General: fixed vs gear road bikers

they'll let you pass them and you'll think you're all badass till they come out of nowhere and you'll never see them again.

let it be noted that city riding is not the same road riding. bring a fixed gear on a road ride and you're more-than-likely gonna get props for doing it, but dropped.

I was behind one guy after coming out of a park near my house, I could tell when he noticed me because the show started, I hung with him as long as I could but he slowly pulled away from me. He eventually hit the end of the MUP and on his way back I waved... because I'm not an asshole.

I had a guy catch up with me at a stop sign waiting for traffic to clear two weeks ago, he said I was riding my bike awfully fast. We rode a few miles and chatted.

After the last courteous mass ride here in Dayton, I rode to a park with a guy in full Dayton Cycling Club kit, pretty nice bike... We maintained 20-22 MPH the whole way, we slowed down to let the other guy catch up and he asked me if I was gonna let some old man knock me down, I let him know that it wasn't going to hurt my feelings. That guy had three gears left.... he could have left me whenever he wanted.

IDK, I don't feel the Me VS them thing.

When roadies are holding pace in a flat area I can hang with them pretty much indefinitely. As soon as we hit hills or they feel like sprinting I get dropped. In the city I could probably beat them due to easy track standing at lights, maneuverability, etc. but thats not real racing thats just dicking around.

The only time I try to mess with roadies is when I'm riding my cross bike. My cross/commuter bike is heavy, has fenders, cross tires, and mustache bars but my 18 speeds give me a shot. I have passed more people than I have been passed by on the local 3000 foot climb. I get some disgusted looks from people on bikes worth 3k. Most of the people I pass on my cross bike are probably weekend warriors though. Its seemed like I was standing still when some people have flown past me on this climb. I've been passed by this dude who has got to by 70 years old a couple times now. If you live in the south bay area you have probably had your ass kicked by this guy at some point. I want to talk to him but he's to fast to keep up with.

LOL

I dunno, but can I ask a favor of everyone? Stop attacking me when I'm on my road bike, riding home after 80 miles, and in full kit, with both bottles empty.

It makes you look like a retard.

Usually dudes on "expensive" (read 500 dollar) mountain bikes try this shit, but once in a while it's a guy on an IRO trying to show off to himself that he can SMOKE SOME CARBON FIBER ROADIE FAGGOT WHO SPENT TOO MUCH ON A BIKE.

I'd love to see more people out riding unicycles,Iron Jaiden!

I tend to go through phases of riding fixed and not, and as far as city riding goes riding a road bike makes way way more sense (welcome to Seattle). That said, I find myself going back to riding fixed. There is that unexplainable draw that makes fixed riding wicked fun. I love riding a tuned in road bike, but I am not above that fact that blowing past a road bike (preferably a really expensive one, with a yuppy owner) while riding fixed is always going to be a good time.

i live by a bmx/skate park and mountain bike park so i deal with them clowns every time i ride

every chance i have i pass some one on a super nice road bike. i don't know why. maybe to prove to my self that what you ride is less important then how you ride it.

Does he keep up with them for the whole 100 miles or just between your house and the coffee shop?

Thats what this all comes down to. Its only a race if both people know its race and there is a finish line. You can pass a roadie but it doesnt mean anything if they ignore you.

So I propose the following: Before you just blow past someone to prove a point, ask them if they want to race.

i wave or nod to nearly all cyclist i pass by on my fixed gear regardless of what they ride (except for recumbents obviously, i ussually kick them over and whipskid some pebbles in their eyes). i don't find any rivalry between the two but some road riders do and therefore don't acknowledge me (even when kitted out and climbing the same hills they are on a training ride).

i definately don't race people but always speed up to catch road riders i see a 1/2 mile up just for fun.

Do you know how to type at all, blondefixiegurl? You seem really vapid.

Posted By: upthemaidenWhat are you gonna do when some guy pulls up next to you standing at a red light and HE does a trackstand and takes off when the light turns?

Haha dude I ride a track bike myself but if you ever race a competent roadie you'll see that shit don't make a difference in the world. On a track bike you just can't get the "off the line" speed you can on a bike with gears. From mid sprint the track racer stands a pretty good chance with the right gear ratio and ability, but from a dead stop I just don't see it happening.

Besides most roadies I see at red lights are doing track stands right next to me (front brake for backward momentum)

Unless you were talking about someone on a road bike standing at the light then I just agree with you is all. :)

I think its funny when I pass dudes on full carbon geared bikes with my 20+ year old track bike. I call these guys "carbon dads" - the urban equivalent of the suburban soccer mom. they probably think I'm an asshole for riding in jeans and a t-shirt and probably think I'm a dumbass for sprinting up hills at 50x15 wasting all my watts. whateve just ride

Posted By: RideEverydayThat's why when I'm coming home from school on the fixie, I just mind my own buisness.

i think we are on the same page here. my Kilo is definitely all about utility, i don't even pretend to be fast anymore. i spin out going about 18-20mph, blah blah.
my favorite rides are when roadies or whomever else decides to ride with me, we can stroke each others egos: "is that a fixed gear? wow/man you have good balance at lights. etc" or "oh sweet ride, is that a XYZ/what kind of gear range are you running on that beast..."

i really try to just ride at a steady cadence as quickly as i can spin comfortably, regardless of anyone else. nothing makes you feel like a bigger douche than running out of steam a few minutes after passing someone.

Can't we all just get along?

I've talked to people all the time. I'm on my mtb by the way. I've never had somebody be negative towards me. The more bikes the better so yeah.

Posted By: upthemaidenI'll pedal my ass off until i pass them, even if I have to sprawl out on the couch in my underwear with a Popsicle.

hahahahaha uhhhhhhh

I gotta say im pretty new to biking, i got 2 brothers that ride fixed and it never really appealed to me so i got an older 10 speed(real cheap) and did some quick adjusting/mods to it and i burn them into the ground. but like i read above an asshole can ride anything. guys on fixies seem to think they are elite shit since their bikes are so hard to ride. but i say get a bike and ride im lookin to save money and stay fit i know everyone has their reasons. but i just try to ride and not be an asshole myself

cotton jeans

who wears cotton jeans?

Hate spandex all you want but i'll tell you this. When I used to live in Portland and it'd fuckin rain almost every day of the year nothing saved my ass more than a pair of dry-fits I found at the thrift store. While everyone else was just plain miserable in their soaked jeans I'd feel like a million bucks in my "spandex" pants underneath whatever I was wearing on top.

i thought spandex were rediculous until i eclipsed the point in my cycling where street clothes weren't enough. road rides got faster and longer and i needed my riding jersey with three pockets, cutoffs became way too uncomfortable and limiting. both turned and stayed wet and jean pockets were insufficient requiring a fanny pack or messenger bag which is annoying as hell on a 40 mile hilly ride. anytime i was out of the saddle climbing to keep up with a pack with a fanny pack or backpack the shit would fly around everywhere. riding flats with cages are a thing of the past for the same reason.

the reason i ride 90% commute in spandex:
i live in las vegas.
it's already 90 degrees when i got to work @ 6am
i had to bring an extra tshirt anyways to replace the one that was soaked.
i may as well ride in something that wicks away sweat instead of traps it.

I'm seriously considering a pair of shorts. Partly because I have a phobia of some flying, stinging insect flying up my shorts, partly for some additional padding, partly because of increased heat transfer, and partly to reduce the dreaded swamp nuts syndrome.

We'll see.