Riding Tips and Hints

These hints have been sent it - and they're worth reading !

From D Goodwin - Training on a fixed-gear track rig will FORCE you to learn to spin and unweight judiciously over obstacles. Also makes you appreciate all the coasting you get to do when you get back on the freewheel. Not to mention the fun of seeing your friends try to ride (or better, stop) your new bike ! 

From Blistering Big Toe - Well I say put the biggest crank arms on you new bike you can. Think leverage. I have out cranked several geared bikes and its cool to see the look on their faces. Also just grunt until some one asks if you need medical attention.

From Keith Goulet - When you attack hills, keep this in mind: The pain of climbing won't last as long because you're generally going a lot faster (2:1 ratio = short pain, grany gear = long pain). Not to mention it's energizing to smoke all the geared riders.

From Jeff Carson - Ride your single speed with friends who are on multi geared bikes. You don't want to get dropped. They don't want to be beat by a single speed. Make sure you have a bell on you bike to ring whenever you pass them up a climb. Smile the WHOLE time. It'll screw with their heads.

From Sam Ring - Sittin' and spinning is for roadie scum - don't be afaid to stand and mash that gear

From Kevin Padgett - The 2:1 gear ratio is a good place to start but don't get locked in. - I've recently switched to a 34x18 and find I climb much faster--which is where single speeders can press our advantage--and I don't notice loss of speed in the flats. This suits the terrain around here, lots o long climbs. Don't be afraid to experiment. cheers, KP

Thanks for that guys ! Anyone spot the similar vein in most of the posts ? Yep thats it - go and kick the ass of all your gearhead mates !

Johnny G's Tips These work for me - they might not work for you, but they are a starting point

1. Learn to spin - typically most riders seem to pedal slower than they should - a cadence of 90 is reckoned to be right, I spent most of last winter on a turbo spinning at 100 - with interval work of up to 170 ! This meant that when I hit the singlespeed I could really rev - and you have to !

2. Attack every climb like your life depends on it. Forget keeping your heart rate down - as soon as you hit the top your going to spin out and get a rest so don't sweat it. Great interval training !

3. Keep going  - your bike will break before your knees do.... (I stand to be corrected by a medic but judging by the transmission parts I've totalled this year I think I'm right)

4. Look ahead and pick the right line - on a climb this may not mean the easiest or smoothest - pick a line where you will not slow down or stall, even if it means attacking something you don't think you can do - you may be surprised. 

5. Extra distance per pedal stroke. If you think about it on any climb you would normally granny ring then for each turn of the pedal you will go further . Today on my MultiGearedMonster (MGM) I climbed something quite easily in middle which everyone else was having problems with in granny. They were spinning the back wheel on a lip or in some mud when the torque reduction +  extra distance I was getting was allowing me to climb relatively easily. This is your main advantage - use it well !

6. Get off and push... If you want to. Your on a SingleSpeed. Some things are simply not possible on a SingleSpeed.

7. Ignore 6 - everything is possible. Confidence and self belief will get you places where gears will not. I have climbed stuff on a SS that is nearly impossible on a geared bike. So to do it on a SS is incredible. How did I do it ? I would not let the hill beat me, I did not consider for a single second that I could not do it, and simply pushed the pedals round until the hill ended.

8. Do not slow down. Speed is your friend and ally - it will get you out of more trouble than it will get you into. Usually on a SS you aren't going that quick anyway !

9. Bunny hopping. Remember that you now only have a 34 or a 32 on the front - 10 teeth less than normal and almost 3/4" inch of extra clearance - in addition less weight and a more responsive bike. If you could hop to start off with then these extra bits of assistance will let you get away with things which previously would have made you get off !

10. Have a good time - life is different with one gear - the pace is slower where it should be (the scenic bits) and hurts like hell everywhere else.

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