How to Ride a Fixie Bike Safely Like a Pro? Read Expert Tips
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Fixies are one of the most popular bikes available in the market. They represent style, simplicity, and skill. This is because when it comes to riding or mastering a fixie, you need to become one with your bike.
Thus, it’s essential to learn how to ride a fixie properly before hitting the roads. For those of you who’s never ridden a single gear bike, you’ve found just the right guide for yourself.
This article focuses on the steps you must take in order to master a fixie along with some advantages of using them.
Without further ado, let’s get right to it.
Why You Need to Ride a Fixie?
Fixies may not be the most advanced bikes on the market, but they sure have their perks. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. Riding Fixie Will Help to Make You Stronger
Believe it or not, you’ll actually get physically stronger as you ride a fixie. This is because the bike doesn’t come with a bailout gear which means you’ll need to work on your muscles when going uphill.
In any case, a fixie requires more physical strength or hard work from time to time compared to a geared bike.
2. Fixie Will Teach You Needed Tricks and Tips
Riding a fixie will certainly teach you how to master any bike in any situation. As coasting isn’t a possibility, you’ll be forced to get creative when riding downhill.
Fixies also give you the option to modulate your speed without having to brake too much.
Moreover, you’ll also need to work on your cornering style as you risk pedal strikes if you’re too rigid when leaning over.
3. Fixies Are Low Maintenance
If you’re someone who prefers not to put in a lot of effort into looking after your bike, then this is the perfect choice. Fixies don’t come with gear cables or derailleurs that’ll require time and attention neither are there any hanger that could get damaged.
All you need to do is occasionally lube the bike’s chain and you should be good to go.
Besides, not having a lot of parts to maintain also means you get to save up and make riding the bike as affordable as possible.
Furthermore, the bike doesn’t come with parts that might wear out too soon, making it even more durable and ideal for someone on a budget.
4. There’s Nothing Like a Fixie
From amateurs to professionals – a fixie is a great bike to teach a user all there is to learn about biking.
As the bike doesn’t feature fancy gears to make the riding process smooth and easy, the users are forced to learn how to properly control a bike without such assistance.
How to Ride a Fixie Safely?
In this section, you’ll find a step by step guide on how to ride a fixie correctly.
01. Start from a Stop
The first step you need to do is position the bike in place and slightly raise the back wheel and position your pedals. This will help the bike to stay stable and prevents it to roll forward as you position and move the pedals.
Be sure to only keep one pedal in front of you to have better control over the bike.
With the back tire still lifted slowly rotate the pedals until you reach the desired position.
02. Don’t Stop Pedaling
Make sure to have a proper grip over the pedals. In case you require assistance, you can attach straps or clips to have better control.
Now, this may sound silly but if you want to learn how to ride a fixie, then the most important lesson would be to keeping pedaling at all times.
You must think of yourself as a predator and constantly move unless you must stop.
03. Find Your Ideal Speed
When it comes to riding a fixie, one has to do most of the things using their body strength. This is because it only features one gear.
Once you start getting used to riding in the fixed gear, we’ll recommend you find the ideal average speed that you can use to get by.
A Pro Tips for You
Pro-tip- in case you feel as if you’re pedaling too fast, you can slow down simply by giving backward resistance to the pedals.
04. Stop Pedaling to Slow Down
When you need to slow down, instead of applying pressure on the brake, simply stop applying forward momentum, instead relax your leg muscles.
Shortly, you’ll feel that you’re losing momentum and the bike is slowing down. Ensure to stay in charge of the bike to avoid any accidents.
05. Apply Pressure on The Brakes Ahead of Time
Fixies require more time to stop completely as it slows down gradually. Applying excessive force is likely to trigger you to wipe out.
Hence, our suggestion will be to start applying pressure at least a couple of yards ahead of your stop.
06. Make Use of Your Handle Brake
If your bike doesn’t come with a handle brake, then we’ll advise you to get one as it’s the easiest way to stop a fixie.
However, be sure to gradually squeeze the handle-brake instead of clamping down if you want a smooth stop.
07. Get the Right Head Start for Mastering a Fixie
Now that you’ve gone through the entire guide, we hope you get the right head start over mastering a fixie.
Learning how to ride a fixie properly will take some time and effort, so don’t be disheartened if you fail a few times.
Good luck with your new journey!
