Between a fixed gear and a single speed bike
10-15-20, 01:43 AM
#2
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I'd buy a bike with a flip flop so I could have a few more teeth on the freewheel side..If were to convert an existing bike I'd go SS so I didn't need a new wheel.
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10-15-20, 05:37 AM
#3
Senior Member
Single-speed. So I can coast when the opportunity to coast presents itself.
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10-15-20, 06:10 AM
#4
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I would choose a SS....why?....because I fear have the pedal "down" on the turn side......hitting the ground and getting launched.
Besides, I like coasting down a big hill after climbing it.....
Besides, I like coasting down a big hill after climbing it.....
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10-15-20, 06:17 AM
#5
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I had a bike with a flip/flop single freewheel/fixed sprocket many years ago. Rode the freewheel side once; stayed on the fixed side ever since.
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10-15-20, 06:22 AM
#6
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Many years ago I raced on a velodrome with an amateur racing club so of course that's fixed gear without any brakes. Of course as a teenager my racing bike was my everything bike so I commuted around the place fixed gear as well although I always fitted a front wheel brake for road use.
There's definitely something macho about going fixed gear but if your not racing on a velodrome then being able to coast is a very sensible and practical.
One minor advantage of being fixed gear is that its dead easy to do a standstill but if you have any hill descents to do then fixed gear can get pretty scary sometimes.
There's definitely something macho about going fixed gear but if your not racing on a velodrome then being able to coast is a very sensible and practical.
One minor advantage of being fixed gear is that its dead easy to do a standstill but if you have any hill descents to do then fixed gear can get pretty scary sometimes.
10-15-20, 06:35 AM
#7
Zip tie Karen
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I've ridden fixed with a flip flop hub available for about a decade. I've never once wanted to switch to the single speed side. Why lose the benefit of riding fixed by coasting? That makes little sense to me. I prefer to spin when the situation calls for spinning. Spinning is fun, and the purpose of riding fixed is to broaden one's power band, no?
I also do use front and rear brakes for when the situation calls for trimming speed. I know that it's cheating, but I try not to skid unless it's an emergency.
I also do use front and rear brakes for when the situation calls for trimming speed. I know that it's cheating, but I try not to skid unless it's an emergency.
10-15-20, 06:55 AM
#8
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I’ve switched back to only SS again. Factors include
1) easy conversion of existing wheels,
2) over 50 years experience with coasting and none with fixed,
3) I’ve been riding for the last few years on flat pedal without foot retention,
4) I’m trying to spend more time standing and this includes coasting downhill and
5) there are lots of sections of my rides where I want to stand and coast and negotiate challenging terrain and circumstances where I don’t want to also still be pedaling.
All that said, I have some interest in building wheels with wider rims to run 700x38 on my Schwinn, so I may build a rear wheel with flip/flop hub that gives me the chance to try out riding fixed.
Otto
1) easy conversion of existing wheels,
2) over 50 years experience with coasting and none with fixed,
3) I’ve been riding for the last few years on flat pedal without foot retention,
4) I’m trying to spend more time standing and this includes coasting downhill and
5) there are lots of sections of my rides where I want to stand and coast and negotiate challenging terrain and circumstances where I don’t want to also still be pedaling.
All that said, I have some interest in building wheels with wider rims to run 700x38 on my Schwinn, so I may build a rear wheel with flip/flop hub that gives me the chance to try out riding fixed.
Otto
10-15-20, 07:06 AM
#9
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Single Speed, for the opportunity to coast while standing on the pedals over rougher ground.
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10-15-20, 07:12 AM
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So for those of you who do ride a FG/SS bike, what gearing are you set up with for rolling terrain where you might climb 400 to 700 feet in 1 to 2 miles?
Not too many flat areas where I live unless I go to MUPS.
Not too many flat areas where I live unless I go to MUPS.
10-15-20, 07:20 AM
#11
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46 x 17T fixed. It's a compromise. The more variation, the more frequently the gear will feel "not right'. This isn't really so, of course. It's just that steeper inclines and declines will require greater adaptation from your muscles. There's nothing wrong about that.
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10-15-20, 07:40 AM
#12
Senior Member
I've never ridden one, so I have to ask: What are the benefits of fixed gear? Fixed gear bikes only became popular around here in the last decade so maybe I have missed out having not grown up with them.
10-15-20, 07:44 AM
#13
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700' in 1 mile is a 13.25% grade.
400' in 2 miles is a 3.75% grade.
700' in 2 miles is a 6.6% grade
We live in very different places, but the rolling terrain around me doesnt equal 700' in 1 mile. Thats called just straight tough climbing and even then the hills arent 1 mile long.
I have no idea what sort of single speed gearing works to climb 13% grades that would at all be useful for the rest of the ride.
I used to have a single speed road bike with 48/18 gearing and 3-4% grades were commonly ridden.
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10-15-20, 07:46 AM
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If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
10-15-20, 07:46 AM
#15
Jedi Master
fixed gear is badass. Single speed is for beach cruisers and townies.
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10-15-20, 07:50 AM
#16
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Benefits? Fixed gear bikes are raced on velodromes. They are out and out primal racing machines and its very macho to ride around on a "thoroughbred" racing machine.
If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
LOL That rules me out! I wouldn't be fooling anyone if I tried to be macho.
10-15-20, 07:50 AM
#17
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most bikes that will do one will do the other just as well. it's not really an either/or question. this thread says nothing about where and how OP plans to ride the bike, so it's kind of pointless.
personally, I ride a SS 29er hardtail on trails. for the trails where I live, it's not ideal, but I enjoy the challenge. riding like that fixed would be a challenge too, but would require so much time and effort (and blood and broken bones) that I don't think it would be worth it.
I rode fixed on the road for a little while. trying to control my speed with pedal pressure and just a front brake killed my knees—as in, months of pain and physical therapy so I could do normal things like walk up stairs and ride a bike again without excruciating pain. I could probably have gotten back into it and conditioned myself to endure it, but I just lost interest after that. it's not my kind of "fun." riding a freewheel and coasting when I feel like it filled me with joy, which is the only reason anyone should choose anything on a bike. it's a personal preference and I make no claim that any choice is better than another, but I have no tolerance for the macho BS that people throw around to make me feel like a quitter or something.
most of my road/gravel bikes since then have been SS since. I'm building a SS gravel bike right now with an eccentric PF bottom bracket. no tensioner, no sliding dropouts, no hanger on the frame. 650x47 tires and a 42/17 gear for stomping hills and singletrack.
personally, I ride a SS 29er hardtail on trails. for the trails where I live, it's not ideal, but I enjoy the challenge. riding like that fixed would be a challenge too, but would require so much time and effort (and blood and broken bones) that I don't think it would be worth it.
I rode fixed on the road for a little while. trying to control my speed with pedal pressure and just a front brake killed my knees—as in, months of pain and physical therapy so I could do normal things like walk up stairs and ride a bike again without excruciating pain. I could probably have gotten back into it and conditioned myself to endure it, but I just lost interest after that. it's not my kind of "fun." riding a freewheel and coasting when I feel like it filled me with joy, which is the only reason anyone should choose anything on a bike. it's a personal preference and I make no claim that any choice is better than another, but I have no tolerance for the macho BS that people throw around to make me feel like a quitter or something.
most of my road/gravel bikes since then have been SS since. I'm building a SS gravel bike right now with an eccentric PF bottom bracket. no tensioner, no sliding dropouts, no hanger on the frame. 650x47 tires and a 42/17 gear for stomping hills and singletrack.
Last edited by mack_turtle; 10-15-20 at 07:59 AM.
10-15-20, 08:04 AM
#18
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Benefits? Fixed gear bikes are raced on velodromes. They are out and out primal racing machines and its very macho to ride around on a "thoroughbred" racing machine.
If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
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10-15-20, 08:49 AM
#19
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I know a guy that used to ride up Cougar Mtn (just outside Seattle) on his flip/flop hubbed bike. He would switch over at the top. He can't do it anymore -- knees.
OP may need to change his ID...
OP may need to change his ID...
10-15-20, 09:16 AM
#20
Zip tie Karen
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Benefits? Fixed gear bikes are raced on velodromes. They are out and out primal racing machines and its very macho to ride around on a "thoroughbred" racing machine.
If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
If your into racing there are some benefits to train sometimes on a fixed gear bike even if you race the road but really its just about the "macho" factor.
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10-15-20, 09:35 AM
#21
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10-15-20, 09:52 AM
#22
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Otto
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10-15-20, 01:53 PM
#23
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Fixed gear is great for having your dog run beside you while you ride.
10-15-20, 03:12 PM
#24
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Im not badass enough for FG and do like training on my SS.
Im amazed at some of the FG guys, without brakes, that just take feet off pedals for the steep descents and it looks like the pedals are rotating 150rpm+ ?
Im amazed at some of the FG guys, without brakes, that just take feet off pedals for the steep descents and it looks like the pedals are rotating 150rpm+ ?