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For the last month or so virtually all my riding has been on a Genesis Day One on fixed. My rationale for this is that I have a hand injury so changing gear is prety uncomfortable and I ride SS on the mtb. I thought I might as well go the whole hog and give fixed a go as it would
a. get me fit (I lost a load of fitness after the injury)
b. mean that I was using my hands a bit less as I'd be 'braking' to a certain extent with my legs.
Well, so far this experiment has had mixed results. Its pretty hilly round here in E. Lancs so I'm working hard pedalling up the hills (44 x 17) and, although I'm getting a bit more confident on the descents I still end up spinning like a loon and then having to start braking to stop it getting out of control.
It's been interesting as I've not done any fixed riding on the road before and owt new on a bike is good, right?
But I'm not convinced its for me. I do a 20 odd mile ride and I'm shattered. Because I am still having to brake my hand is pretty painful after a ride so that was a fail.
Am I missing the point? Will descending magically become easier with practice? Any long term fixed gear riders care to give me some encouragement or tips?
Ta.
I assume your right hand was injured if that's the one that's painful from braking - could you run a combination of fixed with front brake only on a left brake lever? Then you'd have the safety net / comfort of primary braking without pain on your right hand?
Fair play to you, fixie off road is like some sort of cruel and unusual punishment... 😆
learn to spin your legs!! or avoid the super steep stuff I guess!!
Yeah swap the levers
I found fixed helped my pedalling style loads, no more mashing the pedals when on the mountain bike
You could always run grip shift on the wrong side....just saying.
You do become more supple but I find for me personally I have to brake when I get to about 45 -48 kph on 65GI. I run two brakes now after only running one for years and I find it doe help on the decents. I find the main thing is to not let things get too fast too early. I personaly love it on road and my geared road bike has been in bits a fora few years now. Not sure if I find it more tiring, anything differnet is more tiring at first, as ever stick with it but if you don't like it its not a crime.
It must be said that Ive always been a big gear stomper so maybe I'll get a bit of souplesse.
nickc - should have said this is on the road. Due to nerve damage I tend to let go unexpectedly on bumpy stuff so no off-roading (yet).
greg - true. I'm hoping that once I get my thumb fused I'll be able to change gear again. I keep looking at my cx and sighing whistfully...
XTR Di2 with just the left shifter is the answer 😀
Takes a bit of getting used to.
If you have one hand you can brake with, then put your front brake lever on that side of the bars. Once you're moving downhill with any kind of speed, you'll struggle to brake safely using your legs alone.
I ride a fixed on the road/towpath for about 20 miles every day, pretty hilly in places, never felt the need for more than a front brake.
Don't give up. Can you use your other hand for braking? I always ride with front and rear brakes and use them as per any other road bike (i.e., together). Leg retardation is OK to a point, but it isn't helpful on a good hill. Dragging the rear bike is my normal retardation for hills.
Fixed will improve/maintain your fitness. You might like to try a 16T as 44x16 will be a ratio of 2.75. This will help down the hills, and you will get up them OK.
That said, I bought a recumbent trike to take the weight off my wrist following my accident, and the road fixed has sat unloved in the garage all summer. Might head for the track tonight if the rain holds off.
I ride one brake on mine, my new(ish) technique these days is just not to go that fast down hills. As others have said, braking with your legs doesn't really work when you are bombing it but you can apply a bit of backward resistance as you head down in order to moderate your acceleration. Bit like dragging the brake I guess, and I like to think it helps the fitness angle. Lever swap is a good idea or you could use a bmx lever near the stem for the proper fixeh look. Love riding fixed!
I have a mongrel bike that runs fixed - think it's about 44:16 but not exactly sure. 26" wheels.
It's set up to run on the road these days (drop bars, levers) but is an MTB frame. TBH I use it for local spins, it can get up many hills (though not all) and I like the feeling of - steady as she goes - about it -- not going to break any records though it can be quite quick when I do decide to go for it..
It's set up with two brakes, though like you I tend to ease off when I know I need to slow down; but I will apply both brakes on decent downhill stretches as I'd rather not be out of control !!