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cycleboy1988
Joined: 06 Jan 2009
Posts: 26
Location: South Wales/Plymouth University
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 Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 10:26 am |
I've been riding happily with gears for about 7 years, but have always liked the idea of fixed in the winter. As ive recently got a bit of money (no enough for a shiny new Di2, lightwieght wheels, de rosa frame bike, but enough for a nice fixie) i thought maybe i would seriously consider it.
Im in a bit of a pickle, im based in Plymouth the majority of the time, which is very up and downy, and don't know how much id struggle, or how east it is to find a gear with a compromise.
So, basically, help me weigh up the pros and cons, and any advice would be amazing.
The stage is yours.......
I love my bike the most, i can ride it whenever i want |
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markos1963
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 1134
Location: Norfolk
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MajorMantra
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 270
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 12:46 pm |
Just do it. There is a constant demand for fixed gears at the moment so if you buy a used one and decide it's not for you, you can probably sell it without making a loss.
Fixed is fun for the simplicity, the demands it places on you for climbing and the sheer comedy aspect of being chained to your back wheel.
Descending isn't as much fun but spinning at crazy revs can be an entertaining challenge in its own right. I can get up to just under 40mph (180ish rpm) on my 70" fixed so my top speed isn't that much lower than what I'd be hitting on my geared bike.
Matthew
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stevewj
Joined: 12 Aug 2008
Posts: 92
Location: Olton
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:43 pm |
Have a go - first time out drive with your bike in the back to somewhere very quiet with little traffic. Be aware that going downhill can be VERY SCARY at first - first time I went out on a 42/16 down a steepish hill my cadence was such that I panicked and stupidly tried automatically to stop pedalling- bad idea. Also at junctions the pedals stop where they want not at the six o'clock position so that takes getting used to. I'm doing it to improve my cadence a for timetrialling and the fact that a 50mile ride means I pedal for 50 miles not 40 and 10miles freewhel.
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chrisw12
Joined: 07 Jul 2007
Posts: 516
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 4:42 pm |
Given where you live, I wouldn't bother.
I live in South Wales and used fixed for a year or two and whilst it was enjoyable, I was confined to the valley floor.
Lets face it the best thing about S Wales is the hills, don't limit yourself by buying a fixie.
Have you got or though about a mtb as an alternative, have you already got a road bike?
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Jimfrandisco
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 38
Location:
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 4:56 pm |
All i can say is good luck - lived in plymouth for 4 years and wouldn't attempt it myself...North Hill on a fixie will either make or break you!
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billy whippet
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
Posts: 125
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 6:32 pm |
I live near bath, which is even more up and downy than plymouth. ALL my training (and commuting) has been done on fixed/singlespeed for a couple o years, and it has transformed my strength and fitness, as well as my maintenance routine, not to mention my riding pleasure - I far prefer the challenge of riding with one gear rather than getting into my comfort zone and staying there. Generally I ride 73 inch in summer, 70 inch in winter and can get up anything round here, as well as pedal down... Do it, you wont regret it. If it does happen that you hate it, sell the bike and you've lost nothing.
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scapaslow
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 244
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 11:32 pm |
If you decide to get one make sure it has a flip-flop hub so that you can change from fixed to singlespeed just in case you don't like fixed.
As stated above going downhill can be scary on a fixed. I now prefer s/s to freewheel down the other side for this reason - you don't lose much going uphill on s/s.
In terms of gearing why don't you stick your geared bike into a selected gear (try somewhere around 65 inches as a starting point e.g. 48/18 or 20 or equivalent) and do a few runs round your local area without changing gear (esp. on the uphills) this will give you an idea of what gearing you will need. There's no point in getting too big a gear as you won't get up the hills.
The main benefit is the simplicity of riding and maintenance and the challenge of getting up the hills without a bailout option. I don't agree that riding fixed has any training benefits over a geared bike - it just forces you to employ a different riding strategy. It's simply enjoyable and different, which IMO is a good thing.
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oldwelshman
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 2431
Location: United Kingdom
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dmclite
Joined: 14 Dec 2008
Posts: 1487
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billy whippet
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
Posts: 125
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 8:52 am |
agreed with scapaslow that when it's hilly, singlespeed makes more sense as riding is more fluid - you're not worrying about having to 'keep up' with the cadence - and also faster. If you do a lot of training on tiny lanes, ss also makes sense. agreed also, that other than the huge benefit to your strength and fitness, the simplicity is a massive bonus. Never had a problem with my knees...
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markos1963
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 1134
Location: Norfolk
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oldwelshman
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 2431
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 12:48 pm |
I suppoes it depends on what you define as hills.
But if you had a geared bike would you grind up a hill on a big gear or change down?
If it is cold and you are on "hills" and pushing a bigger gear than you would on a geared bike you will risk straining knees, muscles also.
Agreed fixed are very useful on flat and even rolling rides where you can attack the slight slopes, but not good on long or steep climbs.
To do this you would need much lower gear which would make riding on the flat pretty useless on such a low gear.
When I go out on mine I just use 49 x 17 and go on a flattish loop.
I had bad knee trouble years ago when riding a fixed in winter in wales.
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll245/oldwelshman/ |
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mclarent
Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 325
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vorsprung
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 490
Location: Devon-Somerset border
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Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:11 pm |
I am over 40 and riding a single speed in Devon for commuting
My knees are fine. I'm careful to wear longs when it gets cold
I don't ride fixed because
1) you have to spin downhill
2) normal stuff like jumping potholes is extra difficult
3) although there is less to go wrong, if something does it is more dangerous
4) my single speed uses recycled geared bike freehub wheel, no special goldtec hub here
5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4
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amaferanga
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1342
Location: Sheffield
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the_village_idiot
Joined: 07 Oct 2009
Posts: 108
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Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:05 pm |
| stevewj wrote: | | and the fact that a 50mile ride means I pedal for 50 miles not 40 and 10miles freewhel. |
well yeah.......but pedaling downhill with the tyres driving your legs, not visaversa doesn;t really do much! 
| markos1963 wrote: | | I don't get this thing with 'knees' I don't suffer any problems from them. |
Evidently! But to say "im not having probs now" is a little short sighted- smokers dont have any problems with caner now....but that does't mean much does it? 
cycleboy1988- m8 where do you live in Plymouth? Im in Coxside- cycle along embankment on my commute!
Personally i dont see the massive advantage in fixed gear- if you want to get stronger at climbing- just climb in a harder gear! I sometimes think the whole fixed thing is an irrational like of something inferior- a bit like the Robin Reliant- people still drive them- despite being cr@p- simply due to an irrational like!
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vorsprung
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 490
Location: Devon-Somerset border
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Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:34 am |
| the_village_idiot wrote: |
Personally i dont see the massive advantage in fixed gear- if you want to get stronger at climbing- just climb in a harder gear! I sometimes think the whole fixed thing is an irrational like of something inferior- a bit like the Robin Reliant- people still drive them- despite being cr@p- simply due to an irrational like! |
Ok I did a post above with some of the disadvantages of fixed.
The winter training advantages are
1) It is widely accepted that using a high cadence is general a good idea. See
http://www.53x12.com/do/show?page=article&id=36
If you ride fixed when going DOWNHILL you are forced to use a high cadence.
2) Some people believe that increasing leg strength is a good idea. Also that the best way to do this is to climb hills in an inappropriately high gear. On fixed this happens UPHILL. Leg braking is believed to also be benefical in this way.
3) As fixed gear have less parts and so less to maintain they are better for the dirty, wet roads of winter. It's much cheaper to replace a single sprocket and a chain than all the cassettes, jockey wheels and stuff that wears out in the winter due to the grinding action of mud
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Alex_Simmons/RST
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 1775
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:41 am |
| vorsprung wrote: | | the_village_idiot wrote: |
Personally i dont see the massive advantage in fixed gear- if you want to get stronger at climbing- just climb in a harder gear! I sometimes think the whole fixed thing is an irrational like of something inferior- a bit like the Robin Reliant- people still drive them- despite being cr@p- simply due to an irrational like! |
Ok I did a post above with some of the disadvantages of fixed.
The winter training advantages are
1) It is widely accepted that using a high cadence is general a good idea. See
http://www.53x12.com/do/show?page=article&id=36
If you ride fixed when going DOWNHILL you are forced to use a high cadence.
2) Some people believe that increasing leg strength is a good idea. Also that the best way to do this is to climb hills in an inappropriately high gear. On fixed this happens UPHILL. Leg braking is believed to also be benefical in this way.
3) As fixed gear have less parts and so less to maintain they are better for the dirty, wet roads of winter. It's much cheaper to replace a single sprocket and a chain than all the cassettes, jockey wheels and stuff that wears out in the winter due to the grinding action of mud |
1. for sprints that is, not in general
2. that's not true, strength is not a limiter in endurance cycling and the forces in such efforts are too low anyway to induce strength gains
3. agree - if it means you ride instead of not ride because you don't want to get your pride and joy grimey, then that's a good thing
Custom Training Plans -- cyclecoach.com -- My blog |
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thiscocks
Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Posts: 119
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Posted Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:00 pm |
A single gear is good for just the simplicity of it and not having to worry about adjusting gears. For this reason I have a ss bike. Wouldnt bother with fixed though, personally I found it really annoying.
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