Fixie Legends
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,991
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2695 Post(s)
Liked 485 Times
in
350 Posts
Fixie Legends
Check out these lunatics flowing through traffic at high speeds on fixies.
Just found this channel last week and its been my guilty pleasure since, I feel like riding a fixie makes you more in tune with your bike and a better cyclist in general. This is something ive heard people say but I didn't really understand until I watched videos like this of messengers in NYC killing it on their fixies. I used to be a messenger and thought fixies were dumb and their riders insane, but now im thinking of going out and learning how to ride fixed gear. Did anyone go from years of riding normal bikes to riding fixies or is it really something you want to learn as a child? Did you learn any valuable skills when learning to ride fixie? I tried riding one once and bailed after like 5 minutes lol
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,991
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2695 Post(s)
Liked 485 Times
in
350 Posts
Like watch how he gets off his bike at 7:33 what a G. Also everything near the end is a deathwish like jesus these guys can control their bikes well
Last edited by LarrySellerz; 04-04-21 at 11:27 AM.
Likes For LarrySellerz:
#3
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
Huh.
A lot of the park stuff is the type of riding my friends and I did when we were teenagers on BMX bikes.
I NEVER knew some people rode road frames like that. Bunny hopping over curbs and riding down stairs and what not.
Its a big part of the reason I’ve dismissed road bikes.
Other than these guys... Does anyone else ride the **** out of a road frame?
Maybe part of the problem might be if you come up short and don’t quite clear something a road frame won’t take it like a BMX or MTB frame?
A lot of the park stuff is the type of riding my friends and I did when we were teenagers on BMX bikes.
I NEVER knew some people rode road frames like that. Bunny hopping over curbs and riding down stairs and what not.
Its a big part of the reason I’ve dismissed road bikes.
Other than these guys... Does anyone else ride the **** out of a road frame?
Maybe part of the problem might be if you come up short and don’t quite clear something a road frame won’t take it like a BMX or MTB frame?
#4
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
Huh.
A lot of the park stuff is the type of riding my friends and I did when we were teenagers on BMX bikes.
I NEVER knew some people rode road frames like that. Bunny hopping over curbs and riding down stairs and what not.
Its a big part of the reason I’ve dismissed road bikes.
Other than these guys... Does anyone else ride the **** out of a road frame?
Maybe part of the problem might be if you come up short and don’t quite clear something a road frame won’t take it like a BMX or MTB frame?
A lot of the park stuff is the type of riding my friends and I did when we were teenagers on BMX bikes.
I NEVER knew some people rode road frames like that. Bunny hopping over curbs and riding down stairs and what not.
Its a big part of the reason I’ve dismissed road bikes.
Other than these guys... Does anyone else ride the **** out of a road frame?
Maybe part of the problem might be if you come up short and don’t quite clear something a road frame won’t take it like a BMX or MTB frame?
#5
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
I was into MTBing for years, the skills become second nature and YES, bunny hopping, endos, no hands. I have a hard time with manuals and wheelies because the seat gets in the way, but still doable. I did taco a rear wheel when I first switched to road bikes about 3 years ago practicing the endo turns.
In real life I only see the road bike stereotype, older management types, rules of the road, funny clothing, sharing grey poupon on breaks in group rides.
Thank you to the OP.
Likes For SkinGriz:
#6
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
Check out these lunatics flowing through traffic at high speeds on fixies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxVQFUTywIQ Just found this channel last week and its been my guilty pleasure since, I feel like riding a fixie makes you more in tune with your bike and a better cyclist in general. This is something ive heard people say but I didn't really understand until I watched videos like this of messengers in NYC killing it on their fixies. I used to be a messenger and thought fixies were dumb and their riders insane, but now im thinking of going out and learning how to ride fixed gear. Did anyone go from years of riding normal bikes to riding fixies or is it really something you want to learn as a child? Did you learn any valuable skills when learning to ride fixie? I tried riding one once and bailed after like 5 minutes lol
#7
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Likes For Rolla:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
Def some good handling skills, but I have absolutely zero desire to ever ride a fixie. I feel perfectly "connected" with my bike and all of it's gears. I do enjoy riding the gravel bike on the road for that reason tho, I can jump anything I want and not have to worry about beating on it, nice to have options.
#10
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
I'm not into fixed gears either, but watching that video you can see where the rider coasts a few times and he isn't pedaling. Is that possible on a fixie? Do I have the wrong impression of what a 'fixie' is? Seriously looking for an explanation if I'm wrong. Thanks
Just to be clear, I'm talking about the first video.
Just to be clear, I'm talking about the first video.
#11
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
I'm not into fixed gears either, but watching that video you can see where the rider coasts a few times and he isn't pedaling. Is that possible on a fixie? Do I have the wrong impression of what a 'fixie' is? Seriously looking for an explanation if I'm wrong. Thanks
Just to be clear, I'm talking about the first video.
Just to be clear, I'm talking about the first video.
I’m not a fixie guy either, but definitely skillful. I wonder if there is a special technique for timing your feet back into the pedals.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,991
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2695 Post(s)
Liked 485 Times
in
350 Posts
The rider is only coasting when he is takes his feet off the pedals completely and gets in an aerotuck, you can see the pedals still moving. ******g insane to do that without a handbreak, he must have been going 40+ mph. Plus it was raining
#13
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
Okay, I went back and looked at it again. I wasn't referring to where he went into the aero position, but right before he exits the graveyard it looked like he coasted, but he was actually skidding the rear tire along the dirt. My bad.
#14
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
I think you should ride every kind of bike you can: fixed, BMX, road, mountain, gravel, singlespeed, whatever. There's a lot to be said for breaking out of your comfort zone, and you can apply the new skills you learn to everything else that you ride.
#16
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
If I had a friend who had a fixie, would I try it? Yes. Probably find a giant empty parking lot on a weekend.
Likes For SkinGriz:
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,991
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2695 Post(s)
Liked 485 Times
in
350 Posts
As a former bike messenger, those guys are the dudes who ride like you did when you were a teen. I tried my coworkers fixie and it was a totally different experience in terms of breaking. I only did messaging for a year or two but there are tons of guys who ride fixies and do bunny hops etc.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
But having watched fixie/singlespeed, and even 1x guys, struggle at various events/rides, there is no appeal to me for the riding I like to do (fast/long distance). I lived on my BMX bike as a kid, but it always looks odd when I see an adult on a BMX. lol
Likes For Rides4Beer:
#19
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
As a former bike messenger, those guys are the dudes who ride like you did when you were a teen. I tried my coworkers fixie and it was a totally different experience in terms of breaking. I only did messaging for a year or two but there are tons of guys who ride fixies and do bunny hops etc.
Definitely probably a blast for young guys.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
Check out these lunatics flowing through traffic at high speeds on fixies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxVQFUTywIQ Just found this channel last week and its been my guilty pleasure since, I feel like riding a fixie makes you more in tune with your bike and a better cyclist in general. This is something ive heard people say but I didn't really understand until I watched videos like this of messengers in NYC killing it on their fixies. I used to be a messenger and thought fixies were dumb and their riders insane, but now im thinking of going out and learning how to ride fixed gear. Did anyone go from years of riding normal bikes to riding fixies or is it really something you want to learn as a child? Did you learn any valuable skills when learning to ride fixie? I tried riding one once and bailed after like 5 minutes lol
2nd tis why guys inguars hate us.
the opening scene was crazy unsafe riding.
i ride in nyc i see these guys its crazy.
#21
2k miles from the midwest
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,964
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times
in
446 Posts
Yes.
As someone who has a few fixed 2000m/years this decade. To ride safely-ish on a fixed gear in traffic, you have to be hyper-alert for everything. You also learn how to bunnyhop from any pedal position.
#22
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
Bunny hop from any pedal position. Never thought about that. Your post made me realize how I always “set up” before going up a curb or whatever.
#23
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,327
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3897 Post(s)
Liked 4,829 Times
in
2,228 Posts
Some of us started as roadies before mountain bikes or bmx.
Many of us still riding implemented 'rubber side down' techniques (at all times) when riding.
Maybe that's why some of us are still actively cycling.
Many of us still riding implemented 'rubber side down' techniques (at all times) when riding.
Maybe that's why some of us are still actively cycling.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#24
Fxxxxr
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: falfurrias texas
Posts: 1,000
Bikes: wabi classic (stolen & recovered)
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2670 Post(s)
Liked 1,149 Times
in
871 Posts
I ride fixed and I broke my shoulder on 12/28 and I will say that i will never take chances again.i will never take chances again. i will never take chances again.iwill never take chances again. I will never take chances again.I will never take chances again.i will never take chances again. i will never take chances again.iwillnever take chances again.i will never take chances again. i will never take chances again. iwill never take chances again. will never take chances again. i will never take chances again.iwill never take chance again.iwill never take chances again. I will never take chances again. I will never take chances again
__________________
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
#25
Go Ride!
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Minnesota—55346
Posts: 268
Bikes: Klein Quantum Pro, Klein Attitude, Azuki SS, Merckx AXM, Klein Quantum Race, Klein Quantum
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times
in
87 Posts
To answer the original question, I commuted by fixie for 3 years after 5 years of traditional “10 speed” set ups. Enjoyed the fixie commutes far more. Memorable rides...etched into the soul type of rides. I did add a front brake but rarely used it—there is a connectedness with the bike you mentally and physically have on a fixie that you don’t get on a freewheel....but its not for everyone and it sure isn't as adaptable.