If you ride fixed gear you need either clipless or toe clips to ride safely. I'm amazed that you're suggesting to people who've never ridden fixed on the street to use flat pedals with no straps.....
Thank you for bringing the fixed gear world back to your channel. I ride my fixie every day, rain or shine. It's simply my best companion, practical, straightforward, and loads of fun.
describing a fixie as practical is kinda silly if bikes with better features exist for the same price. Owning a Gearset is nothing i would call luxurious tbh
@@constantin2449|| It's practical in a longevity and maintenance sense, but not as much from a riding sense. For 99% of riders, a normal single speed or something with a 3 speed hub is the most utilitarian option, but fixed gear riding is personally my favorite way to ride with how unique the ride experience is.
@@SonjaTheDork I disagree, a fixie usually means replacing the rear tire quite often, and same with chains and cogs while properly shifting means more longevity for each part plus decent derailleurs will usually outlive the bike they come from unless you have a crash. Fixies are fun and look quite clean though.
@@theforestgrumbler It depends on your concept of a fixie. If you're talking about its pure state, without brakes, I agree. Now, I've been riding the same fixie for years (with a front brake), and the rear tire has normal wear. Regarding the chain and fixed gear cog, as well as the crankset, these components are built to last. I haven't changed anything for years, and it still feels like new.
Have two indoor velo track bikes and a road fixed track bike, all steel. Have recently ridden 245km on the road fixed bike (50x19). Absolutely love the fixed sensation. I’m 72 yrs young.
My first audax on a fixed wheel about 10 years ago was probably my favourite bike ride ever. 200km + 60km to the start and back home. I felt like I could easily crack 300km that day but light was fading.
I've only tried a fixie (no front brakes) decades ago and never tried it again after hitting a lamp post. It's a good thing that I did not sustained any injuries, just some road rash/scrapes, while the bike is still fortunate that there were no damages, just some pedal and handlebar scratches.....great video ! ! !
If you put some clips on your flat pedals, they work nearly as effectively as clipless pedals. If you're not racing or something, the difference really isn't that much. Clips make riding way more fun and engaging (and powerful) than flats, and you can still walk around in normal shoes when you get where you're going!! And it's way more comfortable for frequent stops to be slipped into clips than it is to be clipped into clipless pedals. 100/10 recommend!
My favorite style pavement pounder. Riding my fixed gear bikes bennifits my other bikes. I feel it gets me in better shape quicker than a coasting bike. Plus it trains my mind and body to keep pedaling which helps with road and mountain biking. Plus there just plain and simple fun to ride. You did a great job on that paint job. Great video. Thank you.
I got into cycling on a fixie and I loved it! Last year I made the decision to only ride Single speed which is the perfect mix of both between ‘normal bikes’ and fixies!! People think I’m crazy but I love them!!
So, never having ridden one myself (other than a sort-of "fixie" as a kid, the kind that freewheeled if you stopped pedaling and braked when you backpedaled), what's the advantage or benefit of a fixie or single speed over a multi-geared bike like a road, mountain or gravel bike? Is it because they're lighter, easier to maintain, less likely to break or have mechanical issues, or more because they're just more fun to ride, and if so how?
@@kovie9162 once you have found your own perfect gear ratio, it's just a mindless task to hop on the bike and pedal ahead and most people prefer the as clean as possible look on their fixie / single speed bikes the maintenance is also a big plus, simply brush off your drivetrain once in a while and use chain wax / lube you need less money to get a decent fixie / single speed compared to roads, gravels and the maintenance cost is also miniscule
@@iwantumI've always maintained and fixed my good qualiy bikes and took good care of them so cost and bother are minimal, so the main advantage to someone like me appears to be the simplicity of the design and more direct connection to the road it gives. I should try one sometime but I'm pretty sure that I can imagine what it feels like. My problem is that I'm not a good climber and would struggle with any but the most modest and shortest of inclines. But if I lived in say Amsterdam it would probably be a good choice.
@@kovie9162 I've ridden fixed gear a few times but I'm going to talk about single speed because that's what I mostly use. These things could in theory be lighter but in practice it's rarely the case. Keeping momentum is more important than on a geared bike. They are easier to maintain, although I never had much trouble maintaining a geared bike. But to me and most people the main appeal is that it's a more enjoyable or rewarding experience than a geared bicycle. Personally I ride for the sake of riding, mostly unconcerned with performance and metrics. I don't dress in a particular way, I have flat pedals, tubes in my tires. It's obviously harder to ride with one gear when you encounter such things as wind or hills. I don't mind the extra effort as I find it more rewarding in the end. Among all of the vehicles I've owned my bike is the only one that I enjoy riding as much as I enjoy looking at. It's very utilitarian while being aesthetically pleasing, which is a rare occurrence among all vehicles I've owned.
@@kovie9162 The advantage is drivetrain feel. If you know what going from a 32 point of engagment hub to a 72 point to a zero engagement hub feels like, going to fixed is like going beyond zero engagement in smooth bike feel. Your weight will always be supported by the tensioned chain, it's the ultimate in smoothness.
She has EXACTLY my setup 😍 Front brake only, and on the right side. Love it like this. I can’t use my legs that much because of several surgeries in the past, so the brake comes in quite handy. Absolutely love riding fixed, doing so since 16 years now ❤
I get your point. but i used to ride like that and without brakes for a short time. That was at first not sure why i went for it. But good thing she has her brake
@@TheScytheMoron Full Carbon locked up outside a train station is a way better option bro. Surely it will survive some homeless guy getting jealous and knocking it into the bike rack full force.
This March it would be my 5 year anniversary of getting my fixed gear bike. Have loved every single mile I have put on it. Even though I have a road and mountain bike I still prefer my fixed gear . One thing not mentioned was foot retention with straps, both the old school thin leather and the newer wide velcro style. Most hardcore fixed riders tend to use them.
I've been running a 16T ACS Crossfire freewheel on mine for the last 15 years. I've been tempted to flip the hub, but I like being able to coast -- especially downhill. However, aesthetically, a true fixie is definitely a thing of beauty; it's cycling in its purest form. Thanks for the content.
For cornering, it's not just that the cranks are shorter, but the bb drop puts it up a little higher from the ground, making pedal strike a little less likely. Still great advise to take corners easy though. Especially as you are learning a new bike.
Great video, it covered all the main points! Thanks for talking about cornering! Most talk is about braking, but clipping a pedal on a turn is important. I rode a fixie for about 16 years as my main commuter bike. I ride in the very flat city of Chicago, USA, so having one gear isn't really a problem. Except for riding into a 55kph (35 mph) wind along the lake front (26 mile / 40+ K long cycling path along the shore of lake Michigan). One other option is to find an old steel frame bike at a garage sale or jumble and convert it to a fixed gear bike. My fixie was a twelve speed Panasonic sport bike I had owned since 1985. As parts wore out, I removed them and simplified the bike, eventually replacing the rear cog and hub with a fixed gear. The bike lasted 33 years before the frame rusted through and I usually put about 4000 Km (2500Mi) on the bike each year to and from work. The control you have over the bike is an extra helpful in rain and snow. The greatest benefit of a fixed gear is the simplicity. With fewer complex parts, there is less that can break down. You do wear out your chain, sprocket and chainring a little faster than with a geared bike because all of the wear and tear is on one set of gears. Keep an eye on the gear teeth to look for 'shark-fin' and check if the chain is getting slack every now and then. Otherwise, try and develop a 'flow' style of riding. As covered in the video keep a look ahead, slow down early so you approach intersections ready. You'll find a rhythm where you stop less often. Instead of going as fast as possible, to just sit at the next red light, time yourself so you are always moving, sliding through traffic. It feels like you are a kid again!
The flow style you develop with a fixed gear is quite nice. You become smoother and more efficient through traffic. If anything, thanks to this "flow" that fixed-gear develops you, I feel I'm now safer commuting in traffic than before.
Last year I treated myself with a Pinarello Pista frame to try riding fixed gear. On my first ride I was scared to death and I figured if I survived, I would sell it right away. I thoroughly enjoyed my second ride after resetting for a more reasonable gearing, and on the third it just became second nature. So much so that when I was riding my mountain bike for a week and then went back to the track bike, I forgot I was on a fixie and when crossing the railways I wanted to coast and I got almost thrown off. Then I decided if I wanted a second bike for everyday use, I'd need another fixie. Thus, I'm an owner of two fixies and I really enjoy them. Nowadays, when I ride my girlfriend's old Peugeot Monaco from time to time, I have to remind myself that I can change gears and I don't need to spin my legs all the time.
As a young boy I had a bike with fixed gear but it also had freewheeling and a back pedal brake, or coaster brake. No front brake whatsoever, but then again most children wouldn't be doing crazy high speeds either so no problem. It worked beautifully and allowed for some serious drifting of the rear wheel on gravel, or squealing skid marks on tarmac.
I'm pretty that I had something like that as a kid, which we called banana seat bikes back then, with streamers on the upright bars and baseball cards in the spokes. I recall that even with just the one gear it was fun to be able to pedal ahead, coast or backpedal brake all with your feet, no braking or shifting with your hands. Made for some great fishtailing stops akin to a hockey stop.
Switched to a fixed gear for my commutes the other year - just fed up with the high maintenance costs of a geared road bike, eating through those thin chains, especially in the grime and muck from autumn to spring in the Celtic Isles. Have to say, absolutely love it, wish I'd switched years ago. It just feels so smooth and good. It's definitely made my legs stronger. I can feel muscles in the back and sides that I didn't have before. I think the training of the nervous system (a.k.a. muscle memory) of your legs just never stopping helps your make your pedal stroke smoother and more efficient, which carries through to road bikes. One thing, I don't recommend using leg braking in any serious way. I found that ended up giving me knee injuries. Get a back brake. Nice frame in the video btw. What is it?!
Used to ride a fixie, when i had young knees! Now, my knees are 57 and think they'd hate it 😂 Was the only bike ive ever been able to do long track stands on. Great looking little bike tbh, love that colour. Thanks Manny Moo Moo ❤
hi! thanks for the comment! Good to hear from someone who has ridden a fixie! We actually made a video on Manon's track bike being painted. Check it out 👉 gcn.eu/aAk cheers 👍
Great video! New material we haven’t seen before, at least in a looooong time! You guys need to exploit Manon’s track expertise more often. Two questions: 1) what’s the max grade you’d use a fixie for on a commute by a not-particularly-strong cyclist? 5%? 10%? 2) What, if any, are the physical/plyometric benefits of riding a fixie regularly?
There's really no % grade limit. I'd definitely pick the ratio that best works for your city. Out here in houston, I ride 48 17 but tons of guys go way bigger. When I'm in austin for a while I'll ride 48 19 or even 46 19 to better deal with the big ass hills.
I have ridden one on a closed trail, no stops and no cross traffic. My daughter has a flip-flop on hers, so she commutes with the 1spd freewheel. Picking the right gear is a real trick. Fortunately, she lives in FL and it is very flat.
I really do appreciate you guys every now and then shining a light on fixed gear bikes. But I do have a couple of things I'd like to address. 1 don't say fixie, its fixed gear(bike), fixie is considered condescending. 2 FOOTRETENTION FOOTRETENTION FOOTRETENTION! Footretention can be the difference between life and death. Personally I prefer clipless, but there's other options like classic toecages, or straps. If you choose to ride with plateaus, make sure you can run straps through the pedals. 3 maybe in future if you guys decide to do another fixed gear vid ask someone who rides fixed gear bikes exclusively to collaborate.
oh boo hoo, I've been riding fixed for 3 years. Anyone who throws a tantrum about it being called "fixie" can get over it. Ur watching too much zach gallardo ;)
@joshdoeseverything4575 uh could you please not be a dick? There's more in my comment than just that one thing you're trippin over, got anything to say about that, huh? Like, wouldn't you agree that it's a terrible idea to make a ''how to vid'' and not talk about footretention, or in fact even worse, show someone riding without any??? Like, that has the potential to send ppl to the hospital.
@vittocrazi you obviously understand nothing about riding fixed, it's not about braking, it's about having control over the bike. Because the pedals are always in motion you could easily lose your footing if your feet are not retained in some way. On a fixed gear bike you control your velocity with your legs🤷
I ride single speed. Flat pedals with straps. Can wear almost any shoes I'd want instead of cycling specific clipless shoes. Absolutely fun and less of a hassle to maintain sans derailleur.
I’m 67 and have two fixed gear bikes one with a 48/20 and the other with a 48/17. I rode Portugal end to end last year on 48/22. Trying to source a 22t cog is not an easy task. Personally I have front and rear brakes and use straps as foot retention which gives even more stopping power. Last point, always ride your fixie like you’d only just stolen it!
53/16 You sir are a legend.... I had a Sturmey archer 3 speed hub and a 55t on front that was fun. 1st speed was still hard work to get going. on 3rd though I could coast at 30 mph with some tail wind.😀
I'm actually building a track bike again after almost 10 years of Road, Gravel, CX, MTB and touring bikes. Track bikes/fixies are what got me into the hobby and it's like i've gone full circle. I long for the simplicity again. My knees will probably hate me though :) Will fit some brakes this time.
Great recommendations and suggestions for riding a fixed gear bike. no one should be apprehensive or timid or worry too much about riding one . I’m 58 years old and I have a fixed bike for about 10 years. I don’t ride it every day once or twice a month but some things that might injure or stress out your legs and it’s not your knees don’t worry about it. If many here are good, Cyclist don’t worry about that. Do not go down hills That you can’t stop that really on your quads, your knees, I guess and very nice suggestions be vigilant and picking and choose when you’re going to ride fast because if you can’t stop or you can’t, I could be trouble but just riding on a bike path and a nice pace with less road furniture or vehicle traffic to worry about or pedestrians are gonna be fine. I don’t skid and I don’t have brakes on my fixed gear. I just slow down with the peddling .
I own a fixie with clipless pedals and no brakes. Feels like surfing in a way. You aren't in control of the sea, you just ride it and feel the flow, same with the road and traffic. Used it alot as a commuter avoiding major hills/descents. Learning to skid stop is a must.
@@gcn Why would you like this comment? Running a fixie without any brakes at all is endangering other people. Brakeless fixies can not react to unexpected situations well. No matter how good you are at riding you can not control what other people do. Removing the brakes for some sort of aesthetic improvement or a couple grams weight savings is just stupid and reckless. Keep the brakeless fixies in the velodrome.
maybe look up how many people have been materially harmed by brakeless fixed gear riders where lack of brake was the primary cause versus the general cycling population versus any other sport, activity, mode of transport and get over yourself @@pastelink6767
@@pastelink6767 Not controlling what other people do is irrelevant of brakes. Ride what you feel comfortable with and what the law where you live allows.
Get brakes. Seriously, someone on a fixie with no brakes killed a pedestrian in the UK recently, and went to prison as a result. It's impossible to know if a front brake would have made a difference in that case, but he went to prison nonetheless.
At 66 years old and having ridden bikes all my life, road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX, etc., I find riding fixed gear in traffic to be a somewhat neurological experience. I love it!
I love my fixie. I live somewhere hilly now and it doesn't get out nearly enough, but when I do take it out for a spin I always have a ridiculous grin on my face. And not just when I'm clenching my jaw going uphill.
I have a Panasonic keirin and a vintage Harry Quinn track bike. I love the simplicity and connection I feel to them when ride. Once you get used to them, they are great fun.
in hungary, having only one brake is an offense of traffic regulations, having no brakes is actually a crime. not that most policemen care. using flat pedals is quite bold, but i think Manon is one of the few, who can do that in a safe way. when i started to commute with a fixie a long time ago, i realised that planning ahead is important, after a while, i understood, that it applies to any kind of bike. if you're in the city, on the road, or offroad.
Not being a pro cyclist or former pro cyclist, and not being the most athletic middle-aged lass (I also have a bum knee), I ride 38/18 on my 47-559 tires, which is only a tooth or so off for 38-622. I would recommend choosing your gearing based upon the maximum cadence you can sustain comfortably for short bursts, perhaps 110-120 rpm. That will probably be a substantially lower gear than most manufacturers ship with their bicycles, but for urban riding, where speed over long distances is not necessarily as important, you'l have a much easier time climing hills while not impeding you too much on the flats. Downhills may be a different story; however, it is worth noting that a lower gear ratio will also enable you to better resist the tendency for gravity to speed you up going downhill. Also, the smaller the cog you run out back, the weaker you drivetrain will be, and the bigger jumps you will have between teeth up front. So, err on the side of bigger cogs out back, for more strength, and finer-grained gear selection. Start with a 22t rear cog for the street, cogs are cheap enough to buy.
The same bicycle that I use to go to the velodrome to compete and train (A Cinelli Vigorelli) is the same bicycle that, with different wheels, I use to go to work. And it is a relaxing experience.
@@kovie9162definitely, or straps for that matter. Foot retention is key in fixed gear riding, especially when riding with no brakes or just a fromt brake.
@@tijnaltena5718 I've never ridden a fixie but in my imagination I can just FEEL the difference between flat and clip-in. Maybe I once rode an exercise bike that didn't freewheel so I remember the sensation.
It is a great and insightful introduction. I must admit I had quite a bit of prejudice about single-speed/fixies, being a bit of a hipster thing for no logical reason - had a colleague who got one driven by that and I heard more than once that he crashed or hurt his shins. My biggest fear would be the first few emergency stops but I guess you just need to take it easy until you are used to it, you might also lock up with brakes when you have to react quickly. However, in the right environment I can see the benefits: It is easy to maintain, no cables to mess around with, no bent derailleurs but one properly chosen gear ratio is all you need for city commuting. Actually, on my 3x7 commuter, I ride 95% on one gear and only shift to get up a ramp out of the garage, but there is no shame in walking 20 meters initially when the bike works for the other 99,9% of your typical ride.
@@gcnWhy should he feel anything unusual? Club riding in the old days was always fixed wheel and a 100 mile run every Sunday, and often commuting in the week was the norm.I did many runs in excess of that, covering all sorts of terrain, with sensible gearing.
fixie is magical because my hands feel relived either accelerating or slowing down. I dumped handbrakes after I learned skid at 52/17 without straps. On road I can make a slightly quick slow down so I don't have to skid. Eyes 30 meters ahead to decide whether pedal at full throttle for highest speed or shift body weight to slow down. Tomorrow Im gonna make my fatbike fiixed!!!!!!!!!!!
I certainly prefer to be clipped in. People have mentioned the advantages of this for leg braking. Another is that you can get quite a lot more pedal clearance when cornering, compared to flats.
How so clearance wise? Still have pedals on there...flats with foot straps work just fine too. Found a pair of HoldFasts long time go that i still have on a gravel bike and that worked just fine without high heels; no corner pedal strikes and still get upstroke for start or stop.
@@bracket0398 You get more clearance with pedals that stick out less far, and which don’t hang so far below the axle. Basically, the further things stick out, the sooner they’ll touch the ground. I can compare some of my own pedals: a pair of generic flats stick out 110mm from the crank and are 28mm thick, while a pair of Time RXS stick out 80mm and are 18mm thick. To be clear, when I said “clipped in” I meant clipless pedals like the Time rather than clips and straps. A quick bit of trigonometry (based on my bike here with its particular cranks, BB height, etc) suggests that I could lean 25 degrees with the flats and 31 degrees with the Time pedals. In practice, I’d probably chicken out long before that.
@@bracket0398 Yes, BB height and crank length all need to be factored in, but that’s a bike fit issue too, and I’m already on 165 cranks. It’s not necessarily about leaning it over that far on purpose, sometimes the road comes up to meet you, e.g. a bit of camber on the bend, or a hump in the centre of a mini-roundabout.
Rode my first fixed gear about 1965. Did the kilo on the Encino velodrome about 1972 with the Carlton custom track bike. Great fun, but the knees just can't handle it anymore at my age.
I don't have a fixie but i can say, the front brakes are more important than the rear brakes! If you have good brakes and good tires, you can use most of the time the front brakes and the rears are only just helps a little bit. It happened to me often, when i needed to make an emergency brake, I travelled few meters only on my front wheels, because i needed to press the brakes hard as possible. (in my childhood, everybody maked back wheelies, that was a cool stuff, so i tried to learn front wheelies on my mountain bike using the front rim brakes (why not?), so i have a lot of experience aplying the correct force on the front brakes) I can say, i change my front brakepads 2 times or more faster than my rear brakepads.
I adopted a fixed gear into my winter training w/spds and front brake because my insurance doesnt accept fixie point as currency. Now that the season is changing and preping for race season... Im missing my fixed gear rides because winter training I usually do solo so fixed wasn't an issue. My target for my winter training was to achieve a sub 3hr 100km solo ride on my fixed gear and I pulled off a 2H51. (very flat area that I live in.) So its time to see how it translates to getting back onto my road bike. One thing that I can say is that my pedal efficiency has increased and cadence decreased because I opted for a 49/15 ration and also my perception and ability to read potential upcoming situations feels more predictable. Side note to anyone looking to start fixed gear training - always get some sort of foot retention. Not having foot retention almost makes the rear wheel redundant. Having a front brake and foot retention for the rear, you'll basically have the same braking performance as if you were riding an standard rim brake bike.
Used to commute on a fixie in my late teens. Not ridden one since, though I did ride single speed MTB hardtail a few years ago. Now in my early 60s, I've just bought a Dolan frame and will build a fixie for shortish local rides of about 10 miles. Too many hills in mid Wales for longer rides.
My commuter bike has a reversible hub with fixed gear on 1 side and single-speed freewheel on the other. I always go with the freewheel. Only used fixed gear in the way-old days for early-season training. 100-miles on a 42X21 fixed gear is a lot of turns of the pedals.
Unlike most fixie riders, I use a rear brake as well as a front. The reason for the rear brake is that I live in a hilly area and it makes steep downhill easier and not as scary. I currently have flat pedals but miss the connected feeling I got when I used toe clips, so I really want to try running clipless pedals/shoes.
The original 'Fixie' was Starley's Safety Rover. Freewheels and hub gears became choice. 'Fixies' were still available as Path Bikes and Road/Path bikes. Before velodromes, cyclists raced fixed wheel bikes around the perimeter path of council parks. Bike makers sold bikes with 'Path ends' and Dual Purpose rear hub ( Flip-flop ). Freewheel to ride to the event. Remove rear brake and turn wheel round to race. Then velodromes happened. Fixed wheel, 48 x 18 or 17 was a 'Winter trainer'. Up hills and down dale. Mashing and spinning. Now, road 'Fixies' are fun bikes.
Good fixed-gear frames, designed with an eye towards road use (i.e., has brake mounts front and rear) will have a higher bottom-bracket. Also, they have shorter cranks - 165mm is typical. So they have a little bit more clearance than road bikes. I've never had a problem with striking really. FWIW, as a recentish switcher from road bikes (with 172.5mm cranks) to a road/track fixed-gear, I really like the shorter 165mm cranks. When the opportunity arises, I'll be switching to 165mm on my road bikes.
I remembered when I had a fixed gear I use 52x15 ratio and I climbed for 7% gradient climb and descended with avg 4 to 10, pretty fun I haven't got to any accidents like my friends and broke my shoes because of skidding on descents
I thought your video was very informative. It covered all the essential elements necessary to ride safely on paved surfaces. I await the next feature on tracklocross, fixed gear off-road.
+1 for the right gear. If you want to ride around all day with a stupid grin on your face look for a gear of 68” - you can get up the climbs, control the bike on descents, do skids and it’s surprisingly fast on the flat once you learn to relax. The chainring should be about 2,44 bigger than the rear cog for example 44 x 18. Manon is riding a little bit bigger than this
No foot retention. Dangerous and inefficient. You MUST have clipless pedals or decent straps! Without such, if a foot slips off at speed you'll, at best, get your shin, calf or ankle severely beaten by a speeding pedal, or, at worst, get chucked completely out of balance and into the road. Don't ask me how I know about these things.
The last time i rode fixed was on Manchester Velodrome - on a tandem! I did use a fixie as a winter bike back in my youth, you certainly learn some bike handling skills!
@@gcn i was on the back, i had my eyes closed a lot of the time! Used to enjoy riding solo and yes, when you are at the top of those bankings looking down....
San Francisco is nothing but hills and has a huge thriving fixed gear scene! The increased efficiency and momentum conservation are great for climbing and with leverage from wide flat bars/risers you can get up just about anything until it's so steep that streets are concrete instead of asphalt
Really cool bike(of course fancy Dure Ace, eh), nice video, thought it's a bit odd to ride a fixie without pedal straps or cages only with front brake(with two it's fine). The power of spinning rear wheel is too big for only one leg to stop, and hard front braking might be dangerous on tight or slippery corners or going downhill, you lose steering control or its OTB. But I mostly use my brakeless fixie, so my perspective might be biased xd
I'm glad to see that Manon replaced the fork from the original resprayed track bike with one which accepts a brake fitting so that she can run a front brake. It would have been equally possible to fit a fork to run a disc brake as well.
Visit a physio, get some exercises then strengthen your knees at home or in the gym. I'm prone to left knee pain but keep on top of it with leg extension at the gym - stronger quads keep my knee cap aligned, the source of my problem. If you think about it I'm correcting a front-to-back muscular imbalance around my knee since my cycling is more akin to performing leg curls only (and loads of them!). Life is all about balance! Stay strong!
Yeah mine too- well one of them anyways- I tore 3 ligaments 4 years ago and now don’t have a functional ACL in my right knee. No more fixed gear for me- Single Speed fills the void pretty well though….
I've never ridden fixie, though my next bicycle will definitely be a fixie/free. I can't imagine that I will really enjoy riding fixie, but I definitely will give it a try. My usual fitness riding route (on which I ride a 7-speed bicycle converted to singlespeed) winds through my neighborhood in such a way that it occasionally leads me to need to make almost blind turns at intersections at night, and is riddled with skunks. I don't think I'd be able to make an emergency stop under control using a fixed cog the way I know I can with a freewheel and good brakes. For urban riding, I could probably get on with fixie OK, since my goal woud definitely not be all-out effort for fitness purposes, but basic transportation. But, my daily transportation riding normally involves more cargo than I can just shove into an oversized message bag, or more fragile cargo than should be shoved into a messager bag, and I can't imagine riding fixie with panniers and baskets. I've never been the sort of girl who is comfortable leaving home without my Mary Poppins bag of tricks, which goes back to my high school years of having a 90 minute subway and bus commute from outer Queens to Manhattan.
Not to get spiritual- but riding fixed quickly puts me in a flow state. I think it has something to do with being constantly physically engaged. When you can sit up and coast, you lose that connection. Also love how quickly and easily I can get into vo max at a safe speed. Just passed 20k miles on my current fixie!
Ok, you convinced me to go for a ride right now... on a fixie, with brakes, flat pedals, will try to corner and think ahead while riding, will add a short track stand in the middle of some crowd just to show off. Won't bother with gear choice though, total lack of spare gears. Wish me truck, I mean luck.
I only had a minute or so of slight rain during the ride. We didn't have much rain for the past few weeks, mostly cloudy and windy weather, at least in my part of Ukraine.@@gcn
Nice video! I would never quite rely on back pedalling as a brake. It helps slowing down at best, providing the gear ratio is low. Ans since crashes will happen, I wear gloves all the time. Hand surgery is not the most developed skill in hospitals. 😅
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Have you ever ridden a fixie? ⚙
riding a Fixie! FixedGearForLife
No, fixies are for the track not the streets.
On my commute. 11 miles each way. Done it for years. Condor Tempo. Front and rear brakes. 48 x 19 usually.
If you ride fixed gear you need either clipless or toe clips to ride safely. I'm amazed that you're suggesting to people who've never ridden fixed on the street to use flat pedals with no straps.....
Nope, everywhere around me is steep hills or 45mph roads. I really do need a road bike.
Track stand competition between Ollie, Hank and Manon is something that needs to happen
Came to suggest this exact competition... leaving satisfied.
Great video, my money is on Manon.
Hank needs to be on a recumbent fixie.
@@mariusorcsik ooooor.... a penny farthing 🤣
We'll see what we can do! Who do you think would win?
Thank you for bringing the fixed gear world back to your channel. I ride my fixie every day, rain or shine. It's simply my best companion, practical, straightforward, and loads of fun.
the simplicity can be a real breath of fresh air can't it? Nothing to do other than pedal!
describing a fixie as practical is kinda silly if bikes with better features exist for the same price. Owning a Gearset is nothing i would call luxurious tbh
@@constantin2449|| It's practical in a longevity and maintenance sense, but not as much from a riding sense. For 99% of riders, a normal single speed or something with a 3 speed hub is the most utilitarian option, but fixed gear riding is personally my favorite way to ride with how unique the ride experience is.
@@SonjaTheDork I disagree, a fixie usually means replacing the rear tire quite often, and same with chains and cogs while properly shifting means more longevity for each part plus decent derailleurs will usually outlive the bike they come from unless you have a crash.
Fixies are fun and look quite clean though.
@@theforestgrumbler It depends on your concept of a fixie. If you're talking about its pure state, without brakes, I agree. Now, I've been riding the same fixie for years (with a front brake), and the rear tire has normal wear. Regarding the chain and fixed gear cog, as well as the crankset, these components are built to last. I haven't changed anything for years, and it still feels like new.
Manon's sound effect when she went over how to corner was the best part of this video.
Have two indoor velo track bikes and a road fixed track bike, all steel. Have recently ridden 245km on the road fixed bike (50x19).
Absolutely love the fixed sensation. I’m 72 yrs young.
I hope I can do half that at your age
My first audax on a fixed wheel about 10 years ago was probably my favourite bike ride ever. 200km + 60km to the start and back home. I felt like I could easily crack 300km that day but light was fading.
I've only tried a fixie (no front brakes) decades ago and never tried it again after hitting a lamp post. It's a good thing that I did not sustained any injuries, just some road rash/scrapes, while the bike is still fortunate that there were no damages, just some pedal and handlebar scratches.....great video ! ! !
If you put some clips on your flat pedals, they work nearly as effectively as clipless pedals. If you're not racing or something, the difference really isn't that much. Clips make riding way more fun and engaging (and powerful) than flats, and you can still walk around in normal shoes when you get where you're going!! And it's way more comfortable for frequent stops to be slipped into clips than it is to be clipped into clipless pedals. 100/10 recommend!
Agreed, them clipless shoes are just a silly way to suck the life outta space, feet, and wallet. Still call 'em high heels for a reason!
My favorite style pavement pounder. Riding my fixed gear bikes bennifits my other bikes. I feel it gets me in better shape quicker than a coasting bike. Plus it trains my mind and body to keep pedaling which helps with road and mountain biking. Plus there just plain and simple fun to ride. You did a great job on that paint job. Great video. Thank you.
I got into cycling on a fixie and I loved it! Last year I made the decision to only ride Single speed which is the perfect mix of both between ‘normal bikes’ and fixies!! People think I’m crazy but I love them!!
So, never having ridden one myself (other than a sort-of "fixie" as a kid, the kind that freewheeled if you stopped pedaling and braked when you backpedaled), what's the advantage or benefit of a fixie or single speed over a multi-geared bike like a road, mountain or gravel bike? Is it because they're lighter, easier to maintain, less likely to break or have mechanical issues, or more because they're just more fun to ride, and if so how?
@@kovie9162 once you have found your own perfect gear ratio, it's just a mindless task to hop on the bike and pedal ahead and most people prefer the as clean as possible look on their fixie / single speed bikes
the maintenance is also a big plus, simply brush off your drivetrain once in a while and use chain wax / lube
you need less money to get a decent fixie / single speed compared to roads, gravels and the maintenance cost is also miniscule
@@iwantumI've always maintained and fixed my good qualiy bikes and took good care of them so cost and bother are minimal, so the main advantage to someone like me appears to be the simplicity of the design and more direct connection to the road it gives. I should try one sometime but I'm pretty sure that I can imagine what it feels like. My problem is that I'm not a good climber and would struggle with any but the most modest and shortest of inclines. But if I lived in say Amsterdam it would probably be a good choice.
@@kovie9162 I've ridden fixed gear a few times but I'm going to talk about single speed because that's what I mostly use. These things could in theory be lighter but in practice it's rarely the case. Keeping momentum is more important than on a geared bike. They are easier to maintain, although I never had much trouble maintaining a geared bike. But to me and most people the main appeal is that it's a more enjoyable or rewarding experience than a geared bicycle.
Personally I ride for the sake of riding, mostly unconcerned with performance and metrics. I don't dress in a particular way, I have flat pedals, tubes in my tires. It's obviously harder to ride with one gear when you encounter such things as wind or hills. I don't mind the extra effort as I find it more rewarding in the end. Among all of the vehicles I've owned my bike is the only one that I enjoy riding as much as I enjoy looking at. It's very utilitarian while being aesthetically pleasing, which is a rare occurrence among all vehicles I've owned.
@@kovie9162 The advantage is drivetrain feel. If you know what going from a 32 point of engagment hub to a 72 point to a zero engagement hub feels like, going to fixed is like going beyond zero engagement in smooth bike feel. Your weight will always be supported by the tensioned chain, it's the ultimate in smoothness.
She has EXACTLY my setup 😍
Front brake only, and on the right side.
Love it like this. I can’t use my legs that much because of several surgeries in the past, so the brake comes in quite handy. Absolutely love riding fixed, doing so since 16 years now ❤
no feet retention while riding a fixed gear is crazy
thats what I was saying. Doesnt seem very pro.
True drunk uncle status
There are breaks bro
I get your point. but i used to ride like that and without brakes for a short time. That was at first not sure why i went for it. But good thing she has her brake
@@Brix098 It's totally PRO!
The conservation of momentum, that flow, that's why I love commuting on my fixie.
Fixie is my go to on the commute, fast and easy to maintain. Full steel and lightweight, brilliant! Used on the occasional sportive too. Love it!
There is something refreshing about the simplicity of a fixie isn't there?!
You are so brainwashed ...
@@TheScytheMoron Full Carbon locked up outside a train station is a way better option bro. Surely it will survive some homeless guy getting jealous and knocking it into the bike rack full force.
@@___Bebo___ ... okay ... if that is the only argument for you to buy a fixie ... that is pretty sad.
@@TheScytheMoron Not as sad as your pipe cleaner legs from riding your 36 tooth cassette wimpy.
This March it would be my 5 year anniversary of getting my fixed gear bike. Have loved every single mile I have put on it. Even though I have a road and mountain bike I still prefer my fixed gear . One thing not mentioned was foot retention with straps, both the old school thin leather and the newer wide velcro style. Most hardcore fixed riders tend to use them.
I love the simplicity of fixed gear and single speed bikes. I converted a 70's Motobecane to fixed gear. What a fun bike!
We missed you Manon and welcome back! I’m glad that you’ve already recovered from your injury last time! Keep up the good vibes! 🥺
thanks for the comment and support!
@@gcn you’re very much welcome! Always a habit to watch and learn new cycling techniques to improve my training as well as my fitness too! 💖
@@gcnno foot retention is retarded in that video still.
Good to see Alex's Dura-ace crank making an appearance
Came here to say this
Love this😊
fixy with dura-ace XDD
I've been running a 16T ACS Crossfire freewheel on mine for the last 15 years. I've been tempted to flip the hub, but I like being able to coast -- especially downhill. However, aesthetically, a true fixie is definitely a thing of beauty; it's cycling in its purest form. Thanks for the content.
I def agree you Manon - that paint job makes for a very beautiful bicycle! I'm very envious!
For cornering, it's not just that the cranks are shorter, but the bb drop puts it up a little higher from the ground, making pedal strike a little less likely. Still great advise to take corners easy though. Especially as you are learning a new bike.
Great video, it covered all the main points! Thanks for talking about cornering! Most talk is about braking, but clipping a pedal on a turn is important.
I rode a fixie for about 16 years as my main commuter bike. I ride in the very flat city of Chicago, USA, so having one gear isn't really a problem. Except for riding into a 55kph (35 mph) wind along the lake front (26 mile / 40+ K long cycling path along the shore of lake Michigan).
One other option is to find an old steel frame bike at a garage sale or jumble and convert it to a fixed gear bike. My fixie was a twelve speed Panasonic sport bike I had owned since 1985. As parts wore out, I removed them and simplified the bike, eventually replacing the rear cog and hub with a fixed gear. The bike lasted 33 years before the frame rusted through and I usually put about 4000 Km (2500Mi) on the bike each year to and from work. The control you have over the bike is an extra helpful in rain and snow.
The greatest benefit of a fixed gear is the simplicity. With fewer complex parts, there is less that can break down. You do wear out your chain, sprocket and chainring a little faster than with a geared bike because all of the wear and tear is on one set of gears. Keep an eye on the gear teeth to look for 'shark-fin' and check if the chain is getting slack every now and then.
Otherwise, try and develop a 'flow' style of riding. As covered in the video keep a look ahead, slow down early so you approach intersections ready. You'll find a rhythm where you stop less often. Instead of going as fast as possible, to just sit at the next red light, time yourself so you are always moving, sliding through traffic. It feels like you are a kid again!
The flow style you develop with a fixed gear is quite nice. You become smoother and more efficient through traffic. If anything, thanks to this "flow" that fixed-gear develops you, I feel I'm now safer commuting in traffic than before.
Last year I treated myself with a Pinarello Pista frame to try riding fixed gear. On my first ride I was scared to death and I figured if I survived, I would sell it right away. I thoroughly enjoyed my second ride after resetting for a more reasonable gearing, and on the third it just became second nature. So much so that when I was riding my mountain bike for a week and then went back to the track bike, I forgot I was on a fixie and when crossing the railways I wanted to coast and I got almost thrown off. Then I decided if I wanted a second bike for everyday use, I'd need another fixie. Thus, I'm an owner of two fixies and I really enjoy them. Nowadays, when I ride my girlfriend's old Peugeot Monaco from time to time, I have to remind myself that I can change gears and I don't need to spin my legs all the time.
As a young boy I had a bike with fixed gear but it also had freewheeling and a back pedal brake, or coaster brake. No front brake whatsoever, but then again most children wouldn't be doing crazy high speeds either so no problem. It worked beautifully and allowed for some serious drifting of the rear wheel on gravel, or squealing skid marks on tarmac.
I think that's a single speed bike rather than a fixie if it could freewheel.
I'm pretty that I had something like that as a kid, which we called banana seat bikes back then, with streamers on the upright bars and baseball cards in the spokes. I recall that even with just the one gear it was fun to be able to pedal ahead, coast or backpedal brake all with your feet, no braking or shifting with your hands. Made for some great fishtailing stops akin to a hockey stop.
Basically all kids bikes have them as a legal requirement. Really natural way to ride though, forget about gears and do skids with no effort
Switched to a fixed gear for my commutes the other year - just fed up with the high maintenance costs of a geared road bike, eating through those thin chains, especially in the grime and muck from autumn to spring in the Celtic Isles. Have to say, absolutely love it, wish I'd switched years ago. It just feels so smooth and good.
It's definitely made my legs stronger. I can feel muscles in the back and sides that I didn't have before. I think the training of the nervous system (a.k.a. muscle memory) of your legs just never stopping helps your make your pedal stroke smoother and more efficient, which carries through to road bikes.
One thing, I don't recommend using leg braking in any serious way. I found that ended up giving me knee injuries. Get a back brake.
Nice frame in the video btw. What is it?!
For cornering, on crits racing, we move or body weight balance towards the corner so we can go full send without leaning the bike too much
True, but not recommended for novice fixed riders 😎
Same on way home from work every day
And use a crit frame? Preferably?
@@JoeDobias there's really not much difference if any unless you're paying k's
Used to ride a fixie, when i had young knees! Now, my knees are 57 and think they'd hate it 😂 Was the only bike ive ever been able to do long track stands on. Great looking little bike tbh, love that colour. Thanks Manny Moo Moo ❤
hi! thanks for the comment! Good to hear from someone who has ridden a fixie! We actually made a video on Manon's track bike being painted. Check it out 👉 gcn.eu/aAk cheers 👍
@@gcn oh yes! I remember now. Clever girl, that Manny Moo Moo. 👍
You can still do it just stretch your hamstrings. I am old too and still ride fixed.
Damn what is this fixie? Color, shape, everything is absolutely beautiful ! Would take one like that immediately!
🎉 good news. We have a video where Manon sprayed this very bike! Check it out 👉 th-cam.com/video/xtEHnnGwio4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=31Ct4X2hOQ7ugdQb
@@gcn Awesome thanks !
Great video! New material we haven’t seen before, at least in a looooong time! You guys need to exploit Manon’s track expertise more often. Two questions: 1) what’s the max grade you’d use a fixie for on a commute by a not-particularly-strong cyclist? 5%? 10%? 2) What, if any, are the physical/plyometric benefits of riding a fixie regularly?
Fixie make big legs
There's really no % grade limit. I'd definitely pick the ratio that best works for your city. Out here in houston, I ride 48 17 but tons of guys go way bigger. When I'm in austin for a while I'll ride 48 19 or even 46 19 to better deal with the big ass hills.
Did the dura ace crank come from Alexs spares box
Best kind of bike! Pretty much all I ride these days, so much more satisfying.
Foot retention?
Yeah all the cool kids run flats w no straps apparently
yeah an absolute MUST riding fixed. Throw some straps on those pedals or get pedals with toe cages.
2:18
Loving the channel more with fixed gear content.love all the the other non fixedgear content as well keep it up😊
Thanks, will do!
I have ridden one on a closed trail, no stops and no cross traffic.
My daughter has a flip-flop on hers, so she commutes with the 1spd freewheel.
Picking the right gear is a real trick. Fortunately, she lives in FL and it is very flat.
Fixies have 2 gears: standing and sitting.
Also third: walking XD
I really do appreciate you guys every now and then shining a light on fixed gear bikes. But I do have a couple of things I'd like to address.
1 don't say fixie, its fixed gear(bike), fixie is considered condescending.
2 FOOTRETENTION FOOTRETENTION FOOTRETENTION!
Footretention can be the difference between life and death. Personally I prefer clipless, but there's other options like classic toecages, or straps. If you choose to ride with plateaus, make sure you can run straps through the pedals.
3 maybe in future if you guys decide to do another fixed gear vid ask someone who rides fixed gear bikes exclusively to collaborate.
oh boo hoo, I've been riding fixed for 3 years. Anyone who throws a tantrum about it being called "fixie" can get over it. Ur watching too much zach gallardo ;)
@joshdoeseverything4575 uh could you please not be a dick? There's more in my comment than just that one thing you're trippin over, got anything to say about that, huh?
Like, wouldn't you agree that it's a terrible idea to make a ''how to vid'' and not talk about footretention, or in fact even worse, show someone riding without any???
Like, that has the potential to send ppl to the hospital.
if you care that much about rear braking you can put a brake there.
@vittocrazi you obviously understand nothing about riding fixed, it's not about braking, it's about having control over the bike. Because the pedals are always in motion you could easily lose your footing if your feet are not retained in some way. On a fixed gear bike you control your velocity with your legs🤷
I ride single speed. Flat pedals with straps. Can wear almost any shoes I'd want instead of cycling specific clipless shoes. Absolutely fun and less of a hassle to maintain sans derailleur.
I’m 67 and have two fixed gear bikes one with a 48/20 and the other with a 48/17. I rode Portugal end to end last year on 48/22. Trying to source a 22t cog is not an easy task. Personally I have front and rear brakes and use straps as foot retention which gives even more stopping power. Last point, always ride your fixie like you’d only just stolen it!
Step 1: get some foot retention
That’s what I’m saying
You'll sacrifice some efficiency, for sure, but no foot retention with a front brake isn't a huge deal.
@@hclyrics foot retention allows you to put more torque on the pedals by pulling up , so it is actually making you more powerful and efficient
@@JonahTheBona415 Oh , for sure. That's why I use straps.
@@hclyrics cages are great also. I ran straps for a long time then bought some nice cages with MKS double straps MKS stream pedals and mash cages
I rode the Isle of Wight Randonee on one once, 67 hilly miles. Last few hills were an interesting struggle!
I’ve done the same. I think I had a 62” gear on. It’s a great ride, but definitely not flat!
Riding a steel single speed for all my commutes, 53/16, flat pedals, fun to power up small hills and go fast on the flats. Much easier maintenance too
my knees hate me enough on a 46/16 already
53/16 You sir are a legend.... I had a Sturmey archer 3 speed hub and a 55t on front that was fun. 1st speed was still hard work to get going. on 3rd though I could coast at 30 mph with some tail wind.😀
That is some gear! From someone who rides 50/16 on their commute and sometimes finds themselves wishing for lower when grinding home into a bad wind.
I'm actually building a track bike again after almost 10 years of Road, Gravel, CX, MTB and touring bikes.
Track bikes/fixies are what got me into the hobby and it's like i've gone full circle. I long for the simplicity again.
My knees will probably hate me though :) Will fit some brakes this time.
Great recommendations and suggestions for riding a fixed gear bike. no one should be apprehensive or timid or worry too much about riding one . I’m 58 years old and I have a fixed bike for about 10 years. I don’t ride it every day once or twice a month but some things that might injure or stress out your legs and it’s not your knees don’t worry about it. If many here are good, Cyclist don’t worry about that. Do not go down hills That you can’t stop that really on your quads, your knees, I guess and very nice suggestions be vigilant and picking and choose when you’re going to ride fast because if you can’t stop or you can’t, I could be trouble but just riding on a bike path and a nice pace with less road furniture or vehicle traffic to worry about or pedestrians are gonna be fine. I don’t skid and I don’t have brakes on my fixed gear. I just slow down with the peddling .
I own a fixie with clipless pedals and no brakes. Feels like surfing in a way. You aren't in control of the sea, you just ride it and feel the flow, same with the road and traffic. Used it alot as a commuter avoiding major hills/descents. Learning to skid stop is a must.
that's a great way of putting it. You are at one with the bike! You feel everything through the pedals! 🫶
@@gcn Why would you like this comment? Running a fixie without any brakes at all is endangering other people. Brakeless fixies can not react to unexpected situations well. No matter how good you are at riding you can not control what other people do. Removing the brakes for some sort of aesthetic improvement or a couple grams weight savings is just stupid and reckless. Keep the brakeless fixies in the velodrome.
maybe look up how many people have been materially harmed by brakeless fixed gear riders where lack of brake was the primary cause versus the general cycling population versus any other sport, activity, mode of transport and get over yourself @@pastelink6767
@@pastelink6767 Not controlling what other people do is irrelevant of brakes. Ride what you feel comfortable with and what the law where you live allows.
Get brakes. Seriously, someone on a fixie with no brakes killed a pedestrian in the UK recently, and went to prison as a result. It's impossible to know if a front brake would have made a difference in that case, but he went to prison nonetheless.
At 66 years old and having ridden bikes all my life, road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX, etc., I find riding fixed gear in traffic to be a somewhat neurological experience. I love it!
I love my fixie. I live somewhere hilly now and it doesn't get out nearly enough, but when I do take it out for a spin I always have a ridiculous grin on my face. And not just when I'm clenching my jaw going uphill.
I use a fixed for round town/shopping trips and flatish rides but, I do have brakes front and rear just because it makes me feel safer.
I have a Panasonic keirin and a vintage Harry Quinn track bike. I love the simplicity and connection I feel to them when ride. Once you get used to them, they are great fun.
in hungary, having only one brake is an offense of traffic regulations, having no brakes is actually a crime. not that most policemen care.
using flat pedals is quite bold, but i think Manon is one of the few, who can do that in a safe way.
when i started to commute with a fixie a long time ago, i realised that planning ahead is important, after a while, i understood, that it applies to any kind of bike. if you're in the city, on the road, or offroad.
in Germany you go to prison for the bike, shown in the video
@@Kongo0ttoWhy?
Not being a pro cyclist or former pro cyclist, and not being the most athletic middle-aged lass (I also have a bum knee), I ride 38/18 on my 47-559 tires, which is only a tooth or so off for 38-622. I would recommend choosing your gearing based upon the maximum cadence you can sustain comfortably for short bursts, perhaps 110-120 rpm. That will probably be a substantially lower gear than most manufacturers ship with their bicycles, but for urban riding, where speed over long distances is not necessarily as important, you'l have a much easier time climing hills while not impeding you too much on the flats. Downhills may be a different story; however, it is worth noting that a lower gear ratio will also enable you to better resist the tendency for gravity to speed you up going downhill. Also, the smaller the cog you run out back, the weaker you drivetrain will be, and the bigger jumps you will have between teeth up front. So, err on the side of bigger cogs out back, for more strength, and finer-grained gear selection. Start with a 22t rear cog for the street, cogs are cheap enough to buy.
The same bicycle that I use to go to the velodrome to compete and train (A Cinelli Vigorelli) is the same bicycle that, with different wheels, I use to go to work. And it is a relaxing experience.
great vid. even though no foot retention.. tsk tsk
Yeah wouldn't it be a lot easier to slow down or stop with a clipless pedal--and safer?
@@kovie9162Clipsless?? No, straps and toe clip,Clipsless are egg beaters as we call them
@@kovie9162 If you want to skid without foot retention you just lean forward into the handlebar and lock up your legs.
@@kovie9162definitely, or straps for that matter. Foot retention is key in fixed gear riding, especially when riding with no brakes or just a fromt brake.
@@tijnaltena5718 I've never ridden a fixie but in my imagination I can just FEEL the difference between flat and clip-in. Maybe I once rode an exercise bike that didn't freewheel so I remember the sensation.
It is a great and insightful introduction. I must admit I had quite a bit of prejudice about single-speed/fixies, being a bit of a hipster thing for no logical reason - had a colleague who got one driven by that and I heard more than once that he crashed or hurt his shins. My biggest fear would be the first few emergency stops but I guess you just need to take it easy until you are used to it, you might also lock up with brakes when you have to react quickly. However, in the right environment I can see the benefits: It is easy to maintain, no cables to mess around with, no bent derailleurs but one properly chosen gear ratio is all you need for city commuting. Actually, on my 3x7 commuter, I ride 95% on one gear and only shift to get up a ramp out of the garage, but there is no shame in walking 20 meters initially when the bike works for the other 99,9% of your typical ride.
I did a century with a buddy who rode the entire thing fixed/brakeless. 101mi w/ 5800ft of elevation. It was pretty wild to see. *Clipless as well!
Blimey! How did they feel at the end of it?
@@gcnthat’s the only way he rides so it was just another ride for him!
@@gcnWhy should he feel anything unusual? Club riding in the old days was always fixed wheel and a 100 mile run every Sunday, and often commuting in the week was the norm.I did many runs in excess of that, covering all sorts of terrain, with sensible gearing.
Really best not to ride fixed with just flat pedals, straps or clipless give so much more control.
Haven't seen that bike before, would love to see a bike check on it! Stunning build!
Hi! Here is the bike that she built up after spraying it 👉 th-cam.com/video/kOrU9YkiVd8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Ho2SJSW85pkOTF5B enjoy!
@@gcn thanks for the link, I somehow missed that!
fixie is magical because my hands feel relived either accelerating or slowing down. I dumped handbrakes after I learned skid at 52/17 without straps. On road I can make a slightly quick slow down so I don't have to skid. Eyes 30 meters ahead to decide whether pedal at full throttle for highest speed or shift body weight to slow down. Tomorrow Im gonna make my fatbike fiixed!!!!!!!!!!!
I certainly prefer to be clipped in. People have mentioned the advantages of this for leg braking. Another is that you can get quite a lot more pedal clearance when cornering, compared to flats.
How so clearance wise? Still have pedals on there...flats with foot straps work just fine too. Found a pair of HoldFasts long time go that i still have on a gravel bike and that worked just fine without high heels; no corner pedal strikes and still get upstroke for start or stop.
@@bracket0398 You get more clearance with pedals that stick out less far, and which don’t hang so far below the axle. Basically, the further things stick out, the sooner they’ll touch the ground. I can compare some of my own pedals: a pair of generic flats stick out 110mm from the crank and are 28mm thick, while a pair of Time RXS stick out 80mm and are 18mm thick. To be clear, when I said “clipped in” I meant clipless pedals like the Time rather than clips and straps.
A quick bit of trigonometry (based on my bike here with its particular cranks, BB height, etc) suggests that I could lean 25 degrees with the flats and 31 degrees with the Time pedals. In practice, I’d probably chicken out long before that.
@@Steve.M yeah, or you could run shorter crank arms with either pedal set. All i gotta say, if you knee draggin it that far more power to ya.
@@bracket0398 Yes, BB height and crank length all need to be factored in, but that’s a bike fit issue too, and I’m already on 165 cranks. It’s not necessarily about leaning it over that far on purpose, sometimes the road comes up to meet you, e.g. a bit of camber on the bend, or a hump in the centre of a mini-roundabout.
@@Steve.M you math too hard
Rode my first fixed gear about 1965. Did the kilo on the Encino velodrome about 1972 with the Carlton custom track bike. Great fun, but the knees just can't handle it anymore at my age.
I don't have a fixie but i can say, the front brakes are more important than the rear brakes!
If you have good brakes and good tires, you can use most of the time the front brakes and the rears are only just helps a little bit.
It happened to me often, when i needed to make an emergency brake, I travelled few meters only on my front wheels, because i needed to press the brakes hard as possible.
(in my childhood, everybody maked back wheelies, that was a cool stuff, so i tried to learn front wheelies on my mountain bike using the front rim brakes (why not?), so i have a lot of experience aplying the correct force on the front brakes)
I can say, i change my front brakepads 2 times or more faster than my rear brakepads.
🎉 more fixed gear love
I adopted a fixed gear into my winter training w/spds and front brake because my insurance doesnt accept fixie point as currency. Now that the season is changing and preping for race season... Im missing my fixed gear rides because winter training I usually do solo so fixed wasn't an issue. My target for my winter training was to achieve a sub 3hr 100km solo ride on my fixed gear and I pulled off a 2H51. (very flat area that I live in.) So its time to see how it translates to getting back onto my road bike.
One thing that I can say is that my pedal efficiency has increased and cadence decreased because I opted for a 49/15 ration and also my perception and ability to read potential upcoming situations feels more predictable.
Side note to anyone looking to start fixed gear training - always get some sort of foot retention. Not having foot retention almost makes the rear wheel redundant. Having a front brake and foot retention for the rear, you'll basically have the same braking performance as if you were riding an standard rim brake bike.
Used to commute on a fixie in my late teens. Not ridden one since, though I did ride single speed MTB hardtail a few years ago. Now in my early 60s, I've just bought a Dolan frame and will build a fixie for shortish local rides of about 10 miles. Too many hills in mid Wales for longer rides.
Loved this vid. One point, I use toe straps (not tightened but). Adds just enough retention without being attached. ❤
Amusing, how to ride a bike I learned on in the '60's! Was the only choice when I was a kid.
My commuter bike has a reversible hub with fixed gear on 1 side and single-speed freewheel on the other. I always go with the freewheel. Only used fixed gear in the way-old days for early-season training. 100-miles on a 42X21 fixed gear is a lot of turns of the pedals.
We rarely see any rider training on fixed gears these days!
Unlike most fixie riders, I use a rear brake as well as a front. The reason for the rear brake is that I live in a hilly area and it makes steep downhill easier and not as scary. I currently have flat pedals but miss the connected feeling I got when I used toe clips, so I really want to try running clipless pedals/shoes.
I actually waited Mannon give the fixie she painted a proper ride. More of this stuff!
No brakes 💯 pedal straps or cages are a must
Nice to see the custom painted bike out. It looks beautiful.
The original 'Fixie' was Starley's Safety Rover.
Freewheels and hub gears became choice.
'Fixies' were still available as Path Bikes and Road/Path bikes. Before velodromes, cyclists raced fixed wheel bikes around the perimeter path of council parks.
Bike makers sold bikes with 'Path ends' and Dual Purpose rear hub ( Flip-flop ). Freewheel to ride to the event. Remove rear brake and turn wheel round to race.
Then velodromes happened.
Fixed wheel, 48 x 18 or 17 was a 'Winter trainer'. Up hills and down dale. Mashing and spinning.
Now, road 'Fixies' are fun bikes.
nice little history lesson there! Thanks!
Especially the 'how to corner' I found enlightening. Never even thought of that problem. Thanks! Nice video. 👍
Good fixed-gear frames, designed with an eye towards road use (i.e., has brake mounts front and rear) will have a higher bottom-bracket. Also, they have shorter cranks - 165mm is typical. So they have a little bit more clearance than road bikes. I've never had a problem with striking really.
FWIW, as a recentish switcher from road bikes (with 172.5mm cranks) to a road/track fixed-gear, I really like the shorter 165mm cranks. When the opportunity arises, I'll be switching to 165mm on my road bikes.
I remembered when I had a fixed gear I use 52x15 ratio and I climbed for 7% gradient climb and descended with avg 4 to 10, pretty fun I haven't got to any accidents like my friends and broke my shoes because of skidding on descents
I thought your video was very informative. It covered all the essential elements necessary to ride safely on paved surfaces. I await the next feature on tracklocross, fixed gear off-road.
+1 for the right gear. If you want to ride around all day with a stupid grin on your face look for a gear of 68” - you can get up the climbs, control the bike on descents, do skids and it’s surprisingly fast on the flat once you learn to relax. The chainring should be about 2,44 bigger than the rear cog for example 44 x 18. Manon is riding a little bit bigger than this
No foot retention. Dangerous and inefficient. You MUST have clipless pedals or decent straps! Without such, if a foot slips off at speed you'll, at best, get your shin, calf or ankle severely beaten by a speeding pedal, or, at worst, get chucked completely out of balance and into the road. Don't ask me how I know about these things.
Thanks for the Fixie content! Can we have a video next about "How to get a KOM with a fixie?"
Which climb?
"how to make l'alpe d'huez with a fixie" would be funny :)
Well I love Mannon!! Go GCN.
The last time i rode fixed was on Manchester Velodrome - on a tandem! I did use a fixie as a winter bike back in my youth, you certainly learn some bike handling skills!
How did you find it on the velodrome? Scary?
@@gcn i was on the back, i had my eyes closed a lot of the time! Used to enjoy riding solo and yes, when you are at the top of those bankings looking down....
Bravooooo!👏👏👏 I loved this change of pace in your content!🎉🥳🎊
Thank you! 😃
Very enlightening, Manon. Not sure a fixie would work around here with all the hills, but it harkens back to the old days when you had rear brakes.
San Francisco is nothing but hills and has a huge thriving fixed gear scene! The increased efficiency and momentum conservation are great for climbing and with leverage from wide flat bars/risers you can get up just about anything until it's so steep that streets are concrete instead of asphalt
I like that you used the track frame that you repainted for your fixie bike 👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼
Glad you like it!
my downstairs neighbor def did not appreciate me practicing my track stands 😆one day I'll be brave enough to do it in the streets. cool video! 💯⚙
44x17 is my commuter gear ratio. It's relaxed but not too slow, good acceleration and most hills are a breeze.
Really cool bike(of course fancy Dure Ace, eh), nice video, thought it's a bit odd to ride a fixie without pedal straps or cages only with front brake(with two it's fine). The power of spinning rear wheel is too big for only one leg to stop, and hard front braking might be dangerous on tight or slippery corners or going downhill, you lose steering control or its OTB. But I mostly use my brakeless fixie, so my perspective might be biased xd
I'm glad to see that Manon replaced the fork from the original resprayed track bike with one which accepts a brake fitting so that she can run a front brake. It would have been equally possible to fit a fork to run a disc brake as well.
That paint job is just gorgeous 😍
Did you see when Manon sprayed it? th-cam.com/video/xtEHnnGwio4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6TmHv14cU1Fe9wCh enjoy!
seeing Manon commands an immediate like!
Fixed gear and only fixed gear since 2004. It's still the most fun I've ever had on a bicycle.
Oh and BTW both brakes are reqired in some places, including where I live. I have lost zero joy from having them.
Manon is cool and (if I am allowed to say) really cute.
My knees have left the chat.
👋
riding a fixed gear bike hurt my hamstrings more and no knee pain surprisingly (mostly because of skids)
Visit a physio, get some exercises then strengthen your knees at home or in the gym. I'm prone to left knee pain but keep on top of it with leg extension at the gym - stronger quads keep my knee cap aligned, the source of my problem. If you think about it I'm correcting a front-to-back muscular imbalance around my knee since my cycling is more akin to performing leg curls only (and loads of them!).
Life is all about balance! Stay strong!
Kneesovertoesguy
Used 4 of his exercises to stabilize my knees😅
Yeah mine too- well one of them anyways- I tore 3 ligaments 4 years ago and now don’t have a functional ACL in my right knee. No more fixed gear for me- Single Speed fills the void pretty well though….
I've never ridden fixie, though my next bicycle will definitely be a fixie/free. I can't imagine that I will really enjoy riding fixie, but I definitely will give it a try. My usual fitness riding route (on which I ride a 7-speed bicycle converted to singlespeed) winds through my neighborhood in such a way that it occasionally leads me to need to make almost blind turns at intersections at night, and is riddled with skunks. I don't think I'd be able to make an emergency stop under control using a fixed cog the way I know I can with a freewheel and good brakes.
For urban riding, I could probably get on with fixie OK, since my goal woud definitely not be all-out effort for fitness purposes, but basic transportation. But, my daily transportation riding normally involves more cargo than I can just shove into an oversized message bag, or more fragile cargo than should be shoved into a messager bag, and I can't imagine riding fixie with panniers and baskets. I've never been the sort of girl who is comfortable leaving home without my Mary Poppins bag of tricks, which goes back to my high school years of having a 90 minute subway and bus commute from outer Queens to Manhattan.
Handy this video, I literally just bought a fixed gear bike for commuting to work on.
Not to get spiritual- but riding fixed quickly puts me in a flow state. I think it has something to do with being constantly physically engaged. When you can sit up and coast, you lose that connection. Also love how quickly and easily I can get into vo max at a safe speed. Just passed 20k miles on my current fixie!
Ok, you convinced me to go for a ride right now... on a fixie, with brakes, flat pedals, will try to corner and think ahead while riding, will add a short track stand in the middle of some crowd just to show off. Won't bother with gear choice though, total lack of spare gears. Wish me truck, I mean luck.
Hope it's stopped raining!
I only had a minute or so of slight rain during the ride. We didn't have much rain for the past few weeks, mostly cloudy and windy weather, at least in my part of Ukraine.@@gcn
Cool bike!!! Very informative - thanks! My goal is to get out more on my fixie this year.
Fixies are amazing but I will say the biggest loss is that you can't absorb vibrations from road bumps by standing up on the pedals
Just one gear on my fixie bike, got a plus one here for the gig tonight
(if you know you know)
Nice video! I would never quite rely on back pedalling as a brake. It helps slowing down at best, providing the gear ratio is low. Ans since crashes will happen, I wear gloves all the time. Hand surgery is not the most developed skill in hospitals. 😅
Thank you Manon
No worries
I like how coffee is bike culture. Maybe fixie culture