Comments on: Fix-Curious? An Experiment in Fixed-Gear Commuting - Part 1

By: Luis jimenez

Luis jimenez — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:38:22 +0000

So, I been riding Road bike for years, single speed for about 1 year and 2 days ago I finally started with a fixed gear. I built the bike myself with the help of my local shop and the Internet. Everything was going smooth until
I started riding it. WTF is all that “kickback” from the pedals. It happens every two or three spins the pedals kick back(at least that’s what it felt like). Also, I don’t have pedal straps momentarily so I try to lock the pedal with my left leg and the force of the spin it’s just greater than mine legs. Is this normal or something is wrong? I also thought about me unconsciously trying to coast because of all those years riding the other kind! Any help will ge appreciate it.

By: don

don — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:48:45 +0000

So if the problem was the derailleur why don’t you try something with a nexus 3 or 7 instead?

By: Mike A

Mike A — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:40:49 +0000

On fixie bike, terrain gonna ride you!

By: Dewber

Dewber — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 02:53:06 +0000

Fixies without a brake are just plain unnecessary. It’s just bravado. But, did I ever enjoy riding to work and back on my fixed townie. The only reason I went back to gears was that my knees just couldn’t handle it. Wish I even knew such a thing existed when I was younger and more pliable.

By: Fat Guy On a Bike

Fat Guy On a Bike — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:54:02 +0000

I ride a fixed 925 as well. I love it. It’s my go to bike for running around the city, running errands, etc. In the 5 years I’ve owned this bike, I’ve only had pedal strike issues a few times and those were probably due to my own dumb ass not paying attention. About clipping in: give Crank Bros Eggbeaters a try. With 4 entry points, they’re ludicrously easy to clip into while riding fixed.
And yes, use your brakes!

By: Josh King

Josh King — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:47:58 +0000

I find I need the clips the most when descending, simply to keep my feet on the pedals.

By: chunky monkey biker

chunky monkey biker — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:19:27 +0000

W/a fixie, you learn how to use the terrain to you advantage: conserve energy coasting down small hills, etc. You learn not to take the topography for granted.

By: Micki Detroit

Micki Detroit — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:19:15 +0000

Hi Guys -
I picked up my fixie about 2 years ago. I put it back down about a year ago, after faltering in traffic. To keep it short, I will share my experience without too much hyperbole.
- For me, the ‘switchie to Fixie’ was a “no-brainer.” Who wouldn’t give up cost, maintenance, and gear-management for the simplest drive system in the world?
- Yes, the ride can be: Scary; Unpredictable; Difficult; Demanding; and Dangerous. It is also: Effective; Efficient; Satisfying; Simple and Stimulating.
- Yes, Clipping-In can be problematic and complex… A better solution may be cages – Simple to mount/dis-mount, and much less demanding.
- And Cornering – I have not had a pedal strike – I would like to take the credit for this, but it really is the Redline Engineering team’s success in design which helped here…

I rode a 9-2-5 for these 12 months. It was a fair sized frame, though a little tall for me at 56cm, putting my center of gravity a little higher than normal. As I’m not the most stable rider in the pack, this may have contributed to my last crash:
I was running an errand, when I noticed the road narrowed ahead. With traffic on the left, and a tall curb on the right, I needed to make a choice: #1: Bump the Car to my left; #2: Try to jump the curb, or #3: dismount and take my chances. “Well, Bob,” I thought, “Let’s see what is behind door number three.” I dismounted abruptly to the right, rolled twice on the sidewalk, stood up, brushed the dust off, and took a bow. The two guys standing on the corner gave me a round of applause. I picked up the intact bike (try this with gears!!), got back on, and finished my errand (ironically, to get my car from the shop.)
I came away with a broken 5th metacarpal bone in my left hand – an intact bicycle, and some wisdom to boot. One thing led to another, I sold that bike and moved on to a NORCO Ceres – the diametric opposite to the 9-2-5. Lots and lots of complexity: 9 speeds in the rear hub alone; belt drive, and a cool stay-clamp to steady the rear wheel – very high-tech, but that is another story…
I miss my Fixie.
Micki Detroit – Green-Iron Bicycle Co., San Diego www,green-iron.net

By: Simon

Simon — Sun, 01 May 2011 03:32:17 +0000

I have ridden fixed for about 2 years now and agree with you regarding brakes. Just today i was riding through Golden Gate park and an unleased dog ran out in front of me. With rim brakes i stopped no problem, if i’d been riding brakeless a skid would have had me hit the dog, which had stopped dead in front of me! No amount of “Situational Awareness” would have helped. _Maybe_ a swerve instead of a skid, but that may have seen me hit something else (say, the ownner, who was a few feet away).

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 01 May 2011 02:21:32 +0000

Incidentally, I too ride a fixed Salsa Casseroll, and am quite fond of it. It sounds like you’re getting the hang of it well enough, but there is one thing I must say: DO NOT ride without brakes. You are absolutely right that stopping without them takes substantially longer. This is because static friction (i.e. your wheels rolling) exerts a much greater force than kinetic friction (i.e. skidding). You don’t need rear brakes on a fixed gear (but they’re not a bad idea, just in case your chain breaks), but front brakes are essential.