Anyone hate fixed gears?

Bruce Rideout said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the plunge on a
fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't be able to
try one for any length of time before buying. However, EVERYONE I've
spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has loved it.
Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

I have a friend who hates them. She had a bike that was a converted
Schwinn Paramount track bike -- converted to 12-speed road. Eventually,
she decided to get a new road bike, and convert the track bike back to
fixed. But she hated it, felt out of control. She's in the process now of
reconverting it back to a road bike.

Go figure. I've always enjoyed the ride of my fixed gear. I also like a
road bike; it's just a different experience.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.
_`\(,_ | -- Paul Erdos
(_)/ (_) |

The complaints I've heard from various people about fixed gear bikes are
similar to the people with Hummers complaining about gas mileage.
Such brilliance such as:
Its hard to go up hills if it is geared one way
Slower top speed if geared another way
Less agressive cornering (cannot turn at angles where pedals would hit
ground).

I am sure I am forgetting many others

_Kurd

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

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the plunge on a
fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't be able to
try one for any length of time before buying. However, EVERYONE I've
spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has loved it.
Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

Thanks,

Bruce Rideout

On 22 Jun 2004 18:24:48 -0700, [email hidden] (Bruce

Rideout) said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the plunge on a
fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't be able to
try one for any length of time before buying. However, EVERYONE I've
spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has loved it.
Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

I created one by accident once, and rode it that way just long enough
(a couple of weeks, as I recall) to conclude that I never, ever wanted
to do that again. (Yes, it had hand brakes. No, that didn't make it
less intolerable.)

Rule of thumb for all such things: Your mileage may vary.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

Bruce Rideout said:

Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

My first attempt or two, no fun. Part of "racer" lore, I kept at it another
time or two and had fun. If the fixed is a pain, you can change to single
speed, BMX freewheel. Somewhat different animal but also possibly fun. Not a
mandatory assignment.
--TP

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

Quoted message said:

Bruce Rideout said:

Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

My first attempt or two, no fun. Part of "racer" lore, I kept at it another
time or two and had fun. If the fixed is a pain, you can change to single
speed, BMX freewheel. Somewhat different animal but also possibly fun. Not a
mandatory assignment.

Are there many people running double-sided hubs with fixed on one side and
freewheel on the other?
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen

When my riding had fewer steep hills I enjoyed riding a fixed. I have all
the parts now, so all I would have to do is install the wheels but I don't.
It's too hillly here for me to enjoy.

But that's not hate, it's lack of enjoyment.

Bruce

"Mark South" <[email hidden]> wrote >

Quoted message said:

Are there many people running double-sided hubs with fixed on one side and
freewheel on the other?

Yes, but I hardly ever flip mine. The only time I use the F/W side is when I
go off-road.

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:4ydCc.92421$eu.14349@attbi_s02...

Quoted message said:

"Mark South" <[email hidden]> wrote >

Quoted message said:

Are there many people running double-sided hubs with fixed on one side and
freewheel on the other?

Yes, but I hardly ever flip mine. The only time I use the F/W side is when I
go off-road.

Would you care to describe your setup and what you would change or improve about
it? I've been vaguely considering putting one of these together.

I was thinking that one makes the freewheel a little lower than the fixed, would
that be the right way round?
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen

Mark South said:

Would you care to describe your setup and what you would change or improve about
it? I've been vaguely considering putting one of these together.

I was thinking that one makes the freewheel a little lower than the fixed, would
that be the right way round?

That's the way I have mine set up - 42 chainring, 17 fixed cog, 18
single-speed freewheel. I commute 10 miles each way on this bike and
switched it over to the freewheel side when I started riding in
stop-n-go traffic. I have a chicken-and-egg problem here: if I had
better trackstands I wouldn't be so annoyed by trying to clip in/out of
the fixed gear, but as long as I ride the freewheel side my trackstands
aren't getting any better. Maybe this fall I'll put some more time into
trackstand practice.

I haven't done any rides longer than 20 miles or so on the fixed gear,
but the shorter rides are plenty fun. I like the simplicity of the bike
- having fewer things to break is something of an advantage for a
commuter. The things I would change about this bike aren't related to
its fixed/free nature - the front-center is a little short so I get some
toe overlap, and the seatpost slips a bit.

JLS
--
James "Nothing a new frame wouldn't cure" Scott
www.jls.cx

Mark South said:

Would you care to describe your setup and what you would change or improve about
it? I've been vaguely considering putting one of these together.

I was thinking that one makes the freewheel a little lower than the fixed, would
that be the right way round?

Yeah, that's the general idea. The scenario is that, when you get totally
bonked, you can switch the wheel around and limp home, with the additional
energy-saving ability to coast as well as a lower gear. I have one wheel
set up this way, but haven't used it in about 2 years. The wheel I use is
fixed/fixed, which allows me a (rather slow) shift to adapt to conditions
rather than a bail-out. Currently the two sides are only 1 tooth apart.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but
_`\(,_ | what canst thou say? -- George Fox.
(_)/ (_) |

Bruce Rideout said:

Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

Don't think of it as a lifetime monogamous relationship, just a little
intern on the side 🙂.

[email hidden] (Bruce Rideout) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the plunge on a
fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't be able to
try one for any length of time before buying. However, EVERYONE I've
spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has loved it.
Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

I didn't "hate" them until they became popular. Now I despise the
whole philosophy. Here are grown people who couldn't wait to buy the
"10 speed" they could finally afford and now they're back spending
money on fixed gear bikes. Of course, I don't mind them spending
money (I'm in the business). Like many, I spent my youth on a single
speed bike (never "fixed"😉. I can't see the idea of going back.

In my opinion, it's a fad and a toy, and there's no real benefit.
There are some drawbacks.

Amazing young couple guys came through the other day, touring from
East coast to West, one riding a fixed gear/flip-flop, beat-looking
Peugot, 35lbs of gear on a rear rack. I got the feeling he was
holding the other guy back.

Robin Hubert

[email hidden] (Bruce Rideout) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the plunge on a
fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't be able to
try one for any length of time before buying. However, EVERYONE I've
spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has loved it.
Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

Y'know you can try out a fixed gear without spending much money.

Find a nice old bike with horizontal dropouts, freewheel, and quil
pedals with clips and straps. Such bikes can usually be had for
a song these days.

Purchase a 3/32 track cog and find an English bottom brack lock ring.
Choose your cog such that it will be a reasonable gear with your small
chainring. I used to train with a 42x15 with such a setup though
most riders I met go with a 14.

Now all you really have to do is remove the freewheel, thread on the
track cog, then spin on the the english bottom bracket lock ring to
use as a lock ring and snug it down with a bottom bracket wrench.
Shorten your chain until it is snug going around your small chainring
and your track cog. You will want horizontal dropouts so you can
fine tune the chain tension.

True rear track hubs have a plateaued left handed lockring so the lock
ring tightens when the rider brakes. The rear road bike hub conversion
lacks this but in practice I and nobody I met had any problem with
such a setup backing off. You might have to tighten the lock ring
after a ride or two because the cog will tighten after being ridden.

If you are more ambitious you can respace the rear hub to improve
the chain line and reduce dish. This isn't necessary just to try
out riding a fixed gear though.

I generally take my rear brake off but leave the front brake. I leave
the front brake on for emergency stops but while riding I almost never
use it.

For me the alure of riding a fixed gear was to do something different.
After riding thousands of miles I felt like trying something different
for a while in the off season. Another benefit of a track bike is
that since there is no coasting and braking is work too you don't need
as long a ride to get the same workout. This is a nice feature in the
winter when it is cold out.
--
Bruce Jackson - Sr. Systems Programmer - DMSP, a M/A/R/C Group company

Quoted message said:

Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

I read lots of positive testimonials and also had reservations. I
decided to watch eBay for a time, and if I could snag a likely one
cheaply, I'd do it.

That worked out pretty well. For about $100, I got a decent bike from
one of those 2 ebay sellers that always have a couple on offer, and
rode it for 2 or 3 months. If I were riding somewhat levelish roads I
probably would have stayed with it, but it's pretty hilly on my usual
routes, and the 81 inch gear was a b**th on the climbs. My knees were
hurting.

It cost another $40 or so to convert it to a single speed with a ratio
I can climb with (68 inches), and now the bike works great as my poor
weather commuter.

Erik

Quoted message said:

From: [email hidden] (Robin Hubert)

Quoted message said:

In my opinion, it's a fad and a toy, and there's no real benefit.
There are some drawbacks.

Pretty good legs for a fad. Close to 25 years that I've known about FG, goes
back way beyond that. One "benefit" is fun. If it isn't fun for you, not a
problem. "Drawbacks" in context, please. --TP

(Robin Hubert) said:

(Bruce Rideout) said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the plunge on a
fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't be able to
try one for any length of time before buying. However, EVERYONE I've
spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has loved it.
Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

I didn't "hate" them until they became popular. Now I despise the
whole philosophy. Here are grown people who couldn't wait to buy the
"10 speed" they could finally afford and now they're back spending
money on fixed gear bikes. Of course, I don't mind them spending
money (I'm in the business). Like many, I spent my youth on a single
speed bike (never "fixed"😉. I can't see the idea of going back.

In my opinion, it's a fad and a toy, and there's no real benefit.
There are some drawbacks.

In my case, there was huge benefit. After buying (on the
cheap) an old road frame for conversion, I was suddenly
motivated to read up on bike repair, maintenance,
technology, even wheel and frame building. A year later,
not only do I still love learning as well as getting my
hands dirty, I am also happy to be picking up a skill
that could someday result in employment, after my current
employer decides to reroute paychecks to Bangladesh.

And I don't think I'm alone here. The simplicity of
fixed gear bikes, as well as the fixie community that
I've encountered, seems to foster knowledge and self-
teaching of this sort.

Casey, two cents poorer

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

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Bruce Rideout) wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm close to taking the

plunge on a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fixed gear. I'm a bit apprehensive though, because I won't

be able to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

try one for any length of time before buying. However,

EVERYONE I've

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

spoken to (or read about) that has tried a fixed gear has

loved it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the

road and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or

that

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

just didn't work out for you?

I didn't "hate" them until they became popular. Now I despise

the

Quoted message said:

whole philosophy. Here are grown people who couldn't wait to

buy the

Quoted message said:

"10 speed" they could finally afford and now they're back

spending

Quoted message said:

money on fixed gear bikes. Of course, I don't mind them

spending

Quoted message said:

money (I'm in the business). Like many, I spent my youth on a

single

Quoted message said:

speed bike (never "fixed"😉. I can't see the idea of going

back.

Quoted message said:

In my opinion, it's a fad and a toy, and there's no real

benefit.

Quoted message said:

There are some drawbacks.

Amazing young couple guys came through the other day, touring

from

Quoted message said:

East coast to West, one riding a fixed gear/flip-flop,

beat-looking

Quoted message said:

Peugot, 35lbs of gear on a rear rack. I got the feeling he was
holding the other guy back.

It has become a huge fad with the bicycle messengers here in
Portland. A couple of them have super-spendy track bikes with
barely enough clearance for 20mm clinchers, a big gear, and, of
course, no brakes. Not a good set-up for rain, slippery bricks
and killer busses. A fixed gear is a good approach in general
because the downtown is not super hilly, and a fixed gear is easy
to maintain. But the whole machismo no brakes thing is foolish.
These kids do not have the quad strength to stop on a dime. --
Jay Beattie.

Jay Beattie said:

It has become a huge fad with the bicycle messengers here in
Portland. A couple of them have super-spendy track bikes with
barely enough clearance for 20mm clinchers, a big gear, and, of
course, no brakes. Not a good set-up for rain, slippery bricks
and killer busses. A fixed gear is a good approach in general
because the downtown is not super hilly, and a fixed gear is easy
to maintain. But the whole machismo no brakes thing is foolish.
These kids do not have the quad strength to stop on a dime. --
Jay Beattie.

No one has the quad strength to stop on a dime -- using a front brake
yields much shorter stopping distances, no matter what kind of brake you
use on the rear, quads or otherwise.

--
Benjamin Lewis

Seeing is deceiving. It's eating that's believing.
-- James Thurber

(Bruce Rideout) said:

Is there anyone out there who has tried a fixed gear on the road and
has NOT liked it? If so, what was it that you didn't like or that
just didn't work out for you?

I built a fixie MTB for the road about a month before I left Austin
for Seattle. For the first few weeks I was getting the hang of it and
enjoying it somewhat (though the mental vigilance required to remember
not to coast was more tiring than pushing pedals). When I moved to
Seattle, which is covered with _much_ steeper grades than Austin, I
found that the gear (44/16) was too high to climb much of the
available cityscape, and I was unable to control my speed downhill by
means other than brakes. I switched to 44/18.

It didn't help. I just can't reconcile fixed gearing and steep hills
and still have any fun doing it. I imagine that in a flat city, a
fixie might be an excellent ride, but not here. I doubt even that I
could have enjoyed it long-term in Austin.

The risk of not enjoying your fixie is not IMO enough reason to
refrain from having one. If it does not prove to be to your liking,
you can always freewheel it for a bike that has most of the appeal of
a fixie, without the ill temper.

Chalo Colina