18 Beginner Fixed Gear Mistakes Everyone Makes & How to Avoid Them

[@ZachGallardo]

Thanks again to Harry’s! Click here Harrys.com/ZachGallardo to redeem your Trial Set for just $3! Let me know what color razor handle you got in the comments below!

[@jamessteggles6579]

Was pretty sure you were calling them 'Hair-ies' which is a better name for a razor brand!

[@newosamoht4593]

I love this channel. Wierd bike stuff before i got to work.

[@Lil_half_cut]

What size ur bike?

[@Quartze-qh1rk]

Can you recommend a wheel set for low price "it's for my first fixie" it came with a wheel with brakes inside the hub .

[@mickjager5974]

Orange, so I can find it more quickly when I'm looking through all the junk in my sink cabinet drawer

[@fergusdenoon1255]

One thing to watch out for: Being used to riding normal pedals on BMX (old school BMX), muscle memory kicked in when I was stopped at traffic lights, when I went to start up again I spun the pedals backwards with the intent of catching it on its way up so I was in a good push off position, only to find I'd propelled the bike backwards underneath me as I went straight over the bars... Crashing your bike at a complete stop in such spectacular fashion is quite embarrassing, stop laughing!

[@singletona082]

Hey that beats stepping on a bike you just redid the chain on only for the chain to explode. You could continue on your way. I had no chain.

[@gvtrivia6780]

Hmmm this sounds me… (setting up my first fixie in 10 days )

[@santiagopbecerra]

Don't worry, being used to a normal bike I stopped on the main road of my small city and fell because I couldn't get my left foot out of my strap... Also not ideal

[@singletona082]

@@santiagopbecerra This is why I refuse to do strap or clipped pedals. Yes I lose effeciancy. However I value being able to easily move my feet OFF the things as worth it.

[@santiagopbecerra]

@@singletona082 it's not that bad... After like 2 weeks you get used to it

[@nothininterestinn]

I mean, I've had people shout "nice fixie" at me from their car and that's always made me feel pretty nice about my bike

[@event4216]

they get quite surprised when you wave them back with outside of palm and fingers up

[@cccycling5835]

lol same but hey i think it’s a nice fixie too

[@jhowardsupporter]

really? I just got one but single speed with a flip flop hub and I reckon I'll start with single speed. Hopefully I can get up hills which I think is possible cos I saw a guy tear up a hill on fixed gear and downhill I think would be nice to coast. But no joke I saw that guy riding the fastest I've ever seen anyone ride and he was going uphill on a fixie!

[@nothininterestinn]

@@jhowardsupporter just ride fixed. SS is nice for cruising, but the way the whole drivetrain interacts is a completely different feeling. That guy climbing was definitely attacking and carrying his cadence uphill. Bike only goes as fast as your legs are moving -- if you go into a hill slow, you're not doing yourself any favours and will have to fight the whole way up.

[@jhowardsupporter]

@@nothininterestinn Yeah but my knees are so bad the doctors removed part of it a few weeks ago. How I do anything is amazing. I don't think I can inline skate anymore. They said I might need a knee replacement but those fake knees are pretty good, like it's probably better than my real knees. But yeah braking with my legs and pedalling real fast downhill my wear out whats left of my knees. I don't know I'll see how it goes. Coasting helps too so I can rest my legs!

[@brandoncalderon2551]

After four years of watching your channel, today I finally bought my first fixed gear. Keep up the great work!

[@Simonsays1312]

What took you so long smh

[@tuliobenavidez9952]

Whoa Calderon

[@jhowardsupporter]

@@Simonsays1312 Fear. No one wants to go out and get this thing and not know what it's gonna be like. I just got one today. There's all these questions like it's hard to get up hills but how hard is it?

[@dreyn7780]

Oh well big mouth. Park your fixed it bike next to the river and watch the river take it away. I bet there's a few bikes washed away in the global warming instant flood world problem happening right now.

[@ben6089]

@@jhowardsupporter What type did you buy then? I'm after one now and I could use 4 years of research!

[@genegroover3721]

I've never ridden a fixed gear. I believe it's time. (I'm 60) I believe you nailed it when you talked about how close a fixed gear makes you feel to the bike. That's something which seems to be missing with my rides although I do enjoy the scenery, changing seasons, and the utility of a bicycle. My current bike is my main transportation for everything. No car by choice, not because of finances. We do save an incredible amount of money by not having a car. I truly enjoy the ride even if all I'm doing is hauling a load of groceries in the trailer or going for an appointment. I'm a four season rider unless there's ice/snow on the ground. I'm just too old to be breaking any more bones! Your information is incredible and spot on. Great job of communicating. It's fun to listen to your enthusiasm and yet also hear how pragmatic you are. You remind me of the joys of just riding when I was in high school. I don't understand why more people don't ride. Mine is an old Ti-Motobecane Phatom. It's almost too old to be upgraded. Mr. Gallardo, it's time for this old dog to learn some new tricks! Living in South Korea.

[@256k_]

ben riding a fixed gear bike for 11 years now. i built it myself from an old road car i bought used. its been an extension of me throughout all these years. i was never in any "scene" or "hobby" never really thought about it twice. i just loved riding a fixed gear and rode one everywhere. i even call it a fixie. nothing beats the feeling of a fixed gear bike especially one you built from scratch and know it inside out. even though my frame is slightly bent and i most likely need a new hub beacause i recently had my chain slack off and jam between the cog and the wheel on a downhill, (brown pants moment for sure) i never wanna get rid of it even though it would be wiser to invest in a new proper fixed gear frame. I just love this one so much. I also used to ride with a front brake but i recently changed my handlebars and couldn't mount the front brake anymore so i went for a back brake with the fixie and its actually nicer to me. i had a couple of close calls where i had to brake really fast and tumbled forward because of the front brake (im sure its down to bad braking technique) but with the back brake i can balance between the hand brake and the feet braking and it saved my ass when my chain broke downhill... power to all the no break runners out there, i couldn't do it personally. id rather look like a dork but still be alive and in one piece

[@sethchapman8001]

I run both front and rear brakes on my fixed gear. I like the rear brake for going down steep hills, and the front for extra stopping power. I also like to flip the rear wheel and ride single speed, keeping brakes on gives me more versatility.

[@thecuriousquest]

Thanks for this. I rode a fixed in the early mid 2000s and gravitated towards touring and road. At 42 years old, I'm curious about getting back into fixed riding for around town. This video is super useful for anyone at any stage.

[@Evil_This]

Bought my first bike since my mid 20s 2 years ago at 41. It's great. I didn't get anything crazy fancy but still a solid $500 out the door, and a bunch more since.

[@trelane751]

I work as a delivery rider and HIGHLY recommend keeping the brake on if you want. It doesn't add that much complexity and keeps you legs from wearing out as quick

[@hclyrics]

After over a decade, I still ride with a front brake. I never even touch it, but I'm sure I'll be grateful if I ever truly need it someday. I can't justify choosing aesthetics over safety.

[@johnpowell9174]

Recommend you keep your brake if in the UK even if you never use it. Check out the Charlie Alliston case.

[@marcalvarez4890]

...Not to mention that the laws of physics make the front contact patch do about 90% of a hard emergency braking. So no matter HOW good a fixed rider you are, you still have only 10% the emergency braking of a bike with a front brake. So yeah, riding with no front brake isn't brave or skilled, its just a badge of ignorance about how bikes work.

[@joejohnson4970]

Bang on and exactly the same, ridden fixed for years, yes I have brakeless bikes for cruising, but my work and everyday ride runs a front brake, restraps foot retention and is generally a little bit beat... But rides superb

[@santiagopbecerra]

Agreed, also, today I took my rear brake off but kept the lever, I tried to use it downhill and got really scared when I noticed it wasn't there 😂

[@jeromebergeron9286]

The video clip when you talk about saddle height shows that your saddle is too high. Which is a common mistake people make. You should keep a slight bend at the bottom of the crankset and the foot shouldn’t be pointed. This causes many issues including saddle sore, leg numbness, feet numbness etc.

[@hclyrics]

Underrated comment.

[@jessevonk2836]

He really grew facial hair to get sponsored? :P

[@oddeinaraurbakken5916]

Yeah, makes no sense, just shave your legs 😂

[@DanGleebowls]

Gotta respect the hustle

[@ForestGnome13]

1 week of growing a facial for a sponsor? Why not

[@2120musiclover]

I’ve never heard of people getting upset about “fixie”. Mos def must be a regional thing

[@Fixie_Gecko]

Bruh they better be proud when I call them a fixie I'm one of the best in my town and I'm getting sponsored in my first year

[@mannyechaluce3814]

Anyone who gets offended so easily are elitist jerk. I use my fixie for work not for fun, call it a bicycle I don't care because it is a bicycle :D call it a fixie, sure, it is a fixie after all.

[@eddygci8]

Only the fake snobs get upset about it lmao

[@pinkyoshi]

cannot stress the first point enough. i rode cheap hi-ten steel fixed gears for first 2-3 years of riding and dealt with so many maintenance issues compared to when i put the cash down for quality components. Ended up putting more money into the cheap bikes than i even bought them for.

[@OGLobster]

Yeah the money pit these "cheap bikes" end up being is crazy. My first fixed gear was £300, I spent about 3 times the cost of the bike in its first year having to repair and replace everything on it as it wore down so fast. Got fed up with it and got a cinelli vigorelli with archetype wheels and its been my most reliable bike to date.

[@SonjaTheDork]

Seriously, my current fixie is built on an old Hi-Ten frame that I pulled from a dumpster. Used it as a test bed for painting, spent about $100 on secondhand parts with a bunch of stuff from my garage as well, and it's honestly not that bad. The frame is absolute trash (paint included) and the rear wheel is rather heavy, but besides the weight and flexiness, it's a fun experience. Still planning on going for a nicer frame next time.

[@humildemarcelo]

Yeah i got a brandless bike for 100 dls like 6 years ago and almost never sid maintenance on it. Last year i replaced everything but the fork and spent like 600 bucks more (Good budget components). I love it of course, it's my reliable beater but this year I'm going big with a good custom frame

[@dreyn7780]

Well You're a liar. I out rank you by 30 years. Price means nothing. Middlemen ruined all aspects to price. Price is no indication of quality. That concept died out a long time ago. You're rediculas 1960's parts on your 2021 bike. You'll end up with only memories of the ride and the details will be lost or forgotten. The bikes will be long gone.

[@dreyn7780]

We can tell what era You're from just from the things you say. Bikes used to be expensive and children weren't allowed near them or else you'd get beaten up. You know PUNCHED AND KICKED for a long time till you got the message. You're a spoilt brat and nobody gives a shit what you say.

[@HaniJIsmail]

Another thing i'd like to mention: Improper handlebar positioning I had my drop bars on my Wabi at an angle way too high. I always wondered why using the drops felt so uncomfortable. Well I posted a picture of my bike on Reddit and people pointed out that I had been riding with Bars that aren't mounted right. As soon as I brought them down, I enjoyed riding my bike so much, it felt like I just got a new bike.

[@davs.ketchup]

Funnily enough, I learned how to ride on a hand-me-down brakeless where I learned how to skid accidentally. Now that I am back into the fixie lifestyle I can't thank that old bike enough.

[@alex_rodriguez777]

I grew up with shitty old Huffy bikes that had a fixed gear and I thought nothing of it Later in my teen years I got on someone’s road bike and tried to skid only to have my feet slip and cut my shin, leading to a bloody sock

[@0xsergy]

@@alex_rodriguez777 ya, the traction is unreal. Even being skinny af i couldnt lock it up.

[@Lomochrome]

I'm a beginner fixie rider and have kept both my front/rear brakes. They're incredibly effective at stopping for beginners and are invaluable for starting out. Mind you I don't quite send it on my fixie at the moment so they are helping me personally.

[@Rafif089]

after 7 years of absent from fixed gear trick bike riding. I today bought a secondhand fixed gear and found your chanel. I recall my youth by watching this. Lol. Thankyou. Subscribed

[@downallyourstreets]

I love purple chainrings, I have a violet anodized Garbaruk , single piece of CNC’d aluminum narrow-wide teeth so it doesn’t drop the chain like my old one did. Just pop it on the crank arm grease and torque down the chainring nut. Strong, very clean looking, no chainring nuts to fiddle with; But that purple/blue, depending on the light, is the perfect accent that goes with most prime color frames!

[@clubmate12]

That 27.2/28.6 mistake hit me hard as well. Great video, Zach!

[@quoththeraven3985]

Always professional, funny and informative, never has paid promotion tasted so smooth, Thx bro

[@ZachGallardo]

Nice stache psyche lmao got 'em

[@kucko-macko]

top beginner fixed gear mistake: shaving your stache

[@psychoaiko666]

I actually thought it looked good on you.

[@tomcampbell5186]

Love the channel. What do you think of SOLE bikes

[@fehrcarlo2381]

Well, I DO have a fixie… Second hand Micargi hi- tensile steel, deep dish John Deere green/yellow a little too small for me (Could not pass on the deal) Left on front and rear breaks due to the hilly town I live and... have tons of fun on it!!!

[@tuliobenavidez9952]

They stole my micargi sometime,, still hurts me n have a dreams that she n I are reunited,,

[@fehrcarlo2381]

@@tuliobenavidez9952 That's a bummer man!

[@dreyn7780]

Don't be nice to strange men. My bike was invaded by all the new people and millions of horrible car and truck drivers.

[@TL243]

I can’t believe we just watched Zach shave. I am not sure how I feel about that. The things we do fir KZbin. And fixies.

[@ricardocuesta9074]

dude it's "fixed gear" not fixie.. :D

[@MelancholyMadoka]

Today's sponsor is Harry's razors, "Harry's... because aero"

[@dwenyace5539]

I am loving the uploads yo! Keep em comin'!

[@heated817]

funny thing, my first fixed gear was a retrospec for $144, and still use it as my beater. I actually consider it a great deal, its like a tank both in durability and weight, so i actually think I lucked out in the first garbo fixie purchase

[@j.ballsdeep420]

No, he's just the same toxic hipster trope: Your retrospec is perfectly fine and should you want you can always upgrade the components down the line. He talks about buying a $400 frame, neglecting that a $200 entry bike roll today, works fine to get riding, and should you want to upgrade for better grip, speed, comfort, etc.... weird, you can. Enjoy riding

[@bigrat6099]

I have a retrospect too! And it’s rides Great after two years and I ride it allmost every day

[@onealflynn2414]

Grew up with fixed gear back with no front brake. Ride it all over the place and jumped the off every ram. Of course I’m a kid of the 80’s and 90’s we didn’t have helmets or pad either lol.

[@TL243]

Dude. Tension your brooks saddle!!! That threaded bolt is there for a reason and has a special tool. #nosag

[@dreyn7780]

Oh, Its the gossip again.

[@dreyn7780]

You mean in the past bike owners had to do work? I thought owning bikes we could just gossip and pretend to be friends.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

@@dreyn7780 -- This. 100%. So fucking tired of this toxic hipster trash

[@x5finger]

Bonus mistake 19 : Forgetting to include the Tire Pressure Calculator link in the description. (Good video, though!)

[@chicagofixed6929]

90 in the back, 75 up front is my formula.

[@LXVIII_MADETHIS]

Just put 110psi in there you'll be fine

[@j.ballsdeep420]

How the fuck you think a calculator or rule of thumb works universally is mind boggling when max pressure varies not only by manufacturer and tire materials but size: Follow the manufacture's instruction, then simply run 80%-90% max for comfort, or 90-95% for speed and reducing pinch flats. Smfh.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

@@LXVIII_MADETHIS -- Unless your max pressure is 100psi, genius

[@gold_soulo]

My boy Zach is on rapid fire this week I’m all for it 🤙

[@ellielovelace4773]

Yo great video topic! Awesome seeing you post so much these past few days :)

[@RileyCarswell]

Someone who rides a cheap fixie here - can we pause a moment and not be haters? There's plenty of reasons why someone would intentionally buy and cheap fixie. I wanted to support my local cafe bike shop (a small business), I wanted it to be stylish, liked the simplicity of single speed, it was fun to ride, and I'm a student with little extra funds. I also bought it well aware that there were better (more expensive) options. Not everyone has the money, time, knowledge, help, resources, and tools to build a custom - also people can be interested in biking fixed gear/single speed without being obsessed. Not being interested in the technology doesn't make people who ride cheap fixies any less into biking so how about we not put others people down to feel more accomplished with their better quality "more respectable" bikes. I would expect some more positivity here, this is disappointing as a community. If someone says cool fixie, just appreciate they noticed it's not a mountain bike.

[@TonyM1010]

Useful thanks !

[@DjSkillerTV]

That were very, very good tips aldo I don't have a fix gear. Yet. Who knows. I am a happy MTB and my new gravel rider. But fixed gears have someting that makes me look at them with affection.

[@rizen3467]

I got a fixie for $350 and it was white and black and really good for the price and with a couple of mods its super light (for a cheap bike, about 8kg)

[@andrewlove1987]

Omg I love these videos but as a barber, it’s hard. I really want to cut your hair properly, and completely lose focus.

[@GuilhermeTeixeira]

I'll start using "fixie" from now on, thank you!

[@Clickstartband]

I’m a mechanic too and am always telling people “clean your drivetrain every 100 miles/every week whichever comes first”, subscribed as soon as I heard you say that 😂

[@maxkrug2000]

Speaking of beginner mistakes, our channel sponsor Wabi Cycles ... - I was waiting for that lmao

[@milescorporosus4058]

This is my _fixie._ There are many _fixies_ like it, but this _fixie_ is my _fixie._ Fixie, fixie fixie. *FIXIE.* 🚲

[@DarkDrift_rc]

Ive been riding for a couple of months now and this helped alot man! Thank you

[@jkeiffer]

Regarding fit, I wish Wabi (and all bike brands) would give complete geo numbers that include reach and stack. IMO most of the bikes are made for drop bars. I'd like a longer reach so I can use flat bars. Have you ever noticed a difference between how the fit is when you swap between bars on your everyday Wabi?

[@0xsergy]

Get a size up frame for the reach. Im a medium and my large would likely do well with flat bars, it puts me really low.

[@kerapp]

I had a Peugeot PX-10 I converted to fixed for several years and loved it. Recently acquired a Serotta track frame and built it up. No holes to mount brakes! Do you have a video on how to stop w/o brakes?

[@tomroohan]

I think you could have mentioned building up momentum for hills. You have to think ahead of your route and know when you will need that momentum to power up a hill. Also some techniques for riding out of the saddle would be helpful for new riders.

[@mmenjic]

4:18 omg while supplies last 😱😱😱😱 with what are we supposed to shave after that ??

[@brianmaldonado3723]

Your theft segment was absolutely true. Ty.

[@BushidoMusicOfficial]

I agree with the flat kit! Saves me every time i skid too much. I always have an extra tube and a 15 inch wrench with a pump

[@j.ballsdeep420]

15 inch wrench, eh?

[@schuba2029]

your videos give some sort of therapeutic relief

[@bknapp9728]

IMHO, beginners should also be encouraged to wear a bike helmet. I know, not cool, but has saved my life more than once😊.

[@FranMargiela]

Zach w the back to back ?!?! In one week. Here for it. #reasonablydangerous

[@c111-ramon2]

what do you recommend for me, i want to get a fixie, ive never owned one so don’t know anything about it, i jsut want one to cruise around with friends and to get to places, what do you recommend i get?

[@dreyn7780]

That's the job of parents. If you ask the question, then You're too old.

[@dreyn7780]

Gossip gossip gossip.

[@javiantuna6436]

I had to ride breakless for about a year, it was a really beat up bike. Not a fixie but it showed me moves.

[@Whatyoutakinbout]

I’m not that 54%. I just subbed. And today I officially got a used fixie. Thanks for this vid.

[@raspberrylord9550]

"buying a bike is akin to buying a suit" I love that statement, you are absolutely right.

[@dreyn7780]

You'd like to marry that suit wearing guy.

[@mrmoola3970]

I have that same purple All City frame/fork set. So nice, one of my favorites.

[@dreyn7780]

I feel sorry for you. I've been riding them since 1975. I wouldn't touch your bike with a barge pole. That is BAD 1960's. I want nothing to do with that. 60's with a few modern items. YUCK.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

All City is hipster trash: They are literally Chinese built no different than entry bikes, have custom specs added to look fancy, and are ASSEMBLED in the US. Congrats on spending $1000 extra on a frame no different than a $300 frame without a stupid schtick to try and be better than others.

[@dreyn7780]

@@j.ballsdeep420 Well, the wealthy are driving cars. The middle class have Ebikes. So it’s still the extreme poor or fitness people who still want to pedal in 2021. The extreme poor aren’t worried about welding robots and neither are fitness lifestyle people. Thousands of bicycles 🚴 are thrown in the trash every year. Only 0.00002% of bike owners deserve respect.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

@@dreyn7780 -- Facts. I can afford multiple vehicles but actively choose to live in a high density, urban environment where it would be stupid to own a vehicle even if you travel further than an hour as all our transit links including long distance. That said, as many wealthy do here and I did for a period, car service with a dedicated driver is the real flex; when I had to travel around the metro multiple times a day, making less than 30min visits and my company paid for it, pfff, sure --I did work between stops as traffic made it no less than an hour between stops and nicer than transit and biking, but I'm also not about to pay for that myself. To the point of biking, even as a hobby, unless you're professional getting sponsored? Shits a dick measuring contest riddled with NUMEROUS shitty vendors having all manufacturing done in Asia, then touting being a US company because they _assemble_ the bike here (aka, All City and the other brands QBP does the same exact way, Surly and Salsa). These hipsters have their heads so far up their ass they don't even realize how hypocritical and stupid they are.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

@@dreyn7780 -- Also, I'll take a welding robot over a non-skilled laborer _any_ _day_ as even most US _made_ frames are by boutiques that will 100% fail within 5-10yrs and be gone. Idiots. This scene is toxic including the fitness fux

[@EricReyes0142]

A bike shop called my track bike a fixie and i was about to start swinging

[@psychoaiko666]

Some pretentious roadie prick bikeshop owner called my first fixed bike a pile of scrap (was a decent midrange build for crying out loud)

[@thorinbyrd1017]

Lmao.

[@PricelessRawCoolGuy33]

Rotfl 🤣 good one lol

[@hpgrant601]

No Respect Disrespect in All Aspects_Buju Banton Keep Mashin😂😤🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Simonsays1312]

I started learning skids in a cheap FIXIE. The bottom bracket rounded my cranks no matter how much torque i put on them until they broke off and my nuts hit the top tube

[@j.ballsdeep420]

Enjoy replacing tires all the time

[@slickdreams9325]

Bro that’s one of the worst thing that can happen I swear it’s so expensive too and pain in the ass to change it

[@josephcastillo2513]

Damn my man's finally getting those sponsorships. Congrats bro 👍

[@tuliobenavidez9952]

Fasha,,

[@rogerjoesbury9410]

Subtitles please for the deaf thank you.

[@bastropgarl]

And for the moms who can’t watch videos at night with volume

[@rewop12]

Back to back to back ⁉️⁉️⁉️

[@sale2168]

Here in Austria, it is highly illegal to ride without brakes on a fixed gear. Saw guys paying a 200€ Fee for not having brakes on. So most of the really good fixie riders and bikemessengers, tough they never use them, have front and rear brakes mounted on thier fixedgear bikes.

[@_Trash_Panda]

Actually it's illegal in most countries, cops just have other things to look at when they're in service ^^

[@JohnSmith-gs4zv]

05:01 I have never in my life seen anyone mounting their bike from the front. That’s wild!

[@chazkoji]

Pros of having a slammed stem hahaha

[@mannypvd2296]

my first fixed frame was a kilo TT what was just too small for me. Toe overlap was soo bad. got a larger frame and no toe overlap and fit is soo much more comfortable.

[@brandoescudero]

This is a really helpfull video, thanks bro

[@joeleliaskivi9029]

The thing is, Im riding a fixie right now. I paid 220€ for it. So it is a "shit bike", but I gotta say, I love every second on it. It taught me alot about bike mechanisms. Bunch of things. And also, it made me to watch this video. Thanks for all the information shared, Im looking forward to purchase a solid fixed gear. But before that, Im gonna squeeze every drop of joy out of this bike.

[@rogerjoesbury9410]

A person on another site .. quote......if it moves then it is a good bike.........

[@joeleliaskivi9029]

@@rogerjoesbury9410 well said, I used to drove a women's town bike 26km a day on country side roads. I had no idea how better bike feels. Still, it was great to me. I don't even wan't a top notch bike. I wan't to lad up slowly and grow in to it.

[@fatsndinksfishin9815]

3:00 anyone know the chainring/crankset?

[@holzwurm_hd7029]

I guess ive built a fixed gear ratio bike then. It has a Merida LTD 2000 frame, it has a hydraulic front brake, rear v brake, dual crown fork, 28 inch wheels, Michelin tires and a casette in the rear to test wich gear ratio im most comfortable with. (Ill probably keep 3 different gear ratios having to manually adjust the chain with my hands) Ive built almost all my bikes so far. ~8 9 if you count the folding bike. (I mostly pay for my bike parts by selling the bikes i get as donors) So basically i get free bikes by building and repairing them.

[@r.a.8407]

That purple chainring is 🔥

[@dreyn7780]

That purple chain ring is wonderful. I don't give a stuff about male gossip. Its GREAT. You're getting rid of your bike soon anyway and the next 1 and the next 1. You're going to end up with distant memories of your old life and a great sense of loss and that leads to regrets. You gossip now and later on you regret your life.

[@owenkennedy7854]

The ad transition was beautiful man. Love it.

[@event4216]

my expensive mistake - year ago I bought fi...track bike and riding felt like im there only for 95% because I leaned forward just a bit more than Im ready. Days ago I bough same bike (used one) one size smaller, that's 2cm (less than 1 inch for USA crowd) shorter TT and it's suddenly much more comfortable. I'm on borderline between two sizes, smaller is right for city maneuvers and larger is more natural on road. I'm keeping both while I realize which is mine and share other with our kid who hasn't ridden fast light bike. My 15een have came back.

[@event4216]

Imperial pints and gallons are 20 per cent larger than US measures. You can have larger Coca cans, we stay with larger pints.

[@event4216]

@Bebo You moved from USA to Taiwan?

[@event4216]

@Bebo If you insist...By America you mean any particular America? North, South? Central?

[@collinoneill9838]

Wow. I rode my fixed gear for over ten years and always called it a fixie. That's a long-running faux pas.

[@dreyn7780]

You've isolated yourself from the community. There's 2 generations with this problem. Its going to seriously hurt you later in life. There's lots of stuff You're missing and my generation IS training the young generation to avoid you and be smarter than you.

[@mannyechaluce3814]

same here, anyone who gets offended so easily are elitist jerk, people call my fixie a bicycle, I am not offended, it is after all a bicycle

[@SlowDIIV]

@@dreyn7780 🤢

[@mickjager5974]

As far as getting a flat, what about putting slime or similar product in your tubes before you get a flat? And I wouldn't trust the gauge on the pump unless it was a high dollar pump. A cheaper and more accurate way is buy a cheap pump and a relative inexpensive digital gauge, they are supposedly very accurate.

[@painhour]

I know it's an old video but look into SE bikes. Been riding an SE Draft for 12 years only have done regular maintenance

[@d._r._jones]

Seatpost size is always labeled near the min insertion markings at the bottom of the post

[@almightyyotto]

You know this video is great cause 2 years later all this info is still up to date.

[@kevinbourke4038]

He goes over the same items. over and over and over and over .........

[@lukealexander3639]

I have a sixties italian graziella with a $180 Campagnolo seat post because its hard to find a quality 25mm post thats long enough for the wierd geometry on these folding bikes. Tomorrow im buying 20 inch flip flop fixed gear mag wheels, wish me luck. Lol

[@borisdraak9582]

so i have a cuestion is it a smart idea to turn my old road bike into a fixed gear?

[@LXVIII_MADETHIS]

Yeah

[@wf2197]

I’ll buy that 28.6mm Thompson seat post off of you. I bought a frame when I lived in Bogota, Colombia and rode it fixed there. Kept on breaking seat post collar clamp bolts with 27.2mm post, later discovered it is a 28.6mm.

[@galenkehler]

Make sure you measure the frame when you get it. I bought a decent frame but it ended up being manufactured wrong (72.5⁰ HA vs 74⁰ advertised). Due to covid I didn't build and ride the bike for a while and now it's a big hassle to get warranty support.

[@galenkehler]

@Bebo the head tube angle affects the handling, and how the bike reacts in crosswinds. I sized up the bike specifically, if I did want the slack angle I would have bought the smaller size.

[@mongoosearmygaming7701]

When I built my first fixed gear, I forgot you can't stop pedaling and crashed haha

[@dreyn7780]

You hand them to 4 year olds. You're too late at learning.

[@mongoosearmygaming7701]

@@dreyn7780 fixed gear? No maybe single speed with coast brake or a big wheel but big wheels are not gonna throw you off if you stop pedaling

[@dreyn7780]

@@mongoosearmygaming7701 you haven't reached a conversation yet. You're just reacting to words. I started riding fixed gear bikes in 1975. Its impossible for you and me to speak to each other cause I know 40 years of stuff but you Don't. We're from different time zones. We can't even have a basic level conversation.

[@SlowDIIV]

@@dreyn7780 🙄

[@skwal4312]

@@dreyn7780 "You're just reacting to words" Yes, and you're OVERreacting to words bruh 💀😭

[@crazybro4421]

Hey Zach any recommendations for toe straps ? I’ve been looking to purchase mks njs or toshis.

[@dreyn7780]

What is that 1950's technology? Someone put sylavan pedals on a 2010 era road race bike and then sold it. The person who bought then sold it. I got it and then I made them actually work on the bike. The plastic toe clips don't bend or ruin your shoes. I haven't run STRAPS for 30 years. Looks like slippers on your feet.

[@Bence-ht8kc]

@@dreyn7780 if those toe clips accidentally come off when you’re riding, your pedals go insane with the back wheel, you’re speeding and can’t hook your feet back in and your life is over

[@edahazy_buddha]

Nice video. Unluckily in Hungarian we only have one word for fixed gear, which is ,,fixi". So I have to say ,,fixi" straight to all fixed gear riders' face. :D

[@event4216]

this is more tough than actually riding fixi))

[@alp_traume]

I tore off the head of one of rear chain tensor hex`s. Any idea on best method or how to get it out in general? Bike is in a pretty bad shape visually, scratched all over and major rust on rear parts.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

I mean, a chain tensioner is pretty cheap but try a bigger hex? Otherwise you could drill it, reverse thread tap it, then screw anything in and when it's tight it'll now be tightening your new bolt in the unscrew direction of your fucked bolt. I'd go with replacing it

[@kalabuk1678]

The transition into that ad was as smooth as his face afterwards.

[@jeremyneworleans]

Fixie is an insult? .. okay lol I barely knew about fixed gear bikes a week ago. Thanks for teaching us about it

[@lill1671]

you remember that moment when you started riding fixed gear? i still know how i nearly ended up on my face cuz i literally forgot that it was fixed while standing up😂

[@OceannMoon]

I want to custom build a road bike 🚴‍♀️ from an old aluminum giant road bike ogc3, I live in Florida and will be using 100% on flat roads, I am thinking on installing a 12 teeth back rear gear and a 48T crankset, will that set up be fast? I want to average 25 to 30 mph

[@richarddolphin8264]

Zach’s Mom alert!

[@leocmen]

Awesome channel man...

[@scrooge1913]

The lights are so easy to take off the bike you better believe thieves are going to do it. I came out from walmart at night to find someone had stolen my lights and as pissed as I was, I should have known they'd be stolen at walmart of all places.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

Yes. Yes you should have. That said, I've been the victim of being stupid myself

[@joshuabalmores2562]

this is te problem with beginners like me i bought a fixed gear 3 months ago (well almost since i bought it on my bday 15th of May) so yeah bought a Garuda bike it's known here in Philippines should have gone with a celt or tsunami and then what happens was the lock ring and the cog wheel are both clockwise to lock and that's the problem when i was skidding my cog slipped and so i needed to wield it so yeah learned to never go cheap

[@anguscowan3669]

I currently use a heavy mtb but it’s fine because I like riding hills. Are Fixies any good on hills?

[@cyrunningknows]

If you're wanting to do that you need to either have a dual rear , have what the old Tour de France guys did by running fixed-fixed on the rear, or both. In the old days, freewheels were not allowed on The Tour. So you would ride to the top of a mountain on your climbing gear, stop, unscrew the wing nut that held the rear wheel on, flip your wheel so that your descending gear was engaged, then continue on your way. On a very cold mountaintop day, Tullio Campagnolo (yes, THAT Campagnolo) was ahead in the Tour, but his fingers were too cold to turn the wing nut. He watched his lead evaporate as others managed the switch. Thus, when he got home, he invented the quick release skewer. The rest is history. On my fixie I run a dual gear on one side (available from Surly, the Dingle) that allows me to have a climbing and descending gear on one side. I run a rear brake and it is designed align in the descending gear position, since I won't need it for climbing. If I flip the wheel, I have my commuting gear.

[@TheSocialProfile]

That seat post is worth every cent. In my 2000 xc days I paid over 100 for that for my giant

[@bracket0398]

Zach how long you been youtubing it and riding? I remember watching some stuff from you when I was still in Phoenix and fixed riding years back. Also, HoldFast straps are killer for feet belts, as are RaceFace Chester flats!

[@fotografo.infante]

Hi there!!!, excellent video, how much does your bike weigh (yellow)?

[@bimse8013]

Thx again for this video. Do you have any video or installguide for genetic twin toe straps. On genetic pro track pedals with genetic large twin clips ? They won't fit perfectly. Could see you had something similar on your yellow bike on this vid. Thx man 😊

[@math_you_tube]

Yo Zach, what are those leather shoes youre rocking?

[@dijkstra.]

Would love to know as well

[@mj.016]

Holy Molly, back-to-back-to-back days with an upload! Im loving this week, keep it up Zach, great job!

[@dreyn7780]

1000 more bike photos and no gossip.

[@raymondkristiansen9879]

Hi Zach great channel! where did you get the toe clip with red double leather strap? Thank you for all answer

[@ariannajuarez7914]

So don’t get a fixie bike? Do you have any good recommendations?

[@stevepowell-thomas5918]

Hi zach amazing videos thanks very helpful tips 👍🚴

[@c.s.4273]

My worst mistake was at high speed downhill losing contact with the fast turning pedals. It was very difficult and painful to get my feet back on the pedals.