I am new to fixed gear riding and I don't know many things.


For one thing can it be done with flat pedals as long as the gearing is not too short?.


Also how much strength do I need to have to lock up the wheel?.


Is this possible with flat pedals as well or is it matter of having my feet completely secured to the pedals more than leg strength and gear size?.


it may use leg muscles that I don't even have yet.

Physics tell me that rim brakes are easily more powerful because of their position on the wheel and disc brakes have their strength from their size, like a really big cog but for braking.


And does a fixed gear encourage me to use better pedaling form naturally?.


Less stomping more rotation?.

What bike do you have?

flats + straps + brakes + 65" = winning

Don't over complicate it, ride a simple set up with a low gear in the beginning and you'll learn the ropes quickly.

Attach your feet to the pedals, put a brake on just in case, and read some of this: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixedgear.html

I ride fixed on flats. They're actually a pair of old road pedals, not even broad flat platforms. My feet never slip off the pedals. However, I am one f those boringly sensible people who uses brakes and makes his tyres last, so I don't lock the back wheel to skid.

There's a GCN video showing that there is little difference in efficiency between flats and clipless. I prefer the convenience, economy and safety. Although when I "go for a ride" I put flat cycling shoes on, I can get on my bike in any shoes if I just need to nip to the shop, or do a quick test ride after servicing it. I can dab a toe down when I'm on a rutted track, and I can walk easily, climb over stiles, and so on.

Yes, if I put expensive clipless pedals on all my rides, and bought some expensive compatible shoes, I might get an extra 1% or 2% of efficiency in certain specific circumstances, particularly the sudden sprints that I never do. Maybe I'd get an extra 5%. So what? I'm not racing, and as part of my reason for riding is to keep fit and lose weight, why make it easier?

I'm in a minority, and I may well be shouted down, but as far as I'm concerned, cycling is much simpler than the marketing people would have us believe.

I'm not saying clipless is a Bad Thing, only that it is unnecessary. I used to ride regular 100+ mile days with 2 different clubs around the time the first clipless systems came in in the 1980s. We all used traditional clips then, but most of us did not go to the extra trouble of cleats, because they make you walk like an extra from Happy Feet.

The advantages of clipless have basically nothing to do with "efficiency" and whether or not you use them depends entirely on personal preference and the kind of riding you do.

To cite GCN again, one reason is they're faster:

That particular video shows that two people who already prefer clipless, got on better with what they were used to in a brief test. Be that as it may, there are plenty of cheaper ways I could go faster, like losing some weight, training more, and trying harder. Each to his own; Other people may love 'em, and some may hate 'em. Simple fact is, they are not as necessary as the market would have us believe..

They're necessary if you're racing. 15-30% power increase during a sprint isn't a matter of preference. Foot retention has been part of competitive/sporting cycling for the past 100 years. Clipless is just a functionally superior system compared to what was used before it. Is it a necessity for everyone who rides a bike? Of course not.

Efficiency is less the issue for me on fixed gear. Sure it is nice to gain whatever but really for me it is about foot retention. I have ridden both on flat pedals and clipless pedals on my fixed gears and I feel vastly safer clipless. I have gone down some hills where my feet slipped off and it was tough and slightly dangerous trying to get them back on. However you could potentially achieve some foot retention with some pedal straps and maybe a nice grippy pedal (like an MTB pedal with adjustable studs) but I don't like single sided stuff because a lot of times it trends toward the side you need pointing down.

I always use a brake and have no reason not to do so! The only time I might say forgo a brake is if I was doing UK hill climbing races but even then I would probably have brakes for training and would just use really light brakes and levers and housing or of course at a velodrome where brakes are not permitted but I don't have a velodrome around me and while I would love to ride around in one I probably wouldn't make a schlep for it.

+1 .

This topic has been covered Many, many times before. A quick search should bring up all you'd ever want to read on the subject.

I have spd pedals and brakes front and rear. I don't recommend going without some foot retention on a fixed gear bike.

Watching a fixed gear rider on platform pedals is like watching an automobile race. You can't look away because you know there will be a crash any second.

Or, the rider knows he can't stop for ****, so is riding slower than a grandma.

Either way, don't do it. Use toe clips at least. Clipless if possible.

..

I ride my fixed on flats without retention. I have toe clips and straps on my gravel bike. I ride further and faster on my fixed and have never had an accident on it or had my feet fly off the pedals. As with all things, you can practise and do, or you can buy more stuff.

I did it for some time a few years ago. It's all gravy as long you're smart and have two brakes.

I'm just here to give good advice on safety, i.e. wear your seat belt, use condoms with hookers, etc.

Plenty of people do not follow these rules and are still perfectly fine. Today you are fine. Tomorrow your brain is in a tree. Today you are fine, tomorrow you have gonorrhea.

Your life is in your own hands. Nobody else's problem.

I have a better idea than using condoms with hookers: not being with hookers.

You can take precautions to mitigate risk (use condoms) or avoid the risk (not go with hookers).

I ride according to my experience, making due allowance for what I'm riding, whether it is the fixed, the gravel bike, the big wheel unicycle or the Moto Guzzi. If I have an accident on the fixed, lack of foot retention will not be the cause.

My son's commute bike is fixed with grippy flats and two brakes. The usually wears Sambas. Unlike his old man, he hasn't crashed yet.