On it!

[captainj]

Yo guys -

I've been wanting to get a single speed for ages, so the other day did the deed and bought myself a Plug Charge Freestyler. I'm not into racing just commuting around town and the even doing some cycle routes when I've got the time. I've had it for a week now and absolutely love it! Can't wait to get my fitness up a bit more and eventually do a trip to dam on it (from Manchester!). I'm planning on doing a ride to hull over two days then getting the ferry over to Amsterdam.

How long should it take to get confident enough to do this kind of trip? I'm currently of average health but will be cycling for at least an hour everyday until I feel I am ready.

Thanks!

Captain

 

[petenats]

That would be quite a trip!

Fixie, Pennines and touring are not three words that go easily together...but where there's a will (and thighs like a weightlifter) there is definitely a way.

Good luck.

(Not mocking, I'm just far too much of a weed!)

 

[punkypossum]

I've done york to hull and amsterdam, then back - which is pretty much hill free and easy, not sure about the manchester to hull bit tho, that does sound rather tough!

 

[swee'pea99]

I love riding my fixie but (and this is mostly addressed to PP and any others who feel qualified to answer) I've only ever used it for half hour commutes. Is it really ok to ride long distance/all day? I would have thought it would get a bit wearing never being able to coast.

 

[4F]

I have done one 100 mile run and several 50 mile plus on my fixed and would agree that for several days of long distances then I would probably run it as a single speed for the very reason you state.

 

[yello]

Welcome captainj. To the forum and to the world of fixed gear riding. Let your confidence build as it does, there's no set time or measure. Just do your own thing as you feel comfortable. You'll also find that climbing on fixed is actually surprisingly easier than you'd think at first, so don't be afraid of taking day rides out of town and up into the hills.

If the bike's comfortable to ride it's simply a matter of getting used to pedalling for the entire time. That, like all things fitness related, builds over time. You learnt to loosen at the hips and just let the legs turn without effort, it's like coasting but without the non-pedalling bit!

I've done a 200km audax on fixed. That was around 10 hours in the saddle. Not sure I'd tour fixed though, more to do with practicalities of the bike though rather than not wanting to do the mileage on it.

 

[upsidedown]

Pics ?

 

[captainj]

I totally forgot to mention that I'll be running it single speed!! I like having brakes and I like coasting, so for me I think it's best to keep it as it is. I've had some really fun rides into the city center on it, you can weave and build up speed on it really easily. I think I'd be up for doing the Manc-Dam trip before christmas but it's obviously going to be a no go as soon as the ice starts to form...

Here's a pic http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7968/img00113200910031724.jpg

 

[ASC1951]

[quote name='swee'pea99']I love riding my fixie but ...is it really ok to ride long distance/all day? I would have thought it would get a bit wearing never being able to coast.[/QUOTE]I've done my second longest ride - 170 miles - on my fixed, up to Ribblehead, down Wensleydale and over to Northallerton, as well as several 100s. I wouldn't tour on it, but only because I would want the complete freedom of route that you really only get with gears.

It might be different for commuting, but I don't see the point of a singlespeed: all the disadvantages of a fixed without all the advantages.

 

[ColinJ]

I don't see the point of a singlespeed: all the disadvantages of a fixed without all the advantages.

I have a singlespeed bike in the midlands which I use on my regular trips back there.

The point of it? Three points, actually. (1) I managed to scrounge enough bits to add to those in my junk box to make it for £25. (2) It is simple, light and reliable. (3) Riding it makes a nice change from riding gears all the time.

I agree that it has most of the disadvantages of fixed, but it doesn't have the disadvantage of potentially maiming yourself flying down steep, narrow, gravel-infested, pothole-strewn country lanes.

It is a pain trying to ride it up steep hills though, and I can see that fixed would be much better for them. It is really hard to get the pedals through the dead points in the pedal stroke on steep climbs on singlespeed.