steve-in-kville 

Here in rural Pennsylvania I have some hilly commutes. Uphill I am okay in FG provided I remember I cannot coast once I crest the hill (the bike will remind me!). Its going down hills that are causing me trouble. I am running a 44/18 combo on my Kilo at the moment. I can get to about 18mph before I need to back pedal some. More than that I am feathering the front brake. Is this how it it should be? Or should I learn to spin faster? Or brake harder?

hairnet

It is a lowish gear, you will be spinninining down hills. Feather the brake, there is no rule against that.

Scrodzilla

44/18 is super spinny!

steve-in-kville 

I need that low gear to get up the hills! I don't mind feathering the brake, but I loose my momentum to go over the next hill. I am sure at some point I could size up to a 46 or even 48 tooth ring, but not right now.

Spoonrobot 

Give it time/learn to spin faster.

What really helped me was putting in the miles as well as finding a safe hill and just trying to blow out my cadence by spinning as fast as possible a few times a week.

It's also worthwhile to consider your fit. Lower bars and a lower position are generally harder to spin for new riders. You can raise your bars overall or ride down the really steep hills with your hands on the tops.

TMonk

I ride mine on the 18t most often (42t ring, 16t/18t cogs).

Just feather the brake. If you want to hammer/go fast, wait till it flattens out.

Huffandstuff

44/18 is like 17 mph at 90rpm, should work on technique. Just keep ahead of the pedals and relax your upper body.

IAmSam

Instead of really pedal into it...

steve-in-kville 

Thanks for the replies, gonna give it another whirl this week. Maybe trying to really hammer the pedals one day and then practice my spin the next.

hairnet

Just ride. It will come to you with the miles.

carleton

The objective is not to go faster, the objective is to stay in control.

Stay in control by not losing control.

You keep control by not going to fast.

Learning to spin faster is great on flats, but contributes to losing control on downhills.

Modulate your speed with your legs and brakes

prooftheory

Somehow I feel like there's a solution to this.

mihlbach

TejanoTrackie 

Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this."

Doctor: "Then, don't do this."

heymatthew

What if you just took your feet off the pedals and stuck your legs out? That seems like it could be fun.

Otherwise, I think learning to spin is your best bet. My first FG was a custom build that I did from a vintage 1x3 Royce Union. It was pretty spinny. I'd get my cadence way up sometimes and it felt like I was spinning out but I got used to it by learning to spin more and also by feathering the brakes.

79pmooney

44-18 is kinda low. I've been riding 44-17 for years. But I am a climber and have always liked high gears.

Another option - a flip flop hub with a smaller cog on the other side, perhaps a 14 or 15 if your dropout allows it.

And, the big lesson fix gears teach - the better you pedal, ie the smoother you are, the faster you can go and the more fun you can have! I also use front and rear brakes so I can alternate front to back and maintain a sensible speed on very steep hills. (I've done 80,000 miles fixed on bad knees. Using brakes, I still can.)

Ben

hardboiled718

^ He said he needs the low gear to get up the hills, I doubt he's going to get to the top of the hill then take out a wrench and flip his wheel for the descent.

Spinning is something you're probably used to doing on that short gear ratio, but I don't think spinning to maintain the speed of your descents will help you maintain control. Using the front break is fine, but you should really get used to controlling the speed with your legs in unison with the brake. Also, throwing in a few skips when speed gets too fast brings you back to a manageable speed.

JohnDThompson 

Maybe consider an S3X hub?

hairnet

Steve, have you tried a larger gear for this route? As you know there is always a compromise on what your ratio lmitis you to on flats/uphill/downhill. But I think the compromise also works for climbing seated vs standing. Some gears the standing resistance is too low and is fatiguing while seated it might feel just as hard as the slightly higher gear. For some the lower seated cadence works better. Experiment, you might be surprised that you climb better on a higher gear like 48/18.

You will still need to learn how to spin downhill, but it might prove to be a better all around gear.

caloso

I remember the momentary feeling of panic the first time I went down an overpass in a FG as my feet kept turning over faster and faster. I say feather the brake and focus on smooth spinning. Keep at it and it'll get easier.