Fixy Fixation

bjay

Just curious.
I have read a number of posts from people talking about their fixy or
refering to fixies in revered tones. I have only ever ridden bikes with
multiple gears, except for many years ago as a kid, and was wondering why
fixies are held in such esteem? I feel like I am missing out on something.

Mark Lee

In article <NU%Mc.46$vT3.2406@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au>, brucea@bmis.com.au
says...
> Just curious.
> I have read a number of posts from people talking about their fixy or
> refering to fixies in revered tones. I have only ever ridden bikes with
> multiple gears, except for many years ago as a kid, and was wondering why
> fixies are held in such esteem? I feel like I am missing out on something.
>
>
>
http://www.twowheelfetish.com/bikep...cogringblue.jpg

--
Mark Lee

hippy

This has been done to death on every bike forum I've seen..

See "need enlightenment on SS" thread from 9/6/2004 or google for
"singlespeed why" or "fixed why".

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://forums.mtbr.com/ (singlespeed forum)

hippy

flyingdutch

i thought SS was supposed to give you LESS to think about???

__________________
'ungrounded' Dutch...

Michael Warner

On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 12:38:04 +0800, bjay wrote:

> Just curious.
> I have read a number of posts from people talking about their fixy or
> refering to fixies in revered tones. I have only ever ridden bikes with
> multiple gears, except for many years ago as a kid, and was wondering why
> fixies are held in such esteem?

Because they're much harder to ride than regular bikes. There's probably
a cult of "true fixies", whose hubs are welded directly to the frame. They
really separate the men from the boys.

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bpo gallery at http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/mvw1/bpo

Suzy Jackson

"bjay" <brucea@bmis.com.au> wrote in message news:<NU%Mc.46$vT3.2406@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au>...
> Just curious.
> I have read a number of posts from people talking about their fixy or
> refering to fixies in revered tones. I have only ever ridden bikes with
> multiple gears, except for many years ago as a kid, and was wondering why
> fixies are held in such esteem? I feel like I am missing out on something.

Just 'cos it's different, more difficult than riding a geared bike,
and fun.

When you're riding a fixed wheel you have to pay more attention to
what's going on. You can't bunny-hop, you can't stop pedalling _ever_
and you have to match the bike's speed with your legs. I do it
because I think it improves my ability to spin at high cadence, which
can be useful when (for example) responding to a sprint in racing.
With a normal geared bike, there's never a reason to pedal at 150+
rpm, but with an appropriately geared fixed wheel, you pedal at this
sort of rate every time the road heads downhill.

It also makes a boring ride more interesting, as each uphill becomes a
sprint, and can be a useful leveller when you're riding with people
who are a bit slower than you are, so you still get a good workout.

But beyond that, it's just plain fun to do. It turns my commute into
a real adventure. You really have to do it for a few weeks to
appreciate it.

Regards,

Suzy

hippy

>Suzy Jackson
>You can't bunny-hop, you can't stop pedalling _ever_

It 'is' possible to hop a fix (although I can't yet) and..
does a trackstand count as not pedaling?

www.63xc.com for off-road fixing
http://paulm.com/on/cycling/fixed_gear.html for starting out fixing

I'm not riding mine much because I still don't have a working brake and I
can't stop quick enough to allow me to ride in heavy traffic... yet.

hippy

bjay

"Suzy Jackson" wrote in message

>snip
> Just 'cos it's different, more difficult than riding a geared bike,
> and fun.
>
> When you're riding a fixed wheel you have to pay more attention to
> what's going on. You can't bunny-hop, you can't stop pedalling _ever_
> and you have to match the bike's speed with your legs. I do it
> because I think it improves my ability to spin at high cadence, which
> can be useful when (for example) responding to a sprint in racing.
> With a normal geared bike, there's never a reason to pedal at 150+
> rpm, but with an appropriately geared fixed wheel, you pedal at this
> sort of rate every time the road heads downhill.

Thanks Suzy. I feel a bit wiser now. I thought fixy meant fixed gear (ie
single speed with a freewheel hub) not fixed wheel, so now that I have been
enlightened I can better appreciate the passion some people have for them.

Bruce A

GPT

>>>I thought fixy meant fixed gear (ie single speed with a freewheel hub) not fixed wheel>>
Bruce A[/QUOTE]
Hyooooooooooooooooooooooooooge difference. Half the fun in spinning fast on a fixed is knowing that slowing down quickly is a significant operation. Therefore you tend not to bomb about but maintain constance, momentum over start stop etc....... Single speed free wheel hub - WHY??

Taking the momentum off your pace with your legs also works different muscles to the usual spin set too. Also I found I used my stomach muscles much more on the fixed because I pull myself forward on the bars, dropping my head and shoulders when accelerating fast rather than stand and stamp which is very leggy - and short lived. Training, fun and not much to go wrong on the bike.

bjay

> >>>I thought fixy meant fixed gear (ie single speed with a freewheel
> hub) not fixed wheel>>

> Hyooooooooooooooooooooooooooge difference. Half the fun in spinning fast
> on a fixed is knowing that slowing down quickly is a significant
> operation. Therefore you tend not to bomb about but maintain constance,
> momentum over start stop etc....... Single speed free wheel hub - WHY??

Yeah, that's what I thought, what's so exciting about single speed with a
freewheel, which is why I couldn't understand the fascination with what I
thought were fixies. I am a whole lot wiser now!!!

Bruce A

Parbs

"bjay" <brucea.IDONT@WANTSPAM.bmis.com.au> wrote in message news:RYkNc.17$QW4.2064@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
>
> > >>>I thought fixy meant fixed gear (ie single speed with a freewheel
> > hub) not fixed wheel>>
>
> > Hyooooooooooooooooooooooooooge difference. Half the fun in spinning fast
> > on a fixed is knowing that slowing down quickly is a significant
> > operation. Therefore you tend not to bomb about but maintain constance,
> > momentum over start stop etc....... Single speed free wheel hub - WHY??
>
> Yeah, that's what I thought, what's so exciting about single speed with a
> freewheel,

Well even Hippy not quite mad enough (yet?) to go fixed on his mtn bike.

Rob

DRS

"hippy" <hippy.1a11sy@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> wrote in message
news:hippy.1a11sy@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com

[...]

> I'm not riding mine much because I still don't have a working brake
> and I
> can't stop quick enough to allow me to ride in heavy traffic... yet.

Under Victorian Road Rule 258 it is an offence to ride a bike that does not
have at least one effective brake. Penalty: one penalty unit.

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hippy

>DRS:
>>"hippy"
>> I'm not riding mine much because I still don't have a working brake
>> and I can't stop quick enough to allow me to ride in heavy traffic... yet.
>
>Under Victorian Road Rule 258 it is an offence to ride a bike that does not
>have at least one effective brake. Penalty: one penalty unit.

How is "effective" measured? What is "effective"?
Does back pedaling count as a brake?
What is a penalty unit?

I'll pay the fine when I get it, with no complaints.

Guys, as for single speeding, try it and see if you like it. It does have merit.

hippy

kingsley

On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 05:02:28 +1000, DRS wrote:

>> I'm not riding mine much because I still don't have a working brake
>> and I
>> can't stop quick enough to allow me to ride in heavy traffic... yet.
>
> Under Victorian Road Rule 258 it is an offence to ride a bike that does not
> have at least one effective brake. Penalty: one penalty unit.

Reading on news:rec.bicycles.uk it seems that in the UK
the law is that you must have two working brakes. Wonder what
it is in NSW, must go search the RTA website, although I
never can seem to find any bike-related stuff at RTA.

-kt