Fixed wheel: Why? Why not? Vote now please!

For discussions about bikes and equipment.

Fixie: Why? Why not?

Fixed is my first choice
9
23%
Love fixed, love freewheel
10
25%
Used to ride fixed, no more
3
8%
Not tried fixed. Yet
6
15%
Fixed where suitable
1
3%
Fixed in winter
0
No votes
Fixed when I was young and free
1
3%
Freewheel only, lots of gears
5
13%
Prefer single freewheel
4
10%
Love to try fixed with gears
1
3%
 
Total votes: 40

brumster
Posts: 509
Joined: 8 Sep 2009, 7:50pm

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by brumster »

Cyril Haearn wrote:
brumster wrote:
Cyril Haearn wrote:Just did my longest ride on my new fixie so far, 47 km, feeling smug, runs perfectly, simple and quiet, lovely grey landscape, I did not get too tired

Planning a longer ride soon with hills, should I wimp out and use my geared bike?


No ! :) - You may be surprised and find longer rides can be easier on fixed.

Easier than with gears and freewheel?


I did say "Can" be easier - I find I can get into a pedaling rhythm on fixed and being fixed the cranks have a bit of momentum over the deadspot - which can help climbing hills. Spinning on the flat and descents keeps the legs muscles supple too. I do find I can tire sooner riding gears for long rides - especially if hilly -just my experience, I've been riding fixed for over 25 years and still prefer / enjoy it over gears. The audax exploits of Steve Abraham got me curious in distance riding on fixed in the first place.
mattheus
Posts: 5030
Joined: 29 Dec 2008, 12:57pm
Location: Western Europe

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by mattheus »

brumster wrote:

I do find I can tire sooner riding gears for long rides - especially if hilly -just my experience, I've been riding fixed for over 25 years and still prefer / enjoy it over gears. The audax exploits of Steve Abraham got me curious in distance riding on fixed in the first place.

Gears aren't for everyone.
Cyril Haearn
Posts: 15215
Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

mattheus wrote:..
Gears aren't for everyone.

:wink:
Right again, as a wiseperson said, 'a cycle should be as simple as possible', just occurred to me that I can service everything on my fixed bike except maybe the alternator (or is it a dynamo?)

Did my longest* fixed ride this winter Sunday, 53 km, got agreeably tired (partly because of the cold, much pleasanter than exhaustion in summer)

Just occurred to me that I have had no problems with toe overlap, another advantage of using a cheap frame with good clearances


* got a feeling I did a hundred miles on fixed 1978, cannae prove that even to myself
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cyril Haearn
Posts: 15215
Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

I was wondering if I should upgrade my hub-geared bike (7 gears) to fixed or single free, decided to fit a big sprocket to get really low gears, might be a bit of fun for a change

Anyone used fixed on a tandem, racing or otherwise?
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Brucey
Posts: 44454
Joined: 4 Jan 2012, 6:25pm

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Brucey »

'upgrade'? What an odd choice of words.

cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cyril Haearn
Posts: 15215
Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

Brucey wrote:'upgrade'? What an odd choice of words.

cheers

It is the right tool for the job, upgrades my fitness too, +2
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Brucey
Posts: 44454
Joined: 4 Jan 2012, 6:25pm

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Brucey »

if you are already certain that having fewer gears is an upgrade, why ask the question....?

cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cyril Haearn
Posts: 15215
Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

Cycled with gears yesterday, first time since December, felt a bit queer
Went faster too, -1
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
thatsnotmyname
Posts: 595
Joined: 23 Jan 2020, 10:23am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by thatsnotmyname »

Cyril Haearn wrote:Cycled with gears yesterday,


You wouldn't get very far without gears. Not even on a fixed wheel.
drossall
Posts: 6106
Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 10:01pm
Location: North Hertfordshire

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by drossall »

thatsnotmyname wrote:You wouldn't get very far without gears. Not even on a fixed wheel.

:D :D :D

There's always an Ordinary of course. No gearing needed.
Cyril Haearn
Posts: 15215
Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

The fixie has not 'gears', but 'gear', 49", stops me going too fast, one could just about ride a 49" ordinary

Cycled with gears again today, used No 3 mostly, +1 +2 of course
I think I shall keep the geared bike for novelty value, long rides, or if I want to lend it. Fixie is easy mind, just taught two grownups how to ride mine, 'push back on the pedal coming up!'
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Brucey
Posts: 44454
Joined: 4 Jan 2012, 6:25pm

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Brucey »

it just goes to show we are all different. Riding on a 49" fixed gear would be my idea of hell on earth, unless it was uphill all the way, in which case the gear ratio makes a bit more sense.

cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
thatsnotmyname
Posts: 595
Joined: 23 Jan 2020, 10:23am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by thatsnotmyname »

Cyril Haearn wrote:The fixie has not 'gears', but 'gear', 49", stops me going too fast, one could just about ride a 49" ordinary

Cycled with gears again today, used No 3 mostly, +1 +2 of course
I think I shall keep the geared bike for novelty value, long rides, or if I want to lend it. Fixie is easy mind, just taught two grownups how to ride mine, 'push back on the pedal coming up!'


I'm out.
Cyril Haearn
Posts: 15215
Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

Brucey wrote:it just goes to show we are all different. Riding on a 49" fixed gear would be my idea of hell on earth, unless it was uphill all the way, in which case the gear ratio makes a bit more sense.

cheers

What fixed gear would/do you use, how many rpm? I do find the gear a bit high when starting off, trying to accelerate away from the lights, but for tootling into town or along the canal it is perfect. Using gears today I went up to third, felt lower than 49"

What ratios do others use?
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
thatsnotmyname
Posts: 595
Joined: 23 Jan 2020, 10:23am

Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?

Post by thatsnotmyname »

Cyril Haearn wrote:
Brucey wrote:it just goes to show we are all different. Riding on a 49" fixed gear would be my idea of hell on earth, unless it was uphill all the way, in which case the gear ratio makes a bit more sense.

cheers

What fixed gear would/do you use, how many rpm? I do find the gear a bit high when starting off, trying to accelerate away from the lights, but for tootling into town or along the canal it is perfect. Using gears today I went up to third, felt lower than 49"

What ratios do others use?


Are you sure you actually mean a 49 inch gear, as opposed to a 49t chainring? A 49" rollout would mean something like a 39/21 setup, which doesn't sound very useful, even by FW standards. Not even sure you can buy a rear sprocket that size...
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