Fixed wheels

[rutabowa]

Lot of fixed wheel bikes in the Netherlands when I lived there, normal bike but no brakes and you put pressure backwards on the pedals to brake. Took getting used to because I'd got in the habit of freewheeling the pedals backwards when I had an idle moment.

Not sure the dutch ones are fixed wheel exactly, arent they just back pedal brakes? If you pedalled backwards on a fixed wheel you would be going backwards, not just braking.

 

[two sheds]

Ah yes you may well be right there.

 

[maomao]

Ah yes you may well be right there.

Rutabowa is right. Dutch bikes have a normal freewheel but when you pedal backwards it pulls a cable operating a drum brake in the rear hub.

 

[klang]

I cycled it home freewheel and the chain was slipping, thought it might be dud. But then I changed it to fixed at home, as it's meant to be, and just took it out.... wow it feels like a bike is meant to! I got into it quickly. Down hill is the challenge really. Also it helps that is the first bike in years that is th right size for me... and that it looks like this:

View attachment 260808

get yourself straps to get ultimate control.

 

[two sheds]

Rutabowa is right. Dutch bikes have a normal freewheel but when you pedal backwards it pulls a cable operating a drum brake in the rear hub.

Ah yes you're both right there

 

[rutabowa]

get yourself straps to get ultimate control.

These pedals are clipless (that means you can get shoes that fix to them right?), not sure I want to go there though, definitely not for a while anyway

 

[klang]

These pedals are clipless (that means you can get shoes that fix to them right?), not sure I want to go there though, definitely not for a while anyway

simple straps and decent-ish pedals will honestly enhance your riding experience and the fun factor by 100%. it's very important for fixed to get the most out of it.

 

[klang]

 

[rutabowa]

Ok, I guess I'll need to get new pedals for those (the pedals are a bit battered anyway). At some point.

 

[rutabowa]

What are good pedals and straps to get? One of the pedals is a bit on its way out so I might as well get a new pair with straps