Well, as a cyclist of no particular skill, I slid myself backwards out of the saddle on a descent two days ago while fixed. As long as you're focused on the task(s) at hand, you will keep those pedals turning no matter where you need your arse to be at any given moment.
I find this reply totally credible and I take my hat off to you.
I've been riding fixed and geared recently, including some biggish climbs and descents.
You're quite right, it is possible to improve weight distribution on a fixie by moving arse rearwards (as on a 'proper' bike), but I still can't achieve the same retardation from speed on my fixie as I can on my 'proper' bike.
I don't know why that is.
I don't like to lock the wheel at 150+ rpm, or even 10 rpm for that matter.
I find it terribly difficult to slow my legs with a braking-type action from high cadences (150+).
In order to execute an emergency stoip from those speeds I have to sort of 'switch off' my legs and let them do whatever the pedals do as I apply the brakes.
This inability to brake from high speed with my legs seems worse on descents, but that might just be nerves on my part.
It could be that I've got stupido bull-horns on my fixie with t/t levers, so it's more of a reach to get to the brakes, but in truth it's easier to yank on them than it is on the ergos on my geared bike.
Well, whatever the reason, I simply cannot bring my fixie to standstill from speed as quickly as I can my 'proper' bike.
I'd love to be able to, but I can't.
