How to Climb on a Fixed Gear

For lightweight, top-tier steel bikes, check out Wabi Cycles:
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Get exclusive behind the scenes access by becoming a Super Subscrider on Patreon: / zachgallardo Many cyclists consider climbing on a fixed gear impossible, masochistic, or at the very least, just plane stupid. But part of the fun of riding a fixed gear in the first place is doing your best with the wrong tool for the job. Sometimes, doing something stupid like riding up mountains on a fixed gear can lead you to learn your limits, or even redefine what's possible for you. It's not easy, but that's the point. If you want to learn how to climb hills and mountains on your fixed gear, here's exactly how.
Timestamps:
1. The most important thing for fixed climbing: 1:23
2. Optimize your fixed gear for climbing: 3:05
3. Fixed Gear Climbing: 5 Stages of Grief: 7:23
4. Climbing techniques to get you to the top: 11:51
Fixie Famous Shoutout:
StanStrong108
Ryan Witt
Patreon Singlespeed Shoutout:
Carlos Flores
nicodache
@ffnivas
Barak S
Pat Bateman
Simon Newton
Gregory Tomlinson
Connect with me:
/ strava
/ strava
/ zachygallardo #fixedgearvlog #fixedgearclimb #fixedgearhills

[@ZachGallardo]

Timestamps for your convenience: 1. The most important thing for fixed climbing: 1:23 2. Optimize your fixed gear for climbing: 3:05 3. Fixed Gear Climbing: 5 Stages of Grief: 7:23 4. Climbing techniques to get you to the top: 11:51

[@TL243]

Wonder if the bar set up will factor in?? If the hoods are too far below the saddle level how does that impact your ability to.... Love the Taiwan game you got going!

[@zipias]

fixed no brakes is my dayli ride on 2nd category climbing (+-10%) with 44/18 ratio. have to step up the saddle in stiffer segments but I never stop on a 11km cimb... allways forcing, up and down! 😁

[@TL243]

@@zipias Nice!! I prefer a different ratio but, the concept is pretty close. Gears have to relate to RPM's to save yourself and understand how the low and high ends work. at 40rpm, you are going 7.6 mph, 60=11.5, 90=17.2 and 100=19.1 mph. However, I have found that if you build up your bike with a lower bar/seat drop, you are unable to stand as effectively and it is also harder to push the higher RPM's for a greater distance. For me, I am happy slowing to 8/9mph if I can pull 23/24 comfortably.... go Zach and the zig zag... looping back helps too!

[@TL243]

www.bikecalc.com/gear_speed

[@psychoaiko666]

Upon arriving on the top of the climb it sounded like you need to replace your chain and cog.

[@The_Cat666]

I thought I was the only one who can't ride uphill in a straight line. Thank you for making this video. I just get off the bike and start walking.

[@sheldonharvey8306]

The "zig-zag" technique it's actually a way to effectively lower your gear ratio--by makiing the road less steep at the cost of making the journey up longer.

[@dreyn7780]

Buy more bikes. Thrifty ruins lives.

[@dreyn7780]

So many things have been designed to get rid of pedalling. You're still talking about it.

[@Noname123rr]

And also way to get into accident

[@equinox5560]

Yes until ur riding in a public road and the space on the bike lane is a single lane type

[@SwyvCrux]

Tbh it's suicide unless the roads not busy as you mostly have the shoulder in America particularly texas. I'm used to narrow strips sadly

[@BelperFlyer]

I always think there are 3 gears when riding fixed - sitting down, standing up and then the old 24" gear ie 2 feet :) When I was younger almost a lifetime ago (literally) riding single fixed during winter was common because of the simplicity and better control when it's icy. My choice of gear was 65" (46x19) which got me up most of the local hills and wasn't so low that I couldn't 'disconnect' my legs on descents. I always had 2 brakes. Also most hill climb TT competitors opted for single fixed if the gradient didn't change too much because of weight saving.

[@fishticx]

Hello I have an 1985 Raleigh with Campagnolo dropout welded on it a true warrior my set up gears is 48-22 total cruzin’ to tell you the truth I did the Century ride here in Hawaii. On steep hills I was passing people on expensive road bikes. Try this gearing ratio no joke you will love it. Before I got to 48-22 I tried every gear and spent a lot of money on all gear ratios. I found this the best hands down. Just try it 48-22. We only live once. Let me know. I requested to follow you on IG. I really love hills. My road bike I converted it to mountain gears to ride steep hills. Peace out. Aloha, Sammy D

[@csababenke2019]

I'm going to do a challenge now, 1400km and 30000m difference in level, it will be 60% dirt road, I'll do it at singel speed, but I promise the gear ratio, until now I didn't know what gear to go with doing! Thanks!

[@TL243]

So dig the positive vibes Zach!

[@Dragon_rls]

Good going Zach. I've done my fair share of climbing, out in Colorado, but mostly on MTB.

[@binjones]

I agree with everything you said. While I have yet to attempt fixed gear, I used to ride metric centuries on a single speed. Not bad on flats but you have to grind out the hills. While in theory the single allows coasting, when climbing hills with a 7-12% grade, there is no coasting, only grinding. I’m currently looking to get a Single speed Brompton and covert it to a fixed gear. Why? If you ask you wouldn’t understand… it’s just because…

[@risue08]

I once saw a dude uphill with a single speed lazy bike with riser bars and seemed like he'd explode anytime while climbing. Then I saw a lady behind him with a multi-cog setup cruising upwards with ease 😂

[@ashleighmason4982]

Hey, great video! I usually ride 46:15, but when I face a long climb, I do a quick flip-flop to 17 sprocket. But I live in a relatively flat place, no mountains like that you just smashed. 🌤️

[@cramquila2801]

Whats with the clicking sounds while your riding?

[@kevinchen1788]

I’m a roadie, but there was this one time I just refused to get out of the biggest gear I had (52/14). To get to my house on top of a hill, I’d sprint at the base of the hill and have my momentum carry me up until I went down to like 5mph. Then, since I don’t have foot retention, while mashing on the pedal, I’d push the other pedal back with my other foot to get the crank down. A year later I broke my first freewheel, and I now go up with 52/16.

[@thaidye]

good stuff man, I bet that descend was well worth the climb

[@Radnally]

Young knees

[@raffitchakmakjian]

you had me at "5 stages of grief" lol.

[@greengeralt4831]

I don't know what kind of mountains you have there, but here in the south Carpathians it's just physically impossible.

[@bearvalentines3161]

Damn my mtb ways 22 kilos and can still climb I wonder how well i could do on a lighter bikes

[@anthonyanderson8509]

Nice ride, you made it!

[@raffitchakmakjian]

you sound like the announcer from OG The Price Is Right when you give your slogan. gj hf

[@ljalmanzar1]

Practical life advice on disguise of biking tips

[@teamrocketjoey]

you wildin wildin

[@s.sradon9782]

as someone that pedals up hills in the hardest gear on their 27 speed bike, this is for me.

[@BeastyBite]

show us

[@fishticx]

You talk about lightness on your bike in reality it’s all in the strongest of your legs. No matter how much weight you have on your bike. I’m not Fuckin’ around a gear ratio of 48-22 is the key to it. Studied gear ratios for a long time and for my personal experience 48-22 is the absolutely best hands down. Try it . Give it a try I promise you’ll like it.

[@donntrotter]

Please make a "Reasonably Dangerous" tank top!

[@donntrotter]

Or even a transfer print or something and I'll do the work!

[@kosongsatudua3999]

What gear ratio is best for both climb mountain and city?

[@justinlawrence8812]

Respect ✊🏿

[@richardwallace133]

My old knees need gears

[@danielc5647]

what about 52/17?

[@FJ-xz7yy]

breathing SMR

[@almightyalan8942]

Who else riding bikes during corona virus?

[@TL243]

Lot's. More than ever. its the best healthy social distancing thing you can do!

[@littlegoobie]

I'm biking less, but I'm enjoying it becasue traffic is waaaay down now that almost everything is closed up and shut down. It's kinda spooky, like riding in those lockdown china videos.

[@ever2gut1]

I've simply ridden around the block. Will try and get a solid ride this weekend

[@TushhsuT]

Im first time looking on fixed gear, but all I know about cadence - this climbing is a nice way to kill your knees..

[@GordonMoat]

That’s some epic suffering.

[@johnrovicgerong433]

Climbing on a fixed gear is hard yes, but going downhill is even harder. My GR is 52/13 😭

[@walthansen6333]

Climbing on a fixed isn't an issue..... Descending on a fixed sucks.... Used to do all the hills in San Francisco on a fixed gear without an issue, but going down the hills really sucked.

[@isidroarcos5550]

You must of been one of the cats in macaframa props to you

[@collegedropout3076]

Don't zigzag, your just adding more distance to your trip. Not tryna be a dick, but since you chose the ride harder not smarter (gear down) approach, no reason you should try and cheat it by avoiding the straight climb. Embrace the suffering and ACTUALLY conquer that mountain boi.

[@janchristian3678]

Im kinda masochist but not gonna try climbing a mountain with a single chain that has 58 teeths

[@robertotrentini6391]

👍👏👏👏

[@Jules.C.]

Decending on a fixed gear. 0.0 _____

[@x._.xxiang8495]

can buy me a dosnoventa bike please i beg u

[@agentofart5425]

This guy was talking sooo much upfront that it became boring. No new "technique" was shown! WTF??

[@homemadeblowgunchannel3967]

my, you're torturing youself, please change to a roady for climbing! Nice try anyway.

[@davidwoods80]

Read the title, and though Zack was going to tell us how to, literally, get on a bike. Thought poor Zack was running out of content ideas. Was quite wrong. Good video!

[@duckacid]

You think too much.

[@ThePhiliposophy]

49/17 is insane. I struggle on 49/19 on short hill climbs. 49/17 on a mountain is another level! Mad respect!

[@innoxima]

I tried 48/16 yesterday and it was just pure suffering, i climbed almost 2 thousand feet of elevation and no descents going

[@stral2828]

Climbing brakeless is just pain. Going up? Pain. Going down? Hold on to dear life! Hotel? Trivago.

[@chepa1767]

Death? Death

[@kimrice394]

Love the 5 stages 🤣. I’m not fixed but I’m exclusively Single Speed and I go through these stages. Gravel group rides are always a compromise(gear wise) of keeping with the geared majority while also making all the climbs. An audience always seem to mentally force me to not walk.

[@dreyn7780]

Even on the extreme antisocial edges of society, you're experiencing peer group pressure. After all those things invented to get rid of pedalling, you're still talking about it. They cater for your whinges but you refuse to stop doing it. A group ride would actually consist of Tandem bicycles. Not soloist rebel antisocial bikes.

[@Rocket-Man-765]

@@dreyn7780 get a life

[@dreyn7780]

@@Rocket-Man-765 you weren’t waiting for your chance to react. You deliberately attack, and because you’ve trained yourself to attack, you’re being reported to the authorities.

[@johnbehaylo6704]

You’re both freaks.

[@NotFine]

@@dreyn7780 eh? I hope you don’t still say stuff like this

[@BanacaNation]

Ya you would have had a much easier time on 48/19. Another tip is to take the steep turns wide, going through the apex is shorter distance but you’ll lose momentum and cadence and be slower on the exit of the turn. Just have to make sure it’s safe to use up the other side of the road with no oncoming traffic. There is no shame in walking parts of the climb. Really steep sections will have you grinding at 3-5mph which is inefficient for long periods of time. Walk those parts so you have more energy to push up sections where you are riding 5-15mph uphill. Fixed gear cycling is an extension of your body, so a walking section here or there is fine if it means you don’t bonk and can conquer the climb. Finally embrace the pain, but know when it is healthy pain, and pain that is leading to injury.

[@dreyn7780]

Get a run up from mount Everest.

[@nice.9102]

descending is tougher

[@jesse3220]

yes sir it is

[@gambitexe240]

sg rider here really just be careful make sure nothing is in the way and it wont be so hard lastly ride safe!

[@marcosr666]

As long as you keep your speed to what youre confortable with youre good

[@gregorybertrand645]

But boy is it fun. I love being in what my ex called, "the danger zone." I miss living where there are hills.

[@DogeTrump]

@@gambitexe240 ride safe!

[@BruceChastain]

nothing wrong with climbing on fixed, as long as the one gear is a decent gear! :)

[@iwritechecksatthegrocerystore]

Dude for real. I switched not to long ago to 50/17. Feels awesome on flat. On hills....😭 🔫

[@xavieredwards6156]

48 : 13 here 😂 flat ground feels like a hill

[@safidyandrianantenaina4733]

@@xavieredwards6156 I'm on a 53 : 11

[@dreyn7780]

Stop adapting to stuff. If you were driving a 1 gear car, you'd just have to abandon the mountain journey. A bicycle allows you to get off and carry your bike up the hill. That's part of bike life. Just Stop having a whinge about it. Dirt bike riders have to give up the journey. The hill is too steep, to slippery when wet. Why do you go to the point of snapping your knees?

[@adamdavey2084]

@@dreyn7780 Because it's rewarding, feel free to give up though

[@piotrociepa5109]

I love climbing on fixed, prefer to go uphill than downhill

[@sheldonharvey8306]

Excellent video!!! You did not just give us a journalist's report of a sporting event, you took us on the field, play by play.

[@Priv8grass]

He changed his gearing to make it harder for our entertainment. I love this guy learned everything from his channel.

[@deabreu.tattoo]

Ah, to be young and have perfect knees...

[@dreyn7780]

Looks like they're being worn rapidly. The ankles are smaller and dealing with more stress. Snap your ankle and you're out for 2 years, then you start over.

[@Dontslaythybroski]

Love my mtb lol. I commute on a hilly terrain and this reminded me why I dont own a fixie

[@MarswaggerOG]

did anybody tell you you actually sound like Garnt(Gigguk) complaining...lol :D

[@DrewskiTheLegend]

In my experience there’s nothing worse than climbing a mountain, at least until you have to go back down.

[@Sir-Prizse]

let me put it this way, even with a geared bike you will run out of gears on a steep climb... but with a fixed gear the power transmission is at least better.

[@jandeiification]

I smiled when he said, "why? Why do i do this to myself?" 9:35

[@sandydennylives1392]

Probably fit a 42/22 if I lived in the 'tains, or went there. The magic of single speed to glide down. Might fit a 22 and new chain on my 725 for the summer local climbs with 48/22 instead of the current 48/16.

[@gwynnjason]

based on the anime yawamushi pedal, dancing helps

[@nav5077]

lmao

[@grimispotato245]

Going up hill wearing jeans and regular t-shirt is not going to help.

[@Luke86Flyer]

Sorry but I think you just destroy your knee and back..as a roadie/gravel rider even if my training is very good, i dont think I will ever try this because is a suicide on italians 10-15km mountain climbs

[@oschoa]

good on you for climbing fixed bro, i can barely do it with gears.

[@dreyn7780]

Maybe we should report him for self harm. Legs and feet are designed for walking not pedalling. Big muscle, ripped skin, destroyed joints.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

I think bikers with more than gear look strange when they climb sitting down and their pedals are moving fast. It just doesn't look right.

[@silentcyclist]

Cheaters

[@surfinggraham9550]

Content suggestion: like State Bicycles' series, but "Riding fixed, up mountains, with lo-pros"

[@emersoncardenas6899]

Congrats to making it to the top. Would you consider setting up a climbing fixed bike with gearing inches in the fifties? Why didn't you cover more of the downhill? Downhill with one front brake is gnarly.

[@jloayza87]

Oh whhhaaaa no way! Greetings from the sac/bay area brotha! Your videos have inspired me to start riding again.

[@rustyd3817]

As long as you got momentum and mental toughness you can do it

[@randallsmith7885]

Awesome vid! Favorite quotes: "I am coming in hot", "Am I glad I have a front brake".

[@Insomniaxcd]

I always climb on a fixed gear my gear ratio is 48x16 i just do the makishima dance thingy cuz why not lol

[@darrelmyer935]

I’m enjoying the bike so far kzbin.infoUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA My only real complaints are the brakes and the pedals. I feel like a bike designed for bigger people should have much larger pedals and more heavy duty brakes. I’ve only gotten two really good rides out of it, minimal downhill action, and the brakes feel like they’re already going out. A larger person has more momentum, so I think this wasn’t thought through very well. Also, I wear size 13-14 wide shoes. My feet cramp up on these pedals that are clearly made for smaller feet. Since I’m not a pro rider (and I don’t think many are who purchase this bike) I don’t think that the straps on the pedal are necessary at all. None of this takes away from the enjoyment I get from riding, however. I’ll just head to a bike shop to improve on a few things.

[@logicmr.8351]

I did my first climbing on a bike today, and I did it on a fixed gear, 88 wheels, 2.7 ratio, no brake…. It’s got to be the hardest thing I have done in any sport so far, I end up cramping all the way down the mountain, no excuse, but it was so painful even after get home, I still have neuromuscular fatigue, spasm on my quads… lol. But this experience has taught me a few things that will make next time a more successful ride. 1.) front brake is important, or be super skilled with skid 2.) stay hydrate and bring electrolyte 3.) don’t wear a backpack if you don’t have to. 4.) eat breakfast!! I am also going to do a few adjustment on my bike…. definitely going to practice until I can beat it, I will never want to feel weak again. I learned the hard way but watch il overcome this soon!

[@cuzzitv6747]

Its like don't use the elevator take the stairs. send a pigeon not an e-mail. light it up with a flint don't use matches. Swim back to LA don't ride a plane. 🤣🥵

[@dorianblue4229]

You're an ABSOLUTE legend and after seeing this, i believe the impossible is now possible and can't wait to try. Great about the oxygen intake which will, in the end, improve your wellbeing and mood (provided one doesnt risk heart problems). About the bike, i have only ridden geared/freewheeled bikes so far, so can't say about fixies (am curious :) ), but on them i'm afraid a hard gear would put a bit too much strain on the chain and sprocket teeth, resulting in their shorter life maybe? This is more of a question than an actual statement, would be glad to hear opinions on that :) PS. From the boxes you stuff into your backpack, i guess you ride also some laidback custom cruser lowrider? I'm in Italy and dream about getting one some day soon... never seen one live, even :) ciao!

[@Lakshmant]

if you train enough on a single speed and adjust your riding you can do it even with a set freewheel size i do in my city in india on flyovers which are long and steep and hills also

[@RickyCue]

pulling up is brutal on the hip flexors so I've always preferred pushing down vs pulling up.. anyone else?

[@markjolyonsinclair]

Great attempt!; well done! Personally I’d drop that gear down to at least 65 inch and spin more on the flat/downhill. You’d fly up there on a lower gear.

[@reyskidude]

good to know this a normal kind of crazy... though not a fixie, i try my single gear Brompton (54 and 12 on 16" wheels) up some gradients here in SG. though not exactly a "mountain", managed to bring it up to Mt Faber via 2 routes already (bit of walk on the steeper one). true about the cadence, be it on flat or up grades, it gets way harder when you lose you cadence

[@dreyn7780]

Normal crazy doesn't exist. Normal is having a scooter bike with a motor. Your ankles and feet are designed for walking.

[@stickieyams]

No because I just started my part time job and I have to go up this hill everyday and its so embarrassing having to walk it up😭 It feels like the walk of shame 💀

[@Bicichika]

Is it fixed gear? Why do you have 2 brake levers then?

[@ashcoates3168]

Some part of me thinks I can climb my local 8 mile mountain on the 52/15 gearing I ride on my track bike

[@fairladyz9957]

I’m a new subscriber and new to fixed gear riding what stem. Does anyone know what stem that is on the yellow bike ? It looks good with the style of bike

[@josephf5036]

Definitely that was a good effort and a sense of achievement in the end! Young knees!

[@dreyn7780]

Thriftiness and silly. If it was a Dirt road you'd have a different life. Its OKAY to abandon the ride.

[@agungsukariman]

Thanks, but I will carry on the bike and start walking. the BPM and cadence seem crazy..

[@paulschmidtke425]

My own personal piece of advice for climbing fixed ,, take a couple of aspirin tablets before you start , apparently it really makes it easier for emergency services to resuscitate you

[@hamzie3966]

as an unnecessary suffering enjoyer i thank you for making this video

[@hmont5614]

Always rode 46 20, 50 21 and 50 20 as l got fitter. 46 20 is a good gear with a saddle bag and stuff. Bigger gears destroy your knees. 50 21 gets you up most hills with a good cadence and you dont loose dignity with snails passing.

[@renecarballo5831]

Do a review on a SELLE ANATOMICA SADDLE.

[@P373RV2]

God how i hate jazz..... good video though!

[@linechaay6430]

"35 pound walmart tank" literally just my bicycle!

[@Jjuls]

This is just so funny to watch haha

[@eprostation4260]

Lodiiii

[@LA_Kidd92]

“Just keep swimming” 😂

[@ratoneJR]

We are under lockdown here in Illinois in the U.S. Must be nice to go out and play.

[@peterbaskind9872]

ratoneJR You can ride under lockdown. Indeed, riding is the perfect socially distant workout. I’m riding in the morning.

[@rickthatch3556]

Why not have a flip hub wheel with different size gear?

[@Santiago01050]

He looks like the guys you see in the pictures of your English book

[@MIJ999]

I just wanna buy a fixed gear because of wind breaker 😭

[@JaleM]

The weirdest part is that you’re doing all this in trousers

[@tomasdecamino8522]

I love climbing on my fixie, in most parts of Costa Rica you b really have a choice if you want to ride fixie bikes... I use drops... the trick for me is pacing

[@maddoxarquiza1794]

can i ask what your gear ratio sir?

[@tomasdecamino8522]

@@maddoxarquiza1794 49/16 and sometimes 49/18

[@selfactualizer2099]

Unnecessary is what makes my thighs big and meaty

[@arncj18]

what happens if you put 22 teeth on the rear gear?

[@NateLikesComics]

That’s what I live for is climbing on my fixed! I ride with a 48/15 gear ratio to

[@ketch_up]

So, I love your videos. However, I'm not a fixed-gear cyclist, and I'm not interested in getting into fixed-gear cycling at this point. Can you recommend any other cycling youtubers who are also amazing youtubers like yourself, but who ride geared bikes?