question for bicyclists

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I live in Miami and bikes (especially fixies) aren't really part of the culture. You see a lot of the hardcore road bike people (the ones who wear the space clothes) but not a lot of "regular" people on the roads on bikes. Anyway, I have a little fixed gear bike that I take out to the trails on weekends or in my free time. Things are too spread out to bike everywhere I need to go. However, I'll be moving to Seattle soon and (I've been there twice in the past few months) biking is a big part of the culture there. 

 

So here's my question: When I bike down here, I try to stay on the road or on a paved trail. When I need to get on the sidewalk for whatever reason, it feels extremely uncomfortable and feels like I'm doing serious damage to my bike (the tires are so thin). But when I go to Seattle, everybody rides fixies on the sidewalks and it seems like it doesn't faze people. I guess my questions are: 1) is it really doing damage to my bike? and 2) is it uncomfortable for everyone or just something you get used to? 

 

What I mean by uncomfortable is, since the tires on fixies are so thin, you feel every little bump if the road isn't perfectly paved. Seattle has a lot of areas with bumpy looking roads and a lot of sidewalks with some pretty big cracks. I guess I've been spoiled in Miami because the roads are all silky smooth and even the sidewalks have super thin cracks. I just got a fixie so it feels weird to me. I've been a mountain bike guy my whole life so I could ride over anything and I wouldn't feel it. 

Edited April 23, 2014 by Gnome Chomsky

[actuallyatree]

It's just a matter of you getting used to the stiffer set up of a fixed gear bike. Eventually your ass will become immune to the pain, and you'll be all set. Spend a few months on a road bike and pretty soon mountain bikes will feel like they're made out pool noodles.

 

I would be wary of riding on the sidewalk, I don't know the rules in Seattle but in a lot of places you get fined for doing so.

Edited April 23, 2014 by actuallyatree

[microarray]

You put 'thicker' tires on your bike ie 25 c or 28 c which will give you 'more cusion' if you will from all the crap in the road. Please do not ride on the sidewalk when you move to Seattle. You are a bike - a part of moving traffic, not a pedestrian. It's not safe for anyone. (although be sure to look up cycling laws before you move). If you don't already, please wear a helmet. I get so sad/bummed when i see anyone riding a bike without a helmet.

 

 

[rising_star]

Also, it's all about the seat. You'll want to test several to make sure they're comfortable for the riding that you are (or will be) doing. I found the seat made a huge difference. FWIW, I refuse to ride on sidewalks. It's not safe and, where I used to live, you'd get a $200 ticket from the police if they felt like stopping you (and periodically they did just to make an example of people).

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I guess I was mainly curious if they're bad for the bike. Whenever I ride a fixie on anything that's not perfectly paved, it feels like I'm doing damage to the bike. But when I was in Seattle, I saw lots of people riding fixies on gravel-like roads and beat up sidewalks. 

[Eigen]

If your tires are properly inflated, it shouldn't be a problem for the bike. For narrow (22-25cm) rims, that's going to be quite high- they'll feel like rocks, to touch and to ride, and it will make your ride feel quite harsh, but it won't hurt the bike. 

 

I personally like 32-38cm tires on 27x1 1/4 wheels, but I'm old school like that. 

 

Do note that if you're riding a "new" fixie (i.e., not good, old, steel) it will feel a lot less durably, and probably be less durable. 

 

I'm a huge fan of mid-80s racing/touring frames for building fixes, preferably with butterfly/touring bars and some good pedals. 

 

Even on my racing bike, when I was riding cross country, I ended up doing one 20 mile stretch on gravel. It's not the most comfortable thing, but it shouldn't hurt the bike. 

[spectastic]

I live in Miami and bikes (especially fixies) aren't really part of the culture. You see a lot of the hardcore road bike people (the ones who wear the space clothes) but not a lot of "regular" people on the roads on bikes. Anyway, I have a little fixed gear bike that I take out to the trails on weekends or in my free time. Things are too spread out to bike everywhere I need to go. However, I'll be moving to Seattle soon and (I've been there twice in the past few months) biking is a big part of the culture there.

So here's my question: When I bike down here, I try to stay on the road or on a paved trail. When I need to get on the sidewalk for whatever reason, it feels extremely uncomfortable and feels like I'm doing serious damage to my bike (the tires are so thin). But when I go to Seattle, everybody rides fixies on the sidewalks and it seems like it doesn't faze people. I guess my questions are: 1) is it really doing damage to my bike? and 2) is it uncomfortable for everyone or just something you get used to?

What I mean by uncomfortable is, since the tires on fixies are so thin, you feel every little bump if the road isn't perfectly paved. Seattle has a lot of areas with bumpy looking roads and a lot of sidewalks with some pretty big cracks. I guess I've been spoiled in Miami because the roads are all silky smooth and even the sidewalks have super thin cracks. I just got a fixie so it feels weird to me. I've been a mountain bike guy my whole life so I could ride over anything and I wouldn't feel it.

Dixie likely Already have 25 tires just need to get used to it. You're not dAmaging the bike

[spectastic]

Typing on a phone is a pita

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

Typing on a phone is a pita

I love pitas. 

[St Andrews Lynx]

The overriding benefit of the uncomfortable fixie bike in Seattle is that you will successfully camouflage in with all the hipsters up there... 

[jmu]

I'm a fixed gear rider in Miami. I tend to stick to the street but the sidewalk won't damage your bike in and of itself. I ride Deep-V's to make sure I don't taco the rim on our shitty roads (not sure where these silky smooth roads your talking about exist) and 25c tires inflated to around 70psi because it's a bit more comfortable than my other wheel setup (on my partner's single speed right now, 23c at 100psi.)

 

The roughness you're experience could also be related to the frame, though. Different frames have different stiffness and the more square geometry of a track bike (versus the more compact geometry popular on road bikes and mountain bikes) is going to have an impact. I'd also agree that the saddle makes a huge difference. Find one that fits well and is reasonably firm. I love the shape of mine but I think it's a bit too soft on longer rides.

 

Finally, one of the big things to get used to is going over cracks and bumps on a fixed gear. It requires a completely different way to think about them because you can't coast over them or raise up to and let your knees compress like you would on a non-fixed bike. I generally try to get my dominant leg in the downstroke as I approach something. This way I can use it to lift myself off the saddle and be in good position to absorb some of the bump.

[spectastic]

70 psi on 25 tires is running high risks of pinch flats. I'm 165, and I would run at least 100, if not 115 on 25s. If comfort is a real issue, consider 28 tires, (assuming they fit the frame) otherwise, htfu

 

 

also, it's not a bad idea to invest in a good saddle. in your situation, I'd say the best investment you can make on your bike is a saddle that's comfortable and supportive. a bad saddle can cause lower back pain and restrict penile blood flow leading to numbness and sores... we wouldn't want that now would we?

Edited April 23, 2014 by spectastic

[jmu]

Max pressure on my tires is 90psi (Kenda K152). They are hard enough that I don't worry about pinch flats or too much increased resistance but my teeth don't chatter when I ride. Once road construction finishes I'll be going back to gatorskins and a higher pressure, though.

[spectastic]

gator skins are overrated imo. they're good against sharp rocks, but still prone to wires. if you really want durable tires, get schwalbe marathon. you can pretty much tread a mine field with those things. my friends always ask me why I have a big ass cross tire on the rear wheel of my training bike, and I just smirk because I know I'll never get a flat in that wheel.

[Eigen]

Schwalbe Marathons is my pick for a commuting bike, likely in a higher width. 

 

There have been some interesting studies on friction, but you're really not slowing yourself down with a higher width tire, and if it smooths your ride out, it's often a good tradeoff. 

 

Even my racing frame can take up to 32cm tires, and I absolutely love them. They're very nearly bombproof, and New Orleans city streets are abysmal. 

[jmu]

The Marathon Racer looks interesting but only goes down to 700x35c which won't work with my brake. I can only go up to 28c at the largest and actually prefer 23c tires (the Kendas were free, I otherwise wouldn't use them.)

 

 

I've been thinking about trying out GP4000s instead of going back to gatorskins.

Edited April 23, 2014 by jmu

[spectastic]

GP4000s definitely roll better than gatorskins, and probably won't cost you very much wear. They're really well rounded and people use them for commuting, training and racing alike. I did have a piece of glass pierce right through it the other day though, but that's the kind of trade off you get when you take out the Kevlar layer from the gatorskins. check out probikekit. I got my schwalbe tires from them, and they're 25. I don't like riding with anything more than 25.

[Eigen]

Your other option is to get new wheels and go tubulars. They're way more durable, in general. 

[spectastic]

I would advise against tubulars. they're generally used for racing due to their rounder profiles, which is nice for crits. but they're a huge PITA to maintain, and they're not nearly as common as clinchers. the mechanics at the bike store said they never mess with tubulars. It takes 3 days of multiple layers of glue to properly put on a tubular, (you shittin me?). no I wouldn't use them for anything else other than racing.

[overworkedta]

Yeah, tubulars are really not "practical" for commuting, IMO.

 

The reason you may see riders on the "sidewalk" is that those places actually may be MUP (multi-use paths).  We have a lot of them here and while I don't hate them, they can be awkwardly designed by city planners that don't ride bikes which confuses cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians alike!

 

I'm a regular bike commuter.  I ride a Surly Cross-check with 32's right now.  Inflating to only 85 feels "mushy" but i used to ride a road bike everywhere, so I have the opposite problem of you.  You aren't killing your bike.  But that's why fixies are less forgiving and often considered not as comfy for long rides.  It's just the way they are. I still don't get the appeal myself but I ride for distance.  You can definitely add fatter tires if you have clearance.  Clearance is the key there.  I love my 32s. I know YMMV because you are probably running 26s vs. 700s.

[jmu]

People generally ride on the sidewalk here. It's not illegal and in some places its safer than being on the road.

I've also never seen a 26 fixed. They are all 700.

[spectastic]

right, 26 is generally for mtb and hybrids, although nowadays mtb are using 29ers, 

 

btw gnomsky, how much are you paying to attend UW? They let me into their master's program. I looked at their out of state tuition and _fuuuucccckk

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

right, 26 is generally for mtb and hybrids, although nowadays mtb are using 29ers, 

 

btw gnomsky, how much are you paying to attend UW? They let me into their master's program. I looked at their out of state tuition and _fuuuucccckk

My program is fee-based, not tuition-based like most programs at UW. It has its own costs. There's no difference between in-state, out-of-state or international. It's a bit pricey (like $780 per credit) but it's only a one year program. You're in and out after four quarters. Total comes out to about $42,000 for the entire year. But I have a GI Bill that covers 60% and I'm hoping to get one of the departmental scholarships that covers 33%. That way I'd only have to pay 7%. Plus I get over a thousand a month in housing allowance from the GI Bill. 

[Eigen]

Tubulars aren't that bad, I know a number of people that use them for commuting. 

 

It doesn't take close to 3 days to put them on, you can do them on the side of the road if you need to. 

 

I have a 26 fixed. Campy makes (or made) a really nice 26x1.5 wheel set that's quite light. Those with some 38 cm tires and fixie makes for a fantastic ride, built onto an old touring frame. 

[jmu]

Technically any rim can be laced to a fixed hub. Velomine actually sells a 26" Sun MTX set. It's just far more common that pre-built wheels are 700c since fixed gear bikes are (or are at least based on) track bikes.