It's not as bad as you'd think. If you want to avoid the hills you actually can. SF's hills are very steep and numerous, but they're not "wide" usually. Makes for a very dramatic and scenic cityscape, but also allows you to go around in most places if you don't want to climb uphill. If your destination is up the hill though... then yeah, you're SOL 😁
I find that climbing on a fixed gear is easier than on a bike with a freewheel, at least on shortish climbs. Something about it being easier to carry momentum, and also easier (for me at least) to stand and climb.
Next time when you’re at Castro/marker skip Japan town and use the wiggle to go west, up by duboce park. Then ride through the pan handle and through Golden Gate Park - much more scenic route to the ocean :) nice ride!
Why don’t fixed gear riders refuse to have a front brake? I ride urban on a road bike in a hilly town and I couldn’t imagine a life without a front brake because 80-90% of my stopping power, especially at speed comes from it.
Great question. I think it depends. When I first started out, I definitely used brakes. But I slowly weaned off them as I rode more and more... to the point where I found myself never using them at all. There are a lot of other factors. The biggest one: I rarely go over 20mph. Even at 20mph, I can stop just as well as a regular cyclist. It also helps that I've been riding fixed gear for 10 years. Every cyclist and motorist has (or should have) that voice in the back of their head saying "what if this happened in front of me... how would I stop or maneuver it?" For me and probably a lot of fixed gear riders, that voice is not in the back but in the front and actively on.
Love watching ppl ride in my hometown. Should try riding though chase center, mission and climb up and Bomb down portola that leads to market super fun take It from a sf local
so what made you want a single speed, and a fixie on top of that ? I don't understand the culture, like its harder on your knees going up grades on a single speed and coasting sounds so nice (free hub)
Well the simple answer is I like the feeling and experience. As for knee problems, I don’t frequently ride SF hills or any hills for that matter. I actually stick to flats whenever I can. At the end of the day, it’s whatever gets you on a bike! That’s the whole idea. Spin to win! 🚲
I have no problem with hydraulic disc brakes. It’s great for mountain/trail/hybrid bikes. It just doesn’t make sense, logistically, on a fixie. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TkZwVtS8arc.htmlsi=CVQjQPdjE4kEZLSX
My first attempt at a skid stop was in 2012. Took maybe 5 minutes. But to actual use it as a real technique outside of doing them in an empty parking, maybe 1 month of daily riding. But to learn to skid stop on a dime (less distance to reach 0) with either foot and in any situation and at any speed, maybe 1 more year of daily riding.
Yeah it is. Bikes need to follow normal traffic laws unless the bike lane and signs say otherwise. (I.e. a green bike light while the car traffic light shows red) If there is a bike lane, use it. If there is not, you are allowed on the road. Having said that: I've seen it all. Pro cyclists with $10,000+ underneath them run reds at 30+ mph in front of cops. Students who obey every light without a car in sight. Homeless people with beat up bikes who cut across double yellows and ride against oncoming traffic in front of a police station. You do you and if you get a ticket then you probably caught them on their bad day and they had time to ruin yours.
mostly applying resistance against the pedals. and if I am going really fast and/or need immediate stopping power, I can lock up the back wheel by applying enough leg strength
