fixed gear riding and potholes
 

I am fairly new fixie rider, yesterday I took my fixie out for a short ride. i live in Michigan and their are pot holes everywhere. On a freewheeling bike you get outta your seat, use your legs as shock absorbers and coast into or over the pothole. On a fixie what can you do? if you stay on your seat and just hit the pothole it kind of throws you off, to an almost fall.

What do you fixie riders say about that?

Stand and pedal, avoid if possible, or get some fat tires and a gel seat lol

You do it the same as with your geared bike ... only different.
First, avoid the pothole.
When that fails, just lift your arse off the saddle as you go over it. You don't have to lift it a lot though you can if you like. Yes, you do have to keep pedalling but that's a non-issue after the first few times (it's only you thinking about it that's holding you back).

Think of it like this. You stand and pedal if you want to sprint, or get away quickly or climb a hill. Going over a bump is the same.

Now, try going over a pothole on a recumbent ...

I survived riding fixed in New Orleans until I hit a bump so ****ty it threw my bike into the air. ride yer bike

You are riding fixed with no foot retention. Yeah, I can imagine that your feet feel like they are going to get knocked off if you go over a pothole out of the saddle.

Get some form of foot retention. Srsly.
Dealing with potholes will be easier, braking will be much easier, you will be in control of your ride, etc., etc.

1: go around them
2: bunnyhop

/thread

Slowing down so you're not hitting it at full speed is an option. (I know, crazy, right?)

you can still stand while pedalling

really even just lifting your but off that saddle a couple inches to reduce the impact is fine

I ride over railroad tracks often-just like I do on a geared bike. You don't have to peddle fast just keep the peddles moving and get your butt off the saddle. But I cheat use brakes and speedplay peddles

This is one of a good many reasons that riding fixed gear on the street is not for everyone.
Well developed situational awareness, quick reactions, good technique and a willingness to take some punishment are the hallmarks of experienced FG riders.

That being said TXDOT has reduced my local roads to rubble as they "improve" them, the FG can hang on it's hook until the project is complete. Some fights you can't win.

-Bandera

Bunnyhopping is not easy to do fixed, even with with good foot retention.

I am painfully aware of the evils of TXDOT:(

Regardless of the road conditions, you really need to get some sort of foot retention if you are riding fixed. As to potholes, I try to avoid them.

The truth is though, I find I pull the bike up more over a bump on the fixed gear than I did on a geared bike, even if it isn't a full bunnyhop. Again, this would be impossible on OP's bike because he has made a dumb decision about foot retention.

Bunny hop....

the text you are sending can wait.

It's tougher to weight and unweight the bike while pedaling but it can be done.

Unweighting (among other things) is much easier with straps or clipless.

no foot retention, son? absurd.

what ever happened to bmx bikes? don't they still make those for the kids these days?

Thanks for the serious answers. As to avoiding the pot holes of course that is the ideal thing to do, but the pothole situation right now in Michigan is insane, I actually could not avoid them on a street leaving my street I live on there are so many. But for sure I will be looking for routes that dont have as many, if that is at all possible.

Has clown color scheme.
Isn't capable of standing whilst riding fixed.
Doesn't use foot retention.
Refused to address fact that he doesn't ride with foot retention.
Come on man, people are trying to help you out here!
On second thought might be better off on one of these
http://www.abcyclesantee.com/images/...e_orange_w.jpg
But really, get retention and work on unloading your weight as you roll over the inevitable pothole...you can practice anywhere.

LINK TO CHEAP RETENTION - Retrospec Platform Pedal w/ Straps > Components > Pedals > Platform Pedals | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop

Yea I am gonna get foot retention, I just bought that clown color scheme bike cause it was only 150 bucks and didnt have 10 miles on it. Later I will build my own I got the bike in the fall and only rode it a few times.

I am going to practice standing up, I can stand up and ride lol even though I am 60 but I just havent done it much on a fixie. Give me a break here, taking up riding a fixie at 60 is similar to taking up skateboarding at 60.

Ok ok OP. That is kind of awesome. Be safe and get some clips&straps.

Hey brother oldster, you should post in this thread,

http://www.bikeforums.net/singlespee...ar-thread.html

No need to take any guff from these young whippersnappers.

Howeeee this forum can be a bit "raw", but you can learn a lot about fixed bikes and riding fixed. Most comments are made for the OPs benefit regardless of how brutally presented. I'm 68 and been riding fixed for a year a lot on the road. Often with geared riders-lots of fun. If you are like me I wanted to give fixed a try while I could still get a leg over the top tube! My advice is to read the stickys at the beginning of the forum and use the search engine in the forum before posting. I'm not suggesting your post was not appropriate but lots of questions I've had I found by searching the threads and avoided "heat" for not looking first. Have fun riding.:)

I'm so fast I skip potholes.

In soviet russia (and Crimea), potholes make you.

I have been to Moscow 16 times, the pot holes there are nothing compared to Michigan potholes, Not even close.

haha. I love these.

You can unweight without really doing anything. Keep your elbows and knees bent and get off the saddle a bit. Your arms and legs turn into shock absorbers and you can roll over pretty much anything. Just stay relaxed and don't tense up.