7 Advanced Fixed Gear Skills to Level Up Your Riding!

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Since fixed gear is such a fundamentally different type of cycling, it takes a baseline level of skill to ride one, especially if you're riding brakeless. But once we get a good enough skill level, a lot of us plateau when there are so many more skills to practice to master fixed gear riding. Here's 7 advanced fixed gear skills to level up your riding!
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Fixie Famous Shoutout:
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Brandon Black
David K
Gio Dezera
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Martin Mohr
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Young Architect
0:00 - 7. Getting Into Both Straps
1:44 - 6. Ambidextrous Skidding
2:39 - 5. Foot Jamming
4:26 - Surfshark VPN
5:38 - 4. Two-Minute Track Stand
7:24 - 3. Curb Hopping
8:24 - 2. Wheelie
9:06 - 1. Tracklocross
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#fixedgear

[@H_elios]

Taking both hands off the handle bars. It gives you the ability to stretch on longer rides. You can reach for things in your pockets or on your bike such as bottles or your phone. Sometimes I forget to strap my helmet and having both hands means i don't have to stop.

[@andreamaemarcelo6717]

.

[@chiri2846]

Wait i think it is a common trick like you naturally be able to do that right?

[@miatomi]

@@chiri2846 not at all, and on fixed gear not being able to coast changes things quite a bit

[@chipperhughes4755]

I think this is just a good think for any cycling, not just fixed

[@kentwithaperiod]

@@miatomi for me at least, it's harder to ride with no hands if im not constantly pedalling. when i ride no hands and coast i almost always just turn to 1 side

[@josephsayles863]

Love your reasonably dangerous content Zach. Guess I've been riding tracklocross for years w/out knowing it. 50-75 mile gravel events are the sweet spot for my Jamis Sputnik stuffed w/ 35mm tires and 40-16 gearing to get up those loose climbs. Also enjoy taking it on urban assaults and the single track along river bottoms trails here in Mpls. Ride on!

[@LarryMullins111]

Love your channel Zach...just ordered my Wabi Thunder!

[@lacuisseqc1655]

bunny hop is a pretty useful skill but is really hard on a fixed gear. But for me the most important skill is being extra causious and aware of what is going on around you hahahha. nice vids btw keep it up

[@Juan-hz4io]

Thanks for makeing these videos zach! We love you

[@quinnfoster7143]

love how zach gets right into the video ❤

[@ObscureNameDigit]

handy tip for getting your foot in, use the side of your foot to flip the pedal and slip in, takes getting used to the timing but helps if you don't have braced straps. also for hill stops I find popping the back wheel helps a lot instead of ruining more shoes but yeah sometimes things get out of control and being comfortable breaking with a foot is great especially if your chain breaks going down hill!

[@G_Ozare]

The bike looks awesome with the bigger tawalls 👌🏼

[@YungStinkyWinky]

Been riding fixed for 4 years -- still can't/don't skid very well 😂I have a front brake on every build. I mean I can skid, I know how it works, but I just never need to do it so I never got confident with it. Sure it's nice and clean to have a bike with no cables, but in Vancouver (pretty big hills!) and not having a super spinny gearing, brakes are just mandatory. I like not having to plan a route or limit where I go because of hill angles

[@event4216]

Outside of track front brake on FG is fully legit. If someone would blame me for front brake I'd laugh even if I use it maybe once per month, but I've got it as insurance I can stop much faster than slowing down wheel. Skidding isn't for emergency braking, it has another use.

[@arjay325]

Same! Riding fixed for several years but still find the the front brake as a necessity especially in a city that is notorious for chaotic traffic jams and shady pedestrians.

[@bknapp9728]

I rode a Langster, for years, with a front brake. Every now and then, that brake seemingly prevented an accident. After giving away the Langster, I built a custom Bianchi Super Pista. The frame is drilled, but never added the front brake. I discovered for me, that I really did not need the brake once I practiced and developed using the pedal resistance to slow/stop. However, I live/ride in Texas (mostly flat).

[@bknapp9728]

@Bebo I appreciate your making the time to support a front brake for safety. I know it should be the same as using my helmet. I push the Bianchi to 30mph+ for KOMs and should know better than to ride without a brake. Wishing you safe miles!

[@event4216]

@@bknapp9728 On Sundays and early/late hours there so few cars that brake really is just a safety measure. On regular daytime rides I still adjust speed approaching intersections/traffic lights, especially if sideways aren't easily observable. Pedestrians crossing street outside of pedwalks are cautious and realize I'm not going to stop anyway. So mainly yes, brake is almost not needed. Sometimes riding in busy traffic between cars when my legs already are tired and don't respond as well as on first part of ride I use brake slightly just to save legs and don't want to manoeuvre when stamina is low and attention could make me miss approaching car. Brake is boo only for youngsters who can afford to crash and fall down bike under bus.

[@dauf69]

I would always foot jam on my non-dominant foot, in my case my left leg. That way I can still maintain my dominant foot strapped in on the pedals, giving me some extra control over the bike.

[@mmmmhamburg]

new wheels and those rene herse tires look great, good choice!

[@victoravina409]

keep killing it brother

[@queertales]

Having pedals with clips and straps makes them a bit easier to get into than just straps, as the clips help orient the pedals so the front edge is slightly raised, making it easier to catch with your shoe and flip them over.

[@andomare]

Nah its the same, but with clips you turn the pedal from the top, and with straps you turn it from the bottom.

[@Coby_J]

Dang, this was super relevant! Ty 👊

[@kimoarmstrong3519]

I ride to/from work in steel toe boots. It is quite a trick to get my second toe in the straps. This video is a long time coming.

[@noahgoyette467]

Cinelli makes extra deep toe clips for like 30 bucks, great for boots in the winter or workwear. Used to do construction and still ride in winter with goretex vans and these saved the day, may need a little safe bending or shortened crank arm lenght but that is not different than snow tires on a car in winter in terms of inconvenience.

[@MrJasonodonnell]

Going up curbs, it’s not tricky to master but your rear wheel should never touch anything!. If you practice hoping the rear a tiny bit on flat, and try to pedal a little bit forward smoothly while the wheel is in the air no matter your crank position. it won’t take long, you can also throw you bike forwards just enough as part of it.

[@felipecorrea7876]

Agree. He’s destroying the rear rim

[@Blade3150]

ganda nito!!

[@jacobatherton8339]

Those rene herse's look great on Pete!

[@RandomNameStudio]

Be cool to see you do a video on how to save yourself from crashing when your pedal clips the ground mid turn. Definitely a handy skill to know and could save alot of grief haha. Once you know you know

[@noahgoyette467]

shorter crank arm length helped me because tallboi over here always ran 170+ now w 165s never happened again.

[@Sapoguapo]

You brought a tear to my eye when I noticed you wear people’s socks too!

[@event4216]

Zach, yet I believe very much grey TB14's with tanwall tires (you had 'em on purple bike) were like hotdog and ketchup (for you in USA, anyway, in EU mustard rules), but with shiny Archetypes tan section kind of blends in....make a voting for this, just for fun!

[@KzkknPotato2199]

I really thought i can't do ambidextrous skidding because i'm always comfortable using my right foot for skidding (my dominant) not until i almost hit a car while riding after work.. I unconsciously skid using my left foot and gave me time to shift to my dominant foot to fully stop my bike to avoid hitting that car.. Even after that i'm still not confident doing ambidextrous skids..

[@WCIIIReiniger]

7. Not needed, because I ride without straps. 6. Not needed, because I don't skid und use breaks. 5. Not needed, because I use breaks and not possible because I have fenders and a bike rack. 4. I try it a bit from time to time, but it does not really help me in a meaningful way, beside looking cool. 3. Agree, although this is quite basic and I learned it in the first 100 km of riding fixed. 2. As you mentioned it is quite useless, and mainly for fun / show off, using it in actual traffic is just dumb and unreasonably dangerous. Also I don't have the time to practice it and don't want to damage my bike. 1. Since I basically have a gravel/fixed gear hybrid I am riding offroad almost every day.

[@jamesfiegel9675]

Stocky short guys are the best wheelie experts :)

[@mikewoods6697]

New gum walls on Wallace, Zach? Also, tubeless? Ricky would be a killer tracklocross bike.

[@jakubpu]

Looks like he's back on Rene Herses

[@ibastiasoficial]

More necessary than wheelies and tracklocross are bunnyhops to avoid potholes and bumps at 45 km/hour and taking the both hands off the handlebars to arrange your clothes, clean your glasses or even drink water without stopping.

[@anielyantra1]

Yes a back tire close to your seat tube does allow you to do wheelies easier. I maintain that is a skill based on frame geometry. A track frame is not the best geometry for the way most people ride. 80s-90s MTB geometry is..... especially if it is a rigid fork.

[@bhrriss]

i have a throne trklrd 55cm w a bunch of upgrades but wheelies bro i always get scared bc sometimes i pop it up and i go straight to the side which i hate but sometimes i get 2-3 pedalstrokes and come down, i guess i just gotta stay centered before i pop and keep it at that balance point but its scary af!

[@possibly8180]

80s MTB geo is peak tbh. Built for fun first and foremost

[@shoopdawooplazars]

@Bebo lmao relax bud

[@derekkosnoski7052]

What’s more important than skidding with either foot forward is skidding properly without having your crotch up on your stem. No Disrespect, love your content!

[@bknapp9728]

I know I need to improve track stands, but I ride fixed clipped in. Losing balance, in a track stand in clips, typically results in me on the pavement;).

[@benjamincasebolt2959]

Nothing new to me in this vid, thanks for making me feel like a real fixie goon!

[@mom_im_losing_it]

You do have the toe flip on those pedals so that makes it easier. But I get what you are saying kids need to get it together.

[@junreaksaa]

My place is hilly, I skid on wet and sandy pavement which i dont like...32c tires and my gear ratio is 46x20. I have a front brake and foot retention only on my dominant foot...just give me confidence in traffic knowing i have a one foot availble for emergency bail and a front brake.

[@BikeWithTheFlow]

I Still struggle to get in to the straps:)))

[@benbraceletspurple9108]

Bonus points for track standing with no hands, either way tire, any position feet, etc.

[@jackand100others3]

Idk about some of y’all but I’ve never been a fan of the long skidding specially with a higher ratio. For me its harder but I’ve been able to easily hop skip, with a ratio like 50:15 n save my tires here and there from wear

[@psychoaiko666]

Can't do the second strap without looking, but then I do get it on the first try. But most of the time I ride clipless anyway 🤷 I got crankbrothers mallet dh pedals, which are both clipless (eggbeater type) and platform at the same time. So if I don't feel like wearing cycling shoes, I just pop straps on 'm and go.

[@psychoaiko666]

@Bebo why is it that you dislike footretention?

[@psychoaiko666]

@Bebo hmm okay, in my personal experience hot spots are due to incorrect shoes, or straps not correctly adjusted. On the subject of injuries, yeah I can see that, but again personally I haven't suffered any injuries related to that (yet).

[@psychoaiko666]

@Bebo oh I agree that rock-hard shoes are terrible. The cycling shoes I got now I don't have any problems with. But I wouldn't say footretention is purely for racing. It is efficient on the bike, a lil less off the bike, but I got used to it. And like I said, without footretention I prolly won't make it uphill.

[@event4216]

Riding in a flow. FG allows to make riding so fluent so I really don't need to sprint out of my pants to arrive at intersection when it's blocked by passing cars. I adjust tempo and when I go from A to B without ever stopping then it counts, otherwise it's just meh...commute.

[@benbraceletspurple9108]

3 speeds to curb jumps, slowest: front wheel then pause and then jumping back wheel, useful when jumping medians at slow speeds, 2) the front wheel then back wheel double pop, using momentum and a quick weight shift most common speed, 3) very fast, 15mph or faster, the full bike pop-up, for this you buny hop all the wheels.

[@Gravelmisfit_]

I find it funny people who can’t get into straps or clipless without looking. One of the first things I learned was this cause having to look down I did not want that!

[@Joshua-ks4um]

What kind of handle bars are those

[@thundaa21]

what is your crankset or chainring?

[@jamieeedden777]

Personally I ride 3 speed hub gear or 6 and 8 never really been a fan of single speed bikes not sence I was a teen but was considering getting one for short rides what brand would be best ?

[@auralitegames3367]

Wabi of course or any pretty good steel bike. Like the kilo tt or fuji feather since they're cheaper. I have an aluminum sxl frameset and it's not bad for a cheap bike either.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Nice :)

[@Phinksssss]

What's a good ratio for starters?

[@josh_ari]

I see you replaced your mks urbans with the gr-09s. Hands free trackstands seem impossible. I'm still riding with a front brake!

[@event4216]

Front brake is sane. Most of dudes riding brakeless crash sooner or later because of inability to avoid contact. Yeah, there are some who don't...maybe.

[@jtverbeck]

what gear ratio to you use on your setup?

[@Habesha4life]

In the market for a new helmet. I like that yours is kinda low profile! Currently wearing one that shooms on my head lol. Where you get yours? 🙏🏽🧐

[@perra2224]

step-skiding is also important is a good way to skid without killing your tires. Also it's not that hard, but I've have not seen much people using it.

[@gunnisonmatula]

What’s a step skid?

[@j31k0k0t]

8:25 Wheelie on fixed gear is actualy harder then on moutin bike (at least for me).

[@Juleslshaw]

For curb hopping learn to bunny hop, curb hopping it’s basally just a broken down version of bunny hopping

[@Russel4417]

Right is my dominant foot but it's easier for me to put my left foot in the strap.

[@2ndstreetmarvel]

I run Speedplay’s on my fixie.

[@CyclingMartialartswithMusic]

Just roll the crank one revolution and you can put your other foot. You are battling inertia anyway use it to you advantage.

[@419hermit]

can we get a tip on how to get into both straps whilst descending at 60kmh pls 🙏

[@Huppi183]

its cool

[@tuanryan9524]

Just ride safe and take some fun. Happy fixed gear.

[@ismaelarguello31]

Bro what kind of tires are those😊

[@doubletapp5967]

Do you ever plan on clipping in?

[@matheusrodrigues576]

skip your rear wheel is a good way to control the speed either, its easier then a skid and helps u retake control of a high speed spinning.

[@RassulKussembekov]

what's your tire width while riding fg offroad?

[@H_elios]

28 and up.

[@urlauber2884]

How do you make sure your cog doesn't come lose when you ride brakeless? I'm pretty new to fixed gear and the last time I used lock-tight then rota-fixed it as hard as I could and rode up a steep hill 3 times, still didn't work.

[@nielludo774]

Just make sure its tight enough

[@andresgizmos1271]

use a lockring which is threaded in the opposite direction so it tightens your cog down when you backpedal

[@chrys282]

I wish you had also told people to skip with the rearwheel and climbing a curb. great video though

[@pavelg4990]

OK, I'm gonna be a little weird -- what are the pants you're wearing?

[@bikestuffjimmy]

I just went back to fixed after riding a freewheel for 8 years. I bought pedal straps and looking back, I realize why my bikes always came with cages.

[@suhdud4646]

Nice to see that someone else is breaking the cliche rule of saddle and grips need to be the same colour combo. I too have been running gumwalls for about a year + and matched my grip to my tyres. Some of my builds follow that rule but my E11 is an exception to the rule.

[@victoravina409]

pull up to the ride outs would love to see you in traffic

[@pete3060]

I see you with the Rene Herse tires. You should set them up tubeless, 90% of the punctures you'd get would just seal up without you noticing.

[@psychoaiko666]

Problem with tubeless is skidding. I mean skidding wears through tires fast, and because of that it's more cost effective to just get regular clinchers.

[@pete3060]

@@psychoaiko666 If you don't skid a ton you can make your tires last for quite a while. I've been running a tubeless setup on my so-ez for the past year now and I've only gone through one set of tires. I've also gotten zero punctures that the sealant couldn't seal.

[@pete3060]

@Bebo Dude you've only gotta pump them up like once a week. worthy tradeoff for the added flat resistance.

[@pete3060]

@Bebo Sure, you can always run a tire that is highly puncture resistant and likely never flat but in the case that you want to run something thinner and lighter having them set up tubeless provides you with some level of flat resistance. An example of that being Rene Herse tires. They're super thin making them susceptible to punctures. There is also the added benefit of lower rolling resistance.

[@pete3060]

@Bebo You say that but you've likely never ridden a bike with Rene Herse tires on it.

[@nova-jo1649]

What happened to the purple chainring!?!?

[@swarnendumunshi]

Hey @Zach, I am from India and I need your help regarding Fixies. Could you please recommend some online sources or any source you know, from where I can buy fixed gear sprockets and flip flop hubs for my single speed sports tourer conversion. Here in my locality in Kolkata, most of the shop owners don't even know what a fixed gear bicycle is. Please help.

[@aayushprabhu1865]

Hey Swarnendu, I'm from India too and i can relate completely. I've not found a *single* fixed gear in my search of almost a year so even I'm also considering to convert a ss to a fixed. For parts you can order them from bike inn, most people do say it's reliable but i haven't ordered anything from there yet. The problem for me is finding a good single speed bike. Which one do you have? I'm 6' 2" and can't find a single speed of my size. Zach can you help😅?

[@swarnendumunshi]

@@aayushprabhu1865 Are the prices reasonable in Bike inn?

[@selfactualizer2099]

The first one is something you just learn normally, and I doubt anyone does one strap because you'd only be able to pull up with one leg, also your pedals are extremely easy because they have lips to flip them I think brakes don't add any noticeable weight and city drivers can't see as well as us, just use brakes lmao foot jamming isn't always effective if you lose your chain on a hill bomb Most of the tire problems you mentioned is fixed with some cheap rim brakes I think track standing is also inevitable, it just is Curb hopping might be the first essential thing here to learn that might not happen naturally Huh I was gonna say the last three were good but ..... hhhh just 3 and 2 Like why not wheelie back into a 180 turn for super smooth turnarounds

[@k.mm.k6372]

what is the ideal Skiding Gear ratio for a beginner fixie rider? anyone

[@inhalinglead4893]

the one that usually comes standard w a bike. 46:16? once ur confident it wouldnt hurt to go higher 🫣

[@ivanjerganoff280]

My dominant is my right foot...but in strength my left foot is stronger. Can lock the wheel without foot retention.

[@mazdamiata786]

for me wheeling a fixed gear is way easier than a freewheel

[@josephhampton6135]

I'm a very strong guy so I can get top speed on any bike including all single speed and fixed gear bikes and mountain bikes as well

[@derektac5472]

need to get used to getting foot into your clips/straps while pedaling. a lot harder with a moving target. perhaps your next demo should be on rollers or a trainer (or a friend chasing you while you pedal LOL)

[@mastiffmythslegendsandlore]

I ride no straps and in sandlees

[@DopeEd]

if you run a front brake, curbhopping becomes a next level of fun. After hopping the front wheel onto the curb, grab the brake and push forward then release the brake, this will lift the rear wheel allowing it to clear the curb. My favorite thing is riding up to a locking post, mounting the curb then endo turning the bike parallel to the post and hopping off the bike in one smooth motion. I feel like a damn cowboy doing that maneuvre!!

[@janisappleton7665]

nobody gonna talk about bunny hopping / pogos? lets you get up curbs at speed and opens up tons of bailout lines in traffic.

[@gotohoward]

Falling badly on a bike isn't fun. I was a kid when those adventures were common. As an adult, it would be seriously not fun. I've trashed myself, and the bike I was riding. Walking the bike home with one wheel up bleeding gives life meaning.

[@assortedexorcist2645]

foot jamming can rip your sole be sure you are fearlless

[@OzzyMcBean]

What about track-stop-wheelie? 😄

[@scubawithatuba]

dat chain do be loose tho

[@jedi.knight5859]

always a nissan altima lol

[@gungfuriceboy]

Zach i'm a Senior Rider. haven't Single Geared ...but would like to 'TRY'! would accomplished fixed Gear cyclists ..consider me a WIMP..for putting brake ( s )..on my potential Fixed Gear?? cheers!!

[@jordanl5444]

Who cares what other people think, do what feels safe for you

[@fehrcarlo2381]

There is no substitute, use at least a damn front brake!!!

[@needmake]

I don’t like to foot jam I’d rather do hop skids to drop speed

[@kfox8831]

Does anyone know how tall Zach is?

[@jbc9507]

i think he mentioned he a 6 flat

[@djcharlied]

You can skid sitting down with one strap

[@benbraceletspurple9108]

"cow and chicken parent" only cool kids will know

[@sleepingslightly]

COW & CHICKEN!!

[@noahgoyette467]

10 Extra points for choosing a Nissan Altima

[@MrKlop6]

почему вы используете педали туклипсы с ремнями, а не контактные педали с shimano cleats или прочими? лично для меня это намного удобнее

[@andomare]

потому что вело туфли уродливые и в них не удобно ходить

[@MrKlop6]

@@andomare говорит тот, кто не разу их не надевал.. я угадал?

[@andomare]

@@MrKlop6 так автор говорил в другом ролике, я то тут при чем

[@MrKlop6]

@@andomare то что они уродливые?

[@andomare]

@@MrKlop6 ну да

[@josephkennedy6188]

I brought a Wabi literally based on your recommendation and it’s the absolute worst purchase ever! The bottom bracket they sold me didn’t fit the multiple crank sets I tried. I called Wabi to buy things and the guy on the other end acted as if I was bugging him and wasting his time. And now I have a flat after 2 days of riding because the tyres I got with the wheel set was dry rotting. This isn’t a fixed gear channel, this is a medium for thugs to sell overpriced ineffective garbage! I’m sorry I ever even found this channel!

[@crf80fdarkdays]

😭😭😭

[@logicmr.8351]

Add one more, when u at the parking lot, do fish n chip instead to hop on your bike… make all the road biker jealous of your skill

[@garahet.v1400]

you forgot skidding without strapss

[@chrissantana2858]

Don't ride without foot retention

[@psychoaiko666]

@@chrissantana2858 THIS

[@josh_ari]

He also forgot riding without pedals

[@lukaparadina2885]

How'd you know it was a Nissan Altima

[@anonemoustroll6008]

"ambidextrous" means using both hands, you know that? I see a lot of riders that forgot what a brake was/is. But I do not understand the brakeless riding thing, why is that a qualification. 7:51 you noticed that your rear tire hit the curb quite hard? Lifting the rear a little up helps. Just a bicycle with all inventions of th elast 150 years removed, I do not understand the "hype!" probably I am too old. Have fun, stay save. (skill you forgot, jumping out of tram rails)

[@Ivan-zf6wd]

C'mon Zack, wheelies are not THAT difficult, just takes patience and practice

[@Megadeth6633]

ok

[@mikesuperg]

This is so impressive, and yet I also can’t think of anything more hipster than making brakes un-cool.