Gonna flip my flop!

snollup

So, have my new charge plug a few day's now and been using it as a singlespeed to get used to the bike. Must say am really happy with it so far.

Plan on changing it over to fixed this evening and as I've never cycled a fixie before I'm look for some tips from you knowledgeable folk!

Ta.

blorg

Don't forget and stop pedalling, it can send you over the bars. Beware of kerbs if trying to squeeze through narrow gaps as you can no longer hold one pedal up over the kerb.

Lumen

Don't mix lycra and tweed.

Wez

Just drill it into yourself not to stop pedalling! Can be scary at first..

Get used to timing corners and generally watching out for pedal strike, as it's pretty dramatic!

And remember, don't overload your pockets, as things can go flying when the cadence picks up (and it's hard to adjust things with your legs spinning that fast)!

Watch out for trousers getting caught in the chain.

Take your time

But most of all, enjoy it! It's a pretty interesting change, not many other bike provide such a different ride, like fixed gears! Nice choice of bike btw, it's what I'd get if I could afford a new one!

Come to think of it, I've never even fitted a freewheel to my flip/flop hub!

jollylee

Store a close friends phone number in your phone book under the name I.C.E.:p Ambulance crews will recognise it as in case of emergency.

Seriously though, just enjoy it! Don't corner too sharply and be careful about where your cranks are when you stop at lights so you'll have good power pulling off. Lovely bike by the way!! It'll come intuitive after a few miles. What gear ratio do they run when fixed?

petethedrummer

Some Clothing ideas:
www.dublinstreets.blogspot.com

cmyk

Just saw your photo in the beauty thread, get some straps on those pedals before you flip it too if you haven't already.

snollup

Thanks all.

Lumen wrote: »

Don't mix lycra and tweed.

Sound advise Lumen! Are you speaking from experience???

Gear ratio is 42:16 me thinks.

Is there any point in leaving back break on with it set as fixie or should I just take it off?

jollylee

Be aware that loose clothing and shoe laces that get caught/wrapped in the pedals or chainring will probably be pulled off you unless you can stop very suddenly!!

Lumen

snollup wrote: »

Is there any point in leaving back break on with it set as fixie or should I just take it off?

Leave it on.

Legs for go, brakes for slow.

Gavin

Practice going over potholes/bumps and crap. This nearly did me in the first time. I went to put the pedals parallel and un-weight the bike over the bumps. Pedal kept going, I nearly went flying and then hit the bump whilst extremely unbalanced. Must have looked totally bizarre.

Still not feelin Zen, despite rockin the fixie for a few months now

biker_joe

snollup wrote: »

So, have my new charge plug a few day's now and been using it as a singlespeed to get used to the bike. Must say am really happy with it so far.

Plan on changing it over to fixed this evening and as I've never cycled a fixie before I'm look for some tips from you knowledgeable folk!

Ta.

Not knowing Fixie speak ? what the f**k is "charge plug" ?????

BiKer JOe

NeilMcEoigheann

the charge plug is a nice bike^^^
remember you cannot bunney hop although i saw a messenger do it at the last alleycat its one of those superhuman things

MadHatter

biker_joe wrote: »

Not knowing Fixie speak ? what the f**k is "charge plug" ?????

BiKer JOe

It's a bike named Plug, made by a company called Charge

http://www.chargebikes.com/

Vélo

Don't try and bunnyhop.

I changed to fixed a couple of months ago and haven't had any major hassle. I did forget to stop pedalling for a second and the rear wheel did a bit of a jump, that gave me a bit of a fright as I was fairly tipping along at the time. That actually happened the 1st day I changed, it just comes naturally after a while. It's got to the stage now that when I'm on the road bike I have to think before I freewheel.

I was unsure about fixed at 1st but now I've no intention of changing back.

unionman

snollup wrote: »

Is there any point in leaving back break on with it set as fixie or should I just take it off?

Leave it on if you think you might want to flip it back to freewheel on occasion (can't think why you would though).

Otherwise take it off, the rear brake doesn't do anything to slow you down when riding fixed*

And by the way, lovely bike. +1 what someone else said about clips, some nice spd pedals do the job for me.

*cue disagreement;)

lukester

Learn to trackstand. And get some tweed spoke cards.

unionman

lukester wrote: »

Learn to trackstand. And get some tweed spoke cards.

and skinny jeans

lukester

unionman wrote: »

and skinny jeans

Skinny jeans are soooo last year. Grunge is where it's at, we're at that point in the fashion recycling, erm, cycle. Honest.

unionman

lukester wrote: »

Skinny jeans are soooo last year. Grunge is where it's at, we're at that point in the fashion recycling, erm, cycle. Honest.

Grunge? Really? I am old enough to have lived through that the first time *sigh*

rottenhat

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

remember you cannot bunney hop although i saw a messenger do it at the last alleycat its one of those superhuman things

the key here is to remeber that you cannot do this - I did once see a DC messenger hop a traffic cone on a fixed but his skills were beyond ridiculous.

leave the back brake on until you're completely comfortable with and committed to riding fixed. then you can ditch it, and remove those bolt-on cable stops that are spoiling the nice lines on your top tube.

is that leather handlebar tape? very nice

other than that, just take it easy to start with and remember to think ahead about where and when you want to stop. if the cranks don't end in the right place when you stop, squeeze your front brake, push forward a little to unweight the back wheel and move them round. until you learn to trackstand.

blorg

cmyk wrote: »

Just saw your photo in the beauty thread, get some straps on those pedals before you flip it too if you haven't already.

Good tip, helps a lot to be solidly connected to the pedals on a fixie. Clipless is even better and easier to get out of. One or the other is especially necessary if you want to try stopping with your legs. You really don't want to slip your foot off a pedal riding fixed.

Leave the back brake on, it is good for slowing you on long descents and for wet/icy conditions. You have modulation with brakes that you don't really have with your legs.

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

remember you cannot bunney hop although i saw a messenger do it at the last alleycat its one of those superhuman things

Early on after going fixed I tried to hop up onto a kerb around the Central Bank, bad mistake, front wheel just hit the kerb and I proceeded over the handlebars. No harm done but Very embarassing, lots of people asking if I was OK etc. You need to file all these in the "don't stop pedalling" box, there are a surprising number of places you try to freewheel or arrange your pedal position a particular way on a freewheel bike. You can't do this any more!

rottenhat

unionman wrote: »

Grunge? Really? I am old enough to have lived through that the first time *sigh*

me too. were you at that Tad gig in the City Arts Centre? great days, Gay, great days.

Lumen

rottenhat wrote: »

leave the back brake on until you're completely comfortable with and committed to riding fixed. then you can ditch it, and remove those bolt-on cable stops that are spoiling the nice lines on your top tube pad.

"Fixed" that for you.

unionman

rottenhat wrote: »

me too. were you at that Tad gig in the City Arts Centre? great days, Gay, great days.

I probably was, but memory is not what it was *sigh*

lukester

unionman wrote: »

Grunge? Really? I am old enough to have lived through that the first time *sigh*

Time to dust off those Soundgarden CDs and resurrect those ripped jeans. They work well with bib tights. Even Bruno says 'Vassup!' to that.

unionman

lukester wrote: »

Time to dust off those Soundgarden CDs and resurrect those ripped jeans. They work well with bib tights. Even Bruno says 'Vassup!' to that.

'Blackhole sun...unh unh unh...'

For it to be a true revival I would have to start smoking again:rolleyes:

cmyk

blorg wrote: »

Clipless is even better and easier to get out of. One or the other is especially necessary if you want to try stopping with your legs.

I think I'd like to try going clipless, but what are the advantages really? Having never tried them not sure whether I fancy splashing 100/50 odd euro on something that mightn't suit?

blorg

cmyk wrote: »

I think I'd like to try going clipless, but what are the advantages really? Having never tried them not sure whether I fancy splashing 100/50 odd euro on something that mightn't suit?

Secure foot retention, better power transfer and a lot easier to get out of quickly if you have to (compared to toe clips.) You will quickly find out fixed the benefits of secure foot retention! Hopefully not too painfully

cmyk

Ok, cool, well I've been fixed for the last 6months or so, with straps, I've just seen some people with clips panicking to get out of them (but same with certain people in straps too I suppose). Can you suggest and entry level option? Sorry OP for going off topic, but might be of benefit to you at some stage.

stuf

most of all enjoy the whole thing. My fixer still makes me wear a big silly grin in a way that my other bike doesn't

I'm a recent convert to SPDs on the fixer after months of using toe-clips and I just wish I'd done it sooner. I would be inclined to get used to the SPDs on a freewheel bike first though - I think the combination of starting fixed and starting SPDs might just be too much

it's mick

if you live anywhere near the clontarf area, the seafront is a nice place to get used to fixed. the cycle track has no cars so you can just go up and down and get used to slowing down and stopping etc. then hit the road and get used to going round corners and stuff.

snollup

Thanks all for all the above.

Just back from my first fixed spin! Am still grinning like a crazy man:D:D:D Absolutly class. Took off back break & went for a spin along the frount i n Clontarf. Really was fun.

See what you all mean about clips. Any ideas on a nice solid crome toe clips with maybe two strps across the foot???

Not quite up for spds or the like just yet:eek:

stuf

lovely pedals:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-MKS-MKS-Sylvan-Road-Alloy-Quill-Pedals--Silver-703.htm
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-MKS-MKS-Sylvan-Touring-Alloy-Rat-Trap-Pedals-702.htm

and clips:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/category-Toe-Clips-300.htm

shop around though because SJS is never usually the cheapest

glad you got the grin

snollup

Thanks stuf

Been looking on ebay and found some. all about 25usd though, bit steep i would say.

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_dmptZCyclingQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories?_nkw=track+steel+toe+clips&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=track+toe+clips&_osacat=0

rottenhat

They had metal clips in Cycleways when I was in there on Sunday - have a feeling they were MKS which should do you grand. They even some with leather padding on the toe section so they don't mark up your shoes.

Gavin

Stall de ball. I have some "brand new" old metal clips from early the 90s. They are from either Gitane or Schauff mtn bikes. Probably Gitane as the metal clips are french.

Anyway, you're welcome to them if you want

snollup

Gavin wrote: »

Stall de ball. I have some "brand new" old metal clips from early the 90s. They are from either Gitane or Schauff mtn bikes. Probably Gitane as the metal clips are french.

Anyway, you're welcome to them if you want

there the ones alright

Gavin

PM if you wants em. They are free free free.

flickerx

snollup wrote: »

See what you all mean about clips. Any ideas on a nice solid crome toe clips with maybe two strps across the foot???

I dont know how its possible to ride fixed properly without the toe clips. I'd get yourself the longer ones that kind of come up to where your laces start, rather than the ones that just fit the top of your foot. I've got them on one of my self-builds. I find its easier to get a bit of upward pull on them.

At some point soon over the summer I'm gonna give the spd's a go but I think I'd prefer to try them first on a road bike rather than a fixie.

snollup

flickerx wrote: »

I dont know how its possible to ride fixed properly without the toe clips. I'd get yourself the longer ones that kind of come up to where your laces start, rather than the ones that just fit the top of your foot. I've got them on one of my self-builds. I find its easier to get a bit of upward pull on them.

At some point soon over the summer I'm gonna give the spd's a go but I think I'd prefer to try them first on a road bike rather than a fixie.

First time on one today but it might be that the bike is brand new but felt ok on the pedals (may be the ZEN thing!!!). Only when you pick up a bit of speed felt could really do with them.

The thought of having to carry spare shoes has always put me off spds and the like.

blorg

cmyk wrote: »

Ok, cool, well I've been fixed for the last 6months or so, with straps, I've just seen some people with clips panicking to get out of them (but same with certain people in straps too I suppose). Can you suggest and entry level option? Sorry OP for going off topic, but might be of benefit to you at some stage.

I would suggest getting Shimano M520 SPD pedals - these are Shimano's entry level MTB pedal but they all effectively work as well, just the more expensive ones are lighter. Some other brands do work well but Shimano are particularly reliable. Better than a road system for general about town use as the cleat is recessed so you can get shoes that you can walk in. The release tension is adjustable so you can start off with it very loose and tighten it up as you get used to the system. You can also get double-sided ones if you think you might want to use non-SPD shoes from time to time.

blorg

snollup wrote: »

The thought of having to carry spare shoes has always put me off spds and the like.

Spare shoes?

snollup

blorg wrote: »

Spare shoes?

ya, ones that your not walking on lumps of hi-trek (poor gag, sorry) plastic, something like you discribed in your previous post might do the job alright.

blorg

snollup wrote: »

ya, ones that your not walking on lumps of hi-trek (poor gag, sorry) plastic, something like you discribed in your previous post might do the job alright.

Right- yes, indeed if you were using a road system the shoes are completely unusable off the bike. I've gone on tours with just my SPDs (sandals generally) and been fine with no other shoe for two weeks.

BostonB

snollup wrote: »

So, have my new charge plug a few day's now and been using it as a singlespeed to get used to the bike. Must say am really happy with it so far.

Plan on changing it over to fixed this evening and as I've never cycled a fixie before I'm look for some tips from you knowledgeable folk!

Ta.

Where did you get a Charge Plug in Ireland? From where did you order it.

I was interested in their hybrid.

snollup

Boston, Cycleways will order one in for you. It will take between two & three weeks but worth the wait!

lukester

blorg wrote: »

I would suggest getting Shimano M520 SPD pedals -

You can also get double-sided ones if you think you might want to use non-SPD shoes from time to time.

What blorg said. Double sided SPDs (i.e. normal, flat, pedal on one side) are yer only man for a fixer if you want the option of wearing hipster shoes from time to time. SPDs are the lowest barrier to entry clipless system, financially, psychologically, functionally too.

Have this setup myself. Sans hipster shoes. Or SPD shoes for that matter anymore, but that's another story.

BostonB

snollup wrote: »

Boston, Cycleways will order one in for you. It will take between two & three weeks but worth the wait!

Good to know. I have my eye on a charge mixer/tap for commuting. I think I'll save my (cycle to work) for that. Try and get cycleways signed up at work.

rottenhat

snollup wrote: »

Any ideas on a nice solid crome toe clips with maybe two strps across the foot???

Oh, forgot to mention, the double strap is just a matter of the straps - I don't think I've ever seen toe-clips with an additional hole to thread the second strap through, most people just weave them through the top of the clips. The double straps tend to be very expensive being largely made in Japan for keirin racers but it seems that Soma are making them at a slightly cheaper price (still $39, mind you, and I'm not sure that they're the leather/nylon sandwich construction that the Japanese ones are).

Highway_To_Hell

Here is another thread on fixie + pedals.