My experience going fixie

I'd been looking for a used steel bike to commute on so I wasn't locking up my carbon cannondale outside of work. I originally used a hybrid bike to commute on, and had decked it out with a rack and all. But the thing weighs like 30 pounds. It's a tank. After getting my Cannondale, I couldn't force myself to commute on the tank any more. I didn't want to damage my Cannondale with mundane commutes, so it was time to upgrade the commuter.

I came across a Bianchi Pista in a pawn shop. Pawn shop said 30 day money back policy, so I figured, OK, I'll TRY it. if I hate it, I'll just take it back.

I get it home, clean it up, switch out the bars for bull horns and rewrap with tape I already had.

Then I realized, I have no idea how to ride a fixie. I thought about how this is going to work with stopping without coasting. Seemed complicated so I ran up to the LBS and bought a freewheel for the flip-flop hub. Read a bit more about single speeds and determined unless I have the bike drilled for a rear brake, I shouldn't ride it freewheel with only a front brake. So I put my big girl panties on, flipped it back to the fixed side of the hub, and went out to try my commute.

Day 1 - First commute was a bit of a learning experience, stops and starts weren't graceful but DID occur. Hills were not as bad as I thought. I was having fun!

Day 2 - ow ow ow. Sore leg muscles. Rode again anyway. Getting better at stops and starts. Feeling more confidant on the bike. Decided I'd prefer the clip ins I'm used to over the toe clips, switched them out.

Day 3 - Had the LBS check the bike over. Worked from home but took the bike on an errand. Still sore, but still wanted to ride. Did an "easy" trip to the pharmacy and back. First time I stood up to go up hill my legs cursed at me. But they still worked. End of day 3, arms are sore, too, from standing more than normal, I assume.

Day 4 - Commutted again. Stops and starts much more graceful. Sore, but not too bad. Having serious fun with this bike.

I'm happy to report that I can now get a drink of water or rearrange my shorts without coasting!

My husband and the Garmin agree, I'm faster on this bike. No more slugging up hills. I'm either working it, or walking it. I'd rather work it. Although I am considering slightly easier gearing. I'll see if I still feel that way in 2 weeks or so.

Not afraid of the bike any more. I know I can stop when I need to, however that front brake is not coming off any time soon.

Fixie definately uses muscles that don't get much action on my geared road bike.

Austin is pretty hilly. I thought anyone in Austin on a fixie was either not going very far on it, or completely insane. Turns out, it's not as hard as I thought it would be.

For anyone considering a fixie, but is unsure, I say try it out! I am pleasantly surprized.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...a/PICT0039.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...a/PICT0035.jpg

Beautiful bike! I'm very impressed. Part of me really wants to try one, but the part of me that is clumsy and falls does NOT want to try one. :p

I'm so proud of you for just getting out there and figuring it out. I'm sure it's a weird sensation not being able to coast. I can't imagine.

What does the bike look like with the bullhorns on?

Congrats!!!

A friend rode a fixie on our Sunday Saunter last Sunday. 10 miles...he's a strong roadie and it was good because it keeps him slow. It was a challenge for him. His bike is new so it was a good ride to try it on. His bike is an IRO. Very nice, but I could tell the flat bars were not doing it for him by the end of the ride. It makes me want to try one, but all the bikes around here are too big for me to try.

Karen

That is one nice looking bike. I would not mind trying one, however my middle name is not Grace as in graceful so I may have to pass on this. Have fun!!:D

That is a truly beautiful bike. I'm insanely jealous. Good for you with the fixie - I've been curious, but I'm also not in the 'graceful' category.

That is one gorgeous bicycle. Congratulations!!

How fun!

Every once in a while I flirt with the idea of taking my old race bike and turning it into a fixie. I'm actually terrified at the thought of trying to ride one... :p

dayum.

thanks for posting those pics. very nice.

thanks for sharing the story; yes, that is a beautiful bike.

Ouchie....that looks like a big chainring in the front.
What gearing are you running?

My hat is off to you for going fixed. I often would whine that I want to try this one mtb area on a single speed. But I rode it recently, and have to say....I really like gears. I think I would rip my legs off trying to go fixed!

I really like the look with the bullhorns. I'll take a picture and update soon.

It's got a 48 up front and a 16 in the back. My LBS just ordered an 18 cog for me, which should be in on Tuesday. I'd like to be spinning a bit faster on the flats to save the knees, so we're going to try that.

I still love the bike. All the soreness is gone.

I really prefer this bike to my older commuter (Giant FCR). My FCR is just a BEAST compared to this light and nimble machine.

Tomorrow we're going to the movies around lunch time. We usually ride our commuters up to the theater and lock them up there. I'm a little nervous to leave this one locked up at a place where people would know the owner would be occupied for a good amount of time. We only have cable locks to take with us (our U-locks are locked to the rack at work). I'm thinking a cable lock is too easy to cut with a nice bike like this one begging to get stolen. I guess I better take the beast. I'd be heart broken if this one got stolen. Not so much with the FCR.

As for people wanting to try them... test ride one!!! I, too, was afraid to try it!! It really isn't going to dump you on the ground. It's just a little strange and you might bang a shin on a pedal not knowing how to time a stop.

Yesterday morning I was barely awake 20 minutes, no coffee, and headed off to work on it (I shower and get ready at work, so I'm barely conscious when I leave the house). The light leaving my neighborhood was green so I stood up and powered through the light. Safely on the other side of the intersection and still half asleep, my muscle memory said "ok to coast now!" Ummm.... BOY did my butt pop RIGHT out of the saddle. Leg bone is connected to the.... sit bone! HA!

I was awake after that!!!

I love your bike and good for you to figure it all out. I used to ride a fixie but that's another story. Congratulatios on a beautiful ride.