Page 8 of 12
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 20 Jan 2020, 8:48pm
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.
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 21 Jan 2020, 9:46am
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.
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 21 Jan 2020, 10:19am
by Cyril Haearn
mattheus wrote:..
Gears aren't for everyone.
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
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 2 Mar 2020, 8:43pm
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?
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 2 Mar 2020, 8:53pm
by Brucey
'upgrade'? What an odd choice of words.
cheers
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 2 Mar 2020, 8:55pm
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
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 2 Mar 2020, 8:58pm
by Brucey
if you are already certain that having fewer gears is an upgrade, why ask the question....?
cheers
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 7:48am
by Cyril Haearn
Cycled with gears yesterday, first time since December, felt a bit queer
Went faster too, -1
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 9:30am
by thatsnotmyname
Cyril Haearn wrote:Cycled with gears yesterday,
You wouldn't get very far
without gears. Not even on a fixed wheel.
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 9:31am
by drossall
thatsnotmyname wrote:You wouldn't get very far without gears. Not even on a fixed wheel.
There's always an Ordinary of course. No gearing needed.
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 10:19am
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!'
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 10:38am
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
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 10:46am
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.
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 10:57am
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?
Re: Fixie: Why? Why not?
Posted: 6 Mar 2020, 11:22am
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...