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Topic: Commuting is fun. (Read 1249 times)
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thesku11s
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Posts: 229
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Not sure I could do fixed gear - isn't it pretty hard on your knees much like squats in the gym , fixed gear done right is very benificial .. spent last winter on 42:14 fixed ! I was stuck on 46:15 for a while while I sorted out some cranks. Didnt think it was that bad at the time, but it was well abusive on the knees! Trying to accelerate from traffic lights when tired + uphill was challenging I can say. Im on 39:15 now. It took no time at all to get used to and made things so much more pleasurable. I can go faster than with the higher gearing. In fact as im getting into longer rides, I would consider dropping down even lower. Spinning rocks. I think its the best for health/training. |
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"Computer games don't affect kids. I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music&q
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losidan
Newbie
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Posts: 13
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Not sure I could do fixed gear - isn't it pretty hard on your knees much like squats in the gym , fixed gear done right is very benificial .. several big name roadie coaches make their students log a couple thousand fixed miles before allowing them to use the road bike , this strengthens the knees but the problems occur when people try not to fit brakes and use there legs to bring them selfs to a stop , this pushes the shin into the knee , not a problem if you stop consistantly and gently like the track boys do , but in the street thats not always possible and its the locking and jarring of the braking motion that causes the damage ! used to get knee pains during hard sessions or races , havnt had knee pains for a long time , spent last winter on 42:14 fixed ! That sounds very nasty... |
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thesku11s
Full Member
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Posts: 229
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fixed gives better knee rotation , more muscle usage and a smoother pedaling stroke
the smoother pedaling stroke becomes increased traction off road when xcing ... ie smooth power transfer instead of the jerky stroke most people have ... and as you know , stabbing at the accelerator on wet grass causes wheel spins ...
+1 It makes you smoooth. I think by riding fixed has actually taught me to use gears properly for the first time. |
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"Computer games don't affect kids. I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music&q
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thesku11s
Full Member
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Posts: 229
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I'm really not a fan of fixies, especially in traffic. I used to live in London when the fixie craze started up again recently. I used to piss myself as all these fashion types on their 'retro' fixies wobbled up to the front of the queue at the traffic lights only to get swallowed up by the traffic because they couldn't get the power down and then didn't go very fast anyway because they couldn't slow down!! Whats the point? A freewheel and brakes (unless you like going down the side of taxi's/buses) are the way forward for cities.
Or a BMX. I used to commute in my office clothes on a BMX and stop an old concrete bowl for a bit of a session then turn up at the office sweaty as...
I hear what your saying, but this old bloke in a small secondhand bike shop introduced me to the idea of fixed wheel. I wasnt aware of this whole 'scene' when I started riding one. It is indeed rather comical. I also know what you mean about BMX's, used to do that myself, but when you start having to ride more than 6 miles at a time it becomes a chore, but they are good for zipping through the city. You need to ride fixed for a while to get it, the lack of freewheeling does not feel at all restrictive. You get better power delivery and control over stopping, a skid will never make you fall over, while as with freewheel if your wheel slips out its K.O to-the-floor If youve ever seen people struggle to trackstand / accelerate its because they are in a too-high gear or dont know how to ride a bike. A freewheel would not help matters. Did you know that for bicycle time trialing a fixed wheel was often a preffered choice all the way up to the early 60's ? |
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"Computer games don't affect kids. I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music&q
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