-
Fancy someone asking a forum of enthuthiasts for advice! Jeez! The audacity of some people.
PHer, if you are use to riding clipless, riding with a fixed gear isn't /that/ different. You will forget, try to coast, and get a bit of a kick a couple of time. It happened to me when going over pot-holes, but you soon get the hang of taking the weight of the saddle while still pedalling.
Riding in London can be a bit intimidating but isn't that bad. The worst of it is not knowing early enough which lane you should be in, so work out your route first. You can always walk around the big junctions if you can't work out what the fuck is going on with them. Brick Lane to Waterloo shouldn't be to bad, probably best go over Tower Bridge.
If you haven't already read Sheldon Brown http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html .
-
One trick when riding fixed for the first time is to keep saying to yourself:
"pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal,..."
It helps.
-
PHer, good on you for hanging in there. Unfortunately, you triggered a couple of forum in-jokes with 'fixie' or your colour description.
I for one thought your question was quite understandable. It's true that cycling in London isn't dangerous--most of the time, there's way too much going on for motor traffic to move that fast. But I'd still recommend cycle training, as it'll increase your enjoyment no end. Hope you have lots of fun with your new bike!
If you see me around, I'll be the one in black SIDIs and a bit blue in the face when riding. ;)
-
What time are you doing the pick up? If it is at a time that suits me then I'll happily be your Sherpa for an hour.
-
So I think we can sum this post up thus:
Yes
No
Yes
Brakes
Yes
Maybe
Walk
Knob
Yes
Brakes
Gay
Racist
Perhaps
Train
Flame
Brakes
Clips
Band aid
YesThe digested read, digested:
FIX OFF!
-
Guardianist.
-
How old are you PHer...?
Sounds like someone needs to grow a pair, you're not taming a wild bull.
-
Those threads is one of the reasons why I started this whole thread! If experienced cyclists are being knocked down day by day, surely it's even more likely I may be knocked down!
I'm not saying this to be mean, I'm really not, but life is short, were all going to get taken out in the end by something, either by old age or a bus. Just get on the damn bike ride around a bit until you feel comfortable, and then ride, ride , ride! Being all afraid and hesitant is what will get you in trouble. All you can do is the best you can do. London is a really intense place to ride and it's always good to be a little afraid, it just means your paying attention. Always expect the worse and hope for the best and don't trust anything on two legs or four wheels.
-
It my sound stupid, but it will help. Go for a cycle on your mtb but never stop pedaling, you'll soon get used to not applying pressure when braking, and your first fixed ride will be a lot easier. It's all to do with muscle memory.
that actually works
got my first fixed last week and had no problem riding it at all. i think it's because i'd been 'practicing' how to pedal it on my geared bike a while beforeit could be quite scary riding in central london for the first time i remember doing it with my gf (and a map!) but it all got better since the critical mass last month :)
-
I don't get all this unfamiliar road bollocks either, they're roads, ride down them, don't get hit by cars.
bah! the first time I rode fixed I'd been riding with fixed riders for months, had been riding in London for months, had ridden in NYC for months before that.
and I was still freaked out.
the first time...wait, I take that back. the first time I rode fixed I went along familiar streets in NYC and was so freaked out by the ride I almost chucked the damned bike into the river and went back to ss.
OPs only problem was asking the question in a slightly nerdy manner. perhaps asking where he should try riding first would have gotten fewer assholey responses. but then, probably not.
and now that I've come late to the party, I'ma f off!
-
London not even dangerous, fucking hell, one of the biggest myth about London.
Oh, Ed, you're crazy if you think London isn't dangerous! Try riding in NYC and then tell people it's not dangerous here. It's freakin' insane crazy time riding in London! Of course, you get used to it and someday, years later, learn how to navigate without constantly looking at the A-Z.
-
I'm about to go eat some breakfast.....that is all.
s.walrus
philjay
cliveo
Oliver Schick
_Zed_
photoben
Multi_Grooves
wvm
deleted
Nick_G
NurseHolliday
Elguapo
Darwenian
tcman
jayloo
Balki
CrazyJames-
Post a reply
About
Should I ride my first fixie back from the shop (in London)?
Posted by
FFS. "Fixies" are not for riding; they are for posing with. Whatever you do, don't ride it. Just walk along the pavement with it or stand in an interesting manner outside a cool bar with it.