Fixed gear bikes through cyclepath barriers

[David]

Fed up with frequent derailleur maintenance over the past couple of
winters, I'm considering getting a fixed gear bike for commuting.
I've read the fixiefaqs and Sheldon Brown's words of wisdom on the
subject, but neither touches upon how to perform awkward manoeuvers,
such as squeezing through barriers on cyclepaths or making sharp 90deg
turns. With a freewheelling bike I stand forward of the saddle, put my
weight on one pedal and scoot with the other leg, but this is obviously
not possible when fixed. I normally avoid cyclepaths but tend to end
up using them when riding with friends on the way to the pub etc. Any
advice?

 

[Tony Raven]

David wrote:
> Fed up with frequent derailleur maintenance over the past couple of
> winters, I'm considering getting a fixed gear bike for commuting.
> I've read the fixiefaqs and Sheldon Brown's words of wisdom on the
> subject, but neither touches upon how to perform awkward manoeuvers,
> such as squeezing through barriers on cyclepaths or making sharp 90deg
> turns. With a freewheelling bike I stand forward of the saddle, put my
> weight on one pedal and scoot with the other leg, but this is obviously
> not possible when fixed. I normally avoid cyclepaths but tend to end
> up using them when riding with friends on the way to the pub etc. Any
> advice?
>

The really good fixie riders can do three point turns without putting a
foot down, so barriers should be a cinch ;-)

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

 

[Alan Holmes]

> David wrote:
>> Fed up with frequent derailleur maintenance over the past couple of
>> winters, I'm considering getting a fixed gear bike for commuting.
>> I've read the fixiefaqs and Sheldon Brown's words of wisdom on the
>> subject, but neither touches upon how to perform awkward manoeuvers,
>> such as squeezing through barriers on cyclepaths or making sharp 90deg
>> turns. With a freewheelling bike I stand forward of the saddle, put my
>> weight on one pedal and scoot with the other leg, but this is obviously
>> not possible when fixed. I normally avoid cyclepaths but tend to end
>> up using them when riding with friends on the way to the pub etc. Any
>> advice?

Carry the bike across the barriers!

Alan

 

[LSMike]

David wrote:
> Fed up with frequent derailleur maintenance over the past couple of
> winters, I'm considering getting a fixed gear bike for commuting.
> I've read the fixiefaqs and Sheldon Brown's words of wisdom on the
> subject, but neither touches upon how to perform awkward manoeuvers,
> such as squeezing through barriers on cyclepaths or making sharp 90deg
> turns. With a freewheelling bike I stand forward of the saddle, put my
> weight on one pedal and scoot with the other leg, but this is obviously
> not possible when fixed. I normally avoid cyclepaths but tend to end
> up using them when riding with friends on the way to the pub etc. Any
> advice?

It seems much less of a problem than getting a recumbent through. Just
a matter of watching pedal timing and choosing which side to go through
with the particular type of barrier that has a loop set in the ground.

 

[David]

I can see how that would work with the staggered chicane barriers but
not the double-P type, e.g. section 13 of
http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/thebikezone/campaigning/cyclepaths.html
There must be a more convenient option than full dismount?

David

 

[Alan Braggins]

In article <[email protected]>, David wrote:
>Fed up with frequent derailleur maintenance over the past couple of
>winters, I'm considering getting a fixed gear bike for commuting.
>I've read the fixiefaqs and Sheldon Brown's words of wisdom on the
>subject, but neither touches upon how to perform awkward manoeuvers,
>such as squeezing through barriers on cyclepaths or making sharp 90deg
>turns. With a freewheelling bike I stand forward of the saddle, put my
>weight on one pedal and scoot with the other leg, but this is obviously
>not possible when fixed. I normally avoid cyclepaths but tend to end
>up using them when riding with friends on the way to the pub etc. Any
>advice?

Get a singlespeed bike rather than a fixed, if derailleur maintenance
is a problem but freewheel maintenance isn't?