Fixed - starting off

Well I did my first fixed ride the other day, did 10 miles. Was good fun and seemed to get on ok. The only thing I have a problem with is starting off, for example, at some traffic lights on a geared / SS bike you can "reset" your pedal position.

Whats the nack here? Front brake on, raise rear wheel slightly and reset the crank position?

you got it in one dude...

If I pull up to traffic lights and am not track standing, i just yank up with my right foot, with my bum off the saddle and my left foot on the ground. the force of pulling up lifts the back wheel and allows you to whip the pedals round to the correct position to push off from.

Cool! Sounds like it looks stylish, oh yeah.

never put your foot down...
that’s the joy of a good fixed ride-from start to stop clipped in and flowing

I can't quite do that yet! Stopping and starting I look like a cripple.

Yes no need for the front brake to do it though. Just pullup on your leading foot and the bike will lift up.

Easiest thing to do is to learn how to track stand, taking a day over Christmas a couple of years ago to learn how to do it was one of the best things I've ever done.

Lower your saddle put trainers and a flat pair of pedals and have a search on here for guides on how to track stand.

I thought the one on 63xc was pretty good.

I found the best way to learn to trackstand was to practice in a hallway so that if you fall to the side you don't have to get off and start again..

Easiest thing to do is to learn how to track stand, taking a day over Christmas a couple of years ago to learn how to do it was one of the best things I've ever done.

Haha! that's how i spent xmas 2007! Trackstanding on a rug next to the christmas tree on my brand new fixie skidder machine.

Oh, and I thought it's only me being dumb enough to have to practice it in the kitchen holding onto the fridge.

Hmmm hallways have no camber to help and a lot of hard stuff to hit your head on!

Alex it must have been the same time we were learining. I was on a dead ended street near my parents house.

You don't need a camber though really, you just need to get the initial balance right to begin with, then you can develop it on a camber.

Trackstanding practice not recommended at traffic lights, particularly if facing the 'other' way to which you usually face (wheel pointing left or right) and especially if there's any question of not being able to unclip in a hurry.

Unless of course you're some kind of street clown and pass a hat round afterwards.

Haha! that's how i spent xmas 2007! Trackstanding on a rug next to the christmas tree on my brand new fixie skidder machine.

Did you crash into the Christmas tree? Please say yes. :)

There's less and less things I haven't crashed into yet.

Never learned to track stand, but this thread has inspired me.

I found that it is easiest to learn to trackstand by riding figures of eight over and over. At each 'tip' you try to trackstand a little longer than you did last time.

also properly tensioned chain helps. and wider handlebars, i really struggled on drops

No point learning to track stand- just drop the front wheel into a drain- it will hold you nice and still whilst you wait for the lights to change, then wheelie out of the slot in the drain when the lights go green.

Kisu_Shimo tried this on the way to a BBQ at my house once, but rather too fast for it too work.

Anyone who tells you trackstanding is for anything other than showboating is kidding themselves.

Anyone who tells you trackstanding is for anything other than showboating is kidding themselves.

That's not actually true- very handy off road in combination with small sideways/rotational hops to line yourself up before attempting a big drop/tricky descent etc.

On the road it just helps you get going faster/

Poser

That's not actually true- very handy off road in combination with small sideways/rotational hops to line yourself up before attempting a big drop/tricky descent etc.

On the road it just helps you get going faster/

Indeed, for mtb trials riders, life is pretty much just one continuous trackstand....just in different positions :p

They are posers

I want Chris Akriggs babies.

Poof.... and poser.