| Re: fixed speed
On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:34:30 -0600, John Thompson
<john@vector.os2.dhs.org> wrote:
>You can't *coast* on a fixed gear, which takes some of the joy of
>downhills away. You'll want a brake of some sort so you can keep your
>speed down to a point where your legs can handle it.
Long ago, they would coast on a fixie - but you better have good tread
for when you put your shoe against the tire when you needed to slow
down. The coasting was done a lot like a penny farthing - put out your
legs and worry about making contact with the pedals later. Doubt it is
the way preferred by your friends and local health provider.
The fun part of a fixed gear was the first week each year, getting the
second foot into the cage (mine was presnap-in) while in traffic.
Always got easier, but at least once I would look like a complete
idiot, pedalling one-legged for a block or so. That would also be the
week when I would hit the brake coming to a stop and forget I was on
the fixed gear, backpedal my feet to coast and go over the handle
bars. Had a routine, picking up the bike like it was its fault...
Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...
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