A question for those who ride fixed gear and road bikes and record their rides.
#1
Cool Guy
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 796
Bikes: Jamis Sputnik, Leader 722 Heritage Edition, Brompton, Bianchi Via Nirone, Robinson SST, Diamondback Sorrento
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A question for those who ride fixed gear and road bikes and record their rides.
On average, how much faster are you going on a road bike? I noticed that my data on both type of bikes are strikingly similar, clocking in at about 15mph on city streets. Is this normal?
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Allston, MA
Posts: 171
Bikes: Trek 720 (touring, 1981 (?) model); Trek 7.3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If I rode a fixed gear in the city, I'd have to stop at more lights.
#4
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,856
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12781 Post(s)
Liked 7,696 Times
in
4,085 Posts
Sometimes I'm slower on rhe roadie.
Most,maybe all, of my paved climb PRs are on fixed.
Most,maybe all, of my paved climb PRs are on fixed.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Brooklyn,NY
Posts: 674
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
There's a short local climb that I set a PR on riding fixed but on the same climb using the same amount of effort I was 4 seconds slower on my roadie. On long 70+ mile rides I do feel a lot fresher by the end with gears then fixed but it takes about the same time give or take a few minutes.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,012
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix SL3, Lynskey Cooper CX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In the city, I get higher average speed on fixed, but spend much less time at lights on a geared or SS.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,075
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
My times have been reasonable similar. I find I ride faster uphill (forced by 42x16 gearing) but slower downhill (restricted by 42x16 gearing)
On a somewhat related note, riding almost exclusively fixed for a summer caused a notable increase in my average cadence.
On a somewhat related note, riding almost exclusively fixed for a summer caused a notable increase in my average cadence.
#9
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
In town, the determining factor is traffic and lights. I commute on my fixed gear just because I like it and my gearing is pretty low (39x16). I wouldn't be any faster on my roadie with a 53x11.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ?
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: i may have bike(s)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I dont have data but a lot faster on the road bike. There are just too many declines here that a road bike will blow the doors off the fixed.
#11
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,138
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2640 Post(s)
Liked 3,153 Times
in
1,660 Posts
ya
i have a 2 hr loop i regularly do w like ~1500ft of elevation decline/incline at "tempo" HRs (167-173 bpm avg for me)
it takes like ~7 or 8 min longer on average on the fixed at that aerobic intensity.
also my climbing PRs are definetely on a road bike because at any given intensity i climb a little faster with a higher cadence
i have a 2 hr loop i regularly do w like ~1500ft of elevation decline/incline at "tempo" HRs (167-173 bpm avg for me)
it takes like ~7 or 8 min longer on average on the fixed at that aerobic intensity.
also my climbing PRs are definetely on a road bike because at any given intensity i climb a little faster with a higher cadence
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#12
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
FWIW, a couple of years ago I did the local 10 mile TT in truest Merckx style by using my fixed gear (52x15). It's still my best time on that course. No thinking, just cranking.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SO-CAL
Posts: 851
Bikes: Litespeed Teramo, Argon 18 Road, Fuji Mt Fuji Pro MTB, Fuji Track Pro FG, & Cannondale Quick CX Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's not a fair comparison.
Despite my nickname, I'm more of a masher than a spiner, because our fixed gear are geared for *normal* street use, not top velocity, I simply cannot keep with roadies (have tried) because I fatigue too quickly trying to spin 48x16, not too bad but not high enough to spin along w intermediate/advanced roadies.
Having said that, on a long uninterrupted 20 miles flat stretch I can gain few mins on my geared bike, which in terms of commuting is nothing but is a lifetime in racing, depending how you see it.
Despite my nickname, I'm more of a masher than a spiner, because our fixed gear are geared for *normal* street use, not top velocity, I simply cannot keep with roadies (have tried) because I fatigue too quickly trying to spin 48x16, not too bad but not high enough to spin along w intermediate/advanced roadies.
Having said that, on a long uninterrupted 20 miles flat stretch I can gain few mins on my geared bike, which in terms of commuting is nothing but is a lifetime in racing, depending how you see it.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SO-CAL
Posts: 851
Bikes: Litespeed Teramo, Argon 18 Road, Fuji Mt Fuji Pro MTB, Fuji Track Pro FG, & Cannondale Quick CX Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 128
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Mine are pretty much the same. Some times faster, sometimes slower. If it is windy, or I take a hillier route, then I'm definitely feeling it more on the fixed gear bike.
#17
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 38
Bikes: Cannondale Supersix with Ultegra 6700, Windsor Knight with 5500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#18
Nobody Special
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 108
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#19
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
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 113
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I finally put a cog on my SS and rode it for the better part of a month without riding my geared bike. Last week to keep up on my 200km brevet/month I took out the roadie. It was an odd feeling about the pedal hesitation at the top/bottom of each stroke. The one thing I took away from all the FG training is it does indeed cause you to pedal 100% of the time. Was my time over the course faster than normal? It was faster than many of last season's permanents. Instead of coasting down grades now I would shift to a higher gear and push the pace a bit more.
#21
Señor Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 621
Bikes: All of them
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I always commute on the fixed bike because it's both more fun and a better workout, and I've never noticed any difference in time at all. My 11 mile city commute takes the same amount of time +/- a minute or so, on just about any bike.
Last edited by cali_axela; 10-29-12 at 05:47 PM. Reason: Added quote of sentence I was replying to.
#22
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
^ Agreed. Riding my fixed gear bike more often and in more conditions, made me faster on my geared bikes because I now tend to spin faster and not coast as often / ever. When first starting to ride fixed, it felt weird not being able to coast; now it feels weird being able to coast. I always take the road bike on longer or really hilly rides to preserve my stamina, just because I can't do 100k of riding with 1k+ meters of climbing fixed (yet). Even if I could do those long/steep rides fixed, I'll always be faster on the geared bike -- but riding the fixed bike improves my technique and allows me to be that much faster on the geared bike.
I always commute on the fixed bike because it's both more fun and a better workout, and I've never noticed any difference in time at all. My 11 mile city commute takes the same amount of time +/- a minute or so, on just about any bike.
I always commute on the fixed bike because it's both more fun and a better workout, and I've never noticed any difference in time at all. My 11 mile city commute takes the same amount of time +/- a minute or so, on just about any bike.
#23
Spin Meister
I've kept records for years. On city streets in Los Angeles, I average about 13 mph, on any of my bikes, on any flat route. Too many traffic lights and stop signs, no matter how fast I try to ride, that slow me down.
When I'm in NYC, I ride a little faster, since I run almost every traffic light and every stop sign.
When I'm in NYC, I ride a little faster, since I run almost every traffic light and every stop sign.
__________________
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Lebanon, Oregon, USA
Posts: 77
Bikes: Giant, Anyroad 2, DB Podium 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I commute on a 44-16 single speed. My times on a given ride are much better on my roadie than on the SS and when I take my roadie to work its almost effortless on it. Here's a few reasons why:
-Hills
-My single speed weighs about 29#, my roadie somewhere around 20#
-Better gearing for taking off from a start (I need to toughen up more)
-32c tires on the SS, 23c tires on the roadie (less rolling resistance)
My road bike is just a more efficient machine than my single speed. I ride the single speed to work and grocery getting because it has fenders and its a little more resistant to hopping curbs.
YMMV.
-Hills
-My single speed weighs about 29#, my roadie somewhere around 20#
-Better gearing for taking off from a start (I need to toughen up more)
-32c tires on the SS, 23c tires on the roadie (less rolling resistance)
My road bike is just a more efficient machine than my single speed. I ride the single speed to work and grocery getting because it has fenders and its a little more resistant to hopping curbs.
YMMV.
#25
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,138
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2640 Post(s)
Liked 3,153 Times
in
1,660 Posts
another thing ive noticed (along the same lines) is that I rarely get out of the saddle anymore, unless **** gets real serious and I have to dump 100% of my reserves out there and engage my quads like mad.
Even in crits with punchy big ringable climbs, im seated for pretty much the whole damn race till the sprint.
its great passing people who are out of the saddle churning a huge gear while u are spinning away.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste