First Fixie
 

I've been lusting over getting a fixie and I finally bought one yesterday. It is a conversion meral frame (french) with this weird type of top tube that looks like a womans bike but doesn't slope down that far. This morning I did my normal 2.5 mile commute to work on it and for the first time in over a year my legs actually felt like I had done a significant ride. I guess I coast more than I thought.

I love riding fixed so far but I've also almost thrown my self off of the bike at least twice when I wasn't paying attention and tried to start to coast. I really wish that I could blow off work for the rest of the day and go ride. just thought I'd share

Luke

Cool. good luck with the learning curve... I'm new to fixed, too, and it's harsh on my legs. In my case, it's because I have no brakes (eBay levers have not arrived yet) and slowing down really strains the muscles.

ya the gearing I have isn't real friendly for the learning curve (48-12) but I'm doing ok so far. I changed out the handlebars so I have bullhorns now and I made sure I could put a front brake on which really helps me
Luke

12!?!?!? When I wanted a 14 cog I was told 15 is the smallest in existence... Standard thread? Anyway, that's prolly too big a gear

Thats a crazy ratio for a first set up. Why not at least get a 17 on the other side of the hub for general cruising. I can't see any need for a 12 unless you are racing, which sounds like your not yet.
Al

Actually I was wrong about the 12 it is a 14. the guy I bought it from told me it was a 12 and I never checked until now. I would still like to get a 16 or 17 for the other side(it's a surly hub that is threaded fix/fix)
luke

That's still a tiny gear. I started on 45x17, moved to 45x16, and now i'm on 48x17. It feels like a pretty good gear for just about anything.

So far I have not had too much of a problem with it but I am sure a lot of that has to do with the fact that I am in the flatlands of Illinois (about 2 hours south of Chi-town) and there are no hills here at all. The only hill I've seen that is of any size was man made from when they dug a new swimming pool. I think the hill is used for sledding in the winter although we don't get too much snow here.
Luke

ah, forgot about midwest flats.

I don't see the point of 48x14 unless you are a very strong rider who consistently cruises at 30mph+. You will be able to start and stop faster with a slightly lower ratio and save your knees in the process. Even if you are in flatlands you will get headwinds that will make you wish you had a lower gear.

Al

Luke, that is big gearing. I would suggest buying a selection of rear cogs. I have a selection of cogs from 13 to 20 with a 46 tooth chainring. I've been riding the past few weeks with a 18 on the rear & spinning with a very high cadence. Other weeks, I put the 13 or 14 tooth on and grind. It makes for great training & good variety.

I definitely plan on getting some more cogs but at this point I am pretty broke. I couldn't even really afford the bike so another cog is going to have to wait until I get paid again.

nah maing, listen, 48x14 isn't that bad. I just got my first road bike ever about three weeks ago, and it happened to be a fixie (woo! woo!), and I've been tearing up roads ever since. It's 48x16. And the lowest cog I was able to find was a 13, actually, just in case anyone's wondering. From 13-16 they're $25 at Yojimbo's (North & Clybourn). Anyway, I say major kudos to you for giving this gear ratio a go.

I do have a front brake on mine, but I don't use it much (just when I get freaked out because there's a car door in my face or some idiot cuts me off).

Build up them legs!