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From @M_V : “…enjoying different bikes and different types of riding I've pretty much forgotten about any hang ups I had about 'wimping out' of riding fixed.”
I’m with you there. I keep a fixed gear in my collection not out of obligation, but for fun, since in the end it’s just bikes.
I still enjoy riding fixed quite a bit. I might not be as fit as I could be, but the difference in ride rhythm is a nice change of pace. It’s hilly round here. About 1,000ft per 10mi give or take depending on the route. I may be able to go further afield on a geared bike in my current fitness, but my shorter jaunts on the fixed wheel aren’t any less fun.
dadbike
Been a wee bit since I posted in here.
I decided that my 'Sunday Best' fixed bike was indeed too small for me so I'm no longer riding it. I think the poor fit was part of what was killing my love for riding fixed.
I had been working on a larger frame which I finished but due to it being winter it's now my track bike, it will become my road fixed in a few months so we will see how I get on with longer fixed rides over summer.
I made myself the steel frameset I was talking about for my hub geared bike and it is definitely a keeper.
Parallel to this, I've been messing about with riding a couple different geared mountain bikes over the last 6-9 months, normally having a singlespeed mtb. Similar thinking, gears would probably allow me to ride further, more places etc. I found some success but maybe because I have the hub geared bike which can take on moderate off roading I decided it was time to go back to riding a singlespeed mtb. I have a frame/bike in the works just now.
I had been kind of hankering for something more sprightly (but not necessarily fixed) for road and gravel rides so have put a coaster brake rear wheel on one of my bikes and did a club ride on it last weekend and enjoyed it.
I do feel I've lost a bit of leg strength from riding gears but maybe that's just in my head.
I've also been doing some work on my grandad's old Flying Scot and will be riding it fixed for road and gravel rides.
TLDR: I've definitely become less dedicated to riding fixed but I'm also not fully embracing gears. Also as I've been enjoying different bikes and different types of riding I've pretty much forgotten about any hang ups I had about 'wimping out' of riding fixed.