Like A Virgin....

[FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]First time ride on my fixed today (with brakes and everything). [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Bloody hell - is it always this tricky? Had trainers rather than clips as walked to bike shop but even setting off was weird as pedals went off without me. I was left floundering at the lights. 1st efforts at braking we strange and did it too hard and legs came off pedals, likewise 1st attempt at sitting back down after honking up a hill and then on my first down hill went over a bump and legs came off and pedals carried on at 25mp. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I feel like my seven-year-old daughter (excpet she's just got a bike with gears!) [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Will try with the clips tomorrow. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Please tell me it will get easier. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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you must have clips, or some form of foot retention, but it does get easier

You'll get the hang of it. Just like html code, really.

FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]IT[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]WILL[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]GET [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]EASIER [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]:) [/SIZE][/FONT]

Nah it's fucking horrible mate, it stays that annoying and nasty all the time. We only do it to show off to our mates.

No, joking. Keep riding and you'll eventually love it. Like Meth, I guess.

[FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]First time ride on my fixed today (with brakes and everything). [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Bloody hell - is it always this tricky? Had trainers rather than clips as walked to bike shop but even setting off was weird as pedals went off without me. I was left floundering at the lights. 1st efforts at braking we strange and did it too hard and legs came off pedals, likewise 1st attempt at sitting back down after honking up a hill and then on my first down hill went over a bump and legs came off and pedals carried on at 25mp. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I feel like my seven-year-old daughter (excpet she's just got a bike with gears!) [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Will try with the clips tomorrow. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Please tell me it will get easier. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[/FONT]

*First time ride on my fixed today (with brakes and everything).
Bloody hell - is it always this tricky? Had trainers rather than clips as walked to bike shop but even setting off was weird as pedals went off without me. I was left floundering at the lights. 1st efforts at braking we strange and did it too hard and legs came off pedals, likewise 1st attempt at sitting back down after honking up a hill and then on my first down hill went over a bump and legs came off and pedals carried on at 25mp.
I feel like my seven-year-old daughter (excpet she's just got a bike with gears!)
Will try with the clips tomorrow.
Please tell me it will get easier. *

Okay, now I can read it.

Speed bumps are strange at first, after a lifetime of freewheeling it seems very alien. Give it 2 weeks and an ordinary bike will feel unresponsive and sloppy.

+1 for the foot retention though, otherwise you are gonna die.

"Don't stop pedaling."

Repeat.

"Don't stop pedaling."

Repeat.

Ha, ha, I did that, just kept saying to myself 'dont stop pedalling'

you'll get used to it, and thats not html, thats bb code, tsk tsk ;-p

A mantra "pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal..." is useful particularly is recited in time with your pedal stroke. It can be soporific, however, which can be a problem.

Get some clipless pedals (MTB ones so you can walk in them) - they're less faff than clips and straps. Crank Bros are probably the easiest to get used to.

Just trust us in that if you keep doing it, riding with a freewheel will feel seriously weird if you've ridden fixed without a break for a long time.

Fox, i did that when i get my mountain bike up for my lady and screamed like a girl as it felt like the chain had gone!

Shutup, Ed...
pre-emptive strike

Just trust us in that if you keep doing it, riding with a freewheel will feel seriously weird if you've ridden fixed without a break for a long time.

It's like having your legs full of concrete. You get over it pretty quickly, though - maybe 20 mins into a ride.

Yes - It's getting a bit better but still awkard and fumbling around like a 14-year-old boy trying to undo a bra.
On the way home last night managed to keep feet on the pedals and this morning with the clipless was better as concentrating on slowing down gently etc.
But starting off was a mare. My pedals natuarlly fall clip in side down so really struggled to get the other foot in after the lights. I know ideally i shouldn't take pedals out but i'm a few weeks away from having the confidence to to try a track stand so any tip on how to get my bloody feet in?

shutup, ed...
pre-emptive strike

lol

Yes - It's getting a bit better but still awkard and fumbling around like a 14-year-old boy trying to undo a bra.
On the way home last night managed to keep feet on the pedals and this morning with the clipless was better as concentrating on slowing down gently etc.
But starting off was a mare. My pedals natuarlly fall clip in side down so really struggled to get the other foot in after the lights. I know ideally i shouldn't take pedals out but i'm a few weeks away from having the confidence to to try a track stand so any tip on how to get my bloody feet in?

Start off slowly, till you get used to it, flip pedal over with your toes at the edge and then slide foot in. Practice, practice and then practice some more.

Eventually it'll be second nature and you'll be able to do this in one fluid moment, at this time young children will yelp in delight, cars will stop and drivers applaud and the women will swoon ;)

amc, come to the Bridges ride on Saturday night

Just trust us in that if you keep doing it, riding with a freewheel will feel seriously weird if you've ridden fixed without a break for a long time.

it's the point where your foot is coming to the top of the rotation it feels a little slack, I thought I'd fucked my bike up but my legs were just used to being pushed over the hill so to speak