Fixed has a serious limitation for training - you'd need to be a really brilliant rider to survive on fixed in a group of strong riders on geared road bikes. And riding in a group of strong riders is surely just the sort of training one should aim at.
I believe that for me, over many years, riding fixed when circumstances allowed has been highly beneficial. When I started club riding again as an adult in the mid 1970's many of my clubmates were still riding fixed in the winter and continued this into the training run season in January and February. Eventually there would be an agreement that the next Sunday gears would be used, and if you weren't in the loop and turned up on your fixed bike you'd be in for hard time or an early bath. I remember those winter runs in a hard riding group mostly consisting of fixed gear users as some of the best club riding I've ever done, and I'm sure it helped me to develop whatever modest talent I had. Now only a very few of my clubmates can be dragged away from their modern road bikes however bad the conditions, and I for one cannot cope against them on my fixed bike.
Fausto Coppi, and Andre Boucher, who was Anquetil's mentor, recommended fixed for early season training; I believe this is the best time to use it, but ideally you need a little group of like minded individuals.
Fixed has a serious limitation for training - you'd need to be a really brilliant rider to survive on fixed in a group of strong riders on geared road bikes. And riding in a group of strong riders is surely just the sort of training one should aim at.
I believe that for me, over many years, riding fixed when circumstances allowed has been highly beneficial. When I started club riding again as an adult in the mid 1970's many of my clubmates were still riding fixed in the winter and continued this into the training run season in January and February. Eventually there would be an agreement that the next Sunday gears would be used, and if you weren't in the loop and turned up on your fixed bike you'd be in for hard time or an early bath. I remember those winter runs in a hard riding group mostly consisting of fixed gear users as some of the best club riding I've ever done, and I'm sure it helped me to develop whatever modest talent I had. Now only a very few of my clubmates can be dragged away from their modern road bikes however bad the conditions, and I for one cannot cope against them on my fixed bike.
Fausto Coppi, and Andre Boucher, who was Anquetil's mentor, recommended fixed for early season training; I believe this is the best time to use it, but ideally you need a little group of like minded individuals.