fixie question

[Mark Vieselmeyer]

I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
these things?

- mark

 

[Sheldon Brown]

Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:

> I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
> one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
> the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
> clipping in.

That is generally the proper way to mount any bicycle.

> So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
> these things?

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/starting

Sheldon "Yippie Yi Yo Ki-Yay" Brown
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| I'll be traveling in France and England throughout the month |
| of June. I hope to remain online, but don't know what sort |
| of 'Net access I'll be able to get... |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

 

[Tom Nakashima]

"Mark Vieselmeyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
> one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just
mounting
> the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
> clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for
mounting
> these things?
>
> - mark
>
That's about right, I like to keep the drive-side pedal at 2:00 so I'm on
the down stroke.
I try to go slow enough at the start to get the other foot locked in.
-tom

 

[DiabloScott]

Sheldon Brown wrote:
> Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:
> > I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never
> > ridden one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was
> > just mounting the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle
> > the bike before clipping in.
> That is generally the proper way to mount any bicycle.
> > So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
> > these things?
> See: http://sheldonbrown.com/startinghttp://sheldonbrown.com/starting
> Sheldon "Yippie Yi Yo Ki-Yay" Brown +--------------------------------------------------------
> ---------+
> | I'll be traveling in France and England throughout the month | of
> | June. I hope to remain online, but don't know what sort | of 'Net
> | access I'll be able to get... |
> +----------------------------------------------------------- ------+
> Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244- 9772 FAX 617-244-
> 1041 http://harriscyclery.com/http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find
> parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.com/http://captainbike.com
> http://sheldonbrown.com/http://sheldonbrown.com




The "cowboy mount" works for me on all my bikes. Have to be a little
quicker with the leg swing on the fixie and it's not *quite* as elegant
but it works fine.



--

 

[Thomas Reynolds]

"Tom Nakashima" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Mark Vieselmeyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
> > one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just
> mounting
> > the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
> > clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for
> mounting
> > these things?
> >
> > - mark
> >
> That's about right, I like to keep the drive-side pedal at 2:00 so I'm on
> the down stroke.
> I try to go slow enough at the start to get the other foot locked in.
> -tom

I do the same. Plus I have double sided SPD pedals to make it easier.

Another Tom

 

[David L. Johnson]

On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 11:35:36 -0600, Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:

> I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
> one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
> the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
> clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
> these things?

We all have our preferences as to which foot to start with, our "lead"
foot. For me, it's the left. I just make sure that pedal is at about
2:00 and start off normally. Yeah, I am over the bar when I start, no
swinging the leg over the saddle to start off for me.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | What is objectionable, and what is dangerous about extremists is
_`\(,_ | not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. --Robert
(_)/ (_) | F. Kennedy

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

Mark-<< The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
these things? >><BR><BR>

Nope, double sided pedals are a great idea. I use Speedplay Zeros.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

 

[Michael Press]

Mark Vieselmeyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
>one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
>the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
>clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
>these things?
>- mark

Here's the technique I use on my new fixie:

1. Straddle the bike.
2. Clip into the lead pedal (left for me) and move it to 2:00 (to get
to 2:00, apply the front brake and put pressure on the bars to lift
the rear wheel; move the pedal to 2:00 while the wheel is in the
air).
3. In one motion (takes practice), stand on the lead pedal to start
moving, put your other foot on its pedal as it comes around to 12:00,
sit down on the seat, and clip in the 2nd foot as it goes down toward
6:00. It's smooth and graceful when you get the hang of it.

You can gently apply the front brake during this maneuver to help slow
the pedal motion.

Michael

 

[Mark Vieselmeyer]

Michael Press <[email protected]> wrote:
: Mark Vieselmeyer <[email protected]> wrote:
:>I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
:>one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
:>the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
:>clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
:>these things?
:>- mark

: Here's the technique I use on my new fixie:

: 1. Straddle the bike.
: 2. Clip into the lead pedal (left for me) and move it to 2:00 (to get
: to 2:00, apply the front brake and put pressure on the bars to lift
: the rear wheel; move the pedal to 2:00 while the wheel is in the
: air).
: 3. In one motion (takes practice), stand on the lead pedal to start
: moving, put your other foot on its pedal as it comes around to 12:00,
: sit down on the seat, and clip in the 2nd foot as it goes down toward
: 6:00. It's smooth and graceful when you get the hang of it.

: You can gently apply the front brake during this maneuver to help slow
: the pedal motion.

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of the "cowboy start" that
Sheldon recommends against. It sounds like some folks here can to do it on
a fixie, so maybe if I get bored I'll practice some more. I've been
fiddling with the gear ratio a bit, and that seems to make a difference. I
started with a 42-20 and then tried 52-20 and that slows the pedals down a
bit.

- mark

 

[Jim Smith]

Mark Vieselmeyer <[email protected]> writes:

> Michael Press <[email protected]> wrote:
> : Mark Vieselmeyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> :>I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
> :>one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
> :>the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
> :>clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
> :>these things?
> :>- mark
>
> : Here's the technique I use on my new fixie:
>
> : 1. Straddle the bike.
> : 2. Clip into the lead pedal (left for me) and move it to 2:00 (to get
> : to 2:00, apply the front brake and put pressure on the bars to lift
> : the rear wheel; move the pedal to 2:00 while the wheel is in the
> : air).
> : 3. In one motion (takes practice), stand on the lead pedal to start
> : moving, put your other foot on its pedal as it comes around to 12:00,
> : sit down on the seat, and clip in the 2nd foot as it goes down toward
> : 6:00. It's smooth and graceful when you get the hang of it.
>
> : You can gently apply the front brake during this maneuver to help slow
> : the pedal motion.
>
> I guess I was thinking more along the lines of the "cowboy start" that
> Sheldon recommends against. It sounds like some folks here can to do it on
> a fixie, so maybe if I get bored I'll practice some more. I've been
> fiddling with the gear ratio a bit, and that seems to make a difference. I
> started with a 42-20 and then tried 52-20 and that slows the pedals down a
> bit.
>
> - mark

I have not tried it yet, but there is a page about "The Handlebar Mount" at
<url:http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_5.htm>
Looks like it would not apply stress to the wheels in any unusual directions.

 

[Benjamin Lewis]

Jim Smith wrote:

> I have not tried it yet, but there is a page about "The Handlebar Mount"
> at <url:http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_5.htm> Looks like it would not
> apply stress to the wheels in any unusual directions.

Cool. I'll have to give this a try soon, now that my leg has healed after
my first attempt at Sheldon's rear dismount.

--
Benjamin Lewis

Amoebit:
Amoeba/rabbit cross; it can multiply and divide at the same time.

 

[Tom Nakashima]

> > I guess I was thinking more along the lines of the "cowboy start" that
> > Sheldon recommends against.
> > - mark

After watching bull riding on OLN, while waiting for the Lance Chronicles to
start, I can believe how the "cowboy start" on a fixie wouldn't be a
problem.<OUCH>

Do you throw one hand in the air when you try to get the 2nd foot locked in?

-tom

 

[Lewis Campbell]

>>>>So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
these things? <<<<<< SNIP

Yes there is.

I stand on the left side of my bike with my right hand on the seat.

Next, I swing my right leg over the handlebars, straddle the top tube,
place my hands on the bars and use the brake to lock the front wheel.

Then I locate my right foot into its toeclip, push forward on the bars
(thus lifting the rear wheel slightly) and rotate the right pedal to
the 2 o'clock position.

My next action is to simultaneously push down on the right pedal and
raise my butt onto the seat, then, as the left pedal comes around, I
flip it with the toe of my shoe and insert my foot in the clip.

This method was demonstrated to me in England in 1952 and it has
always worked well for me.

Hope it helps you too.

Lewis.





Mark Vieselmeyer <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I just put together a fixie out of some spare parts, but I'd never ridden
> one before. The first thing I noticed was how awkward it was just mounting
> the bike. The only way I could get going was to straddle the bike before
> clipping in. So my question is, is there a gracefull technique for mounting
> these things?
>
> - mark