Learning to ride a fixed wheel
Moderators: Philip Whiteman, Andy Terry
Learning to ride a fixed wheel
Inspired by reading about Major Taylor and riding a Pinarello hire bike at Newport, I've done the late life crisis thing and bought a fixed. Before Nov the last time I rode fixed was a front drive tricycle over 60 years ago! Getting on fine with a few awkward starts in traffic. But then relaxed and descending towards Catshill in the gloaming I hit a bump in the road. Instinctive default to stop pedalling and all hell breaks loose - everything sort of went out of shape and I was already anticipating the pain and humiliation of the crash when by some miracle we straightened out again with no harm done. Keeping going through potholes or blowouts looks to be the biggest challenge. Still 25 years after the novelty of learning to ride tandem its good to be trying new cycling skills !
Re: Learning to ride a fixed wheel
Brain needs to be engaged when tackling speed humps too!Dave Cox wrote:Keeping going through potholes or blowouts looks to be the biggest challenge.
Lucky escape by the sounds of it Dave!
I did something very similar the other week at Newport, on a flying lap.
The coach said, go and give it 110% effort, but remember, don't stop peddling as you cross the finish line.
Ha I thought.....who would be daft enough to stop peddling??
Guess what I did?
Needless to say you soon start peddling again, and very quickly I hasten to add!!!
But like you, I am strangely being drawn to getting a fixed wheel bike for the road.
I did something very similar the other week at Newport, on a flying lap.
The coach said, go and give it 110% effort, but remember, don't stop peddling as you cross the finish line.
Ha I thought.....who would be daft enough to stop peddling??
Guess what I did?
Needless to say you soon start peddling again, and very quickly I hasten to add!!!
But like you, I am strangely being drawn to getting a fixed wheel bike for the road.
Last edited by AlanW on 28 Jan 2011 13:04, edited 1 time in total.
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The famous quote:-
With a freewheel you RIDE the bicycle.
But, with a fixed wheel, you are a PART of it.
PS:
Nearly February, it's time for some 66inch work in fixed, which will warm those winter chilled leg muscles towards greater fitness. Get twiddling!! And.... bonus: you only need one [front] brake!
Or has the law changed?
Whilst your machine is stripped...an excellent time for bench- servicing of gears, chains, cassettes etc. as here discussed recently.
With a freewheel you RIDE the bicycle.
But, with a fixed wheel, you are a PART of it.
PS:
Nearly February, it's time for some 66inch work in fixed, which will warm those winter chilled leg muscles towards greater fitness. Get twiddling!! And.... bonus: you only need one [front] brake!
Or has the law changed?
Whilst your machine is stripped...an excellent time for bench- servicing of gears, chains, cassettes etc. as here discussed recently.
ALC
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Now I feel motivated to try (again) to learn a proper track stand.
Then this - (scroll down to Dismount Technique)
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixedb.html
Then this - (scroll down to Dismount Technique)
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixedb.html
Good man, Dave. It must be catching, though. I took delivery of a Cinelli Vigorelli yesterday. It will take a front brake, so I've got that as well (according to Velodrome.org that's all you need to be street legal, as you say Albert - although I've seen a warning that the police don't always understand the distinction).
As mine is more designed for the track, I'm not inclined to expose it to winter elements. Besides, it looks too good to dirty at the moment. Can't wait to get home to have a play on the new rollers. Oh good, seems that the train has just broken down...
As mine is more designed for the track, I'm not inclined to expose it to winter elements. Besides, it looks too good to dirty at the moment. Can't wait to get home to have a play on the new rollers. Oh good, seems that the train has just broken down...
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A new track bike and new rollers! No stopping you now Greg is there........Grogz wrote:Good man, Dave. It must be catching, though. I took delivery of a Cinelli Vigorelli yesterday. It will take a front brake, so I've got that as well (according to Velodrome.org that's all you need to be street legal, as you say Albert - although I've seen a warning that the police don't always understand the distinction).
As mine is more designed for the track, I'm not inclined to expose it to winter elements. Besides, it looks too good to dirty at the moment. Can't wait to get home to have a play on the new rollers. Oh good, seems that the train has just broken down...
Lets see some pictures then??
Just a thought, and I am assuming that you intend to ride it at Newport, but just check that the tyres are ok to use on the track.
My Fuji track bike came with some dual compound tyres, which are not allowed at Newport. If in any doubt, replace with 23mm Continental Supersonics. Make sure that you rub tyre surface with emery cloth and then clean with pure white vineger (not distilled malt vinegar) before you venture onto the boards though!
Plus, don't ride on the road with them as they will cut up very quickly.
Or failing that, get a pair of sprinters and some quality tubs.
Last edited by AlanW on 30 Jan 2011 07:13, edited 1 time in total.
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"
Pedals borrowed from another bike at the moment. Tyres are £7.99 jobs, so an upgrade needed, as you say. Don't think I can stretch to upgrading to a cracking set of tubs yet!
As for the rollers, they are brilliant. Even managed no handed without falling off
Last edited by Grogz on 29 Jan 2011 21:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Do you mean like this?Andy Terry wrote:Now I feel motivated to try (again) to learn a proper track stand.
Then this - (scroll down to Dismount Technique)
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixedb.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c2_HyxKD20&NR=1
Exactly, Albert!Albert Cox wrote:The famous quote:-
With a freewheel you RIDE the bicycle.
But, with a fixed wheel, you are a PART of it.
PS:
Nearly February, it's time for some 66inch work in fixed, which will warm those winter chilled leg muscles towards greater fitness. Get twiddling!! .
I've been riding fixed in winter for nearly 60 years now and its good to find it catching on again. I was interested to see the photos of the 'Exotica' people are riding. My own fixed bike is an old Peugeot road frame built up of odd bits: the whole lot cost less than a hundred quid and my average speeds, on reasonably benign terrain, are only marginally below my 'gear. averages, which probably says little for my overall ability.
Having said that, pushing 46 x 20 (62") is becoming more than my aging legs can cope with, even up what I regard as moderate climbs, and I think that fitting a lower gear would be impractical on the flat, so I might well, reluctantly, abandon fixed after this winter
It is better to be interesting rather than exact
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How dare you talk about my wife's bush like that................Philip Whiteman wrote:The shrub which is second from the right looks as though it could do with some care and attention.AlanW wrote:Its nice and sunny so I took mine out into the garden for some fresh air.....
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