Surly Steamroller - Fixed Gear
I just converted my Steamroller to a fixed gear bike.
I have a flip flop hub and I wanted to try what riding a fixie feels like. I've never ridden a fixed gear bike before, even though my previous bike had a flip flop hub as well. I was always happy with a freewheel but I guess now curiosity got the better of me.
I rode about 60km this weekend on my fixed gear Steamroller. Here's a few observations from my first rides:
- I wasn't immediately "hooked" as some people have been
- It's great workout (cannot coast downhills and trying to backpedal to slow down uses different muscles than riding forwards)
- The feeling of connection to your bike is very nice but I notice it mostly when I'm riding on a low cadence and low effort
- Going uphill feels surprisingly nice
- I never realised how much I actually coast.
Now I've learned not to coast when
- adjusting my seating position,
- turning around tight corners,
- going downhill,
- trying to lift front wheel over a pothole.
Am I going to stick to riding a fixie? I really can't tell yet. I'm going to try it for a few more weeks and I'll decide then. Or maybe I will just ride a fixie every now and then and then flip the wheel back to the freewheel side.
But wether or not I will stick to a fixie I'm already very happy I did try my bike with a fixed gear. I feel like I've already learnt new skills and learnt something new about biking. I only had to spend about 12€ for the fixed cog and I think that was money well spent.