First fixed commute

dmigsy

Finally took the plunge and switched my Charge Plug from single speed to fixed. It wasn't a rational decision ; I flipped the wheel round last night when I got home pissed (and with mild sunstroke) after a day boozing at Africa day in the Iveagh Gardens. Not too bad a job. I could probably get the chain tension a little tighter but it's in no danger of coming off (I can't pull the chain off with the chainring or sprocket by hand so I think it's tight enough?).

I have to say I didn't enjoy the first 5 minutes or so. Especially braking and slowing down. That just felt weird. I must have looked like a clown just lifting my legs out of the way of the pedals when trying to brake quickly. Towards the end, where there was less traffic, I was starting to get into it and trying to judge traffic lights to slow down with just leg power (I'm keeping both back and front brakes on the bike, before anyone starts!). I reckon I need to practice emergency braking though. Anyone got any tips/advice?

garlad

I'm in the same boat. Had to flip my rear wheel on the Langster last week as my freewheel broke.
Was fine most of the time, but tricky going downhill, and through narrow gaps between traffic and the curb.
Would also like to learn emergency braking.

niceonetom

When going fixed proper foot retention is quite important. Are you guys using flat pedals?

You'll never achieve a zen-like oneness with flat pedals...

dmigsy

Yeah, I'm using flats. I have toe-clips and straps but I'm not putting them on until I'm a little more comfortable with it. Most of my commute is in the city centre so snotting myself in traffic is potentially lethal.:eek:

Thomas_S_Hunterson

dmigsy wrote: »

Yeah, I'm using flats. I have toe-clips and straps but I'm not putting them on until I'm a little more comfortable with it. Most of my commute is in the city centre so snotting myself in traffic is potentially lethal.:eek:

Put them on, running flats is pretty lethal as well at any sort of speed. If your foot slips off a pedal then it'll most likely be very messy.

niceonetom

You might have to make the hard choice between freewheel and foot retention then.

Learning to do both at the same time might be tricky. I was well used to spds before getting a fixie so the learning curve was shallower. Flip your wheel back, put on those shoe straps and imagine that everytime you touch the ground god kills a puppy. Once you've got that down flip your wheel back and get calf tattoo.

dmigsy

I'm used to foot retention (use spds on my tourer) but I might take your advice and flip it back to single speed and put the toe-clips and straps on and then try going fixed again in a month or so.

Ta.

garlad

I'm using SPD's and have been for about a 18 months, both on MTB and Langster.
Tried fixed on langster when I first got it with flat pedals. Definitely easier with some sort of clips.

NeilMcEoigheann

its borderline impossible to fixie brake with no foot straps, you need to be able to pull up with the foot on the pedal thats decending.
also having your foot coming off is not an option, imaging limbs caught in heavy machinery

crazydingo

Quite a bad idea to run flats on a fixie (although not too bad with both brakes, you'll just look like an eejit when you take your feet off the pedals). Clips and straps or clipless help you get used to the flow alot quicker because basically you don't have a choice.
I presume you're talking about locking your legs when you refer to emergency braking. It seems quite difficult for the first while but with practice you'll get used to it. The key is to know at which point you need to stop your legs and simultaneously take weight off the back wheel by moving your weight forwards