I am wondering what some of the more experienced bikers have to say about riding fixed gear bikes in the off-season…advantages? disadvantages etc? THANKS!
Do it. No more crying up the hills. Learn how to spin at 130 rpm without bouncing in the seat. Build leg strength.
It can be hard on the knees and I have found that running after a long ride is not fun at all.
If being too cool for school like a bike courier is your goal, run a 46-15, otherwise use Captain Brown’s gear calculator to determine a possible gearing. http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/
How about just plain fun?
They are so much fun to ride is their biggest advantage and disadvantage. I know sometimes I should be doing something else, but going on a fixie ride is way more fun than a regular road ride.
If you live where the weather is crap a fixie with fenders is fairly bomb proof for riding in the winter. I Time trial fixed most of the time so I do a fair amount of my speed intervals and 10-20 min efforts fixed. Again to me there is just an attraction to do the sessions fixed instead of with a geared bike. It is sort of a standing joke on Oahu when people see me on a geared bike now they ask, where is the fixie?
People will tell you all kinds of crap how it helps or hurts this or that. They see me and say, hey that guy rides pretty smooth and he rides fixed, so fixed must make you smooth. Either that or 45 years of riding may have influenced my style some as well. Single speed mountainbike riding and fixie road riding has not damaged my knees at all. Quiting running helped my knees, ankles and hips. Riding fixed or free, my knees feel the same.
If anything riding fixed does make you more aware of what is in front of you as you can’t coast and float over rough spots. You learn to avoid the rough spots or pay dearly with your butt. The other big advantage is that it makes riding more fun and adds variety so you enjoy training on the bike more. Like everything else in life, attitude is everything. Because I enjoy fixie riding, I ride fixed. No more no less.
I don’t think I qualify as experienced, but I got a fixie about a month ago, and it’s already one of my most valuable training tools. Monster hills just don’t seem that evil anymore.
Offseason might be the best time to start, though. That first week or two - your legs will feel it, big.
I never snapped a chain until I rode a track bike. Makes you feel all burly.
fun too…