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FG riding oobservtions

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

FG riding oobservtions

Old 03-29-17, 08:20 AM
  #1  
Lakerat
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FG riding oobservtions

I've been riding FG for about a year. Got my bike dialed in with low rolling resistance tires, light wheels, and Frog pedals. It wasn't fun with draggy ThickSlick tires, heavy Origin 8 wheels, and toe clips with sneakers. So nice and fun now, dramatic difference.


I alternate days with a geared bike. Ride the least hilly 18 mile route on days I ride the FG, and avoid it when it's windy or real hot. I've noticed conditioning improvements and my legs have developed the features attributed to riding FG, they are more supple. Which means to me they are more comfortable mashing a big gear, or spinning fast.


Analyzing the conditioning benefits of riding FG, I've come to the conclusion the main reason is that FG is inefficient. It has marvelous efficiency in a narrow range of road conditions and speeds, but I don't live in Kansas or Florida.


Proof of its inefficiency is that is why geared bikes were developed and mostly replaced them, they are more efficient.
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Old 03-29-17, 03:40 PM
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Ok
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Old 03-29-17, 04:02 PM
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Cool story bro
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Old 03-29-17, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Lakerat
Analyzing the conditioning benefits of riding FG, I've come to the conclusion the main reason is that FG is inefficient.

Proof of its inefficiency is that is why geared bikes were developed and mostly replaced them, they are more efficient.
Wrong.

This bit of malarkey is owed to the fact that few have ever ridden a fixed gear on the road using either a heart rate monitor or a power meter. Once the adaptation period is over a fixed gear is more efficient than a gear bike.

Also wrong.

Geared bikes were developed for many reasons. Mainly so european tourists and french randonneurs could ride over mountains and for 50-90 hours at a time across the whole of france.
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Old 03-29-17, 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Lakerat
I've come to the conclusion the main reason is that FG is inefficient.
Quite the opposite in Fact.

"Fixed for (e)Fficiency:

Fixed-gear bike is considerably lighter than a multi-speed bike of comparable quality, due to the absence of the rear brake, derailers, shift levers, and extra sprockets. A fixed-gear bike also has a substantially shorter chain.
A properly set-up fixed gear has a perfectly straight chainline. This, plus the absence of derailer pulleys, makes a real improvement in the drive-train efficiency, an improvement you can feel."

-Sheldon Brown

"Also, a fixed gear drivetrain is more mechanically efficient than any other bicycle drivetrain, with the most direct power transfer from rider to the wheels.
Thus, a fixed gear requires less energy in any given gear to move than a geared bike in the same gear.

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-gear_bicycle

The great time trialist Beryl Burton rode FG on record setting distances because it was the most efficient drivetrain, with the legs and technique to do it.


-Bandera
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Last edited by Bandera; 03-29-17 at 07:02 PM.
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Old 03-29-17, 07:12 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by Bandera
a fixed gear requires less energy in any given gear to move than a geared bike in the same gear.
[my emphasis added]

I don't have any skin in the overall debate, but this is a pretty important detail that people are overlooking. The whole point is that a geared bike has the option of switching to gears that are more efficient not compared to a fixed gear bike in the same gear but compared to a fixed gear bike that is stuck in a gear that is less efficient under the given conditions.

Disclaimer: I don't ride geared bikes anymore. About three pedal strokes into my first ever fixed gear ride I knew that I'd been doing bikes wrong (for me) all along.

Last edited by scoho; 03-29-17 at 07:27 PM.
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Old 03-29-17, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Lakerat
my legs ... are more supple.
Pics or it didnt happen
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Old 03-29-17, 07:25 PM
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How are gears more efficient than a fixed gear? They're not but I'm curious about the logic behind the sentiment.

Power is power and air resistance is air resistance. Geared bikes do not magically take less power to go a given speed. A fixed gear is more efficient for two main reasons, 1.) as speed increases the power required to accelerate or maintain speed drops as inertia increases 2.) the muscle contraction required to impart power to the drivetrain is shorter. 300 watts at 120 rpm is easier than 300 watts at 90 rpm.

Physiologically most cyclists are stronger aerobically than muscularly. Thus a lot of cyclists think a lower gear is "easier" and somehow more efficient. They can climb at 90rpm for a while using a light gear, climbing on a fixed gear for long periods at 60-70rpm seems inefficient and ineffective but as anyone who has ridden exclusively a fixed gear can tell you it is very efficient.

Anyway, congrats on your supple legs.
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Old 03-29-17, 07:35 PM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by Spoonrobot
1.) as speed increases the power required to accelerate or maintain speed drops as inertia increases
This couldn't be more incorrect. Power needed increases by the square of a speed increase.

So 20 mph takes four times as much power as 10 mph. And 50 mph takes 25 times as much power as 10 mph. This is because of aerodynamic drag. Inertia merely increases in a linear fashion, while drag increases parabolically.

If your statement were true, we'd be able to ride our bikes as fast as we wish. In fact, we'd have to be constantly on the brake to keep our speed from increasing indefinitely, what with all that inertia helping us along.
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Old 03-29-17, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Spoonrobot
Geared bikes do not magically take less power to go a given speed.
They do when you're going up hills.
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Old 03-29-17, 08:10 PM
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Efficiency is a measure of energy expenditure.

When it comes to cycling, nothing requires less energy than coasting.


-Tim-
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Old 03-29-17, 08:11 PM
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Geared bikes are for sissies.
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Old 03-29-17, 08:56 PM
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I have a fixed gear and a road bike. They are both fun to ride, but I find myself on the fixed gear far more than the geared. I don't over analyze it, just throw a leg over it and ride.
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Old 03-29-17, 09:28 PM
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Buncha science malarky in here. Cut the crap.

Originally Posted by Mumonkan
Pics or it didnt happen
Please refer to signature in every thread.

Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
Geared bikes are for sissies.
Or old men! Oh. Wait.
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Old 03-29-17, 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Lakerat
my legs have developed the features attributed to riding FG, they are more supple.
Originally Posted by Mumonkan
Pics or it didnt happen
Don't worry, OP, I got ya:

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Old 03-30-17, 06:18 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Lakerat
Proof of its inefficiency is that is why geared bikes were developed and mostly replaced them, they are more efficient.
Driving a car is more efficient still - you just push down on the pedal and it goes. Ride any bike for the joy of it.
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Old 03-30-17, 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by scoho
Don't worry, OP, I got ya:



If you think those can mash or spin, your gehdar needs recalibration!
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Old 03-30-17, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Efficiency is a measure of energy expenditure.

When it comes to cycling, nothing requires less energy than coasting.


-Tim-
Then my bikes are hyper efficient.
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Old 03-30-17, 02:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoonrobot
Geared bikes do not magically take less power to go a given speed.

Originally Posted by seau grateau
They do when you're going up hills.
False. The power needed to move a given bike and rider up a given hill at a given speed is the same regardless of gear.

The force needed on the pedal is lower with a geared bike, but the lower force is balanced by the higher rpm you are spinning and the resulting power is the same.
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Old 03-30-17, 02:54 PM
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Power = Torque x RPM
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What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
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Old 03-30-17, 04:17 PM
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I see your

Originally Posted by scoho
Don't worry, OP, I got ya:

and raise you

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Old 03-30-17, 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Lakerat
If you think those can mash or spin, your gehdar needs recalibration!
I think you found yourself a non sequitur there...
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Old 03-30-17, 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by the sci guy
Lol, good point.

OP, if you're looking for supple legs, I think it's time to drop the fixed gear and get yourself a Thighmaster.
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Old 03-30-17, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Caliper
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoonrobot
Geared bikes do not magically take less power to go a given speed.



False. The power needed to move a given bike and rider up a given hill at a given speed is the same regardless of gear.

The force needed on the pedal is lower with a geared bike, but the lower force is balanced by the higher rpm you are spinning and the resulting power is the same.
Climbing fixed is way better than with a freewheel. Just sayin.*




* Obviously we are talking an equivalent gear ratio.
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Old 03-31-17, 05:11 AM
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There is mechanical efficiency, and physiological efficiency. FG is very efficient mechanically, and usually physiologically efficient on flat ground at a particular speed.
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