Fixed gear cycling 101

By Kenny Ng Cheng Han

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the 90s, skateboarding on streets was the coolest thing to do. Now, the streets are taken over by the trend of riding fixed gear bicycles or fixie as it is commonly known among urban youth.

Fixed gear bicycle is named so because the gear of the bicycle is fixed. There is no such thing as gear shifting like conventional bicycles. A fixie is minimalistic and simple – no brakes, no wires and no stacks of gears. Thus riding one makes you look cool and allows you to gain the title, “hipster”.

If you want to be a fixie-riding hipster or are just interested in cycling a fixie, you have to own one that suits you. Beginners are recommended to purchase a complete set first instead of building it as there is no point splashing out your cash if you are still not used to riding one or still finding your own preferences in a fixie. However, if you have the financial strength and are eager to build one from scratch, go ahead.

First things first, you have to understand the frame size. To know the perfect fit for yourself, you need to stand straight with the frame of a fixie between your legs. Make sure there is at least an inch-sized gap between your groin and the frame. If the frame touches your groin, it means the size is too big for you.

Secondly, you must understand the term ‘gear ratio’. Since the gears are fixed, there is only one gear speed. To calculate the gear ratio, simply divide the number of crank (the big spinning object which moves along with the pedals) teeth to the number of cog (the small gear located at the side of rear wheel) teeth. For example, a fixie with 50t crank and 17t cog would have a 2.9 gear ratio. A higher gear ratio would allow a fixie to achieve higher speed but at the same time makes uphill cycling much heavier. For beginners, 46t crank and 17t cog which gives 2.7 gear ratio; not too slow on flat ground and not too heavy for uphill rides.

Chia Ka Long, founder of Ops fixed gear community recalls his earlier years cycling.

“I had trouble catching up with my friends when I was riding my first fixie. It is not like I have less energy than them, I just couldn’t chase them no matter how hard I pedalled,” he said.

It is only later that he discovered that his fixie had a gear ratio of 2.4, far below the average gear ratio of 2.7.

After getting your very own ride, make sure you wear a bicycle helmet. This is extremely important because it could save your life and wearing one could reduce risks of head injuries by up to 85% according to a 1989 study in New England Journal of Medicine. Most people are reluctant to wear one because it would look less cool or it will mess hairdos but reducing any risk of injury is a no-brainer. Additionally, it is a must to have rear lights during darker hours to increase your visibility on the road.

After getting a fixie and helmet, you are good to go. However, you might face difficulties stopping your bicycle when it is still in motion because most fixies do not have brakes. Hence, the proper way to slow down or stop with a fixie is to skid to a stop. Make sure toe clips are installed on your pedals. By doing so, you could halt a bike by simply pulling one leg up and pushing another down. Basically you are preventing the gear to keep going on. This action requires plenty of calf strength and some might find it difficult to execute. Hence, in case of an emergency such as the inability to stop the fixie from continuing down a steep hill, you could practice the art of shoe brake. Shoe brake is when you lift up one leg and press the sole of your shoe to the surface of the rear tyre that cause heavy friction to immediately stop the wheel motion and ultimately stops the bicycle. However, be warned that this method will make the surface of your shoe go bald very easily.

There you go, your basic guide to the world of fixed gear cycling. Always keep in mind to ride hard and ride safe!