RR: Fixed Gear!

nice,

I'd heard they were hard to get used to. A friend who used to ride one
in a velodrome(?) said I'd probably kill myself taking a fixie out on
the road.

Glad it works for you. I see older converted bikes cheap on ebay all
the time and was really tempted to get one for those days when the
trails are too soft, but I wanna ride.

CDB
and it's still a singlespeed!

Paladin said:

I'd heard they were hard to get used to. A friend who used to ride one
in a velodrome(?) said I'd probably kill myself taking a fixie out on
the road.

Glad it works for you. I see older converted bikes cheap on ebay all
the time and was really tempted to get one for those days when the
trails are too soft, but I wanna ride.

The biggest problem arises when the fixie rider tries to coast and sends
the "stop pedaling" message from brain to legs. They won't stop.
Picture the line between the pedal spindles. It's spinning in the same
direction as the wheels at 90+ rpm. As the rider pedals along, powering
the pedals or just moving with them, no prob. The problem arises when
he sends that "stop pedaling" message to his legs. The legs interpret
it to mean "Stop NOW ferchrisake!" All that well conditioned meat
creates a nice rigid platform to launch the rider off the bike. The
complicating factor for the newb fixie driver is that this is likely to
occur when they're getting spun out coming down a hill. Bike's going
faster, legs going faster-ugly picture.
First time I did this was my first ride on a track bike. I'd just
uncorked a major, out-of-the-saddle sprint to 30 mph+, sat back and like
I always did on my road bike, stopped pedaling. OH [censored]! The back wheel
popped about a foot in the air, and I got fairly sideways. I still
remember the view of the front tire from unnaturally far ahead of the
handlebars. I somehow avoided stacking it. Beginners luck. It was
Colorado Springs, so maybe it was all the God waves in the air, dunno. ;-)
Negotiating curbs is harder on a fixie. I ride one as my town bike
these days.

Shawn

"Shawn" <sdotcurry@bresnananotherdotnet> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paladin said:

I'd heard they were hard to get used to. A friend who used to ride one
in a velodrome(?) said I'd probably kill myself taking a fixie out on
the road.

Glad it works for you. I see older converted bikes cheap on ebay all
the time and was really tempted to get one for those days when the
trails are too soft, but I wanna ride.

The biggest problem arises when the fixie rider tries to coast and sends
the "stop pedaling" message from brain to legs. They won't stop.

I have a nice deep scar on my knee from my first ride to work on my fixie.
All excited about the new setup, wheelie up my street, turn the corner
sprint down the hill, a split second later I'm sliding down the road on my
camelback. I just forgot it was fixed and it threw me straight over the
bars.

I've done several thousand kms on it now and it's become a bodily function.
Something about it just makes you feel more in touch with your bike, I guess
you have to try it to know it. I even managed a third place in a recent
courier alley cat race on it but in those circles the front brake is frowned
upon. My city is full of tram tracks and tram stops so jumping curbs and
stuff is mandatory.

I've raced and ridden the fixie off road a couple of times and that is quite
a challenge to say the least. My frame has totaly the wrong geometry for
offroad but I'm picking up a friends inbred soon so I hope to be racing it
fixed in the upcoming single speed nationals.

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 22:38:22 -0700, Shawn

sdotcurry@bresnananotherdotnet said:

The biggest problem arises when the fixie rider tries to coast and sends
the "stop pedaling" message from brain to legs. They won't stop.
Picture the line between the pedal spindles. It's spinning in the same
direction as the wheels at 90+ rpm. As the rider pedals along, powering
the pedals or just moving with them, no prob. The problem arises when
he sends that "stop pedaling" message to his legs.

Don't stop pedalling, don't send the "stop pedalling" message from
brain to legs.

Instead simply let your legs go limp. You'll find that the bike will
be pumping your legs. I must have been spinning at 130 - 150 rpms
going down a hill and doing absolutely nothing with my legs.

What a hoot!

The most odd sensation is that the bike really feels as if you're
riding in a fixed slot on the road. You really get a connected
feeling...hard to explain.

Peace.

Bill

The First law, Inertia: Unless acted upon by an outside force,
a body at rest tends to stay at rest,
and a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
Sir Isaac Newton

"Bill Wheeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Surly Track Hub
DT Swiss Double Butted 2.0, 1.8, 2.0
Mavic OpenPro Hoop
18t rear cog
45t front ring
Shimano 600 cranks (old school Ultegra)
Miyata Frame.

....FSCKING TOO MUCH FUN!

I can't believe I've waited this long. Rode this morning for 25 miles
of hills and thrills. Never had such a good time on a road bike.

MTB content. I had to use my MTB seat, pedals and shoes, because I
couldn't wait to ride this puppy!

Carla, thanks for mentioning that you may have been able to help out
with a frame, I found a good one. Thanks again.

Sweet! Gawd I love fixed gears...Enjoy your new ride!

If you ever intend on installing a front brake (for emergencies), I have
some brake calipers and levers laying around.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

"Paladin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd heard they were hard to get used to. A friend who used to ride one
in a velodrome(?) said I'd probably kill myself taking a fixie out on
the road.

Nope. We do it all the time and we're still here. Just gotta have street
smarts and always be aware of everything going on around you.

Quoted message said:

Glad it works for you. I see older converted bikes cheap on ebay all
the time and was really tempted to get one for those days when the
trails are too soft, but I wanna ride.

Go for it Chris...

Quoted message said:

CDB
and it's still a singlespeed!

Indeed!

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

"Shawn" <sdotcurry@bresnananotherdotnet> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The biggest problem arises when the fixie rider tries to coast and sends
the "stop pedaling" message from brain to legs. They won't stop.
Picture the line between the pedal spindles. It's spinning in the same
direction as the wheels at 90+ rpm. As the rider pedals along, powering
the pedals or just moving with them, no prob. The problem arises when
he sends that "stop pedaling" message to his legs. The legs interpret
it to mean "Stop NOW ferchrisake!" All that well conditioned meat
creates a nice rigid platform to launch the rider off the bike. The
complicating factor for the newb fixie driver is that this is likely to
occur when they're getting spun out coming down a hill. Bike's going
faster, legs going faster-ugly picture.
First time I did this was my first ride on a track bike. I'd just
uncorked a major, out-of-the-saddle sprint to 30 mph+, sat back and like
I always did on my road bike, stopped pedaling. OH [censored]! The back wheel
popped about a foot in the air, and I got fairly sideways. I still
remember the view of the front tire from unnaturally far ahead of the
handlebars. I somehow avoided stacking it. Beginners luck. It was
Colorado Springs, so maybe it was all the God waves in the air, dunno.

The first time I rode a fixie and stopped pedalling, I almost had to get all
my front teeth replaced as I came very close to losing them on the stem.

Quoted message said:

Negotiating curbs is harder on a fixie. I ride one as my town bike
these days.

Nah, just ride smaller pedals :-)

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

"Bill Wheeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The most odd sensation is that the bike really feels as if you're
riding in a fixed slot on the road. You really get a connected
feeling...hard to explain.

I can never really explain the feeling to people of how it feels to ride a
track bike. Its just hard to explain, you just have to go out and do it to
know how it feels.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

<Carla A-G

I can never really explain the feeling to people of how it feels to ride a
track bike. Its just hard to explain, you just have to go out and do it to
know how it feels.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!>

Wow I am so proud!!! That's my wife folks.. Fixed Hook line and sinker!!!
She took to it like a fish to water!
My advice Chris is just go for it... Your friend is wrong... You won't die.
Dunno why anyone would give such advice... it will make you a better rider and you will learn much better anticipation on the road...
Bill a Miyata frame is a great find! Many many happy miles... Now that your fixed it just keeps getting better...
The whole stop pedalling thing is what I call riding "broke"... Now I very rarely coast on any bike.
I sometimes freak Carla out by just unclipping on a down hill and catching the pedals and clipping back in (warning I highly reccomend not doing this) when they slow down... The whole fixed riding experience becomes ingrained... after a short while you don't even think about it ...

Jimbo(san) said:

<Carla A-G

I can never really explain the feeling to people of how it feels to
ride a
track bike. Its just hard to explain, you just have to go out and do it
to
know how it feels.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!>

Wow I am so proud!!! That's my wife folks.. Fixed Hook line and
sinker!!!
She took to it like a fish to water!
My advice Chris is just go for it... Your friend is wrong... You won't
die.
Dunno why anyone would give such advice... it will make you a better
rider and you will learn much better anticipation on the road...
Bill a Miyata frame is a great find! Many many happy miles... Now that
your fixed it just keeps getting better...
The whole stop pedalling thing is what I call riding "broke"... Now I
very rarely coast on any bike.
I sometimes freak Carla out by just unclipping on a down hill and
catching the pedals and clipping back in (warning I highly reccomend
not doing this) when they slow down... The whole fixed riding
experience becomes ingrained... after a short while you don't even
think about it ...

What he said (and others). From riding a fixed gear on the road I
understand the lure of SS off road. Just can't picture doing that to my
knees at this point (6 mo post surgery). Now next summer...

Shawn

Carla A-G said:

"Bill Wheeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Surly Track Hub
DT Swiss Double Butted 2.0, 1.8, 2.0
Mavic OpenPro Hoop
18t rear cog
45t front ring
Shimano 600 cranks (old school Ultegra)
Miyata Frame.

....FSCKING TOO MUCH FUN!

I can't believe I've waited this long. Rode this morning for 25 miles
of hills and thrills. Never had such a good time on a road bike.

MTB content. I had to use my MTB seat, pedals and shoes, because I
couldn't wait to ride this puppy!

Carla, thanks for mentioning that you may have been able to help out
with a frame, I found a good one. Thanks again.

Sweet! Gawd I love fixed gears...Enjoy your new ride!

If you ever intend on installing a front brake (for emergencies), I have
some brake calipers and levers laying around.

I picked up a POS [censored] front brake from eht LBS and used a brake
lever from a mountain bike project for my son (I have flat bars on my
fixie). Also check out http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed.html for
bits and pieces for a conversion (cogs, lock rings and little chain ring
bolts).

Shawn

"Carla A-G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill Wheeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Surly Track Hub
DT Swiss Double Butted 2.0, 1.8, 2.0
Mavic OpenPro Hoop
18t rear cog
45t front ring
Shimano 600 cranks (old school Ultegra)
Miyata Frame.

....FSCKING TOO MUCH FUN!

I can't believe I've waited this long. Rode this morning for 25 miles
of hills and thrills. Never had such a good time on a road bike.

MTB content. I had to use my MTB seat, pedals and shoes, because I
couldn't wait to ride this puppy!

Carla, thanks for mentioning that you may have been able to help out
with a frame, I found a good one. Thanks again.

Sweet! Gawd I love fixed gears...Enjoy your new ride!

If you ever intend on installing a front brake (for emergencies), I have
some brake calipers and levers laying around.

He should really get a front brake. He's only a chain break from the
hospital without one.

Greg

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Carla, thanks for mentioning that you may have been able to help out
with a frame, I found a good one. Thanks again.

Sweet! Gawd I love fixed gears...Enjoy your new ride!

If you ever intend on installing a front brake (for emergencies), I have
some brake calipers and levers laying around.

That was one of my first priorities. I'm not a complete nut. I do
have a front brake.

Peace,
Bill

The First law, Inertia: Unless acted upon by an outside force,
a body at rest tends to stay at rest,
and a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
Sir Isaac Newton

Thanks, Jimbo. The new challenge sounds great. I'll likely need some
advice when I'm ready to jump. And now that you mention it, I
remember you and Carla talking about your track bikes quite a bit when
you were out here. Sounds really fun, and like a great workout.

I'm missing a great ride tomorrow in a remote, and I mean middle of
nowhere, mountain range known for its wild horse herds, wolves and
occasional Air Force practice south of us due to a classic crash on
the road bike Wed nt. Thank God no broken bones, but all I'm riding
right now is the recliner... "<snap!> I'll have another beer now!"

CB

Bill Wheeler said:

Surly Track Hub
DT Swiss Double Butted 2.0, 1.8, 2.0
Mavic OpenPro Hoop
18t rear cog
45t front ring
Shimano 600 cranks (old school Ultegra)
Miyata Frame.

....FSCKING TOO MUCH FUN!

I organized a singlespeed/fixed gear race through campus a couple of weeks
ago during class-change time. The first one was good... a bit too long
though. The second one was about 1/3 of the length and was much more fun.
I dropped my chain on the second one, and ended up way behind. Only one guy
got arrested!

BTW, I rode an SS... so much faster than a fixie in the corners.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

< Paladin said
I'm missing a great ride tomorrow in a remote, and I mean middle of
nowhere, mountain range known for its wild horse herds, wolves and
occasional Air Force practice south of us due to a classic crash on
the road bike Wed nt. Thank God no broken bones, but all I'm riding
right now is the recliner... "<snap!> I'll have another beer now!"

CB>

Acck!
I hope you feel better soon my friend... Crashing is not fun!

Jimbo(san)

Paladin said:

I'm missing a great ride tomorrow in a remote, and I mean middle of
nowhere, mountain range known for its wild horse herds, wolves and
occasional Air Force practice south of us due to a classic crash on
the road bike Wed nt. Thank God no broken bones, but all I'm riding
right now is the recliner... "<snap!> I'll have another beer now!"

You goof! You should be missing a road ride from a MTB crash.

JD