Fixed gear advice

Personally, I think its really dangerous not to be clipped in on a fixed gear bike. You need to be able to re clip quickly though. Thing is when you get out of the saddle and keep it going over the hillocks, you pull up big time on the pedals; injuries await if you unclip accidentally at such moments. The pedals need to be maxed out on the tension adjustment too IMO.

clipping in on a moving pedal isn't the problem you think it is. you develop that skill after the first ride. The real skill is letting your legs go all floppy so you can do 30 down the hills @200rpm. It panics the f out of you the first time.

btw my fixed gear cost me 90 quid . I quickly stripped the track hub thread on the back so replaced it with a velosolo disk hub setup on an open pro 36h. New BB this winter and its a gooden. I have a 10 mile commute and normally get 2 mph faster(19-20mph) on the fixie compared to the road bike(17-18mph). Thing is its always easier to go fast than slow on a fixie!

back on the winter bike already?! I was out in my shorts and jersey yesterday!

I've got some Eggbeaters on my fixie. With four engagement points you can pretty much stamp your foot on the pedal and they'll click in.

Defo double sided SPDs are the way to go. I started back on my winter fixie last week and on the first day I had flats on the bike (long story) and they felt awful - visions on pedal taking out my shin. Felt much better on the second day with SPDs. You don't want them *really* loose either, you don't want an unexpected un-clip when you're doing 90rpm.

Main thing is finding out where your toe overlap is, or whether you have any at all. Most awkward moments come from slow manoevers and sudden front wheel swings...

Good fun though, I'm really enjoying it.

A

Use double sided pedals I would.

Flicking SLs around without being able to freewheel is a bitch.

Or learn to trackstand like a hipstah.

Never, ever, EVER ride a fixed gear bike without something holding on to your feet. You have half the braking power and if you slip off the pedals most likely half the walking power

Ride fixed with your spd's it will save you from being bucked off the bike when you forget to pedal

You are better starting flat pedals if you are not used to fixie else you might do yourself some damage or even worse, do the bike some damage.

I just got a "new to me" fixie and thought i'd be fine with it. I have another fixie, but haven't ridden it in years. So on with the SPD pedals. First junction I had a "nearly" moment when I slowed and forgot I couldn't freewheel. Unclipped both feet in a panic and looked like a numpty.

If you don't want to go flat, then take your SPD's and adjust them for the littlest resistance of force needed to keep clipped in. That way you can clip out without thinking.

You'll only need a few rides to remember that you need to keep your legs going and to set a cadence that you are happy with and not going to make you want to freewheel at anytime. The only other thing apart from that is going downhill. If you forget and try to freewheel, Its going to hurt.....