Toe Overlap

i'm not going to buy you a pint when u're in town. if everyone starts doing that you won't be able to get home safe :P

good to know that you're fitting the clips and straps straight away. personally i always stay away from folk who ride fixed with flat pedals. i dont want any accidents near me!

also, what ratio you riding on?
i haven't really looked at it myself but i assume that being "for track only" the ratio on the pista is higher than is ideal for road use.
i had the "trying to coast" problem myself when i started riding fixed and actually broke a toeclip (plastic one) whilst doing that on a 48/16. i've since changed over to 48/18 i feel much better at handling the bike. it's easier to learn how to skid too.

i have toe overlap on my bike too but it doesn't really bother me too much. sometimes the tyre does touch my shoe but it's only for a little bit i correct it straight away.

and yeah as pip and smiling buddha said, take it easy first. i used to mash around on high gear ratios when i was riding geared bikes. riding fixed taught me a totally different way of riding which i find has very positive effects on my bike riding in general. also note that riding a lower gear ratio will limit yourself not to go too fast at first. then when you get more skill handling the bike and get better spin you'll be able to ride fast pick good lines and not stop ;)

hope you'll get well and be back on the bike soon!

asm Yes of course I did, a shimano 105. And nimhbus that really isn't very helpful! Plus it wasnt scary at all, I don't remember any of the bad bits, just going down a big hill nice and fast and then waking up in an ambulance being the centre of attention! what could be better!

Its worth being a little 'scared' after the event - fear is good - fear keeps you from going under the tram

Since crashing my fixed I have been having to commute on my girlfriends vintage Mary Poppins bike complete with big wicker basket. Now having never owned or ridden a 'normal' freewheel bike my commute has become somwhat more hazardous. Coasting is a very strange sensation. Unlike most people who seem to coast instinctively, I pedal instinctively. I become extremely wobbily when I coast? Also I've had some close calls when I instinctively start to pedal backwards to brake, only to realise that nothing happens.

I cannot fathom how some people on this forum can ride both styles comfortabley!

Practice.

Fear.

Strange how quickly you can adjust to a new bike with the right amount of fear in you.

I'm guessing asm is younger than me.. so doesn't have the "I've cheated death enough times, thanks all the same" or "lying in hospital = no wage" fears? Am I right?

Oh how I love my ultra compact geometry ... :P

As the others have said, lean rather than turn. Hope you're feeling well soon and get back on your bike as soon as.

hippy I'm guessing asm is younger than me.. so doesn't have the "I've cheated death enough times, thanks all the same" or "lying in hospital = no wage" fears? Am I right?

i think he's just trying to look tough. I'm sure he's absolutely terrified, really.

I keep having nightmares about not being able to coast. I wish i was joking! I think i really need to get better quickly and get back on the bike or i'm going to be scared to even go near it! :)

edmundane the ratio is 48/16 at present, planning to lower it in the future. i ride 42/16 on my singlespeed + quite like that so i think i'll like 48/18 on the fixed.

Yeah i am probably younger than you hippy but i have lost a week's worth of wages out of this accident! Also thanks to bikes i've spent a little too much time in a heap in the road than i'd like in the past few months, but this accident has scared me the most, mainly because i couldnt walk away from it because i was unconscious.

Well anyway I'm back at work now.. think if I'm feeling brave i'll go for a short ride tonight.

55 sounds small for a man of your stature. i dont like the feel of clips and straps at all too hard getting in and out.

Havent fitted those powergrips yet steve, just rolling with bare pedals

Well if anything I need to lower the seat, and also the stem is quite long on the bianchi pista:

Notice the stem - on the version evans sell the stem is fitted upside down? the bianchi logos are upside down on both sides of it anyway.

Anyways I'm more stretched out on the pista than on my "56 cm" frame singlespeed (which is definitely bigger than 56 cm).

Is it just me or do a lot of people on this forum seem to be crashing? ? ?

Mostly me, under the guise of my various secret identities.

if you have the stem angled down its more aggressive, better for the track probably.

try these if you dont like clips and straps

http://www.ekosport.com/pg_benefits.shtml

yeah, you might feel a bit more upright and safe if you turn the stem the other way up

My friend fell off his BMX the other day. Landed on the top of his head and got concussion too. Always unnerves me to hear of a crash. I get pretty nervous when riding, but I'm far more scared driving a car bizarrely enough. Also, being a little neurotic, if I shied away from things that made me nervous or intimidated me then I would be a house-bound vegetable. Hope you get back to riding soon.

the stem is that way up, just wondering why the logos were upside down :). dont think i'll be swapping it round, although it does look a bit goofy.

Thanks ffub :)

winston Is it just me or do a lot of people on this forum seem to be crashing? ? ?

A lot of messengers are crashing at the moment too. Maybe it's the weather?

I don't want to jinx myself, but it's been a few years since I've come off in any way at all. Just a few brown seated moments to speak of and that is it.

winston Is it just me or do a lot of people on this forum seem to be crashing? ? ?

There's lots of gumby cyclists on the road.. it's cough "summer".
A newb on our clubrun almost took one of the vets out careening off the road down hill..

Don't rush the fixie rehab, at least till you know how your 'post-concussion' copes with blood pumping round your head while you spin/grind. Get well soon.

Another toe-overlap tip - if you find yourself doing a low speed maneouvre where you HAVE to turn the bars, you can try dropping your heels during the pedal stroke, which gives you about another inch of clearance.

Am feeling pretty ropey and its only quarter past 2! Think i might just go to bed when i get home instead.

wet weather i've been telling you for months it is slippery in the wet and mighty dangerous i hate it drain covers white lines corners all damn dangerous on a pair of 23mm slicks
did anyone see the european formula 1 grand prix last weekend a bit of water and it's like torville and dean

asm Well if anything I need to lower the seat, and also the stem is quite long on the bianchi pista:

Notice the stem - on the version evans sell the stem is fitted upside down? the bianchi logos are upside down on both sides of it anyway.

Anyways I'm more stretched out on the pista than on my "56 cm" frame singlespeed (which is definitely bigger than 56 cm).

pistas come in odd nuber sizing eg 53 55 57, that's why your 56 feels bigger

sorry to hear about your accident. Man, you have to be careful...sounds scary. I am riding fixed for a year and a half now after riding roadbikes for a while. It was quite a slow process to get into it. First the bike was just in our studio, I tried it in the hallway and couldn't work out at all how to stop without a front brake. So I fitted one and tried it in the parking area behind the house first. Got more confident, fittet my clip pedals (which I was scared of using as well a long time ago). Only rode short distances first...
Now I am so used to it that its almost a part of my body, but I still don't ride too crazy and I wear a helmet (don't care if its uncool). I also swap with my roadbike from time to time and never really had a problem with attempting to coast. I cycle a hell of a lot and feel generally quite safe and confident. Fingers crossed. I found fixed actually safer in heavy traffic than freewheel and you kind of learn to sense tricky situations way in advance... When I broke my sholder 2 years ago that was on a rubbish hybrid bike which I only had for a short while, not on a fixie, and I was overtired, stressd and not focused.
So take it easy and take things step by step... Don't learn to trackstand on the busiest crossing and don't go down hills in full speed.

just want to know ..