Free wheel

[wolf37]

Hi all i just brought a free wheel bike or fixed speed think they call it but think made mistake and should or got a geared bike are the fixed speed any good ??

 

[russ.will]

Good for what use and which fixie?

Russell

 

[midlife]

I used to do a lot of single gear riding way back when, particularly getting to and from work / school. No need to worry about all that gear changing *and* I could track stand at the lights

Shaun

 

[wolf37]

Just thought it would be hard for hills etc not been on bike for a while

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

I love my fixie. The freedom of not having to think about changing gears, although not something you would want to use on long rides or if there are plenty of hills.

*and* I could track stand at the lights

Shaun

Wish I could track stand still not go the hang of it.

 

[Sharky]

Single speed or fixed gear can be exhilarating to ride. Need to choose the gear size so that you can just manage the steepest hills that you encounter on a regular basis, then the rest of the journey will be fun. If in a hilly area, single speed (free wheel) might be the best option as descending on a low fixed gear can be tiring and takes more skill than you might imagine.

Count the teeth on the front ring and the rear sprocket and we can advise if that is a sensible set up. Easy and cheap to get a smaller/ bigger sprocket.

Happy riding
Keith

 

[MichaelW2]

Fixie bikes have the rear cog fixed so it (and pedals) must rotate with wheels.
Singlespeed means a rear freewheel one-speed where you can roll along without pedalling.
Some hubs have both, you flip the wheel around.
Fixies are a bike for experts and for reliability. Singlespeeds are OK in flatter areas.

 

[wolf37]

I got 44 on front ring and 18 on back and i have got the wheel that got cog on other side of rear wheel

 

[Sharky]

I got 44 on front ring and 18 on back and i have got the wheel that got cog on other side of rear wheel

That's around a 64" gear, depending on wheel size and is within the range that most single speed riders would use. So just depends on how you find your local hills. If easy, then change the 18 to a 17 etc.
if the hills are too hard with the 18, you would need to change to a 19 or a smaller front chain wheel.

Changing sprockets is a very easy job, but you do need a special tool. A local bike shop is unlikely to charge very much for fitting and would probably be cheaper than buying the tool you need. Ask for prices.

Good luck

 

[wolf37]

Ok ty for the info