So this is where everyone went. I asked this same question on BFSSFG but that place is in a sad state.
Anyway, today I finally tried riding fixed for the first time. Are you guys suppose to give me a wedgy or something? Slapped on a cog and took her for a spin and do I love it. I still have to get use to not trying to coast but I guess that will come over time. I also have to get over my paranoia of the chain coming off and locking up my rear wheel.
I am wonder how those of you riding on clipless pedals dismount from the pedals when coming to a stop. The way I’m doing it is unclipping my right foot and putting my heel on the pedal then unclip my left foot and at the same time I put my left foot down, apply the front brake and push down with my right foot. Is there a better way of doing this?
After riding fixed for a while when you get on a bike with a freewheel it feels even weirder than first learning to ride fixed gear. The first time I thought something was broken. I pedaled up to speed and down a slight hill, soon the bike was rolling faster than I was pedaling and an eerie feeling came over me.
Try unclipping your foot (either) and instead of putting your heel on the pedal put it on the ground. Its a much larger target and therefore easier to hit.
I’ve found that people who have been riding road for a long time tend to clip out a few strokes before they have to stop. They all have their own style. But the idea is that they are all prepared to put a foot down as soon as they stop rolling.
Since I started riding fixed first and then moved into geared riding, I don’t clip out until I absolutely have to. I’m used to tracktanding at every stop and usually getting wherever I’m going without touching the ground. I even carry that habit over to my geared bikes and it has gotten me in trouble many times. I’m hardly ever on the bike with both feet unclipped, when I’m getting off I unclip one just before the other. Many times i’m resting with one still clipped in.
If you can’t trackstand, Just unclip the same as you would on a geared bike. If you have mtb shoes, you should be able to ride the pedal in the middle of the shoe instead of the back. That will let you avoid more of the toe-overlap that comes with slow speed fixed riding.
How would you normally dismount a freewheel bike, OP? It doesn’t really have to be any different.
Personally I really like to dismount by swinging my leg over the rear while moving (on both fixed and freewheel bikes). The beautiful thing about doing this on a fixed gear is that the pedal motion lifts you off the saddle and slows you down at the same time. Once you get used to doing it, it becomes very easy and more controlled than most other dismount methods I know of. BTW, I usually ride with ATAC aliums, which have a fairly large platform, as clipless pedals go.
set up your pedals super loose for a little while, so that you can just come to a stop and pull your feet out really easily when you want. as you get comfortable with that, and annoyed with your feet pulling out while you are sprinting, tighten them up. It all works out in the end.
[quote=“TimArchy”]I’ve found that people who have been riding road for a long time tend to clip out a few strokes before they have to stop. They all have their own style. But the idea is that they are all prepared to put a foot down as soon as they stop rolling.
Since I started riding fixed first and then moved into geared riding, I don’t clip out until I absolutely have to. I’m used to tracktanding at every stop and usually getting wherever I’m going without touching the ground. I even carry that habit over to my geared bikes and it has gotten me in trouble many times. I’m hardly ever on the bike with both feet unclipped, when I’m getting off I unclip one just before the other. Many times i’m resting with one still clipped in.
If you can’t trackstand, Just unclip the same as you would on a geared bike. If you have mtb shoes, you should be able to ride the pedal in the middle of the shoe instead of the back. That will let you avoid more of the toe-overlap that comes with slow speed fixed riding.[/quote]
Thanks. I’m definitely going to learn how to trackstand. I can balance myself at the stop for a few seconds but I easily wuss out when my feet are clipped in.
[quote=“daedelus”]How would you normally dismount a freewheel bike, OP? It doesn’t really have to be any different.
Personally I really like to dismount by swinging my leg over the rear while moving (on both fixed and freewheel bikes). The beautiful thing about doing this on a fixed gear is that the pedal motion lifts you off the saddle and slows you down at the same time. Once you get used to doing it, it becomes very easy and more controlled than most other dismount methods I know of. BTW, I usually ride with ATAC aliums, which have a fairly large platform, as clipless pedals go.[/quote]
Well it’s not really dismounting from the bike completely, but coming off the saddle and pedals at a stop. In a freewheel, I would just unclip my left foot, raise myself off the saddle and put my left foot down. This is easy on a freewheel cause my right foot just coasts the entire time. It’s a little more difficult doing the same with a fixed gear cause my right foot can no longer coast. It seems like it’s just a matter of getting use to it.
I pop my right foot out as the right crank comes into the up position, swing my leg over the saddle, and pop my left foot out as the left crank is on the upswing so that I kind of launch into the air and land in a run. Speed dismount for the win!!!
so true
what also happens to me while riding a freewheel is i cant stop pedaling, i know i can but my instincts/reflexes say DOOOOOOOONNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
I think I’m getting the hang of it. I just unclip my left foot and it down. I was being a puss before and finally manned up. I love riding fixed. My legs are getting a hell of a workout.