Tips for the First Time Fixed Gear Rider

1. Adjust The Bike To Your Own Size

Before setting off, the first thing you must do is adjust your bike according to your size. It’s important to keep a good position on the bike in order to ride comfortably and safely. Click the link below and find out how to adjust your bike to your size. 

2. Adapt Your Feet To The Pedals

Once your bike is adjusted to your size, the next step is to correctly place your feet on the pedals. As a rule of thumb, fixie bikes use straps or automatic pedals to optimise pedaling and brake. Between those two kinds of pedals, fixies tend to be fitted with straps, because they can be tightened or loosened to match your shoe size. 

3.  Breaking On A Fixie

In order to brake on a fixie, you must make the pedals turn counterclockwise, as if you were pedaling backwards. At the same time, you must pull the straps up. Do this when going at medium speed, and little by little. Another tip you can put in practice is to shift your weight towards the front wheel and leave the rear wheel free. Thus, you’ll be able to block the rear wheel more easily and without a great effort. 

4.  Start Hitting The Pedals And Enjoy

Once your bike and pedals are fully adjusted and you have our advice in mind, it’s time to hop onto the bike and enjoy the unique feeling of riding a fixie. You’ll see that, at first, it’s a little bit difficult and you need to pedal harder than usual, but pedaling will get easier as you go. We recommend you start on plain ground, with no hills or descents. 

5. Beyond Cycling 

     If you’ve already mastered fixed-gear cycling and want to go beyond and try new tricks, why don’t you try riding backwards? Cycling backwards on a fixie is as feasible as cycling forward

     You’ll have to do the same as when you cycle regularly – hit the pedals, but backwards. It’s  a little trickier than cycling normally, though. You’ll need a good balance and total control over your bike, without forgetting about where you’re going towards. If you want to learn more about cycling backwards, check out the following beginner tips and become a real expert on fixie bikes.