Club winter training on a fixed gear?

lukester

Planning on joining a club soon for winter training. Just wondering if anyone here does their winter training on their fixer? I like the idea of reduced maintenance, and I imagine most club spins in winter are on the flat.

I have read arguments for and against.

Main downside I can see is on a really fast spin you might spin out. Any thoughts?

Raam

maybe do your own training on the fixie, then with the club, use a regular road bike?

Caroline_ie

i do - I train on the fixie all year long as a matter of fact, but on my own. I'd use the road bike for a road spin.

This a thread I posted 1 year and 2 days ago A bit related.

* I know i have seen people on the club spin on single speeds...

lukester

Raam wrote: »

maybe do your own training on the fixie, then with the club, use a regular road bike?

I suppose the whole point was to have a low maintenance 'winter' bike, and the fixie fits that bill very well. Would have to carry a small wrench for tyre changes though.

Caroline_ie wrote: »

This a thread I posted 1 year and 2 days ago A bit related.

Ha, ironic, in a non-ironic, Alanis Morissette way.

If you train on it, why don't you use the fixie for club rides though?

Caroline_ie

lukester wrote: »

Ha, ironic, in a non-ironic, Alanis Morissette way.

If you train on it, why don't you use the fixie for club rides though?

It's hard to follow the WW club spin on a fixie ... when you're not blorg

nak

Even though it's winter, the club rides still take in the hills, have never been on a flat club ride myself. It's more enjoyable if you're on a road bike (when everyone else is too), I keep my track bike for commuting and racing.

lukester

Ah, okay, I thought that the club winter rides were flatter in general.

rottenhat

lukester wrote: »

Ah, okay, I thought that the club winter rides were flatter in general.

The Orwell ones are - I don't think I went over anything bigger than the Embankment or the Poggio until April and even then it was only the Wicklow Gap from the easy side. I've definitely seen a few people in the faster groups on singlespeeds - not sure if they were fixed or free, but it certainly happens.

lukester

rottenhat wrote: »

The Orwell ones are - I don't think I went over anything bigger than the Embankment or the Poggio until April and even then it was only the Wicklow Gap from the easy side. I've definitely seen a few people in the faster groups on singlespeeds - not sure if they were fixed or free, but it certainly happens.

Good to know, as Orwell is the club I'll most likely be joining

Raam

lukester wrote: »

Good to know, as Orwell is the club I'll most likely be joining

Why Orwell? Just curious.

lukester

Raam wrote: »

Why Orwell? Just curious.

Mainly because they're the nearest club to where I live (Ringsend). I had a look at a good few other clubs but their meet points are a good bit further away.

Have met a good few Orwell members through boards and they all have good things to say about it.

chakattack

I'm thinking of getting/building a fixie for winter commuting myself.

Mostly for easier maintenance. Anyone here have real world experience on the training effects?

Raam

chakattack wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting/building a fixie for winter commuting myself.

Mostly for easier maintenance. Anyone here have real world experience on the training effects?

I find it helps smooth pedaling style.

theclimber

Raam. could you elaberate on that?

Raam

theclimber wrote: »

Raam. could you elaberate on that?

I found that it helped eliminate dead spots and helps keep the cadence smooth when it's high.

theclimber

Thanks Raam. Only started cycling last year, apart from commuting. Cant seem to get it right.

tunney

Raam wrote: »

I found that it helped eliminate dead spots and helps keep the cadence smooth when it's high.

As a fixie cyclist I'm going to call you out on this. Utter b0ll0cks. Fixies hve their place but they won't improve technique, help change your natural cadence yes but not change technique.

nak

I've been out on Orwell spins with people on singlespeeds, they were experienced riders, but we did have to wait for them a few times on the climbs.

Have never seen anyone riding fixed out on a club ride, not so enjoyable on the descents. As a beginner, you'd have more fun on a freewheel bike, but if you don't have one, give it a go on the fixie anyway, as long as your bike has drop handlebars and brakes no one will bother.

Raam

tunney wrote: »

As a fixie cyclist I'm going to call you out on this. Utter b0ll0cks. Fixies hve their place but they won't improve technique, help change your natural cadence yes but not change technique.

Maybe you are doing it all wrong.

IM0

Iknow a guy who uses a fixie in group rides in winter, he got on fine with it, and on the descents he used the legs to stop himself spinning out...'double' the workout

you wanna be a very confident rider before you bring a fixie in a group
youve been warned :cool:

tunney

Raam wrote: »

Maybe you are doing it all wrong.

I was actually thinking of this this morning while riding to work and I accept that fixies may encourage you to work on your technique while riding them. However the act of riding one alone without concentrating on technique will do little for you.

Apologies to Raam.

Lumen

tunney wrote: »

I was actually thinking of this this morning while riding to work and I accept that fixies may encourage you to work on your technique while riding them. However the act of riding one alone without concentrating on technique will do little for you.

FWIW, I read something a while ago about fixies doing the opposite of what you want in terms of smoothing the pedal stroke, since you get unnatural support from the pedals throughout the stroke (i.e. opposite of Power Cranks). Goes against the whole specificity thing too.

But then I was reading in Cycle Sport today about muscular strength training by professional cyclists (low cadence seated hill climbing - 30-40rpm) so maybe the benefits of being forced to turn a bigger gear outweigh the disadvantages, assuming you don't do yourself an injury.

Whatever works.

tunney

Lumen wrote: »

FWIW, I read something a while ago about fixies doing the opposite of what you want in terms of smoothing the pedal stroke, since you get unnatural support from the pedals throughout the stroke (i.e. opposite of Power Cranks). Goes against the whole specificity thing too.

But then I was reading in Cycle Sport today about muscular strength training by professional cyclists (low cadence seated hill climbing - 30-40rpm) so maybe the benefits of being forced to turn a bigger gear outweigh the disadvantages, assuming you don't do yourself an injury.

Whatever works.

please please please no mention of power cranks............

Raam

Powercranks, now that would be very weird.

tunney

Raam wrote: »

Powercranks, now that would be very weird.

but they do deliver a guaranteed 172% performance improcement.

Raam

tunney wrote: »

but they do deliver a guaranteed 172% performance improcement.

Only $899 too
If anyone wants a cheaper version I'll smash up your BB for a tenner.

Greyspoke

Re the training effects of riding a fixie - I'm not sure about this improving your technique argument but maybe they do. What I've realised from riding one all year is that you're only rarely in what you'd normally consider to be the correct gear in terms of maintaining a steady cadence. This means you're either spinning along at a higher cadence than you normally would which I guess should help increase your natural cadence. On the other hand you will also find yourself pushing the equivalent of a much higher gear than usual on inclines which presumably must help build strength (physical and mental!) Steep hills become very hard work!
What's funny is when you switch back to a conventional road bike and have to keep reminding yourself that you can actually stop pedalling and freewheel - a real luxury going downhill!

Raam

Of course, there are many aspects to pedaling technique. Which techniques are you boys referring to?

My claim is that riding a fixed gear has helped me to learn to pedal a full circle, especially at a high cadence. It used to be very jerky. Sessions on the rollers doing one foot drills have helped also.

stopped_clock

Raam wrote: »

Of course, there are many aspects to pedaling technique. Which techniques are you boys referring to?

My claim is that riding a fixed gear has helped me to learn to pedal a full circle, especially at a high cadence. It used to be very jerky. Sessions on the rollers doing one foot drills have helped also.

There's a bit in Chris Carmichael's book (given it for Christmas) about a study into this. Supposedly they expected track cyclists to have the 'best' pedalling technique on account of the fixed gear, but that mountain bikers turned out to be smoother. I think because of maintaining traction on loose ground.

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

Sessions on the rollers doing one foot drills have helped also.

Slightly OT, but I'm seriously impressed by this. I've only ever manged the two feet and two hands on them. Mind you, haven't used them since the spring.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Slightly OT, but I'm seriously impressed by this. I've only ever manged the two feet and two hands on them. Mind you, haven't used them since the spring.

It's really very easy. It's while since I've been on them though.

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

It's really very easy. It's while since I've been on them though.

We could do this on boards spins. It'd be like drill practice.

Sergeant Tonto: LIFT...LIFT...LIFT ROIGHT LIFT. Et ease, meggots!

Chips Lovell

Doing it on rollers is way harder than on the road.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Doing it on rollers is way harder than on the road.

What ever you're into big guy.