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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

From fixed to geared and back

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Old 03-07-05 | 08:54 AM
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From fixed to geared and back

So I bought a pista 2 weeks ago with the thought that I would use it as my everyday commuter and then switch to the road bike on the long treks with my buddies. Plus riding the 48x16 should have made me the stronger rider (I was thinking resistance training)

This week with the exception of yesterday I rode just the fixie. Yssterday though being an informal century for my friend's birthday and I was particularly, bad slowing down consderably just before mile 50. There are a few more factors to consider but the fact that my shifting was all off plus I didn't feel any stronger has led me to believe I'm neglecting something.

Any thoughts/advice (no getting rid of the roadbike is not an option).
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Old 03-07-05 | 09:07 AM
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Two weeks isn't very long to be expecting conditioning results. I would think closer to two months would be more realistic.

As far as your performance, maybe riding the geared ride once every two weeks is a little too intermittent, eh?
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Old 03-07-05 | 09:10 AM
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Ride the fixed all the time, and hang the roadie in a dusty corner of the house.

When you have to ride the road bike, lay in the middle of your rug and listen to cassette tapes of shifting derailleurs to get in the zone.
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Old 03-07-05 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Two weeks isn't very long to be expecting conditioning results. I would think closer to two months would be more realistic.

As far as your performance, maybe riding the geared ride once every two weeks is a little too intermittent, eh?
true,, had the geared at the shop for a tune up (for yesterday's and this weekend's centuries) and I was just thinking of riding the road bike mostly this week so no to have to "re-adjust" again. I wouldn't think that fixed would be counter intuitive to geared bikes so I'll just give it more time.

Thanks.
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Old 03-07-05 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by jslopez
true,, had the geared at the shop for a tune up (for yesterday's and this weekend's centuries) and I was just thinking of riding the road bike mostly this week so no to have to "re-adjust" again. I wouldn't think that fixed would be counter intuitive to geared bikes so I'll just give it more time.

Thanks.
Your 48 X 16 could be a bit steep and will likely cause you sore legs well before any cardio development takes place. Tis the season to spin. Find a combo that will yield a cadence of 90+ as you develop your base before working on power... that's my two cents.
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Old 03-07-05 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by filtersweep
Your 48 X 16 could be a bit steep and will likely cause you sore legs well before any cardio development takes place. Tis the season to spin. Find a combo that will yield a cadence of 90+ as you develop your base before working on power... that's my two cents.

Absolutely, you'd be much better off spinning than pushing a fairly large gear like that.
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Old 03-07-05 | 04:26 PM
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I get better results in conditioning riding at a really high cadence. Riding 48x15 before made my legs strong, but not fast and I dind't have the stamina I have now that I'm riding 48x19.
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