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Hamham
AlexD
Some useful tips in this thread, thanks. Front brake crank reset at lights tip is definitely going to help!
I finished putting together a fixed bike recently, rode it a little and found it dead weird/scary. I used it to cycle in to town and back for a stag do, chickened out and stuck a freewheel on it. I'd been using it with the freewheel for a while and then decided I was being a wuss, so flipped it round again and have been doing some half hour to an hour rides fixed. I seem to have now got over the initial steep curve of leg bouncing and general panic when needing to stop, signal etc.
Strangely, I've noticed myself doing faster times on cycle path routes I've previously used my geared bike on. Don't know if that's just me going for it as I'm having more fun or what. I've definitely noticed myself going faster uphill, but then I'm out of the saddle, knowing I need to keep up momentum as I've got no spinner gear to fall back on.
Anyway, I consider myself a convert. Bike needs a few tweaks and I think I'll be able to spin a bit faster - downhill is still a bit scary but I'm definitely getting the hang of using my legs to control speed. Using brakes less and less. Muscles I didn't know I owned are complaining, which is all good.
Here's my bike. Reasonably light and fun to accelerate on. Both brakes present as I have a wife and child i'd be leaving behind. Horrible levers need changing for something less ugly though.