How many of you ride both fixed and geared?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 4
Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro
How many of you ride both fixed and geared?
I do. I've been riding my fixed almost exclusively for the past few weeks, but last night I went on a pretty heavy duty geared ride with one of my co-workers. I found that at the top of my pedal rotation, I was expecting to be carried through; so for the first few minutes there was an awkward pseudo-pause as my legs remembered they had to move themselves through that area. Not only that, but the first few times I coasted were a little awkward as well.
Anyone else see similar issues going back and forth from fixed to geared?
Anyone else see similar issues going back and forth from fixed to geared?
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#3
Sofa King Fast
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 0
From: En' Why? Sea.
Bikes: 2007 Scott CR1 team-that's the only one that matters
Yeah, i get it too, i ride fixed quite often but still ride a geared road bike a bit, but I usally forget that i can change gears and coast son a road bike imply because thats options are not availible on fixed gear.
#4
I'm not only dual, I'm triple...Fixed, SS MTB, and geared road. I commute fixed and ride fixed some on the weekends, almost exclusively during winter and during rainy times. Lately though, the weekends have been more and more about long distance geared road biking plus some SS MTBing.
This winter I rode pretty much exclusively fixed, and when I finally got on my freewheeled machines, it was really odd for a couple of rides, but now I shift back and forth regularly from fixed to freewheel without needing an adjustment period. The first couple of big hills I rode with my geared bike, I found myself mashing to the top..forgetting that I had gears, but boy, its sure fun to blast downhill with 100+ gear inches!
This winter I rode pretty much exclusively fixed, and when I finally got on my freewheeled machines, it was really odd for a couple of rides, but now I shift back and forth regularly from fixed to freewheel without needing an adjustment period. The first couple of big hills I rode with my geared bike, I found myself mashing to the top..forgetting that I had gears, but boy, its sure fun to blast downhill with 100+ gear inches!
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 577
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Being thrown into coasting is always scary. Either by forgetting and applying backpressure, or pedalling over a bump and losing your spin and coasting for a little bit. Also for a good while I felt less stable on cornering on my geared bike. The other way happens too, after a long ride on the coastie I started to use the brake on the fixed almost exclusively for a while.
Now that I've been switching between them more often I don't really get surprised by the different drivetrain anymore. I can go for a long geared ride and be completely comfortable coasting and shifting and using only hand brakes to slow down, then I can get on my fixed and skid and skip and stop just fine without touching my front brake.
Now that I've been switching between them more often I don't really get surprised by the different drivetrain anymore. I can go for a long geared ride and be completely comfortable coasting and shifting and using only hand brakes to slow down, then I can get on my fixed and skid and skip and stop just fine without touching my front brake.
#6
Rebel Thousandaire
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Hartford, CT
Bikes: Public D8, Yuba Mundo (cargo), Novara Buzz (1-speed, soon to be 2-speed w/ a kickback hub), Xootr 1-speed folder
The only geared bike I have is a 3-speed, my primary ride is a fixie, and I also sometimes ride a SS MTB with a coaster brake. I definitely run into funny moments when switching back and forth. On the 3-speed, I always have an instant where I want to slow down and forget that I have to use the hand brakes. On both freewheeling bikes, it takes me about 20 minutes before I remember that I can stop pedalling if I want to.
#7
jack of one or two trades
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 0
From: Suburbia, CT
Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB
Originally Posted by iamtim
I found that at the top of my pedal rotation, I was expecting to be carried through; so for the first few minutes there was an awkward pseudo-pause as my legs remembered they had to move themselves through that area. ...
Anyone else see similar issues going back and forth from fixed to geared?
Anyone else see similar issues going back and forth from fixed to geared?
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by iamtim
I do. I've been riding my fixed almost exclusively for the past few weeks, but last night I went on a pretty heavy duty geared ride with one of my co-workers. I found that at the top of my pedal rotation, I was expecting to be carried through; so for the first few minutes there was an awkward pseudo-pause as my legs remembered they had to move themselves through that area. Not only that, but the first few times I coasted were a little awkward as well.
Anyone else see similar issues going back and forth from fixed to geared?
Anyone else see similar issues going back and forth from fixed to geared?
#9
I sold my old geared bike a while ago and ride fixed exclusively right now, but am looking for a decent geared bike for long weekend rides. There are a few rides I want to do, but isn't possible fixed because they're straight up for a long time and then straight down......brakeless=hospital.
#11
I love my fixie, and I love my geared bike. Finding, though, that I'm riding my fixed gear almost exclusively these days. (I did hop on the geared bike today, and almost ate it when I backpedaled & expected to slow down! I reached the brake just in time, and felt ********.)
#13
Dances With Cars
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,527
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Bikes: TBL Onyx Pro(ss converted), Pake SS (starting to look kinda pimped)
I'm gear and looking forward to my track/fixed purchase.
You can get used to anything with a bit of practice.
I killed my shoes and had to go back to kicks and straps, that took a few days to get used to even.
You can get used to anything with a bit of practice.
I killed my shoes and had to go back to kicks and straps, that took a few days to get used to even.
#14
this bike is an aqueduct

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
Bikes: Villin custom touring, Medici Pro Pista, KHS Alite1000, Windsor fixed commuter
My touring hub scared the living **** out of me after going fixed for a while. It was awesome.
But got two fixed machines and two geared, probably another geared after summer.
But got two fixed machines and two geared, probably another geared after summer.
__________________
Villin custom touring | Raleigh XXIX | Medici Pro Pista | 1978 Schwinn Stingray
Villin custom touring | Raleigh XXIX | Medici Pro Pista | 1978 Schwinn Stingray
#16
the transition between geared and fixed is not that big for me. i do it multiple times a week. my road bike is purely for training and racing, though. if i am going somewhere to do something i always ride my fixed. i want to take the fixed on longer rides but i haven't figured out how to work fixed riding in. the transition period between bikes is not that bad, but i have been using my brake a lot more out of laziness. i just got clipless for my track bike which makes it a lot easier for me, personally, to control.
#19
I ride both. If you make an effort to have a well rounded pedal stroke, switching back and forth should not be a problem. The fact that I worked on spinning before I started riding fixed might have made a difference though.
#20
or tarckeemoon, depending
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 2
From: the pesto of cities
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
When I first started riding fixed it was a little funky going back, but not any more. The main difference when I ride gears now is I have a much higher cadence than I used to.
The weirdest thing I noticed when I first started riding fixed is that when I was riding in a car my legs would twitch when slowing to a stop.
The weirdest thing I noticed when I first started riding fixed is that when I was riding in a car my legs would twitch when slowing to a stop.
#21
aw man i switch back and forth all the time and last night something horrible happened.
my right crank was in the 11o'clock position and usualy when im on my fixie i push off the ground with my left foot while i put a little pressure on the right pedal while it gets carried around to the front. but this time i was on my geared bike and when i put that pressure on right pedal it just spun the other way and i cracked my nuts on the toptube. it was horrible painful and public. i hope i dont make that mistake again.
my right crank was in the 11o'clock position and usualy when im on my fixie i push off the ground with my left foot while i put a little pressure on the right pedal while it gets carried around to the front. but this time i was on my geared bike and when i put that pressure on right pedal it just spun the other way and i cracked my nuts on the toptube. it was horrible painful and public. i hope i dont make that mistake again.
#23
Been commuting, and training for the most part on my fixed gear. Did the Houston to Austin MS150 last weekend on my geared roadbike. No problems remembering to use handbrakes. Of course riding amongst 12,999 other riders, not wanting to wreck,and the want to finish were my inspiration. It started shifting like crap, and I wished I had my fixed. No surprise I rode through most of it in the same gear ratio I have on my fixed.
Now that its all over, the geared will be collecting dust. Its back to commuting and such on my fixed, and weekend trail rides on my SS MTB.
Now that its all over, the geared will be collecting dust. Its back to commuting and such on my fixed, and weekend trail rides on my SS MTB.
#25
Originally Posted by jandops
i cracked my nuts on the toptube. it was horrible painful and public.




