Geared vs Fixed - average speed

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  • 44 x 16 aka The Gentleman's Gear

  • that makes me more gentle than you

  • What's your favourite gear ratio thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  • Simple answer that you are looking for: You will end up going faster, both on average and in absolute terms, with a geared bike. I was asking myself this same question a while ago as I love my fixed gear bike, but I am glad I went for it. At first you'll not feel anything different but then your training and habits will change in many ways, making you much faster if you want to be, for example:

    1. On the flats with gears, you will probably initially prefer to find the ratio that matches what you are used to. You'll have the same average speed. But with the gears, you can start to shift to progressively higher gears while working on maintaining your cadence. After a couple of months your comfortable spinning gear will increase. You will feel stronger, your thighs will probably look bigger, and you will be faster.

    2. For climbs, you are probably used to getting up and powering up hills. This is generally a faster way to climb short distances, but only as long as you can maintain the cadence against the higher resistance. With gears, you can practice shift to a lower gear and maintaining your comfortable cadence. Spinning too much is a waste of energy and you can burn out. The trick is to find the gear that allows you to keep your cadence, appl comfortable force into the pedals, stay sitting in the saddle, and ultimately maintaining a good pace. You'll still have the option of powering up in a high gear when you feel it's right, eg, towards the finish line.

    3. For descending, you can select a very high gear and use it to accelerate much faster down straights and out of corners. Coming down a big big climb with a 53/12, for example, there is no limit to how fast you can push it. The only thing to worry about is keeping your head down and holding the fucker upright.

  • Hi all,

    So it's looking like my new job I'll be starting in September will be 20 miles away over undulating terrain of about 1500 ft of climbing each way.

    So it's time for a new n+1. So do I go for a lightweight stiff fixed or gears?

    It's down to average speed I suppose.

    So here's a 'how long is that pice of string question'..............what sort of average mph is realistic over that distance on fixed?

    Any of you guys have any idea?

  • whichever string make you happy.

  • I'd prefer the fixed for simplicity but I just don't know what the time difference will be...or if its even feasible.

  • What's stopping you from finding out?

  • Money, don't want order another bike and its a fuck up only got bromptons at the mo.

  • I done a post-work 26.4 mile loop 48x16 yesterday with 600ft of uppy downy bits. Averaged 18.9mph

    My last average geared on the same route was 21.8mph.

    I am a bit feeble so lost loads up the hills, but I also can't spin so lost loads down the hills too. Plus my fixed bike is 11kg and my road bike is 8kg. And I had a wee half way round yesterday. Does Strava log that?

    Is that helpful?

    No?

    Meh. Go fixed because they are more awesomer, just leave 10 minutes earlier.

  • I think the only way to be sure is to do the commute.

    I would say that clothing is probably going to make more of a difference than fixed or gears for a 20 mile each way commute, as long as it's not 1,500 feet all at once.

  • Money, don't want order another bike and its a fuck up only got bromptons at the mo.

    You prefer the fixed, go for the fixed.

    What's stopping you using your Brompton?

  • One of them has 2 IGH's and the other 2 speed.....not the best for quick commuting.

    I'm about 3 mph slower on them than full sized bikes I've had. Makes a difference over distance, plus it's a lot harder.

  • Says that to the Brompton owners who rode the London Edinburgh London audax on it.

  • Not disagreeing, I rode hundred miles on mine yesterday, they're very capable...just slower and more inefficient.

  • It's still worth trying, if it's says, 5 minutes slower than your current bike, then removed 5 minutes from the commute time.

  • More like 25 minutes I think ed, maybe I'm wrong. Fair point about trying it I suppose, I'll have a bash this week some time.

  • Just because something could be done does not mean it should be done- look at JLS.

    If you don't want to commute that distance on a Brompton then don't do it, it'll just be 50 miles of annoyance.

    Where are you? I am sure LFGSS can organise lending you a fixed and a geared bike to test this.

  • Fuck commuting day in day out on a Brompton over that distance!

    I used to have a 28 mile commute and mixed it up geared and fixed. After a few weeks I preferred the fixed, and eventually gave up the geared bike for the commute altogether.

    It had about 2,300 ft climbing, and one hill was particularly steep. Once I was on top of the gear I used to really fly both sides, powering over the top and spinning like a loon down the other side.

    My guess is that you will be slower to start off on a fixed, but you will become more awesome if you stick at it, and you will save a fortune on transmissions and stuff!

  • My commute is 20 miles, it doesn't really matter how fast you go but fixed over lumpy roads IS slower (I use both fixed and geared, depending on mood and weather). Use whichever makes you smile most, in my case generally fixed, you will regret this decision on windy days.....

  • Go fixed and find a gearing that you are A- comfortable with and B- can slog it round both up and down. I used to commute over the southdowns everyday and there wasn't really anything in it between doing it geared and fixed, if anything I found myself being lazy riding geared and costing down the way and opting for the granny gear up the way.

  • Nice one and cheers to confirming my thoughts of - fuck that commuting on a Brompton - too.

  • Colin is right about windy days, I was riding towards the coast and sometimes the wind made it feel like I was moving backwards. Worth it on the still days though as you build up strength to beat the geared folk on the still days/up the hills. Bull horns and try bars is a good shout, especially on those windy days. That or a comfy pair of drops and a well set up bike which you can stay tucked down for several miles at a time.

  • I like bullhorns and found them comfy on my last build. But realistically I know drops make sense.

  • Have a look in the home made aero helmet thread for some pointers

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Geared vs Fixed - average speed

Posted by Avatar for photopositive @photopositive

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