Thinking of going fixed for the first time. Anything I should Know

LFGSS. Get a life you dorks. Yeah.

Lots of the above:

1. Use 2 brakes to start with, ditch them later if you want
   
2. Go somewhere quiet for a practice, preferably include some speed bumps, before you go on busy roads.
   
3. Also practise signalling while still pedalling.
   
4. Use foot retention (obvs)
   
5. Think about where you're going to stop at junctions to get your foot position right for pulling away.
   
6. Also get used to filtering on the outside to avoid pedal-strike on kerbs
   
7. If your knees are creaky, start on a fairly short gear (60-65 GI so 42-18 or similar), then gear up if you want more top-end speed.
   
8. As @Hefty said, ignore the feeling on the first few rides that this is a stupid thing to do. It will soon become an absolute joy.
   

3 signalling while pedaling while braking

3 signalling while pedaling while braking

Yup. That shit is why I have 2 brakes!

Never wear a helmet and always go down the left of big things.

Apparently coffee infused beard balm is the thing!

Thanks for all the advice people.

rear brake can be nice just to take the speed down a little on descents

Given rear wheel lock-up (aka skidding) the rear brake is much more useful on a fixed gear than on a bicycle with a freewheel. On a freewheel bicycle most of the time one only uses the front.. the rear is mainly good for when it's so slippery that the front can skid--- and this tends to lead to loss of control. On a fixed gear the rear brake can reduce a lot of the stress of reducing one's leg speed... and help one slow without skidding (skidding may look cool to the kids but the stopping distance increases and, of course, control is comprimised)...

A rear brake can be nice just to take the speed down a little on descents or again when the road is slippery or on a corner.

And eventually learn to pull away with the cranks at 11/5 o'clock position, or any position. It's just HTFU that needs to be applied.A push off from the standing foot is enough to get the cranks round to a position where you can continue to pedal squares (if you're a masher like me).

I have found that it is easier to lock the back wheel when breaking with fixed gears, because I am adding more resistance by slowing down the pedals the break can lock it very easily.

I once talked to a bicycle courier in london who's been riding fixed gear for 5 years what one advice would he give about bicycles? He said to get track hubs that have cartridge bearings, they are strong and long lasting.

^surprised it took 2 pages for that to be mentioned

Just slain your fixeh

1 Attachment

flow
bus strokes

He said to get track hubs that have cartridge bearings, they are strong and long lasting.

Cartridge bearings are neither strong--- typically designed for other loads--- nor long lasting. They are typically radical bearings and not designed for axial loads (side forces). They are also not immune to elements nor maintainance free. The main advantage of cartridge bearings is cost and, if correctly used in the design, ease of replacement. Cup-and-cone bearings are stronger and (typically) much longer lasting. They are also better suited to the kinds of extreme loads a bicycle wheel may experience. They are, however, bicycle hub specific and much more costly to produce. Cartridges are, by contrast, made in VERY LARGE numbers and to very high quality at very reasonable price points (standarization, economies of scale). While its quite difficult to gear up the tooling to make good quality cup-and-cone hubs it is very simple to make hubs that take cartridges--- even easier if one does not need to provide toolless bearing replacement.

Just keep peddling, anticipate moves further in advance. Its actually easier than geared cycling

I found switching back to non-fixed more difficult than vice versa.

And avoid Addison Lee cabs like the fucking plague
Cunts

I have found that it is easier to lock the back wheel when breaking with fixed gears, because I am adding more resistance by slowing down the pedals the break can lock it very easily.

^This. With a geared bike the braking on the back wheel is all down to the brake. On a fixed-gear your legs obviously come into play. Since my emergency stop response is still to stop pedalling and apply both brakes, I much more often lock up the rear on my FG.

i got cartridge bearings in my hubs after he gave me the advice. I will find out if your are right about them not being good for side forces in few months.

you are surely right about the immunity-after leaving my bike in the garden without cover for a month, the bearings became less smooth. I do not know how to open them up and grease them.

I went with radical bearings... No probz when slaining to le pub...