Does anyone else use a heavy cheap fixed gear for strength training? I like my geared bikes, but I keep a westport cruiser from walmart, specifically for building leg strength, it's a heavy fixed gear, and it seems to really give me a workout going up and down the small but steep hills around here, I figure it's cheap, and I already owned it, why not use the weight to my advantage? It wouldnt hold up for every day use, and the dam tires are already rotting, but at least it's being used for something

good bikes and ride up grades

I go jogging in my Dr Martens.

You realize that you could have gotten something good and changed it to harder gearing.

it was free, I have a good bike, I just use this one for it's weight

what you're supposed to realize is that the effort you exert is independent of your equipment.

the bike doesn't make you stronger, it's you choosing or having to ride it harder.
if you want the "loaded down" effect, just overgear your bike as Dannihilator suggested.

I know this goofy mtb racer who rides heavy bolt-on wheels with downhill tires to strength train for xc mtb races. Pretty ridiculous, but the dude is crazy strong.

I realize that, if I was riding a geared bike I would use the gears to go uphill, but instead I use this fixed gear with it's extra weight, I didnt know these could be upgraded, and are apparently USA made?

yeah well he's strong because he pedals hard and he pedals alot

300W up a 5% incline at 70rpm is 300W up a 5% incline at 70 rpm.
On a loaded touring bike, this may net you all of 10 mph.
On a carbon race bike, you're gonna go a lot faster.

Your body doesn't know the difference

/end nitpicking rant

OP, I think this is really a gearing issue as Danni suggested. If you have sufficiently low gear(s) on your bike, the weight is inconsequential. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I think by "strength" you mean "torque" - putting a heavy load on each pedal stroke due to being overgeared.

And yes, you can absolutely increase your "strength" by riding a heavy bike with a big gear. Sorry to nitpick. It's just the gear thats making u strong (not the weight of the bike) is all im sayin'

I should have clarified better, thats what i meant, it's also nice sometimes to ride the old cruiser as much as i like my road bike, I was putting about 14 miles on a day on it until the tires started dryrotting, if it's one of the American made ones, i'll probably put new tires on it and make it look decent

Is this a beach cruiser, not a fixed gear?

it's a beach cruiser with fixed gear, heavy SOB too

Beach cruisers usually are not fixed gears, they are SS with a coaster brake.

drunken (or hungover on the way to breakfast) beach cruisers on the boardwalk ftw

I use a gym for strength training.

now thats some total bull**** right there!

I throw a mtb around and chop wood.

I had an instructor who just swung around a sledgehammer in his backyard for exercise. This guy was strong.

And insane.

While I agree with the others that you can achieve the same results with a good bike and carefully selected gearing, it is nice to find a use for a bike that would otherwise just rot. Use her until she looks like dying and then plan a nice, fg training bike

>
difference in weight from your training bike to even the ****tiest fixed gear they sell at a department store



what i'm saying here, without metaphor, is that a better workout is to simply GO HARDER

He was out there. Excellent instructor, kind of a pain to try and hold a conversation with.

remove seatpost, fill frame with fishing weights. hulk.

I don't need no stinkin' weight vest ... dammit
I'm a large, economy sized wombat.