Fixed gear on a group ride
#26
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There are SS bikes and there are track bikes. A track bike has a very short wheel base and a front brake will put you over the bars before you know what happened. I learned to unclip fast, raise my legs above the bars and try to land vertical on my feet. There is no mounting boss for a rear brake on my Felt nor are they common that I have seen.
#27
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Larry, when you set up the track bike, For your size, I suggest 1/8 chain, cogs and chain rings. Avoid the 3/16 road setup. And use a rear lock ring. IMO/experience you can get excellent rear wheel braking by back pressure on the pedals. The front brake is necessary for the road to match the braking capability of the other riders and it is easier on the legs.
At the track, I am able to stop rather quickly without skidding via back pressure on the pedals. I try not to do that and use the banking and other techniques to reduce speed. However, sometimes the rider in front just slows (ran out of power) and back pedaling is effective at reducing speed suddenly. Without a lock ring, it is possible to wind the rear cog off the rear wheel - very bad.
At the track, I am able to stop rather quickly without skidding via back pressure on the pedals. I try not to do that and use the banking and other techniques to reduce speed. However, sometimes the rider in front just slows (ran out of power) and back pedaling is effective at reducing speed suddenly. Without a lock ring, it is possible to wind the rear cog off the rear wheel - very bad.
#28
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IME it depends on the terrain. Around here, every ride will have 6%-10% grades, some fairly long, and SS works fine. fixed does not, though that depends on rider strength. Obviously big g.i. will be more compatible at speed on the flat and descending if one is strong enough to climb with it. One of the people I used to ride with rode ~90 g.i. in the mountains. There was a 2 who used to come out with us on his fixed in the winter, but he'd drop off about about 30 miles. When I was riding SS with the group, I remember long periods of spinning 135 - I wasn't strong enough to climb 10% in a bigger gear. This was when I was a kid in my 50s and early 60s.
IMO it's difficult to ride well in a surging paceline if you're not matching cadence with the other riders. Plus the cornering issue. Plus I know 2 very experienced fixed riders who were catapulted in a moment on inattention. That doesn't happen if one only ever rides fixed. So no, I don't think it's a great idea. OTOH, solo fixed doesn't have any of these issues. If one is with the right group, riding geared is plenty challenging.
IMO it's difficult to ride well in a surging paceline if you're not matching cadence with the other riders. Plus the cornering issue. Plus I know 2 very experienced fixed riders who were catapulted in a moment on inattention. That doesn't happen if one only ever rides fixed. So no, I don't think it's a great idea. OTOH, solo fixed doesn't have any of these issues. If one is with the right group, riding geared is plenty challenging.
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#29
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Plus the cornering issue. Plus I know 2 very experienced fixed riders who were catapulted in a moment on inattention. That doesn't happen if one only ever rides fixed. So no, I don't think it's a great idea. OTOH, solo fixed doesn't have any of these issues. If one is with the right group, riding geared is plenty challenging.
I think the only good reason to bring fixed is that everyone or most in the group are riding fixed as well.
#32
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I was planning on buying a used one from craigslist, there are also some bike shops in san jose who have track bikes/fixies for sale. Or I could get one online (wabi looks nice but pricy) I wanted a track geometry as opposed to a more urban build, but really dont know much about fixed gears. Dont think ill take it on the velodrome
Judging from your post history, that description probably increased rather than decreased your desire to buy a sprint-geometry track bike. That said, the Specialized Langster that I bought in its first year of production (I'd been searching for a road-worthy aluminum fixed-gear bike for years) is possibly my favorite bike that I've ever owned. Ironically, the wheelbase and geometry are likely very nearly identical to those of my first track bike, the Helyett Speciale that I wheedled my parents into buying in 1964.
And I rode that Helyett track bike with my local bike club when everyone else was on road bikes, training in the hilly terrain north of New Haven. At age 13, I was an unusually strong cyclist for my age, and it annoyed one of the 17-year-old guys so much that he couldn't stay with me on the climbs that he wanted to have me kicked out of our local cycling club. (Quote: "It's not fair that he gets to go on training rides after school while I have to go to my job!")
#33
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Larry, I bought a Felt TK2 about 10 years ago because I thought I missed the ultra-short wheelbase geometry of one of my earlier track bikes I used in the early '80s. I rode the TK2 maybe 4 or 5 times a year for a while and then admitted to myself that, even though the drilled fork allowed me to install a front brake, so it's not quite as suicidal a choice as it would otherwise be, it's just too hair-raisingly skittish for enjoyment out on the road.
Judging from your post history, that description probably increased rather than decreased your desire to buy a sprint-geometry track bike. That said, the Specialized Langster that I bought in its first year of production (I'd been searching for a road-worthy aluminum fixed-gear bike for years) is possibly my favorite bike that I've ever owned. Ironically, the wheelbase and geometry are likely very nearly identical to those of my first track bike, the Helyett Speciale that I wheedled my parents into buying in 1964.
And I rode that Helyett track bike with my local bike club when everyone else was on road bikes, training in the hilly terrain north of New Haven. At age 13, I was an unusually strong cyclist for my age, and it annoyed one of the 17-year-old guys so much that he couldn't stay with me on the climbs that he wanted to have me kicked out of our local cycling club. (Quote: "It's not fair that he gets to go on training rides after school while I have to go to my job!")
Judging from your post history, that description probably increased rather than decreased your desire to buy a sprint-geometry track bike. That said, the Specialized Langster that I bought in its first year of production (I'd been searching for a road-worthy aluminum fixed-gear bike for years) is possibly my favorite bike that I've ever owned. Ironically, the wheelbase and geometry are likely very nearly identical to those of my first track bike, the Helyett Speciale that I wheedled my parents into buying in 1964.
And I rode that Helyett track bike with my local bike club when everyone else was on road bikes, training in the hilly terrain north of New Haven. At age 13, I was an unusually strong cyclist for my age, and it annoyed one of the 17-year-old guys so much that he couldn't stay with me on the climbs that he wanted to have me kicked out of our local cycling club. (Quote: "It's not fair that he gets to go on training rides after school while I have to go to my job!")
#34
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I regularly ride with fixed gear riders and it isn't a problem. In fact on the flats, they can sprint out the gate faster than any of the geared cyclists. I especially make it a point to draft the bigger fixed gear riders because they're great for blocking the wind and can pull better on shorter road segments. Though when we hit the hills, I unfortunately can't reciprocate the favor and leave them behind!

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I've done it, but only easy/friendly group rides. And of course, I had a front brake. I wouldn't be comfortable doing hard group rides on a fixie, but if I were to try I'd stay at the back.
#36
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Generally, 92 has too much traffic with most of the route without dedicated space for bikes and little shoulder with slow moving cars. As such, cyclists have to compete with cars for road space and that cuts in both directions. Slow cars slow down cyclists and heavy traffic in both directions squeeze cyclists to the right.
Could I do it? Absolutely, Would it be fun. No way and there are too many better alternatives.
The most fun route to the coast and back is OLH to 35. 35 to 84 to the coast. Right on Stage after a coffee at San Gregorio and then right on Tunitas Creek and decend Kings Mountain back to Woodside.
I rode a lot on the west side of Skyline and saw zero fixed gear riders.
I would check out what the guys rode and the setup for races like Redhook. Those were street races with fixed gear no brakes. I suspect track bikes with short cranks.
And we have a fixed gear forum here. I suggest you take the Larry Sellerz show over there. They will love some fresh meat.

Last edited by Hermes; 06-11-22 at 12:05 PM.
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Larry, the more I think about it, the more I want to move this thread to Single Speed and Fixed Gear forum. It is running out of gas here and you will get more info on setup/frames and etc as well as riding in groups from riders who favor fixed over geared versus a group that favors gears over fixed.
Let me know if you want it moved.
Let me know if you want it moved.
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#38
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I have not ridden 92 to the coast nor would I and I would not recommend it. I have ridden 92 from Canada to Skyline in the early morning and then left on 35 - light traffic. In the morning the ride up 35 to Kings/Tunitas Creek is inspiring. And I have climbed OLH, up Skyline past Kings and then descended 92 back to Canada - interesting but not necessarily a lot of fun. Although, Alto Velo does it from time to time.
Generally, 92 has too much traffic with most of the route without dedicated space for bikes and little shoulder with slow moving cars. As such, cyclists have to compete with cars for road space and that cuts in both directions. Slow cars slow down cyclists and heavy traffic in both directions squeeze cyclists to the right.
Could I do it? Absolutely, Would it be fun. No way and there are too many better alternatives.
The most fun route to the coast and back is OLH to 35. 35 to 84 to the coast. Right on Stage after a coffee at San Gregorio and then right on Tunitas Creek and decend Kings Mountain back to Woodside.
I rode a lot on the west side of Skyline and saw zero fixed gear riders.
I would check out what the guys rode and the setup for races like Redhook. Those were street races with fixed gear no brakes. I suspect track bikes with short cranks.
And we have a fixed gear forum here. I suggest you take the Larry Sellerz show over there. They will love some fresh meat.
Generally, 92 has too much traffic with most of the route without dedicated space for bikes and little shoulder with slow moving cars. As such, cyclists have to compete with cars for road space and that cuts in both directions. Slow cars slow down cyclists and heavy traffic in both directions squeeze cyclists to the right.
Could I do it? Absolutely, Would it be fun. No way and there are too many better alternatives.
The most fun route to the coast and back is OLH to 35. 35 to 84 to the coast. Right on Stage after a coffee at San Gregorio and then right on Tunitas Creek and decend Kings Mountain back to Woodside.
I rode a lot on the west side of Skyline and saw zero fixed gear riders.
I would check out what the guys rode and the setup for races like Redhook. Those were street races with fixed gear no brakes. I suspect track bikes with short cranks.
And we have a fixed gear forum here. I suggest you take the Larry Sellerz show over there. They will love some fresh meat.

move it plz

#39
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the only thing you need to concern yourself with is not to unconsciously mimic the other group riders when they coast - could make the ride way more interesting as you're launched into the air. Flat bars should be fine, but I would have two brakes - I know all the fixie-heads talk about about how they can stop on a dime by back-pressure on the pedals, but in a group ride, two brakes rule for controlled breaking. When you become an FG expert like 79pmooney, and all your groupmates know this, feel free to run one brake. Until then....
That said, I find speed control riding in a group better with a fixed gear; the bike responds instantly to changes pedal pressure, just don't count on it being able to stop you "on a dime."
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How do you feel about a fixie joining in a group road ride? Would you want them to have two brakes or would a front brake be sufficient? Think they are worse than a TT bike even if the rider stays off the aerobars? I saw a fixie on a group ride once, he just stayed in the back, it was a "slow" day im not sure if he could have kept up on the fast days. Im getting a track bike soon and was planning on running a front brake to start out, and don't plan on doing hooligan stuff like whipskids. Are drop bars nececary, I know bullhorns can get caught up in the handlebars of dropbars, but flat should be fine right
Because (with the exception of a Bianchi Pista I had 20-odd year ago) my fixed-gears have all been either conversions on older road frames or purpose-built custom road fixed-gears, I've always run brakes fore and aft while still using the fixed-cog-and-lockring's capabilities to modulate speed. I've also always used dropped bars, preferably something like a classic Maes bend, something that is NOT "ergo" but with the classical curves to provide all the little adjustments within each position to better use more muscle groups in different ways. The materials I read in the early 70s shaped my thinking that it's better to have the bar tops no more than two inches below the top of the saddle, and I can switch between standing climbing with my hands on the brake lever hoods to classical British climbing methods espoused in the 40s and 50s of sitting back in the saddle and holding the tops of the bars near the stem and slowly " turning 'em 'round" - or even easing into the drops and muscling things through. I mean, you could use flats, but you cheat yourself out of a lot of different positions when you do so.
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#41
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I find myself mainly using the hoods or flats when riding, especially when just trolling around. I think lots of people have drop bars and never even use the drops, they could benefit from flats
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YMMV, but I found track geometry to be uncomfortable for road rides of longer distances. If you’re not using it on the track, I’d get something a little more forgiving. A Surly Steamroller, maybe.
#43
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If someone comes and reads this thread down the road keep in mind you can ride just about anything in a group ride if the group is cool with it and you can handle yourself in that ride. If you cannot comport yourself safely and within the spirit and rules of the group, you need to ride solo elsewhere or find a group that meets your skill level or beliefs on safety. Putting others in danger because you feel you need to ride with others is just wrong. When you are riding with a group make sure your bike is in good working order with proper brakes (unless it is a group of brakeless fixed gears and everyone can handle their bikes not that skidding is stopping or safe and secure but it is what it is) If you are going on longer rides, ride something comfortable not just to show off nobody cares but if you are uncomfortable and whining and whinging people will care as they won't want to hear it unless everyone is also in the same spot.
Last edited by Hermes; 06-15-22 at 10:07 AM. Reason: Removed Trolling and Insulting Language
#44
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If someone comes and reads this thread down the road keep in mind you can ride just about anything in a group ride if the group is cool with it and you can handle yourself in that ride. If you cannot comport yourself safely and within the spirit and rules of the group, you need to ride solo elsewhere or find a group that meets your skill level or beliefs on safety. Putting others in danger because you feel you need to ride with others is just wrong. When you are riding with a group make sure your bike is in good working order with proper brakes (unless it is a group of brakeless fixed gears and everyone can handle their bikes not that skidding is stopping or safe and secure but it is what it is) If you are going on longer rides, ride something comfortable not just to show off nobody cares but if you are uncomfortable and whining and whinging people will care as they won't want to hear it unless everyone is also in the same spot.
Last edited by Hermes; 06-15-22 at 09:44 AM. Reason: Revised language to reflect other deletions
#45
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Moderation note: Please get back on topic.
#46
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Considering doing one tomorrow. Small group of newbs will be going slow. I may not be the only SS, but am pretty sure I would be to only fixed. I wouldn't do it with a bunch of fast roadies, but mostly because I would get dropped on the first hill.
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