Why?
07-09-08, 07:46 PM
#51
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yeah but a heavier bike will still help you with momentum when going downhill as you have more mass but the same amount of drag (as if you were to use a lighter bike with same structrue). This would justify why I can accelerate and climb much faster than my heavier set friends, but they catch up to me on downhills like none other (given that we're simply coasting).
07-09-08, 07:56 PM
#55
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I don't find that to be true. I regularly ride two different bikes, one fixed and the other ss, geared identically, up the same hill every week. On the ss I can't tell the difference between that and the fixed gear when grinding up this hill. The fixed gear does not assist me in any way.
If your pedal stroke isn't perfect a fixed-gear will make climbing easier as it will help you through the dead spots. However if you timed how long it took you to go up the hill, you'd probably notice that you were slower on the fixed-gear, as every time you let the bike carry you through the dead spots you are slowing yourself down.
07-10-08, 07:34 AM
#56
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Try it out. You might like it, you might hate it. As for advantages over gears/SS, I don't know, but I sure do like riding fixed compared to other options. Just alot more fun and challenging for me these days.
07-10-08, 09:44 AM
#57
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I never said you couldn't. However a fixed-gear provides advantages in those areas, over a bike with a freewheel.
And to everyone here, my point about the road bike and the car was that the OP was asking what the advantages of a fixed-gear were, the implication being that people road fixed-gears because they present an advantage over single speeds or road bikes. If you take that logic to the extreme then you would only ride the bike that gave you the greatest advantage, which is a car. And yes that's a hyperbole.
Edit: just to clarify, while I was being snarky, my point is that people don't always ride a certain bike because it gives them an advantage over another type of bike. Sometimes they just want to ride that bike (which I suppose could be an advantage, but let's not go there). And I did answer his question. You all need to LTFU (Lighten the F up).
And to everyone here, my point about the road bike and the car was that the OP was asking what the advantages of a fixed-gear were, the implication being that people road fixed-gears because they present an advantage over single speeds or road bikes. If you take that logic to the extreme then you would only ride the bike that gave you the greatest advantage, which is a car. And yes that's a hyperbole.
Edit: just to clarify, while I was being snarky, my point is that people don't always ride a certain bike because it gives them an advantage over another type of bike. Sometimes they just want to ride that bike (which I suppose could be an advantage, but let's not go there). And I did answer his question. You all need to LTFU (Lighten the F up).
07-10-08, 09:54 AM
#58
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+ you take my post about climbing and made the road flat, you want to talk about real world? I -have- owned better riders than me simply because I was road and they were fixed and we raced. It's been tested on hills, flats, climbs, you name it. Just because you have no choice about how much energy you have to expend to climb at a certain rate does not mean that it is more efficient, quite the opposite. Gears let an experienced rider have more control, and that allows the rider who knows this to out run larger monster thighs up a hill, even if monster thighs is twice the rider he is, as long as he's got the experience and wit to use the advantage the bike gives.
Ask a pro that races both track and road.
Or just watch the tour.
07-10-08, 10:02 AM
#59
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Oh, and also for friendly advice, want to "own" more like the monopoly man on your fixed gear? Cross train on a geared bike in a discipline, be it road, XC, CX, downhill, TT, whatever. You'll learn the difference between finessing your way through and truly tearing **** up and you'll get better at both faster. The first time you hit a long flat bridge and realize you're going 65kph on a flat with your mates you'll understand how they can compliment and boost skills, but for all out speed there is a reason the road bike rules. It is faster, more adaptable and does everything better from a technical standpoint. It's also mo delicate, a pain in the ass to maintain comparably, can be way more expensive and is a completely different experince, but thre is no denying it is faster.
07-10-08, 10:46 AM
#60
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duderz you are talking about about what you feel in your heart in a room full of machines. LOLERS!
+ you take my post about climbing and made the road flat, you want to talk about real world? I -have- owned better riders than me simply because I was road and they were fixed and we raced. It's been tested on hills, flats, climbs, you name it. Just because you have no choice about how much energy you have to expend to climb at a certain rate does not mean that it is more efficient, quite the opposite. Gears let an experienced rider have more control, and that allows the rider who knows this to out run larger monster thighs up a hill, even if monster thighs is twice the rider he is, as long as he's got the experience and wit to use the advantage the bike gives.
Ask a pro that races both track and road.
Or just watch the tour.
+ you take my post about climbing and made the road flat, you want to talk about real world? I -have- owned better riders than me simply because I was road and they were fixed and we raced. It's been tested on hills, flats, climbs, you name it. Just because you have no choice about how much energy you have to expend to climb at a certain rate does not mean that it is more efficient, quite the opposite. Gears let an experienced rider have more control, and that allows the rider who knows this to out run larger monster thighs up a hill, even if monster thighs is twice the rider he is, as long as he's got the experience and wit to use the advantage the bike gives.
Ask a pro that races both track and road.
Or just watch the tour.
I'd rather get a tooth pulled than watch a "tour".
07-10-08, 11:14 AM
#61
oOooo, five bucks
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Weight = more inertia = more damage to that person who jumped in front of you
kinda like a car hitting you at 20kph is worse then a tennis ball hitting you at 20kph
Last edited by ~Stuart~; 07-10-08 at 11:29 AM.
07-10-08, 09:53 PM
#63
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it fights the lazies. as in when you want to take a break, it disallows it.
What doesnt kill you...
What doesnt kill you...
07-11-08, 12:23 AM
#65
is as Gurgus does.
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I dunno. I think we can all agree that fixed is one hell of alot of fun and that any bike nerd worth his or her salt should have at least one fixed gear bike in their stable. I know that if I could only have one bike, it'd be fixed.
02-09-09, 02:29 AM
#66
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single speeds ride smoother. more parts give the bike a negative sustain. When a bike is stripped of components it rides smoother, less clunky. The direct chain line with out derailluers is smoother more efficent, more pure. As sheldon says, it sorta helps you get in touch with the child in you, because of single speed childrens bikes we all rode. As far as fixed gear goes, more traction in the rain I think. And you look way cool riding them duh!!!
02-09-09, 02:47 AM
#67
:)
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didn't read the responses... but once you get stranded at -20F with a frozen freewheel, fixed kind of makes sense...
also, being able to stop when your brakes are frozen is nice.
plus it is fun
also, being able to stop when your brakes are frozen is nice.
plus it is fun
02-09-09, 07:33 AM
#68
extra bitter
The OP probably made up his mind in the past 8 months.
Last edited by kyselad; 02-09-09 at 09:28 AM.
