Gone double, getting geared bike withdrawl symptoms...

[kwikki]

The problem is the downhills on fixed. I've lost my fluid descending pedalling skills and was bouncing up and down in the saddle like a rodeo rider. It'll come back though

 

[King Boonen]

What gear do you run? When anyone asks me they are always surprised when I say the downhills are much worse. You get used to getting out the saddle and pedalling very quickly but spinning the gear has to be developed.

I went out with the racers on a club run on Sunday. On the flat and rolling hills I was fine but on the downhills I just couldn't keep up at all. I was running an 81" gear which is either 40 or 50 inches smaller than what the rest of the guys had available, I just couldn't spin my legs fast enough! Dropped down a pace group and it was much more comfortable, still a little small on the flat and downhill but let me jump of the front on the ramps.

 

[kwikki]

Re:

What gear do you run? When anyone asks me they are always surprised when I say the downhills are much worse. You get used to getting out the saddle and pedalling very quickly but spinning the gear has to be developed.

I went out with the racers on a club run on Sunday. On the flat and rolling hills I was fine but on the downhills I just couldn't keep up at all. I was running an 81" gear which is either 40 or 50 inches smaller than what the rest of the guys had available, I just couldn't spin my legs fast enough! Dropped down a pace group and it was much more comfortable, still a little small on the flat and downhill but let me jump of the front on the ramps.

105" on the track bike. 79 on the carbon race bike conversion and 70 on the Ti beater.

I get away with a higher gear on the CF bike because it is so light. That's what I took this morning.

I've ridden some 200 and 300k rides on the two road fixed, yo-yoing up and down hills with the geared. Usually, I'm absolutely battered by the end of it. On a normal mixed route I estimate riding fixed is about 10-20% harder.

 

[King Boonen]

I'm running 91" or 81" on my LeMond Fillmore at the moment for commuting/Training/club runs and just riding. It's slow going up hills but I don't feel ridiculously over-geared and it's certainly helpful on the flat and going downhill to have a longer gear. If I do really hilly runs I generally opt for around a 74", even a 70" if we're talking 2500m+ climbing with steep ramps. There is something very simple and liberating about a fixed gear. You don't get a choice, you just push what you have and it really appeals to me. The "hipster" accusations occasionally happen though!

 

[kwikki]

I do find my mind wanders more on fixed. It's a very fluid way of riding, but you have to anticipate a little to keep the flow.

My absolute favorite is if I get drawn into a commuter race. I sit on the back and wait for the next hill....drop back a bit, out of saddle to pick up speed, then sit back down and sail past with the fixie flywheel effect carrying me up. Works every time

 

[King Boonen]

The Johan Museeuw way of riding, just push harder!

Yeah, the one benefit I do find is that on rolling roads with small, punchy ramps I'm already spinning the gear when I hit the bottom whereas most are pushing too big a gear and suddenly have to start slamming though the rings and cassette in a desperate effort to find the right one!


They're fantastic bikes for wandering on, even after this year on fixed it'll most likely remain something I do every winter and whenever it's wet.

 

[kwikki]

S'funny because I view them as consummate summer bikes. They need a bit more care as they are inherently less stable and I don't want to add rain, mud and ice into the mix when I'm cornering without a freewheel.

But, that goes against the traditional view of them as winter training bikes.

Caught your finger in the drive train yet?

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

S'funny because I view them as consummate summer bikes. They need a bit more care as they are inherently less stable and I don't want to add rain, mud and ice into the mix when I'm cornering without a freewheel.

But, that goes against the traditional view of them as winter training bikes.

Caught your finger in the drive train yet?

I've climbed and descended icy road on my fixed wheel. It was slow but fun and it felt fine. It'll basically be because I'll leave the mudguards on for commuting and my road bike can only take those flimsy plastic things which snap if you touch them. Also, the drivechain on a fixed is so much more resistant. IT'll get ridden all year, but when I'm back on gears next year I can see it being pulled out whenever it's raining (and I do enjoy riding in the rain ).

Yes, yes I have. It resulted in a severed bone, surgery to reattach it and a now feelingless end of my right index finger and I was lucky that it was at least saveable!

 

[kwikki]

Faaaaaark!!!!

It's incredibly easy to do. Everyone knows not to spin the drive train and get hands near it, but because of the lack of freewheel if you touch the chain by the cog or chain wheel it winds your finger into it. I once did it whilst oiling the chain and turning it really slowly. Glad you salvaged your finger!!!

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

Faaaaaark!!!!

It's incredibly easy to do. Everyone knows not to spin the drive train and get hands near it, but because of the lack of freewheel if you touch the chain by the cog or chain wheel it winds your finger into it. I once did it whilst oiling the chain and turning it really slowly. Glad you salvaged your finger!!!

I was fitting mudguards with the bike upside down. Went to stand up, fell forward, grabber out to steady myself with my right hand but grabbed the chain and my left shoulder landed on the pedal and woosh! Backwards goes my finger into a decidedly dirty sprocket (because why bother cleaning a fixed wheel drive chain ). Cut straight through the nail and bone and left the end of my finger hanging by the pad. 14 hours later I was in surgery getting it fixed. Now you can hardly tell, the surgeon was amazed at the recovery.

I was very lucky. Here's a post-surgery photo. That pin extends through both knuckles. It was removed with some pliers

http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae313/skydog83/IMG_0790_zps7t1dpj3e.jpg (No img tags, only look if you want to! It's not that bad though).

 

[kwikki]

Ouch. Fixed gear bikes bite. I truly believe they need respect whether riding or not. For such a simple machine, things can go bad very quickly.

Which is part of their appeal

For any readers thinking of trying fixed. Never forget to keep pedalling. For if you do stop pedalling the forward momentum will rip your legs in half at the knee, but you'll carry on down the road with your bloodied knee stumps being flailed by the gravelly ends of your lower legs, still clipped in at the feet, with a curious flak-flak flak-flak sound.

 

[42x16ss]

Got hold of a fully rigid SS Avanti 29'er dirt cheap from Cash Converters during the week, can't wait to clean it up and take it out. It's been totally neglected, so I'll have to strip it, sand it back and repaint it. It will also need a new chain and probably new BB/headset bearings.

I haven't owned a single speeder (or a MTB either) for about 4 years now, it will be great to get back on one again. I think my gear ratio will have to be a little smaller than my username though

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Ouch. Fixed gear bikes bite. I truly believe they need respect whether riding or not. For such a simple machine, things can go bad very quickly.

Which is part of their appeal

For any readers thinking of trying fixed. Never forget to keep pedalling. For if you do stop pedalling the forward momentum will rip your legs in half at the knee, but you'll carry on down the road with your bloodied knee stumps being flailed by the gravelly ends of your lower legs, still clipped in at the feet, with a curious flak-flak flak-flak sound.

This is why I used to commute on a fixie, with a tiny gear and flat beartrap MTB pedals :twisted:

I never had to walk more than a few hundred metres to get it back...

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re:

The problem is the downhills on fixed. I've lost my fluid descending pedalling skills and was bouncing up and down in the saddle like a rodeo rider. It'll come back though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvmibwafGXc