Hi Sam..yes, I've been riding one almost daily for the past year (currently a 1942 Claud Butler with a hideous paint job)...like you I built it up thinking I'd ride it once a week or so, but once I got used to realizing I could no longer coast, I have found it has become highly addictive and I end up riding it the majority of the time (both my off-topic aluminum frame bikes have been languishing unused lately). Honestly, I can't say that it is any harder than riding a geared bike...sure, it's harder going uphill, but on the downhills I end up pedalling so fast that I actually feel better after a ride...my legs feel supple rather than tired... maybe I'm just weird though. I must say that most of these young guys with shaved legs on $2000-3000 bikes look at me like I'm dirt when they see what I'm riding, but I like to think they change their mind when I stay up with them :^)
one other thing...when I first started I tried to stay on the flats as I found steep descents rather disconcerting...halfway down a steep hill I'd realize 'oh my god...I don't think I can pedal any faster...and I'm still picking up speed...". With time though, you'll find your leg speed will develop, and now I actually look for hill....so much more fun than the flats..:^)
Michael Davies
St Louis
> I dropped by the lobby at the Houston show for a
> peek
> at the frames and to see a couple of old Friends.Got
> a
> change to talk briefly with Brian Baylis.He advised
> sense my work didn't permit regular ride times to
> try
> a fixed gear for a more condensed work out.It took
> me
> a while to build a fixed gear but finely finished
> one.I've staked out a nice 15 mile round trip from
> my
> house and rode it twice so far.First time the saddle
> was too high,this time a lot better.This is a self
> training project and was wondering if others use a
> fixed gear for training or such?And any tips on this
> type of ride?
> always your comments are appreciated---sam
> sam lingo,pleasanton tx
>
>
>
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