Safety of fixed wheels

Hi, no doubt this will cause some controversy but anyways...I used to ride hybrid with 26" wheels for many years but I recently switched to a fixed wheel at the start of the year. However, after a couple of months I took a corner too quickly and wiped out - landing on my thigh and breaking it. Looking back, I can't help but feel that it wouldn't have happened had I been riding my 26" wheeler. Now that I'm recuperating, I'm fearful about getting back on the fixed wheeler. Whatever anyone says, they're X% less stable than a bike with smaller wheels and thicker tyres.

htfu

your problem there was leaning, don't lean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmYT79tPvLg

Fixed + 2 brakes = more braking options and therefore more win.
Hope you've healed up good and proper

you mean you don't use these?

Stability usually has more to do with teh geometry and set up of the bike rather than the wheel size.

Unfortunately as the old saying goes, you got to get back on the horse and ride it

yeah, fucken horses.

fixed 26" wheels ftw

sorry to hear. but is tyre width a thing about fixed? apart from that people generally ride 23s or whatever. but so do plenty of freds.

i mean, they're not for me, but you can ride fixed with big fat tyres if you dislike skinny ones. certain frames have clearance for like 35 right? and sure, more rubber on the ground means more grip.

but as for fixed, i'd argue that you get a better feel over rear wheel traction, and it helps you avoid some spills.

@ OP

Bikerader is that way >>>>>>

johnny, maybe your riding skills hadn't caught up with the speed you could achieve with your new thinner rubber.
possibly try rolling on 700c's with 28's or 32's on instead. more effort to get upto speed, more rubber on the road.
hope the leg heals well and you get back on the bike, any bike...

This must be even safer right?

I'm currently riding fixed on 26x1.8 knobblies in town (they were lying around/I hate spending money on my hack).

It's all so confusing.

In his best yoda voice 'adapt your riding style you must!' Riding fixed or otherwise it is never a good idea to hurl yourself into corners. Adapt speed while in a straight line, look, then accelerate out of corner. Bit like throwing a car into third gear before a corner. = more traction. Having been really patronising, can I now wish your hip a speedy recovery and hope that this does not put you off any kind of cycling?

Hi, no doubt this will cause some controversy but anyways...I used to ride hybrid with 26" wheels for many years but I recently switched to a fixed wheel at the start of the year. However, after a couple of months I took a corner too quickly and wiped out - landing on my thigh and breaking it. Looking back, I can't help but feel that it wouldn't have happened had I been riding my 26" wheeler. Now that I'm recuperating, I'm fearful about getting back on the fixed wheeler. Whatever anyone says, they're X% less stable than a bike with smaller wheels and thicker tyres.

Yeah, skinny wheels are inherently unstable and dangerous. Best get in a car to be safe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_wEG2RNMJc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kZSzB4kEE8

@OP:
Duh.
There must be a reason that they don't use 23c fixies for down hill.

Your choice is either speed or comfort/stability in the wheel/tyre debate. It's all physics.

I'm really trying to come up with a response other than 'FFS'. Give me a minute.

Ffs

Whatever anyone says, I'm X% less stable than someone else on a bike with wheels and tyres.

ftfy

Fixed + 2 brakes = more braking options and therefore more win.
Hope you've healed up good and proper

^+1 but if you are a sensitive type don't run un-machined deep v's and then try selling them on here, once some paint has rubbed off!

Get well soon/htfu, but..... ffs try slowing down before hitting a corner & remember that one pedal could be rubbing the ground on cornering....

I'd say its more about what you do with your body mass, then wether you have an extra couple of square centimeters of tyre contact.

In the last few weeks I ridden 700x20 and 700x2'55" on the same roads. I honestly dont think one is 'safer' than the other.

I'll be your huckleberry.

nobody mentioned bb height, cranklength or pedal type yet.

could have been a low bb conversion with 175's and large pedals with clips which = fail.