Riding a fixed gear is really really hard!
 

you have to turn the pedals around in a circular motion! but wait that's not all you can't stop moving them until the bike stops! OMG this is SO hard! We should all be really proud of ourselves for figuring out how to do it. </sarcasm>

Sorry guess I'm feeling snarky today and wanna stir up some *****, but really the idea that some people promote that riding fixed gear is difficult does more harm than good. It helps to promote the elitist attitude scares away riders who might enjoy fixed gear riding. Promotes the idea that those of us who ride fixed gear think we are better. In reality most of us probably do it because it's fun, not because it's hard. Maybe some people keep the myth alive because it makes us feel good about ourselves for being so "skilled", but if you ride fixed gear, and actually BELIEVE it's difficult you probably need more practice riding a bike. Remembering not to coast is easier for some people than others, but really anyone can do it. I switch between fixed and freewheel all the time, and never have any problem remembering, after all the bike will remind you if you forget. We should be encouraging more people to give it a try, not trying to scare them away. Fixed gear is not for everyone, but you never know until you try. Riding a fixed gear DOESN'T make you special. If you love it share the love.

I agree. I find a fixed gear to be easy as hell, actually. I always encourage friends to go the ss/fg route. Go riding fixed.

get on bike, pedal, to stop, backpedal.

I did that when I was 3, but to be fair I didn't take the training wheels off until I was 5. I was a late bloomer.

SHUT UP SHUT UP

it was suppose to be a secret!

I've been skateboarding almost my whole life, mainly technical nerdy manuals/grinds, so when it came to riding fixed gear, trackstanding is my favorite because it makes me think of manuals, it's fun and super easy.

I went fixed because I'm lazy. Fixies don't need so much cleaning and lubing, and it's easier when you do need to do it. Of course, finding an easier way to do the same job makes me feel smart, so I guess I'm still an elitist snob.

I think the hardest thing for a new rider is remembering not to coast.

unless they are kevin bacon. because he seems to be good at coasting on a fixie.

I don't understand why this whole remembering to coast thing is a big deal. When I first started it didn't seem like a very big problem. It was more an odd sensation than anything else.

I don't know about you guys but when I coast on a freewheel I'm not exactly forcing the pedals into coasting, I simply relax.

i find it easier than you do 'cuz my bike's better than yours.


:D

When I started riding fixed, I very nearly fell many times from coast attempts. I couldn't tell you the physics or kinesiology that made this happen. This is just my experience. I've heard the same thing from others too.

i've been riding mine as means to train since about march. i ride it around town on 30 mile or so jaunts. there have been several times when i go to 'relax' while taking my hands off the bars - especially later in the rides - only to have them thrust back onto the bars as my body is thrown forward because the pedals keep moving. it only takes once per ride to be reminded, that's for sure.

perhaps i repeat this on occasion because i regularly ride thre other bikes w/ freewheel as well.

Okay then. I guess I just focused more on not coasting, or what not coasting would do to my body, quite a bit before becoming comfortable on the bike.

To be honest, getting on a road bike for the first time after riding fixed was a little more off-putting than riding fixed for the first time.

hahaha! True that.

haha! I'm sure that's a really impressive feat for you! Good job.

coaster brake!

I had a habit of coasting by standing up, and locking my knees... coming from resting after standing on the cranks after a really tough hill. Boy, was I surprised the first few times I did that on a fixed.

Also, fixed is a lot more awkward at times, until you learn the little tricks. On a coaster bike, people are used to slowing down and stopping with their feet in a 'favorite position'. On a fixed, when you have to stop, the pedals are where they are, and you have to deal with it, and you feel unbalanced and awkward until you learn how to approach it differently.

That stuff goes away, but you still have a learning curve coming from regular bikes, and considering the old saying 'you never forget how to ride a bike', well, it makes people feel like they have, and some folks just don't like that feeling.

whenever i would coast i always would just relax my legs...so with a fixed gear it's almost the same i relax my legs but they keep moving because the pedals carry them for me....my problem came once coming down a huge hill, hauling ass with 52/16 gears, i hit some railroad tracks and from riding a 20" and standing up and positioning my feet to bunnyhop i just mentally tried to stop my feet (standing) to unweight the tires some as i flew over the railroad tracks hump...my feet flew off the pedals and i slammed my ass back on the seat...i hit the next uphill right after that feet still not on the pedals, lost all my speed and just walked up the hill thinking about how i almost died...that was right after i built it...now it feels normal to always keep my feet moving.

i can skid long and far now (weight forward), i can skid short and heavy (weight back), i can skid with my ass just barely off the seat (short skid to scrub a little speed)...i can trackstand fine with one foot position but not too well with the opposite foot position, so i need to either work on that or work on doing a short little skid and leaving enough distance to where i have a full crank rotation to get my feet back to my good trackstand position and stopping where i want to...this all just came from riding...once you've done it enough it feels natural. I wonder if a freewheeled bike will feel funny now...
i still have front brake but now that i am used to riding fixed i don't hardly use it now...broke a strap yesterday and the brake came in handy there...the strap for my forward foot broke...bummer.

...[crickets...]

damnit i thought this thread died. why did you have to go and revive it?

it was the crickets...dambit

ally'all. shaddap and ride.

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