Surly Steamroller - Fixed Gear

I just converted my Steamroller to a fixed gear bike.

=> Surly Steamroller enjoying the countryside

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.

April 20, 2020 - surly, steamroller, fixed gear, biking

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