Taking the plunge and flipping to my fixed

OK. You're all bombing off down to Brighton on Sunday and best of luck to each and all.

Meanwhile I'm going to take the opportunity to FLIP TO MY FIXED and go for a tentative few laps round the flat side of Richmond Park (Ham>Robinhood>Roehampton>Richmond gates, ie. not 'that hill').

So come clean all you fixies.
Whats the worst I can expect after 35 years of freewheel conditioning?
Please share your good and bad experiences of going fixed for those few uninitiated amongst us.

don't stop pedalling, you'll be buck-a-rooed

testicles meet stem.

Attempting to coast.

It will happen when:
1) You've built a nice cadence up a hill and think you can relax for a moment.
2) You know you need to stop in 50m and think you can coast to that spot.
3) You've spun up really quickly and think you can pause to take a breather.

In all of those situations one of two things can happen:
1) Your feet feel suddenly weightless, then like they're being dragged, and your muscles seem to spasm as they attempt to go to the memory of coasting but find themselves still spinning. It's weird but not dangerous, and will happen quite a bit at first.
2) Your legs are too tight or locked, and the foot towards the rear will lock for a moment and lift you out of the seat... buckaroo. This can be pretty dangerous.

How to avoid these things: Apply pressure always. Simple enough :)

If you're going on the road bear in mind this too... better to overtake on the outside where you might've previously chosen the inside track. Pedal strike against the kerb is a hazard.

I hear you with the pedal strike danger!

Practice starting and stopping, and getting your feet in and out of the pedals. Get used to pedalling through corners - try a quiet car park or somewhere if you can.

Go up "that hill" - riding fixed up hill is one of the many rewarding aspects (hence the Highgate Hill Thursdays - where I would be now if Mrs W wasn't out galavanting while I look after the kids). I haul a 73" gear around Richmond Park most Sundays there's nothing to top it in weather like this.

kipsy OK. You're all bombing off down to Brighton on Sunday

I ain't.

might come and shout "encouraging remarks" at you whilst you ride around richmond

anyhow, stop bustin our balls with this and fix that damn hub!

thanks fellas......I'm all set to go.

Going to attempt fixed today for the first time on my grinder, my only experience of riding fixed so far was a quick 30 second go on a friends a few weeks back. Should be interesting....

Single speed has been great so far, I was a little apprehensive when I first got the bike that it would be a little tough, but in honesty having just one speed to deal with has been a piece of piss on everything except the really nasty hills like college road in dulwich, I almost puked when I got to the top of that...

Before you ask, I'll be going fixed with both front and rear brak™

should be fun-just don't forget you're fixed for even 100th of a second or she'll catapault you over the bars like one of my first excursions.(red plonk had some part to play though!)

I hate that bloody hill. Still you'll get used to it. You will probably find going up it easier on fixed due to the momentum not being lost. Going down will teach your knees about a few new muscles.

Good luck, i'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Took me a couple of attempts to remember to keep pedalling whilst filtering through traffic, no biggie though.
And once you've learnt to skid you'll never go back ;)
And +1 to fixed hill climbing being a bit easier

Oh, and haz you foot retention?

Oh, and haz you foot retention?

exactly what i was about to ask. essential.

i live at the top of college road/fountain drive and i know that b1tch well.

forgot to say - have fun!!!

Oh, and haz you foot retention?

Got some of them powergrip type thingys

That'll do nicely.
Enjoy!

Going down will teach your knees about a few new muscles.

Saucy!

chortle.

Best thing I found was repeating the line 'keep pedalling keep pedalling keep pedalling' in my mind over and over until I'd got it. so easy to forget and fling yourself over. I still have scars.

Best thing I found was repeating the line 'keep pedalling keep pedalling keep pedalling' in my mind over and over until I'd got it. so easy to forget and fling yourself over. I still have scars.

Is very good advice indeed. After a day or two it'll be second nature. The only problem I ever found was when going back onto my road bike for training at the weekends and being afraid to stop peddling. No bad thing though..

You will have fun!

And +1 to fixed hill climbing being a bit easier

...If your fixed gear happens to be the perfect ratio that particular hill, and the hill doesn't change gradient.

The only problem I ever found was when going back onto my road bike for training at the weekends

very true, getting used to fixed was a doddle, then after a week i got back on my geared bike and it was the strangest sensation ever! - although once you have switched between the two a few times, muscle memory kicks in :)

Beware speed bumps. They will attempt to fuck you up.

on the 'keep pedaling' front - i spent about a month or two on my SS working really hard to keep pedaling, even when i didn't need to. so, instead of coasting, i kept my feet going as if they couldn't stop. it gave me a better technique and less of a culture shock when i first tried out my fixed wheel.

on the 'keep pedaling' front - i spent about a month or two on my SS working really hard to keep pedaling, even when i didn't need to. so, instead of coasting, i kept my feet going as if they couldn't stop. it gave me a better technique and less of a culture shock when i first tried out my fixed wheel.

Thats what I did on my geared bike whilst I was building up my fixed gear. Good advice!