The Trouble With Fixies

Aushiker · Postby **Aushiker** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:44 pm

Hi

A little fun with fixie riders ...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMPuEzJk ... ploademail[/youtube]

Andrew

Vivifyer · Postby **Vivifyer** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:39 pm

brilliant!

no arguments against riding SS though. which I think is far better.

rustychisel · Postby **rustychisel** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:02 pm

evidence of low level sentient intelligence at best, though humourous enough, since only a dolt calls them 'fixies' and those who haven't ridden one are quickest to judge.

mmhbeer · Postby **mmhbeer** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:10 pm

After commuting on a singlespeed for a year I changed to fixie to up the effort. Because it's undulating where I live I was coasting about half the time I was on the bike. Now I pedal the whole time and get twice the workout riding to work.

People who knock it usually haven't tried it.

Vivifyer · Postby **Vivifyer** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:47 pm

Tried it for a 12km commute to work, thought it was a really bad idea. Flipped back to SS

I like coasting if I have the option.

ldrcycles · Postby **ldrcycles** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:54 pm

I would hardly say his legs are 'going like the clappers'. My local area is too hilly for a fixed gear to be usable/safe but if i lived somewhere nice and flat....well i would probably use a Sturmey-Archer 3 spd

HappyHumber · Postby **HappyHumber** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:55 pm

erm... just because your legs are going around with the pedals doesn't mean you're working.

scrubnbash · Postby **scrubnbash** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:35 pm

Everyone is racing to fixed-gear-riding's defense! I love it.
I like riding my fixed gear.

edit: sorry didn't mean to quote.

Postby **mikesbytes** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:25 pm

Only the believers can truly understand

Postby **Mulger bill** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:45 pm

I don't own a working FG, yet. I've only ridden one a few times but still...
What pair of W4nk3rs!
I don't mean the FG pilots either.

y3ntil · Postby **y3ntil** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:38 pm

Who says you need to use your legs to stop, that's what brakes are for, though it is nice to just slow down by pushing with your legs.

ghettro · Postby **ghettro** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:03 pm

Nothing wrong with fixed gear, but I agree with "fixies" being stupid as in no brakes, stupidly narrow bars and aerospokes. That is retarded.

Postby **mikesbytes** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:25 pm

ghettro wrote:Nothing wrong with fixed gear, but I agree with "fixies" being stupid as in no brakes, stupidly narrow bars and aerospokes. That is retarded.

What's the objection to aerospokes?

G-rig · Postby **G-rig** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:56 am

I don't mind riding fixed but didn't get it to be a hipster or 80's poser like most people, I mainly use it for commuting and short trips (not just rolling around on the flats).

I like the simplicity. Having said that, single speed is just as simple, just means an extra brake so thinking of swaping over.

Although sometimes I wonder what the point of fixed is, it's pretty inefficient peddling down hills wearing yourself out, and once the cadence is too high you aren't really doing any work, only trying not to bounce

. I like the rhythm of fixed but slows you down big time on cornering (still nervous about pedal strike).

Don't mind having one gear either way, good for your legs and to improve your spinning technique. It's helped for my road riding as well and funny watching people changing up and down gears as soon as they reach the most mildest of inclines.

HappyHumber · Postby **HappyHumber** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:50 am

G-rig wrote:Although sometimes I wonder what the point of fixed is, it's pretty inefficient peddling down hills wearing yourself out, and once the cadence is too high you aren't really doing any work, only trying not to bounce . I like the rhythm of fixed but slows you down big time on cornering (still nervous about pedal strike).

Forgetting this infernal hipster association, people gotta realise that inefficiency = better value for your exercise effort over a given distance.

Just like head winds

G-rig · Postby **G-rig** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:28 am

Agree, you would be more tempted to coast on a single speed although I would try to keep a constant cadence.

You can smash it up the hills better when you get a bit more of a rest going down hills, but I'd be more likely to go further distances and faster on a single speed. Just seems fixed and one gear is pretty old technology and is a bit pointless half the time. Gears and brakes aren't that much effort to maintain,
and last ages anyway.

Still good being able to beat people on road bikes & mountain bikes

.

HappyHumber · Postby **HappyHumber** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:44 am

It's not the be-all & end all It's just a niche, maaaan

Fixies only make up just under a third of my fleet, gear wise

scrubnbash · Postby **scrubnbash** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:33 pm

I'd say there's a practical aspect too. It's not all "zen man". There's a reason people ride fixes in places with awful weather.
I use the transmission to slow down when i can plan for it / i only need to regulate my speed (say for cornering) and use both the trans plus the front brake when stopping a little quicker and more precisely is in order (say someone hooks a surprise U turn etc.

).
In that way my rims and pads can live a little longer and I'm hosing less incredi-gunk off my bike every time it rains.

singlespeedscott · Postby **singlespeedscott** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:49 am

Oxford wrote:Pedal, strike, scares the absolute brownies out of you when it happens.

I don't mind it the few times its happened as on good solid surfaces it mostly means a rear wheel skip which for most competent riders, is not a big drama (especially if you're aware of its possibility). The only times it keeps me wary is the couple of timber bridges I have to cross with right angle turns before and/or after them, timber is just unpredictable as a surface even on a normal bike let alone a fixie with pedal strike potential.

I think you need to invest in some shorter cranks. I have been running 165mm cranks for 5 years now and haven't had a pedal strike since.

G-rig · Postby **G-rig** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:27 am

ldrcycles wrote:I would hardly say his legs are 'going like the clappers'

Yeah that cadence isn't that high, is inefficient though.

singlespeedscott wrote: I think you need to invest in some shorter cranks. I have been running 165mm cranks for 5 years now and haven't had a pedal strike since.

I'm running BMX pedals so maybe they stick out more which could make a difference. Any suggestions? Already got 165mm cranks.
Cheers,

G-rig · Postby **G-rig** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:28 am

An amusing video..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9j6f5eT ... r_embedded[/youtube]

ColinOldnCranky · Postby **ColinOldnCranky** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:02 pm

I really can't see the sense in fixed wheel. But I ride one anyhow.

hartleymartin · Postby **hartleymartin** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:58 am

I'm thinking of going fixed gear with a large frame and a roadster style bicycle. That way people won't joy-ride off with it. Two of my bikes got pinched from college last semester.

G-rig · Postby **G-rig** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:17 pm

ColinOldnCranky wrote:I really can't see the sense in fixed wheel. But I ride one anyhow.

Same, because its cool. Although it feels like you are getting a little workout resisting the movement to slow down, but would be better hitting some mountains or leg presses at the gym.

ColinOldnCranky · Postby **ColinOldnCranky** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:40 pm

G-rig wrote:
ColinOldnCranky wrote:I really can't see the sense in fixed wheel. But I ride one anyhow.
Same, because its cool. Although it feels like you are getting a little workout resisting the movement to slow down, but would be better hitting some mountains or leg presses at the gym.

I thought just riding to and from freo every day was a workout. But next week it's flat rides to perth, perfect for fixies.