Fixing an old bike

Suzy Jackson wrote:
I shall amend my ways and use my cycling shoes, tho I'm afraid this is an
SPD free household, so I'll just have to use my Looks.

Regards,

Suzy

I'm glad I don't have to rely on my Looks.

&roo

: SPD free household, so I'll just have to use my Looks.
:
: Regards,
:
: Suzy
:
: I'm glad I don't have to rely on my Looks.
:

Boom-tish.

: SPD free household, so I'll just have to use my Looks.
:
: Regards,
:
: Suzy
:
: I'm glad I don't have to rely on my Looks.
:

Boom-tish.

Suzy Jackson wrote:
: Hi all,


: It's certainly different to ride. I've already lost count of the number of
: times I've unconsciously tried to coast, only to be reminded quite
: forcefully that it's fixed. Going down hills is a challenge - though I've
: not worked up the courage yet to wear cycling shoes (just joggers on the
: back of the pedals).

Congrats on the fixie. It certainly is a different ride and I'm still getting
used to mine. After the first 25k ride I was completely trashed. That was a
few months ago. Now I put in similar times on it to my multi-geared bike.

There's some kind of purity in riding a fixie - it takes a different approach to
getting down the road. There's more committment if anything and once you get
in the zone, spinning along can be psychologically freer than other types of
riding. You don't have to worry about selecting the right gear for the
situation - make the most of what you have - and you know you have to keep
pedalling no matter what else is happening.

Swapping between the two modes means the fixie often reminds me I have
no choice about pedalling. On the last ride I hesitated for a split second
in contemplation of jumping a significant dip in the road. I got a belting
from the cranks and rode throught the dip anyway. If anyone knows how to
bunnyhop a fixie then I'm all ears.

I use Look pedals on mine so I can wear the same shoes on my other roadie.
I've not had any sort of problem and anyway, I'd rather have the security
of clipping in and I can take advantage of circular pedalling too.

Getting down hills can be exciting and yes, I avoid developing dramas by
have both front and back brakes. I've heard tales of people quickly getting
out of control - even with brakes - because they couldn't keep their cadence
up.

I'm using about 76 gear inches (14 x 40) which seems a good compromise at
the moment. I also have 165mm cranks and have no cornering issues either.
The next 'upgrade' may be to 42 chainring (Biopace!) and 170mm cranks.

My max at this time is about 45kph with around 125rpm cadence - that's
pretty modest compared to track riders, but I'll keep plugging away at
lifting it. When I can spin to do 65kph I'll be able to stay with most people
on local rides. Mind you, it will probably take a cadence of about 180 or
something - imagine what that will look like!

Keep sharing your experience.

Cheerz,
Lynzz

Suzy Jackson wrote:
: Hi all,


: It's certainly different to ride. I've already lost count of the number of
: times I've unconsciously tried to coast, only to be reminded quite
: forcefully that it's fixed. Going down hills is a challenge - though I've
: not worked up the courage yet to wear cycling shoes (just joggers on the
: back of the pedals).

Congrats on the fixie. It certainly is a different ride and I'm still getting
used to mine. After the first 25k ride I was completely trashed. That was a
few months ago. Now I put in similar times on it to my multi-geared bike.

There's some kind of purity in riding a fixie - it takes a different approach to
getting down the road. There's more committment if anything and once you get
in the zone, spinning along can be psychologically freer than other types of
riding. You don't have to worry about selecting the right gear for the
situation - make the most of what you have - and you know you have to keep
pedalling no matter what else is happening.

Swapping between the two modes means the fixie often reminds me I have
no choice about pedalling. On the last ride I hesitated for a split second
in contemplation of jumping a significant dip in the road. I got a belting
from the cranks and rode throught the dip anyway. If anyone knows how to
bunnyhop a fixie then I'm all ears.

I use Look pedals on mine so I can wear the same shoes on my other roadie.
I've not had any sort of problem and anyway, I'd rather have the security
of clipping in and I can take advantage of circular pedalling too.

Getting down hills can be exciting and yes, I avoid developing dramas by
have both front and back brakes. I've heard tales of people quickly getting
out of control - even with brakes - because they couldn't keep their cadence
up.

I'm using about 76 gear inches (14 x 40) which seems a good compromise at
the moment. I also have 165mm cranks and have no cornering issues either.
The next 'upgrade' may be to 42 chainring (Biopace!) and 170mm cranks.

My max at this time is about 45kph with around 125rpm cadence - that's
pretty modest compared to track riders, but I'll keep plugging away at
lifting it. When I can spin to do 65kph I'll be able to stay with most people
on local rides. Mind you, it will probably take a cadence of about 180 or
something - imagine what that will look like!

Keep sharing your experience.

Cheerz,
Lynzz

"Lindsay Rowlands" wrote in message
...
Congrats on the fixie. It certainly is a different ride and I'm still
getting
used to mine. After the first 25k ride I was completely trashed. That was
a
few months ago. Now I put in similar times on it to my multi-geared bike.

Thanks. I rode it to work and back today, and had an absolute blast. It's
turned an old bike that I only rarely rode into something totally fun. It's
_so_ quiet, and smooth. The feeling is kinda hard to explain. You just
pedal, and go.

The tricky bits were riding down Mowbray Road - perhaps a 3% grade. At
first I tried to "keep up" with the bike, and got up to a ridiculously high
cadence. When fear kicked in, and I tried to slow down, my pedalling motion
(which was actually pretty smooth while I was pushing the pedals) went all
to hell, and I started bobbing on the seat like an idiot. A quick dab of
the brakes slowed me back down to a rate where the neurons could keep up
with the pedals, and I was fine. On subsequent hills, I simply didn't let
the cadence get up to the silly ranges in the first place, and found it was
much smoother.

On the way home, there's a nasty bit where you have to let yourself through
a gate, then go up a short very steep bit. Usually I do that in one of my
lower gears. Today I had no choice but to give a mighty heave and clip in
with my other foot _instantly_. Perhaps in future some sort of track stand
while I clip in might be a good look.

The steep bits coming home weren't terribly hard - I just got out of the
saddle and pushed hard.

What a hoot!

Regards,

Suzy

"Lindsay Rowlands" wrote in message
...
Congrats on the fixie. It certainly is a different ride and I'm still
getting
used to mine. After the first 25k ride I was completely trashed. That was
a
few months ago. Now I put in similar times on it to my multi-geared bike.

Thanks. I rode it to work and back today, and had an absolute blast. It's
turned an old bike that I only rarely rode into something totally fun. It's
_so_ quiet, and smooth. The feeling is kinda hard to explain. You just
pedal, and go.

The tricky bits were riding down Mowbray Road - perhaps a 3% grade. At
first I tried to "keep up" with the bike, and got up to a ridiculously high
cadence. When fear kicked in, and I tried to slow down, my pedalling motion
(which was actually pretty smooth while I was pushing the pedals) went all
to hell, and I started bobbing on the seat like an idiot. A quick dab of
the brakes slowed me back down to a rate where the neurons could keep up
with the pedals, and I was fine. On subsequent hills, I simply didn't let
the cadence get up to the silly ranges in the first place, and found it was
much smoother.

On the way home, there's a nasty bit where you have to let yourself through
a gate, then go up a short very steep bit. Usually I do that in one of my
lower gears. Today I had no choice but to give a mighty heave and clip in
with my other foot _instantly_. Perhaps in future some sort of track stand
while I clip in might be a good look.

The steep bits coming home weren't terribly hard - I just got out of the
saddle and pushed hard.

What a hoot!

Regards,

Suzy

Lindsay Rowlands wrote:
snip
On the last ride I hesitated for a split second
in contemplation of jumping a significant dip in the road. I got a belting
from the cranks
snip
Cheerz,
Lynzz

Could you please explain to those of us who have never ridden a fixie
what getting "belted by your cranks" is? Doesn't sound like fun...

&roo

P.S. Are you the Lindsay who rode a single-speed at the Waratahs for a
while, before getting a "gearie"?

Lindsay Rowlands wrote:
snip
On the last ride I hesitated for a split second
in contemplation of jumping a significant dip in the road. I got a belting
from the cranks
snip
Cheerz,
Lynzz

Could you please explain to those of us who have never ridden a fixie
what getting "belted by your cranks" is? Doesn't sound like fun...

&roo

P.S. Are you the Lindsay who rode a single-speed at the Waratahs for a
while, before getting a "gearie"?

Andrew Swan wrote:
: Lindsay Rowlands wrote:
: snip
: On the last ride I hesitated for a split second
: in contemplation of jumping a significant dip in the road. I got a belting
: from the cranks
: snip
: Cheerz,
: Lynzz

: Could you please explain to those of us who have never ridden a fixie
: what getting "belted by your cranks" is? Doesn't sound like fun...

It's no big deal to resist the rotation of the cranks, but it's something
else to try to just stop pedalling entirely - as you do on a freewheeling
bike. The cranks/pedals violently throw your feet/legs around the circle
they are compelled to move. I trust that gives you the general idea.


: P.S. Are you the Lindsay who rode a single-speed at the Waratahs for a
: while, before getting a "gearie"?

Sorry, that's not I. I'm Lindsay of Armidale, NSW.

Cheerz,
Lynzz