I got a Redline 925 for commuting and have been riding it SS. Finally decided to try fixed this morning and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I can't trackstand for more than a few seconds , but didn't get bucked off trying to coast either. It was a good workout. I kept looking at this forum and noticed how many of the posts included the word "fun". I'm in agreement. This is fun.

The first time I road a fixie was my friends conversion. I raod it for only 100', but I went and got one a couple months later when I learned enough.

I'd been riding my Peugeot conversion SS for a few months, and I finally mustered the courage to flip it around and try it fixed last week. It's fun so far, I'm always up for a good challenge. I do go wayyyy slower than I normally do, though. I keep trying to convince my other SS friends to ride fixed with me, that way instead of just me, there would be a whole gang of slow rollers nearly falling over at stoplights because we can't get out of our clips. wah wah wahhhhhh

its only fun until you get 2 close to a raised curb trying to squeeze past a bus or something...

can you say CATAPULT ~!!!!!!**********

LOL

ohh, and don't lean TOO far in a turn !!! HAHAAAA !

I bought a flip-flop wheelset and even have a freewheel on there, but I mounted it fixed from the get-go and haven't looked back. It's a nice change of pace from all the gears

So how many times have you tried to coast on that contraption?

Went for my first long ride fixed today, from the mission in SF to the ferry building at Embarcadero all the way around the water to GG Bridge and back. I used to do that ride all the time with my 10 speed, but it's a whole new ballgame fixed. My legs are beat, but I loved it!

Don't ride too slow while looking back. You won't stay straight. You might just hit the car next to you and then tumble over to the car behind you.

Thats funny. I just bought my first fixie as well. I have a road bike for training and wanted something to shoot around town with. I usually coast between tight spots (cars and buses) but had to get some extra courage to ride through it. Pretty exhilirating. The toughest part was not being able to bunny hop over holes etc. So far it's a lot of fun though. Still dont have courage to put toe clips and straps on the pedals yet

Whereas I no longer have the "courage" to ride fixed without some sort of pedal interface...

I think you'll find it easier to control the bike (and to not get tossed off when backpedaling or forgetting that you can't coast) if you DO add toe clips & straps. Clipless pedals are the best, according to some, but I've never tried them.

thats why you cant bunny hop those holes!

You'll know you've crossed over to the Dark Side when you get on your gearie and forget that you CAN coast. It will feel... unnatural and a little creepy.

I've noticed that. I recently built myself a 1x9 Karate Monkey and the first time I started coasting it messed with me a little bit, like it shouldn't be doing that or something. Eh, if my other bike is "fixed", does that mean that this one is "broken"?

oatmeal cookie+water on keyboard


i love campy.... HUMOR

fixed gear riding ruined me long ago, freewheels make me feel helpless and out of control

I had to ride the ice/snow bike today and it sucked. I was busy as hell all day, and the snow bike feels like a pedal powered farm tractor. I caught myself trying to back pedal quite a few times only to realize, duh, cant do that on this bike. Ive gotten real used to flying into corners and intersections, giving the bike a quick hop skid and then slicing on thru a gap without even thinking about it.

Pedal strike SUX! I got the road rash, to prove it.

I had my first pedal strike yesterday coming around a cloverleaf off an overpass, in fast traffic. Luckily it was more of a pedal "smooch" and I stayed up. Well you have to find your limit sometime!

lol @ municipal man, "wah wah waaaaah" is the perfect soundtrack to clipped in slow motion falling. That happened to me yesterday too, right in front of the bike store.

in conclusion, I concur w. OP, this **** is fun.

I just got my wheel today and will probably try single speed for awhile also. I'm a bit worried because I'll be using a 42 x 16. Currently, it has a 6spd freewheel, and I have to run 42 x 24 to get up a couple hills. My conversion has to wait for new chain ring bolts. I'll be using clips and narrow pedals off my old Schwinn Premis.

Scott, I'm with you 100%..."This is fun."
Enjoy yourself, it's greater than you think.

I Just converted a old 1969 raleigh grand Prix that was bought new when my mom went to college up in chicago. I have been riding fixed every day this week for my commute to school. I love it, its a blast. Here in MS we don't have quite as much traffic so that is not to much of an issue. But it confuses people when you are still "pedaling" to slow down and arn't using your hand brake, haha!

I run 42x16 on both the freewheel side and the fixed side of my current bike, and I found that after riding a 10 speed around the city for a year, it was actually easier to just stand up and tough it up the hills of SF. You definately get used to it the more you ride. Have a blast and ride Ride RIDE 'till it ain't no thang!