Tmax1

So I order this bike before Christmas and it comes in yesterday. I rode it around the parking lot about two minutes before Christmas.

I scheduled myself to lead a club ride today about a month ago. A 50 mile SS/Fixed and Friends ride. So my fixed bike comes in. I pick it up. Run a brief set up. Show up for my ride this a.m. with both my SS and my new fixed.

I was torn what to ride and had just about talked myself into riding SS because I was leading the ride, familiar with it, it was geared for our diverse terrain, blah, blah, blah.

A couple folks on more than one gear bikes showed for the ride, early and cold, this morning. Since I knew them both and knew that they would not laugh at me if got bucked off the fixed I took the plunge and rode it. Well, they might laugh. A couple observations.

It was strange as I cautiously rolled out testing the backlash and fighting the fear of stopping. I went pretty slow there at first. The overall bike setup needs some tweaking, like my reach with the funky pista shape handlebars. Not coasting was, um, different. Except even with the cranks turning it felt like I was coasting at times.

Since I had put a front brake on I got over that fear of not stopping fairly quickly and even foud myself not using the brake like you pros except down some hills. There's definately a different rythmn to this madness.

The biggest difference for now is the gearing which seems to be a hot topic as of late with skid patches and all. The SS is 44/18 and the fixed is 48/18. Fairly significant difference. 10 inches or so. I did our hills just fine and the geared bikes yo-yoed past and behind me. Flats, hills. The SS spin factor helped the fixed spin.

So we did this ride and I survived. And didn't get bucked off and laughed at. And my knees aren't killing me. And it's dark outside now and I can't wait for more. The days are getting longer aren't they?

Maybe I can practice track stands in the kitchen.

Thanks for letting me share.

cphfxt

thanks for sharing.

you`ve got guts for taking the lead on the first outing

fordfasterr

how about a pic of your new fg bike ?


please....

humancongereel

yeah, pics (which i have yet to do, the gf and i keep talking about it, and never getting around to it)...

and that's the way i learned, except not in a group ride. i had the fixie, was with someone on a bike, and had to just jump on and go...and just get on with it. that seems to be the best way to learn. it's also how i learned to skid when i got my track bike, cuz i didn't have much choice, rolling up to that intersection.

fun, though, isn't it?

BillyBob

Tmax1,

I am in Alabaster. I considered stopping by the ride to see the single speed and fixed gear bikes. How many people did you have?

I have an interest in adding one to the stable this year.

EDIT: Tmax1, we have ridden together last Summer during the montevallo saturday morning rides. I road the black Fuji

-=(8)=-

Thanks for the report.......
I have my spo-mom TT in the workshop and
3 boxes of Spicer & Dans Comp stuff but I cant build until monday....
Im a little worried about my first fixie fix on the roads here

Serendipper 

How bad are the roads? Or is it the drivers?

My first fixed ride, I was late for a meeting, so I didn't even notice it until I was at the office...It just came natural to me.Just like riding a bike!

Phillio

For a couple weeks before I started riding fixed I would ride my regular old road bike but never stop pedaling, and ride on a gear that I guess would be something in the mid 70's or so...that really helped me get into a kind of rythm of always having the pedals spinning, and when I did get my fixie set up it helped me get used to it right off the bat, riding around the local, non busy streets...it also helped having a 40x15 at first, easy to slow down and never went too fast. Running 43x15 now and it's even better.

Tmax1

BB- You ever ride the Miss Electra on Tuesday nights? You should come on down to the iCantina!

The SS/FG ride started off with 4 folks. Only one FG- me. I'm goin' out again today.

Pics?? Standard straight up rock solid stock Bianchi - gang green, of course.

Serendipper- "Just like riding a bike!" I like that, can I borrow that phrase?

-=(8)=-

Its the roads......We just got about 4" of snow last nite
They clean them off pretty fast so Im hoping I can roll into work by tuesday.
I want to dissamble the bike, and grease everything and put on all the replacement
stuff before I roll.....I got an assortment of gears, 1/8" chain, bars, fake etc.....
Ive fallen on every bike Ive ever owned and even fell on my MTB commuter in snow
bank on wednsday so I might as well get the fixie fall out of the way early
If I get a new addiction out of this I am holding you and redhouse personally responsible !!!

Cynikal 

Trackstands in your kitchen kick a$$!

Welcome to the fold.