Fixed riding has ruined love of gears

Just got my geared road bike back from the LBS and was waiting all week for a ride on it.. Cycled to the end of the road and back and was bored, so got off and went for a ride on the fixed.

Now im thinking do i actually need a geared bike anymore?

Damn fixed bikes

It'll pass, seriously.

Ha, gears are good. I've been riding my geared bike heaps lately and have been really enjoying it. Geared bikes work best for rides beyond the end of the road so rediscover your love of free wheeling, changing gears and bombing hills, go ride that geared bike.

I was thinking the same thing until recently. I was only riding my fixed, going on rides of reasonable length (30-50miles, trying to get my fitness back up after a poor winter of riding very little) with quite a few hills etc., found that I was doing alright...

Then went out on a longer ride with some really big hills, took the geared bike and it was awesome. Riding fixed has made my legs significantly stronger, and the gears made it easier to find that sweet spot where the cadence is just right.

Really enjoyed that ride, I am a much stronger climber than I was the last time I did the same route, and was suprised by my stamina too (normally feeling quite tired after 30-40 miles fixed), we were still racing to summits near the end of the ride. Awesome.

So don't lose heart, just try some routes you wouldnt normally do on a fixed for whatever reason (hills/distance etc.), you never know, you might be suprised. I know I was.

i <3 my road bike.

I haven't owned a geared bike since I was 12/13.

Geared is the thinking mans choice for any ride involving hills and over about 30 miles at a high pace.

I just got my very first geared racing bike

I don't like it for the traffic

But out on the open road

It is effortlessly fast

I also love my geared bike..

Riding to the end of your road and back probably isn't the greatest test :)

Go on a long ride and you'll appreciate it more

riding in hills makes sense with gears...

on a proper ride (open roads, mountains, rolling hills, decent mileage, or if you're really cranking) there is nothing that matches a road bike for effortless speed.

pick the right tool for the job, innit.

I got bored of Derallieurs, and for me it's all about hub gears. Or fixed gears.

I suspect this will pass if I get an 80's Super Record derallieur though.

i was also disappointed by this thread i thought it was going to be something interesting - like riding fixed has ruined my

1. love life
   
2. bank balance
   
3. general perspective on life
   
4. sense of being normal
   
5. enjoyment of walking
   
6. my sex life
   
7. my carpet / walls / stairs / railings....
   etc etc
   but no. if all it as ruined is your love of gears then maybe you should start riding more fixed and ruin something more important
   ah...i forgot ...your knees!
   

texas, sign me up for 2. 4. and change 7. to walls (tight turn on way down stairs)

texas, sign me up for 2. 4. and change 7. to walls (tight turn on way down stairs)

fixed - now who's going to own up to 1 & 6??

I haven't owned a geared bike since I was 12/13.

So six months ago then...

So six months ago then...

I only look that young when I shave!

It'll pass, seriously.

ha ha ! yes indeed.

I can't wait to go back to geared soon for the proper long ride, time to visit Tour De Ville methinks...

Hmmm, I've just bought a genesis flyer... to replace (or maybe not actually replace) my old mountain bike.

Are you telling me I should I have bought a geared road bike???

When I've been riding the fixed for a while, I just set off with the road bike set in an equivalent gear. Sooner or later I hit a point where I either want to freewheel or shift gear and geared mentality kicks in again. Remembering braking isn't too bad because you'll typically start braking on fixed a lot sooner.

I just did my second commute on gears after a year and bit riding fixed only and feck me it was fun. I'd echo the apparent the leg strength/pedal action benefit and the aversion to coasting kept me rolling nicely along. And I can trackstand no-handed on a freewheel too ;)

when yo start doing cycling holidays through europe the gears will come in handy

fixed - now who's going to own up to 1 & 6??

this should maybe go in the Fess Up thread!

1. yea i think i love my bike now a lil bit - which means there's less to go round for the misses..

2. Are you kidding? its Improved since it got fixed!! Harder better faster stronger... and thats only in the saddle!
   ps. check this out: http://www.najle.com/idaft/
   probs spent way too much time on this than I should have

My main reasons for getting a ss (not sure about the fixed thing - I may be too old for that) is for fitness and the purity of design thing (I can't help it - I'm minimalist).

Sounds like I've done the right thing...