daven1986

Hi,

So I am getting used to fixed speed now, and I have two things that I feel uncomfortable with.

1) When trying to get through a small gap I sometimes put one foot on the pedal and use the other foot to push me along, this feels really weird with a fixed gear as the other foot is moving around with the pedal! Is there a better way to do this, or do I just have to get used to it?

2) In slow moving traffic sometimes you move forward a little at a time (this is if you can't filter past etc.) how can I do this without having to lift the bike and spin the pedals?

I'm trying to learn trackstands which I think might help point 2...

Any tips?

Thanks

Daven

norskagent

I sometimes slow well before stopped/slow traffic, so I can creep forward, rather than try to catch up to it and slowly stop/go, stop go.

PedallingATX

I think trackstanding will help you with both of those. I'm not sure how I ride through traffic, but I do it effectively and it feels natural. Just keep riding; it will all become clear.

cg1985

If you hold the front brake down (assuming you have one!) you can rock the back wheel off the ground (or at least take enough pressure off to spin the back wheel) and spin the crank to desired position.

It's a little quicker than other alternatives, Planning ahead before you stop can also help. Trackstands are the best, but take practice. Personally, I am terrible at trackstanding still.

daven1986

Thanks guys, when I'm riding fixed I try to plan ahead more so I can slow instead of stop.

So that is question 2 done, but what about question 1. I guess another way of putting it is "how do you guys filter?"

Thanks

Daven

aMull

First of all, its a fixed GEAR. Second, if you have to 'push' yourself to get through a gap, the gap is too small. In slow moving traffic, you just move slow and i dont get your question. If you mean adjust the position of your pedals while you're standing still, you just grab the frikkin saddle and lift the bike and spin the pedals, takes like 0.562s.

blickblocks

Trackstand. You can pop up your rear wheel mid-trackstand to reorient your pedals if you really need to.

Xgecko

Creeping forward, Endo's to reorient my pedals, trackstands, Leaning on car's/trucks, side hops, I rode with my father and brother on a narrow 1 way street last week, they both have MTB's and hopped up and down the curbs, I did that as well as everything else I posted, it's all an adventure.

daven1986

Ok my second question was a bit rubbish as you can lift the bike and / or track stand.

However my first question is regarding stationary traffic where you have to sneak inbetween the cars - something that happens quite often in London as we have narrow roads and lots of cars!

aMull

Well personally, if i can't go through a gap while both my feet are on the pedals, then i stay put. But if the traffic is that congested that you encounter such things often i guess youll just need to get used to the pedals moving as i see no other way short of picking up your bike and walking between the cars

daven1986

Thought not, thanks for the replies.

Build your own

If i have to move super slow around cars i unclip my left foot and let it hang,ready to put it down if i have to,while pedaling with just my right foot.

cleanupinaisle3

I would never push myself through traffic. It's neither efficient nor safe to do in between cars. Just wait for it to move or get off your bike/mount a curb/walk around.

TRaffic Jammer

1) You'll get used to riding the thin spaces... eventually being able to hit them at speed. Once you do slow down, you'll be able to eek by no prpblemo, it's practice is all.
2) You should ride around it if you're going to get that jammed up on the street.

the_don

It is easier to fit between cars in the pedals because with a foot down, you are wider. i use my elbows to push against cars for balance if the space is really small. But I only really do that when the traffic is stopped.

I also try to balance and track stand when I can. So in slow moving traffic I just ride really slowly along with them. I try to avoid the sidewalk as that is losers territory. And the randomly moving meat pylons dwell there.

robertv

It's probably just nerves, I sometimes put a foot down while weaving through traffic, but it's never cause I really had to. Just don't put the foot down.

seedubs1

You can shoot smaller gaps than you probably think you can.

Practice.

JacoKierkegaard

Aaaaaaaaand this. ^^

Germanicus

I can't think of anything more embarrassing than falling over and hitting or scraping a car that you are trying to squeeze by in traffic because there is obviously not enough room to do it safely.

cc700

balance...

balance...

balance...

if you can't balance you can't ride a fixed gear in traffic, and the better you can balance the better you'll be at it.

if you can't balance well enough to move slowly enough to slip through cars, you shouldn't ride fixed in traffic- too much can happen too quickly and a freewheel is a better option.

evilcryalotmore

Well when riding through tight traffic i kinda just stay aggressive and show that im here. Watch out for doors and right turns.

For situation 2. Trackstand Ftw.

For situation 3. Get a brake! Oh no situation 3... hehe

Dont even ask for #4

thadcombs

The sooner you realize that riding fixed is just the same as riding any other bike the better off you'll be.

You seem a little hesitant on the bike so I'd use a brake for the first while if I were you. I've been riding fixed for years and I still have brakes.

As everyone else is saying, learn to trackstand.

Learn to stop quickly without brakes with your feet in any pedal position.

Use your head. Risk/reward.....



oh.... and man up....

TRaffic Jammer

Becoming intimately aware of just how wide you (shoulders and hips) and your bag are is very important when ripping traffic. Bouncin' off a car is just embarrassing.

Grivooga

I've seen people forget about the bag, snag a strap, and end up on their ass. It's kinda amusing so long as no head injuries are involved.

noisebeam

1. Don't squeeze gaps especially if you have to ask.
2. Stop or slow with sufficient distance ahead. Predict traffic movement ahead to know how far back to stop.