The dangers of fixed!!!

Well, I have to add another danger to Chalo's list of fixed gear
drawbacks. That is, they're so damn fun that some are attempted to try
tricks they can't easily do on a freewheel equipped bike. In fact, my
new slogan is Fixed Gears Add Fun to the Flats, or FAFF for short.

Anyway, the one and only trick I would like to accomplish so far is
riding backwards. Today after I was mostly done with a ride that I
didn't want to end, because fixed gears add so much fun to the flats,
and since I had some light left I figured I would try to ride backwards
in the parking lot of a local B of A. Well, on my first attempt I rode
backwards for 30 feet or so, then I struggled for the next 15 minutes.
Then I relaxed again and went with the flow. Cool, I'm riding
backwards. Until I turn the bars left and lean right for some stupid
ass awkward reason. I instantly slammed backwards down on my ass with
some part of my frame hammering my shin bone. I now have a 2 inch
hematoma sticking out of my shin.

But I did get right back up and try it again with modest success before
heading the rest of the way home.

Greg
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The ticket******* Tax Tracker:
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Dethink to survive - Mclusky

On May 13, 9:24 pm, "G.T." wrote:
Well, I have to add another danger to Chalo's list of fixed gear
drawbacks. That is, they're so damn fun that some are attempted to try
tricks they can't easily do on a freewheel equipped bike. In fact, my
new slogan is Fixed Gears Add Fun to the Flats, or FAFF for short.

Anyway, the one and only trick I would like to accomplish so far is
riding backwards. Today after I was mostly done with a ride that I
didn't want to end, because fixed gears add so much fun to the flats,
and since I had some light left I figured I would try to ride backwards
in the parking lot of a local B of A. Well, on my first attempt I rode
backwards for 30 feet or so, then I struggled for the next 15 minutes.
Then I relaxed again and went with the flow. Cool, I'm riding
backwards. Until I turn the bars left and lean right for some stupid
ass awkward reason. I instantly slammed backwards down on my ass with
some part of my frame hammering my shin bone. I now have a 2 inch
hematoma sticking out of my shin.

But I did get right back up and try it again with modest success before
heading the rest of the way home.

If you really rode '30 feet or so' on your first
attempt, that is pretty unusual. Most fixed riders become
fluent in backward circles before they learn to
ride 'straight back,' which is considerably more
difficult.

Btw, you don't need a fixed gear to enjoy riding
backward, but with a freewheel you'll need some
gravity.

Robert

wrote:
On May 13, 9:24 pm, "G.T." wrote:
Well, I have to add another danger to Chalo's list of fixed gear
drawbacks. That is, they're so damn fun that some are attempted to try
tricks they can't easily do on a freewheel equipped bike. In fact, my
new slogan is Fixed Gears Add Fun to the Flats, or FAFF for short.

Anyway, the one and only trick I would like to accomplish so far is
riding backwards. Today after I was mostly done with a ride that I
didn't want to end, because fixed gears add so much fun to the flats,
and since I had some light left I figured I would try to ride backwards
in the parking lot of a local B of A. Well, on my first attempt I rode
backwards for 30 feet or so, then I struggled for the next 15 minutes.
Then I relaxed again and went with the flow. Cool, I'm riding
backwards. Until I turn the bars left and lean right for some stupid
ass awkward reason. I instantly slammed backwards down on my ass with
some part of my frame hammering my shin bone. I now have a 2 inch
hematoma sticking out of my shin.

But I did get right back up and try it again with modest success before
heading the rest of the way home.

If you really rode '30 feet or so' on your first
attempt, that is pretty unusual. Most fixed riders become
fluent in backward circles before they learn to
ride 'straight back,' which is considerably more
difficult.


I should say my first attempt of today's session. I've been
half-heartedly doing circles for awhile, today's the first time I hung
out in a parking lot and really practiced.

Btw, you don't need a fixed gear to enjoy riding
backward, but with a freewheel you'll need some
gravity.


Yep.

Greg

--
The ticket******* Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html

Dethink to survive - Mclusky

In article ,
"G.T." wrote:

Well, I have to add another danger to Chalo's list of fixed gear
drawbacks. That is, they're so damn fun that some are attempted to
try tricks they can't easily do on a freewheel equipped bike. In
fact, my new slogan is Fixed Gears Add Fun to the Flats, or FAFF for
short.

Anyway, the one and only trick I would like to accomplish so far is
riding backwards. Today after I was mostly done with a ride that I
didn't want to end, because fixed gears add so much fun to the flats,
and since I had some light left I figured I would try to ride
backwards in the parking lot of a local B of A. Well, on my first
attempt I rode backwards for 30 feet or so, then I struggled for the
next 15 minutes. Then I relaxed again and went with the flow. Cool,
I'm riding backwards. Until I turn the bars left and lean right for
some stupid ass awkward reason. I instantly slammed backwards down
on my ass with some part of my frame hammering my shin bone. I now
have a 2 inch hematoma sticking out of my shin.

But I did get right back up and try it again with modest success
before heading the rest of the way home.

http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/2.mov

http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/8.mov

On May 14, 10:12 am, Tim McNamara wrote:
http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/2.mov

http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/8.mov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0AFpq6jFok

I like the aerospoke wheels and expensive frames [/sarcasm]

"NO BRAKES" is the new skateboarding.

That said, it is a well made and cool video.
\\paul

: (clip) Btw, you don't need a fixed gear to enjoy riding
backward, but with a freewheel you'll need some
gravity.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You don't need gravity to propel you, but it helps to have some to hold you
DOWN. I watched a skilled trials rider go backwards by shifting his weight
forward and backward, while synchronizing his brakes to kill the forward
movement.

On May 14, 9:58 am, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:
: (clip) Btw, you don't need a fixed gear to enjoy riding backward, but with a freewheel you'll need some
gravity.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You don't need gravity to propel you, but it helps to have some to hold you
DOWN. I watched a skilled trials rider go backwards by shifting his weight
forward and backward, while synchronizing his brakes to kill the forward
movement.


Indeed it can be done. Pretty dang difficult
though. I know a guy who can roll ever so
slowly backward on a flat surface with his
freewheel bike, in a straight line, with very
little rocking or perceptible movement other
than a slow backpedal. It is eerie.

Most attempts to ride straight back devolve
into wacky weaving, curlicues, etc. There are
lots of folks who could ride around indefinitely
like that, given enough space, but it is another
thing altogether to decide on a destination and
get there.

Robert

Robert

Tim McNamara wrote:





http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/2.mov

http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/8.mov
Ha Ha. Cool as.... I love the no hands track stand! Never ridden a fixie
but I think I may have to build one now ;-)

G

On May 14, 12:10 pm, wrote:
I know a guy who can roll ever so
slowly backward on a flat surface with his
freewheel bike, in a straight line, with very
little rocking or perceptible movement other
than a slow backpedal. It is eerie.

I once bought a bike that did that. Body english helped, but the
primary culprit was the chain was too tight. Freewheel failed not too
long after anyway.

In article om,
Paul Hobson wrote:

On May 14, 10:12 am, Tim McNamara wrote:
http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/2.mov

http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/images/8.mov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0AFpq6jFok

I like the aerospoke wheels and expensive frames [/sarcasm]

"NO BRAKES" is the new skateboarding.

Truth in that!