Fixed gear & ACL damage
06-05-06 | 03:05 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: ND
Had ACL reconstruction/meniscus removal about three years ago.
Been riding fixed about a year and a half and only really ran into trouble when I first started riding...and that was a 48x16 ratio. Had some knee pain. I am WAY stronger now, and I currently run 48x18 pain-free. I also use my front brake for any major stoppages.
Been riding fixed about a year and a half and only really ran into trouble when I first started riding...and that was a 48x16 ratio. Had some knee pain. I am WAY stronger now, and I currently run 48x18 pain-free. I also use my front brake for any major stoppages.
06-05-06 | 03:52 PM
#27
Electrical Hazard
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 974
Likes: 0
From: Manhattan / Vancouver
Bikes: a bunch.
I wrecked my ACL about 11 years ago riding MTB (HOLY CRAP.. was it that long ago?)..
It took me a year of physio to get it back to normal after the surgery, and then it wasn't 100% for another couple of years.
No problems whatsoever riding a fixed gear. (72 gear inches with a brake)
It took me a year of physio to get it back to normal after the surgery, and then it wasn't 100% for another couple of years.
No problems whatsoever riding a fixed gear. (72 gear inches with a brake)
06-17-06 | 09:19 AM
#28
Guest
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,242
Likes: 0
If you ride heavy gears it can breakdown the knees. start and stopping and skidding with 53 x 13, 50x15, 49x14, 48x15.
It is up to you to learn what are training gears and racing gears. I have ridden the gears listed and finally ride with 46x16 for street.
Yes this was through trial and error.
S/F,
CEYA!
Strength and Honor!!
It is up to you to learn what are training gears and racing gears. I have ridden the gears listed and finally ride with 46x16 for street.
Yes this was through trial and error.
S/F,
CEYA!
Strength and Honor!!
06-17-06 | 09:50 AM
#29
When I skated regularly from the age of 10 till about 20, I always ran into knee issues. I also did some MTB-ing back in those days which also didn't help. I started to wear a knee brace and by the time I started to wean myself off skating I wore a knee brace full-time and typically ankle braces (I've sprained and tweaked my ankles more times than I care to remember).
After I started riding fixed a few years ago, I haven't had any issues since and I've long said goodbye to knee braces (and ankle ones too!).
Anecdotal but that's my experience.
This is a good thread.
After I started riding fixed a few years ago, I haven't had any issues since and I've long said goodbye to knee braces (and ankle ones too!).
Anecdotal but that's my experience.
This is a good thread.
06-17-06 | 09:53 AM
#30
Ditto Ceya. I ride low gears on the street (I like to spin) which are 49x18 and 48x18.
For track, I've been riding 50x15 -- there's no way that I'd ride that in the street. That's bad news. I think 48x16, the typical gear that most off-the-shelf track bikes come with is a tad high too -- especially if you're starting out. But I guess, they're supposed to be "track bikes" anyway.
For track, I've been riding 50x15 -- there's no way that I'd ride that in the street. That's bad news. I think 48x16, the typical gear that most off-the-shelf track bikes come with is a tad high too -- especially if you're starting out. But I guess, they're supposed to be "track bikes" anyway.
06-17-06 | 10:02 AM
#31
hell's angels h/q e3st ny
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
From: boston area/morningside heights manhattan
Bikes: surly steamroller, independent fabrication titanium club racer, iro jamie roy--44/16, independent fabrication steel crown jewel--47/17, surly karate. monkey (rohloff speed hub), unicycle
just try to keep skiddin' to a minimum.
