BikeRadar still loves fixies
02-26-19, 10:06 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
BikeRadar still loves fixies
Bicycle Radar says 10 years after peak fixie, they still love riding fixed:
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...a-fixie-53637/
Included are to 5 reasons to ride fixed (no new news there).
I didn’t agree with all of it. Such as “You probably don’t want one as your only bike”. I understand the sentiment, but personally the hardest part of riding fixed is switching back and forth between fixed and freewheel. I would rather stay fixed, rather than have my muscle memory kick in and try to coast fixed when I’m not expecting it.
Or: “Its not impossible to hit 200rpm.” Uh, yes it is for mere mortals. I race track, and can pull hard at 150rpm, but I can’t do over 180 going off a cliff. That was painful enough. Reminded me of the old fixie adage” you know you are in the right gear when going down hill is as painful as going up hill… If you can do 200rpm, you are in an elite class...
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...a-fixie-53637/
Included are to 5 reasons to ride fixed (no new news there).
I didn’t agree with all of it. Such as “You probably don’t want one as your only bike”. I understand the sentiment, but personally the hardest part of riding fixed is switching back and forth between fixed and freewheel. I would rather stay fixed, rather than have my muscle memory kick in and try to coast fixed when I’m not expecting it.
Or: “Its not impossible to hit 200rpm.” Uh, yes it is for mere mortals. I race track, and can pull hard at 150rpm, but I can’t do over 180 going off a cliff. That was painful enough. Reminded me of the old fixie adage” you know you are in the right gear when going down hill is as painful as going up hill… If you can do 200rpm, you are in an elite class...
02-26-19, 10:56 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times
in
194 Posts
I dunno, people on the internet who don't have cadence sensors seem to hit 200rpm pretty frequently.
02-26-19, 11:16 AM
#4
Super-duper Genius
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Muskrat Springs, Utah
Posts: 1,713
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 768 Post(s)
Liked 984 Times
in
508 Posts
I agree that it’s not ideal to have a fixed gear as one’s only bike. Maybe if you live somewhere without big hills, that would be okay. I love fixed gear bikes, have two of them, and ride them the most, but there are some rides I do that really call for gears.
And there is no way I can safely or comfortably sustain 200 RPM. I can handle 150 for short bursts, or sustain about 120.
And there is no way I can safely or comfortably sustain 200 RPM. I can handle 150 for short bursts, or sustain about 120.
02-26-19, 12:27 PM
#5
Full Member
There's something weird about reading an article espousing why you should have a fixed gear bike, written by someone who doesn't own one.
02-26-19, 12:38 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
My kid's school commute bike is my old SSCX which has a 44x15 fixed gear. Thing is pretty much bombproof and ultra-low maintenance. Really ideal for a flat commute.
02-26-19, 12:54 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
And there is no way I can safely or comfortably sustain 200 RPM. I can handle 150 for short bursts, or sustain about 120.
02-26-19, 12:55 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times
in
194 Posts
Bike Radar's hill climb series on YT was pretty cool too, featured some nice FG riding. Kinda makes me wish I was in the UK or had a scene like that around here.
02-26-19, 07:24 PM
#9
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
Those who try fixed gears or even just single speeds generally like them especially if they are of some quality. There are simple machines that are fun as all get out, what's not to love. GCN has done of bunch of stuff recently on Track stuff from Keirin in Japan to the HUUB WattBike team and have done stuff in the past as well. Maybe the pure fad nature has kind of died out but Fixed gears have been going strong since the 1800s and will probably never die.
02-26-19, 09:56 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Traveling through time, will return last week.
Posts: 730
Bikes: Bare Rum Sword Knuckle Runner
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 278 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
64 Posts
usually warm up on climbs @ 200rpm. downhill no cadence sensor can keep up. true story.
03-03-19, 10:26 AM
#16
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
Thank you!
People often think in terms of trends but I care not for trends. I care for what is fun and what makes sense and fixed gears will always make sense. One gear connected with a chain to one chainring.
03-03-19, 12:35 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
2 hours on the FG this morning. No structure, just riding. Bliss.
03-03-19, 04:36 PM
#19
dumb
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Tucson
Posts: 355
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I don't know why they even bothered publishing this... whoever approved it should be fired. Literally nothing new, just regurgitated information for the bazillionth time.
03-04-19, 01:27 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times
in
194 Posts
This basically describes 90% or more of all published words on the internet. They just have to push out content to keep generating traffic and appease The Algorithm.
03-24-19, 10:05 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 191
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
11 Posts
Freelance writing articles for blog sites and for some companies SEO until they get a coveted gig somewhere meaningful.
It's kinda sad that you're absolutely correct that everything has gone the way of the algorithm.
I mean, like 13-14 years ago this kind of thing wasn't really possible. SEO and blogs hadn't reached critical mass yet.
You can really tell when you type in very popular topics and you have to wade through the SEO pages.
Back in the day, I thought that this was the only way to make money in tech.
It's a great concept, but it can easily be exploited (like you're seeing above).
There is a book named weapons of math destruction if you are curious about the topic.
Last edited by BicycleBicycle; 03-24-19 at 10:16 PM.
