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The drivetrain matters too--I suspect many American bicyclists blow through red lights and generally don't respect road rules because with fixed/single speed bi
by hx87 10y ago
The drivetrain matters too--I suspect many American bicyclists blow through red lights and generally don't respect road rules because with fixed/single speed bikes, it takes enormous effort to get started from a standstill, and with derailleurs it's impossible to downshift from a standstill (i.e. when you make a quick stop). If hub gears were standard, bicyclists wouldn't have as much reason to ignore signals.
- walshemj 10y agoNo its not you can down shift with index shifters on the MTB very easily as you stop and you can always lift the back when and quickly shift that way Agree that fixies should be banned outside of a race track.
- hx87 10y agoDon't you still have to pedal forward in order for the chainset to actuate the gear change?
- kbutler 10y agoYou just push off with your foot from the ground, giving you enough forward motion to down shift. It's easier if you downshift before stopping, but the only time it's a problem is if climbing a hill, in which case you probably downshifted anyway
- hx87 10y agoAh, I see what you're saying--the good old forward kick from standstill.
- Overtonwindow 10y agoWhat about electronic shifting?
- Grishnakh 10y agoYou're supposed to downshift before you stop. With indexed shifters on the brake lever, it's trivial to do as you're braking for the stop.
- elif 10y agoHow about until such a time that society can provide a safe means of cycling, we let cyclists decide how they are most capable of staying alive. Riding a slow bicycle and stopping at every intersection is incredibly unsafe in many American cities. Yeah, a fixed gear can be an encumberence to a poser, but to someone qualified, it can also be a means of greater control.
- hx87 10y ago> Riding a slow bicycle and stopping at every intersection is incredibly unsafe in many American cities. I don't think blowing through red lights at or near full speed is any safer. Come on, at least do a California roll.
- walshemj 10y agoCertainty in London at any busy junction you can see fixies blasting trough red lights at +25/30 MPH with no regard for pedestrins