Fixed wheel tips

[Jon H]

For the first time ever I rode my retro (Holdsworth circa 1970) fixed wheel bike into work this morning. Found it surprisingly easy to keep the pedals turning up the hill from Sydenham to Crystal Palace, and frustratingly slow going down College Road over the speedbumps to the Tollgate. Anyway, hit loads of traffic going through Brixton and kept having to stop and start which I haven't quite got the knack of.

So, what's the best way to deal with stop-start traffic? I usually start off with my right foot at 2 - 3 o'clock, but if you have to stop on fixed your foot can be anywhere. I used the technique of front brake on, unweight the saddle and pull foot round. But there must be some better solution.

Discuss...

[Andrew G]

Trackstand.

Otherwise that's pretty much it Jon, although you normally don't need the brake on just lift by the top tube near where it meets the seat tube.

In heavy traffic you can have to do it more often but you'll do it less and less as you adjust your speed (with your legs not the brake) on the approach and further in advance than if riding gears, so that your feet finish closer to where you want them when/if you stop.

Or you could pull an endo, spin the pedals to the right place before landing.

[John the old'un]

That's how we always used to do it. Works ok.
Stick with it.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote] I used the technique of front brake on, unweight the saddle and pull foot round.

[Sylv]

I was eyeing up this bike, "thankfully" it sold (outside of ebay) before I got the chance to view it and try it for size.

Sweet built though

[img]http://i9.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/01/07/2411_1.JPG[/img]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Track-Fixed-Gear- ... dZViewItem

[Snoop Doug]

Sylv - you are one stylish dude, that's a fine lookin' bike. I suspect you didn't look too stylish on yer ar5e @ Palace. Hope you're feeling tickety boo real soon

Snoop