- Now Chris and I have come out here today
with a single goal in mind, and that is
to learn to ride a fixed-gear bike.
- I haven't ridden on fixed-wheel bike
since I last raced the track in 2012 with this guy,
and that was a world away from riding a fixie
in an urban environment.
There are a few reasons why you may want
to ride a fixed-wheel bike outside,
one being the low maintenance,
and perhaps the direct feel
of that drivetrain straight into the rear wheel.
- [Blond Man] Or maybe it's the pure thrill
of riding a very basic bike.
- How about we start at the beginning
and start off slowly?
- I think that's a good idea Chris.
- Let's go check it out. - Let's do it.
(urban beats)
- There is one very important thing
to remember when riding a fixie,
and that is to keep your legs turning at all times,
as the momentum in the wheels, cranks, and your legs
is enough to lift you up and potentially
throw you over the bars. (Blond Man groans)
Now before you get going, there are a few checks
that you should definitely do of your fixie,
and I would start by checking that
your rear wheel is in straight and tight.
And this is extra important on a fixie,
because it is your anchor point
of not just your power delivery, but also your braking.
So it's extra important.
- Now I did actually do that myself,
but if you are worried, then it is worth
getting it checked by your local bike shop.
- Yeah definitely, that's good advice.
And then once you've done that,
I would move on to your saddle height,
because lowering it a tiny bit, so around half a centimeter,
from what you would normally run on your road bike,
will enable you to move around on your bike
a lot more effectively, in the technical corners
and any maneuvers you're making,
but it will also help with the forces that happen
with your braking through your legs.
- So now we're set up; should we get going?
- Yep, if you're comfortable and happy with your bike,
I don't see why not.
- Let's do it.
(moderate urban beats)
Now we know how to get going,
I think it's important we look at how to stop,
and I've opted for some clip-in pedals.
- Yeah, and I actually think that's a really good idea,
and I would recommend you try this at home as well,
because it will give you the extra security
when you push back on the upstroke to use the brakes.
- Right, let's get going shall we?
- Go! (claps hands)
Most countries state a front brake
as a legal minimum requirement.
Bearing in mind your rear brake is your legs,
that means you effectively have two brakes to use,
just like normal.
I would use your front brake for real braking,
down a hill for example, or an abrupt stop.
But for everything else, I would recommend
getting to grips with your legs as your brakes.
Once up to speed, you slowly need to apply
a little back pressure through the cranks.
This will slightly lift you off the saddle to start with,
but will become natural over time.
It is completely possible to lock up the rear brake,
just as it is on any bike, but I can't think
of an actual reason you would need to do this.
However, skids can look pretty cool.
The key thing to remember is to gently moderate
the force through your legs.
It takes practice to judge
just how much force you need to apply,
but it will become quite natural after a little while.
(moderate urban beats)
- Now you've mastered how to slow down and stop,
now you want to concentrate on momentum.
And it's not always the easiest thing
to start off in this gear.
- No, you chose a pretty big gear there, mate.
So in fact, you want to really focus
on trying to maintain that momentum
by scanning the road ahead, apprehending
the maneuvers that others are going to make,
the terrain that's approaching,
and any of the hazards that are on the road.
- That's a good point, Chris.
- Because if you know what's coming,
you can slow down well before you get to it
and that will help keep you rolling.
- Basically what we're saying is,
by being a good and considerate road user,
you'll easily be able to maintain that hard-earned speed.
- Yeah, that makes good sense, that.
- But what about the hills?
- Ah, I have a plan for them. - Oh no.
- Well, the direct power transfer of the bike
will actually enable you to climb
much tougher gradients in a like for like gear
than you could on your normal bike.
These bikes really can fly uphill.
But one thing that I do recommend doing
that I wouldn't suggest on a road bike
is to actually give yourself
a little extra pace on the entry to the climbs;
a good 10-second surge into a climb
can really go a long way on a fixie.
(urban beats)
- Now we're a little more confident on a bike,
perhaps we should try some basic skills.
And these skills may even help you on the open road.
- Yep, that's true, they could.
And let's start with the track stand then.
The fixed gear actually makes it a lot easier
for us to balance effectively,
especially when on a negative gradient,
as you can push back to hold the perfect position.
- Shall I have a go? - Yeah.
- Let's do it.
(slow urban beats)
Riding a fixie is the perfect bike to ride backwards on.
- Whilst it is a completely useless skill to have,
it is a real carpark pleaser.
- But practice makes perfect in this scenario,
so a 30 minutes' practice will go a long way.
(slow urban beats)
So you've learned to ride a fixie
and even dialed in some skills,
but what else can you do?
- Well, fixies are used for commuting.
They're used by delivery couriers in towns and cities.
And people are still racing them,
both indoors on the velodrome, and outside.
- So there's a whole world of fixie-riding out there.
Some pros even use it for winter training.
- Yeah, it's good to mix it up I guess.
(slow urban beats)
Hopefully these tips have got you
wanting to get out and ride a fixie.
- Yeah, so if you've enjoyed this video,
then please give us a thumbs up.
- And for more how-tos, click down here.
- Or here.