Why is fixed better on wet?

did a search didn't really find an answer to this. i know i've read it somewhere on here i think. did usual wiki and google searches and got some answers but would be interested in youse guys opinions

also

"Traditionally, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_racing and club cyclists would use a fixed wheel bicycle for training during the winter months, generally using a relatively low gear ratio, believed to help develop a good pedalling style." - wiki

but why?

you can't change to an easier gear when you have headwinds/hills, makes training harder. etc.

More control over the wheels. No free wheeling and so you tend to slow in anticipation rather than suddenly. Where it doesn't work as well is cornering over slippery surfaces such as wet metal manhole covers, when the rear wheel seeks purchaes which it would not need to if you were free wheeling.

Good pedalling style comes from having to pedal. Take a long hill and go down it. If you are not smooth in your pedalling you bump all over the place. Fixed forces you to pedal more smoothly and you can then use that geared.

but why?

it just is.

now get back to work.

did a search didn't really find an answer to this. i know i've read it somewhere on here i think. did usual wiki and google searches and got some answers but would be interested in youse guys opinions

I think the physics of it is similar to cars - a little bit of accelerator round a corner gives more traction than coasting, and in a similar vein I imagine that pedaling round a corner gives a bit more traction than freewheeling round one.
That could of course could well be utter nonsense, and it still doesn't tell you why it may be so.

Don't ride for as long in winter so need it to be more concentrated, whilst at same time giving opportunity to improve cadence.

More control over the wheels. No free wheeling and so you tend to slow in anticipation rather than suddenly. Where it doesn't work as well is cornering over slippery surfaces such as wet metal manhole covers, when the rear wheel seeks purchaes which it would not need to if you were free wheeling.

This last bit is true to a degree...if you had your rear brake applied it owuld most likely be worse than cornering on fixed.

I notice that you feel the road more due to the direct drivetrain, whether geared bike is almost like a suspension between your legs and the back wheel.

not entirely sure if that is correct.

From the ocassionally interesting http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/

Michael, here's why the fixed on ice is NOT THE SAME as a single speed. First off let's assume that you actually never do coast your single speed. That makes you absolutely unique on the planet, BTW and leads to the question of why you bother lugging a freewheel mechanism along in the first place. But let's say you do that. Now let's take the case of deceleration, also known as slowing down. You can only slow by applying your rim or disk brakes. In both cases, the mechanism is the same, pads that interface with a rotating surface. Since brakes don't just stop you instantly (you wouldn't want them too!), the brake pads slide along the rotating surface. You increase and decrease pressure to control your velocity.

But (and this is the important thing) you have no way of knowing what slip you are getting comes from the pad/rim interface or the tire/road interface. So you think "hmm, I'm not slowing fast enough, maybe I'll squeeze the brakes more. If the slip is in the pad/rim interface, that will slow you more but if the slip is in the tire/road interface, you worsen your skid.

On the fixed, much of your velocity modulation is via your legs. Even when you use your other brakes, you get the feedback of your legs together with the action of the other brakes. This lets you do the same kind of calculation a modern automobile does when applying its anti-lock brakes, comparing the rotating speed of the wheel with the braking inputs to determine if a wheel is skidding. On a fixed gear bicycle, your brain can do this automatically, in real time. On a coasting bike, you don't have the data to do this calculation.

While slips and skids are most common in deceleration, they can also occur on acceleration. Wouldn't a freewheel and fixed be equal there? Nope. Even a very tightly engaging freewheel mechanism (say a Chris King) will have a bit of slop before it engages. Fixed gear bikes also are never perfect and have a bit of slop but it's almost always less than the slop in a freewheel. And when pulling out from a stop, it's hard to tell if the slip you are getting is from slop in the drivetrain or the tire slipping on the road. Minimizing drivetrain slip makes road slip more noticeable.

Finally, in sub-freezing conditions, freewheels sometimes become sluggish in having their pawls engage. Back in Minnesota every winter I'd see freewheel pawls freeze, making the freewheel spin freely in both directions. Running light lube in the mechanism and keeping water out usually prevents this, as does warming the freewheel/freehub above freezing but fixed gear drive-trains are immune to this particular problem.

yeah i saw that, said i'd googled, wanted to know your thoughts...

Coz you can do long stylie skidds all over the place! Whoop!

The other reason is surely, that you get more exercise on a fixed, so you get more of a workout in less time. When it's cold you don't want to be out there as long.

The other reason is surely, that you get more exercise on a fixed, so you get more of a workout in less time. When it's cold you don't want to be out there as long.

ah yeah that makes sense, i actually knew that but ridiculously hung over and brain not working

Also I think it was traditional for all-year racing cyclists who wanted to keep up their fitness to have a "winter bike" that wasn't as nice or as expensive as their regular mount. "Winter bike" = "beater" methinks. Winter roads definitely fuck up nice bikes.

I doubt that they would be vastly better in the wet. After all, even on flattish TTs on the TdF in the rain the riders all go for fully geared rigs and we know that at least some of them are excellent fixed riders.

Is suspect that the majority of the reason for them being winter trainers is, as stated, the shorter training times and the lower susceptibility to mechanical failure. The only moving parts in the drive train are reduced to some sealable hubs and bottom bracket at the chain. However, I'm inexperienced enough to not really have been tested on fixed in comparison to geared (where I've taken most punishments available).

Only posted the above article because it talks about the extreme end of winter conditions.

Fixed is safer in the winter as you dont need to rely on your front brake so much. Most accidents are caused by pulling too hard on the front brake on wet/icy roads, especially when cornering.

As you are able to regulate your speed nice and smoothly with your legs, the bike handles better

Not heard that statistic before, where does it come from.

*fixed on ice

*Where can I buy tickets for that!?

Thats my personal opinion. The only times I have ever come off ( unencumbered ) is when I have pulled my front brake on slippery things. Especially going into roundabouts for example. Much nicer to be able to just slow down with my legs that the front brake, less of a sudden change in velocity

Fair enough. My experience (mostly geared) is that I come off due to an absence of braking. That's when it's not fuckers in cars and texting peds.

i actually feel much safer riding on a fixed gear in wet and cold conditions then riding a freewheel, i've only been riding fixed for a couple of months and went on a freewheel once cause the fixed was outta action and felt very unsafe riding it and couldnt wait to get back on a fixed, i find them much smoother and less 'jerkier' then free wheel, which gives me more confidence when breaking and turning, maybe thats just me though?

*Finally, in sub-freezing conditions, freewheels sometimes become sluggish in having their pawls engage. Back in Minnesota every winter I'd see freewheel pawls freeze, making the freewheel spin freely in both directions. *

Wow! Odd.

Friend of mine out riding in winter in Canada had this happen to his mate. He fixed it by zip tying the cassette to the spokes resulting in a geared fixed. Apparently there were a lot of near misses on the way home.

Mike is able to regulate his speed with his nice and smoothly shaved legs!

Fiiixed!