangkok, terrain mostly flat + bridge, no serious hill! traffic is terrible heavy here but mostly flowing, I just go with flow
Naise bangkok ha? gud stuff man, your bike is so shiny too
daryldeal is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 01:43 AM
  #12  
Altimis's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by JeremyLC
What crankset and chainring is that? It looks like an IRD Defiant crank, but the logo is wrong.
Its local brand, the logo name is Chaser but you probably not find any info on website because they sell in local only

Talk about looks, its also looks like Mighty Sugino Crankarm too, here example of pic I pick from google



And you say IRD Defiant? indeed, its does looks alot like



So, I guess mine was copy cat of Sugino/IRD crank design, just different chain ring design

Originally Posted by daryldeal
Naise bangkok ha? gud stuff man, your bike is so shiny too
Thanks
Altimis is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 07:55 AM
  #13  
mihlbach's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,656
Likes: 145
From: Long Island, NY
With a single speed or fixed gear you're gonna do a little of both...you should prefer both.
mihlbach is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 08:04 AM
  #14  
SquidPuppet's Avatar
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
 
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,861
Likes: 41
From: Coeur d' Alene

Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors

Coast.
SquidPuppet is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 08:55 AM
  #15  
franswa's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 251
From: ATX
A little bit of this and a little bit of that. There is a time and a place for both. I doubt anyone LITERALLY only does one 100% of the time.
franswa is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 09:06 AM
  #16  
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
Veteran Racer
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,854
Likes: 913
From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas

Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels

Mash uphill and spin downhill.
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 10:06 AM
  #17  
AlmostTrick's Avatar
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL

Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!

Like Andr0id, I believe in gearing my FG for a cadence of about 90 rpm’s at my normal cruising speed.

Last weekend I did a group ride with 5 other regular riders, two of us on FG, the others on geared road bikes. The other FG rider, one of the geared riders, and myself held the front. Everyone pushed it and was spent… Didn’t want to do another lap.

The other FG rider was running 48-16. I’m older and not as strong as him and run 46-18. Not only do I find spinning more comfortable than mashing, but it’s the only way I could’ve kept up!

At some point, gearing up doesn’t make one any faster, only mashier! I found my point.

Those running high gear inches are one or more of the following:

Truly stronger and faster than average riders.
Mashers
Posers
AlmostTrick is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 04:54 PM
  #18  
daryldeal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: The most congested city in the world.

Bikes: Celt Steel Frame

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
Like Andr0id, I believe in gearing my FG for a cadence of about 90 rpm’s at my normal cruising speed.

Last weekend I did a group ride with 5 other regular riders, two of us on FG, the others on geared road bikes. The other FG rider, one of the geared riders, and myself held the front. Everyone pushed it and was spent… Didn’t want to do another lap.

The other FG rider was running 48-16. I’m older and not as strong as him and run 46-18. Not only do I find spinning more comfortable than mashing, but it’s the only way I could’ve kept up!

At some point, gearing up doesn’t make one any faster, only mashier! I found my point.

Those running high gear inches are one or more of the following:

Truly stronger and faster than average riders.
Mashers
Posers
Yo AT, u cant be that old mannn, im sure u can handle 48/16 from time to time whats your cycling location btw and hows the weather?
daryldeal is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 09:40 PM
  #19  
AlmostTrick's Avatar
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL

Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!

Originally Posted by daryldeal
Yo AT, u cant be that old mannn, im sure u can handle 48/16 from time to time whats your cycling location btw and hows the weather?
Of course I can handle 48/16, (and even higher!) ... on my geared bike where I can shift up and down as required.

But not on a fixed gear.

Let me try to explain another way. A few months ago I entered a local charity "race". All riders were timed with a chip. Going all out for 46 minutes on my 46-18 I managed an overall average of 18.6 mph over 14.5 miles. Not the fastest and not the slowest. (actually placed 4th out of 67, which really surprised me)

This put me at a tad over 90 rpm average cadence. I COULD NOT have pushed a taller gear at that cadence. Had I run a higher ratio, my time would have been slower. 90-100 rpm's (sometimes more) is common for ultimate cycling performance.

I'm in the western Chicago suburbs. It was 20 degrees when I biked to work at 6am this morning. It's 12 miles each way and I do it over a hundred times a year... less in the winter, but I still hit every month.

Where you at, and what's your cycling story?
AlmostTrick is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 09:44 PM
  #20  
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 14,779
Likes: 743
From: Northwest Georgia

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Originally Posted by mihlbach
With a single speed or fixed gear you're gonna do a little of both...you should prefer both.

This is about right.


-Tim-
TimothyH is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-16 | 09:57 PM
  #21  
daryldeal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: The most congested city in the world.

Bikes: Celt Steel Frame

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
Of course I can handle 48/16, (and even higher!) ... on my geared bike where I can shift up and down as required.

But not on a fixed gear.

Let me try to explain another way. A few months ago I entered a local charity "race". All riders were timed with a chip. Going all out for 46 minutes on my 46-18 I managed an overall average of 18.6 mph over 14.5 miles. Not the fastest and not the slowest. (actually placed 4th out of 67, which really surprised me)

This put me at a tad over 90 rpm average cadence. I COULD NOT have pushed a taller gear at that cadence. Had I run a higher ratio, my time would have been slower. 90-100 rpm's (sometimes more) is common for ultimate cycling performance.

I'm in the western Chicago suburbs. It was 20 degrees when I biked to work at 6am this morning. It's 12 miles each way and I do it over a hundred times a year... less in the winter, but I still hit every month.

Where you at, and what's your cycling story?
Naise ah just a simple commuter in east manila, 24kms total round trip everyday, 4 hills, heavy traffic and pollution, 30 degrees celcius morning rides.

But sometimes too lazy to go out biking when its raining
daryldeal is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-16 | 10:03 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 27
From: Vermont

Bikes: Tanglefoot Hardtack, Riv Sam Hillborne, a Purple Waterford

When it comes to potatoes can you really lose?
Wspsux is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-16 | 08:14 PM
  #23  
Cyril's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: Southwestern, Ontario
Originally Posted by Altimis
OOps, my mistake, my GI is 87.8, not 90+ sorry my combination is 52x16 btw

I am no monster at all, I just love this combination and I can do it with comfort

And well, pic prove nothing though but I will post it anyway, I wish I could show you how I smash my pedal



P.S. sorry for big image, hope its fine here

My city homwtown is Bangkok, terrain mostly flat + bridge, no serious hill! traffic is terrible heavy here but mostly flowing, I just go with flow


No Foot retention? Are you running fixed?
__________________
Fixed Gear Randonneur
A cult within a cult
Cyril is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-16 | 08:54 PM
  #24  
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 14,779
Likes: 743
From: Northwest Georgia

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Originally Posted by Cyril
No Foot retention? Are you running fixed?
And what kind of frame is that?


-Tim-
TimothyH is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-16 | 09:53 PM
  #25  
ThermionicScott's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Looks like a freewheel to me.
ThermionicScott is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.