Please explain.

[Apple]

Hi,
I have been on this forum for a while, but have not visited the fixed gear section. Can someone please explain to me what that means. Is it one a big 53 ring at the front and an 11 at the back?
My other question is who rides these sorts of bike and what for? Training, fun, flat riding.etc

[you cannot be sirrus]

Who rides these things, and why, is a question that can never be answered. It's a dark and mysterious cycling underworld.

[Apple]

Who rides these things, and why, is a question that can never be answered. It's a dark and mysterious cycling underworld.

You cannot be sirrus

[damhooligan]

Who rides these things, and why, is a question that can never be answered. It's a dark and mysterious cycling underworld.

You cannot be sirrus

well only HE can...

[Mulger bill]

G'Day Apple.

FG bikes have no freewheel, when the bike is moving the cranks are turning. No coast for you!

Gearing is riders choice, a lot of the bikes I've seen seem to run about a 44/16.

As to why? Good question. Some of it will be a kulcha thing, some down to the constant effort required being a better workout. Many riders claim they feel more a part of the machine than on a geared bike.
Based on my own very limited experience, it feels different in a good kinda way but hills hurt more. Not that that's stopping me slowly building me own up.

Clear as mud? Sorry, it's the best I've got. So far...

Shaun

[brauluver]

Hi,
I have been on this forum for a while, but have not visited the fixed gear section. Can someone please explain to me what that means. Is it one a big 53 ring at the front and an 11 at the back?
My other question is who rides these sorts of bike and what for? Training, fun, flat riding.etc

Head to your nearest velodrome and watch some track cycling
No brakes , no coasting.

For the road read sheldon http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

[europa]

Why?

I tried it and liked it. I still like it. It's a different skill set and different way of riding to riding with a freewheel and it suits me. I also enjoy riding bikes with gears but at the moment, an riding only fixed.

Then one must conside this sage advice (from, I think, a Frenchman who's name I also fail to remember) - 'tis better to succed by the strength of one's legs than to resort to the artifice of a derailleur

Richard
and no, it doesn't make any sense, but neither does kitting yourself in fancy dress and riding a plastic bike in an apparently uncompromising position

[brauluver]

and no, it doesn't make any sense, but neither does kitting yourself in fancy dress and riding a plastic bike in an apparently uncompromising position

True...but both fixed gear,and lycra/carbon are eminently fashionable now a days

[mikesbytes]

I ride one for commuting and some of my training

[Apple]

Hi,
Head to your nearest velodrome and watch some track cycling
No brakes , no coasting.

For the road read sheldon http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Are you saing there are no brakes on these bikes
So would you use them on hills and how on earth do you stop without breaks. You have all got me so intrigued I am heading off to the local bike shop to see if they have one.
My impression of a fixed is what my kids had as a first bike.
You still didn’t tell me how many teeth are on the front cog and the back cog. Or do they differ depending on what you want.
I will also be reading Sheldonbrown, thank you for the link

I am confuses with the coasting thing?

[The Womble]

theyre the cycling equivilent of man scarfes on a 20 degree day. Trendy (stupid) and pointless, and most of them are more concerned with looks than function. They do have a coolness factor though I have to admit

[DaveOZ]

I respect the right for people to ride these but the way I see it, gears and brakes were invented for a reason. They make riding a bike easier, safer and they do not add significant weight, especially if you're just cruising down to the Apple shop to use the free WiFi.

I'm all for lightweight simplicity - I drive a Lotus that has no doors or heaters but it has brakes!!

[sogood]

theyre the cycling equivilent of man scarfes on a 20 degree day. Trendy (stupid) and pointless, and most of them are more concerned with looks than function. They do have a coolness factor though I have to admit

How do you equate "cool factor" and "trendy"?

[yehuda]

theyre the cycling equivilent of man scarfes on a 20 degree day. Trendy (stupid) and pointless, and most of them are more concerned with looks than function. They do have a coolness factor though I have to admit

How do you equate "cool factor" and "trendy"?

Yeah, the 'cool' comment sorta negated the 'trendy' comment...

[The Womble]

theyre the cycling equivilent of man scarfes on a 20 degree day. Trendy (stupid) and pointless, and most of them are more concerned with looks than function. They do have a coolness factor though I have to admit

How do you equate "cool factor" and "trendy"?

Yeah, the 'cool' comment sorta negated the 'trendy' comment...

They are cool to look at if theyre perdy, but I didnt buy a fixie just coz everyone else had one like half, ney, most of them. Half those guys would struggle to ride safely on a fully equipped bike but they buy these things instead

[The Womble]

I havent bought one at all actually. Surely theyd still look perdy with an old set of Campy calipers and levers though. Bring the bling back out of retirement and put them to work rather than having them gathering dust somewhere

[jwg]

'tis better to succed by the strength of one's legs than to resort to the artifice of a derailleur

Just to complete that quote
I still feel that varable 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, L'Équipe article of 1902

No offence to anyone

yeah but for me riding fixed is for the absolute near to zero chance of anything braking/coming loose/squeaking etc... plus they are pretty nice looking bikes
dont get me wrong, i love geared bikes as i do a bit of long distance touring and such as well. just riding fixed for commuting in a reasonably flat environment makes sense

[DaveOZ]

No argument about the simplicity of a fixie as a commuter in flat areas but I would use a freewheel hub and brake. This is how my GT Cruiser is setup.

[sogood]

Then one must conside this sage advice (from, I think, a Frenchman who's name I also fail to remember) - 'tis better to succed by the strength of one's legs than to resort to the artifice of a derailleur

Well, there goes all the motivations to improve bike efficiency. Yet again, that came from some crazy french dude.

[r2160]

Hi,
Head to your nearest velodrome and watch some track cycling
No brakes , no coasting.

For the road read sheldon http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Are you saing there are no brakes on these bikes
So would you use them on hills and how on earth do you stop without breaks. You have all got me so intrigued I am heading off to the local bike shop to see if they have one.
My impression of a fixed is what my kids had as a first bike.
You still didn’t tell me how many teeth are on the front cog and the back cog. Or do they differ depending on what you want.
I will also be reading Sheldonbrown, thank you for the link

I am confuses with the coasting thing?

Hi apple

That is correct. On a velodrome, all bikes are fixed (ie as long as the wheel turns the cranks turn) and there are no brakes. As it is a controlled environment, so long as nobody has brakes, everybody is more predictable. Remember a velodrome is generally a closed short track with no real hills.

When the race is finished, to stop you simply slow your pedalling.

The gear ratio (cogs) are whatever you want. The type of track riding dictates what gear ratio you want. Whether it is sprinting or a longer distance race, the ratios can change.

Coasting on a normal road bike means that when you stop pedalling, you simply roll or coast along. On a fixed gear bike, the cranks turn while the wheels turn. There is not really a lot of rest time.

cheers
Glenn

[Stovepipe]

Then one must conside this sage advice (from, I think, a Frenchman who's name I also fail to remember) - 'tis better to succed by the strength of one's legs than to resort to the artifice of a derailleur

Well, there goes all the motivations to improve bike efficiency. Yet again, that came from some crazy french dude.

ah but if all cyclists were really concerned with efficiency wouldnt they be on recumbents instead of fancy carbon?

[Apple]

Well I really want to try one. I think Centennial Park would be the best place for it. I don't know if I am going through a mid life crisis but somehow I feel like riding a bike like that.
I actually move to an area which is relatively flat. I have a beautiful Italian racing bike with dura ace components for the hills and long distance riding; I think it would be lovely to get a simple bike like a fixed, like those women’s bikes for shopping, is it doable, I don’t need drop handle bars.

[mikesbytes]

I think your love it

[brauluver]

I think it would be lovely to get a simple bike like a fixed, like those women’s bikes for shopping, is it doable, I don’t need drop handle bars.

like this http://www.myfixedgear.net/peugeot-ladi ... ic-mixte-2

[GraemeK]

Hi Apple --plenty of cheap fixe gear bikes around -- try Cell Bikes on line, they have some reasonable quality ones at a realistic price.

Graeme