Fixed for Hill Climbs

[David W]

Does anyone have experience of riding Hill Climbs on fixed?

Is it essential to do a trial run?

How do you select a gear when gradient varies?

Is optimum cadence lower on a gradient?

Big sprockett or small chainring?

[MattC]

Yes. Definitely ride before hand, much depends on the wind as much as the gradient. (If it's a headwind, don't even bother!)

If the gradient varies a lot, you're better off on gears.

Small (I typically use 42) chainring with big sprocket (18-21).

 

It's magic when it works, but sometimes it's a big risk to take. I'm certainly not riding fixed again any time soon!

[pj76]

what Matt "previous national champion and regular podium finisher often on fixed" Clinton said.

 

and he's right, there's something brilliant about riding fixed for a hill climb, but you have to consider the variables on the day really really carefully.

[MattC]

I'm pretty damn good at cocking it up too PJ!

[pj76]

at least you had the foresight to see that a 58" at the Rake might be a *shade* too big.

[MattC]

And still used a gear too big! That's one of a classic cases of getting it wrong on fixed!

[PNuT]

I have also had a go..... would be very wary of trying it again as getting it right isn't easy!

 

it is very easy to overcook a hill climb on the right gear!!! on the wrong gear its disaster

[rosscollins88]

What's the theory behind a fixed for the hill climb? I assume in the old days it was for weight - so is it just a tradition that has carried through?

[MattC]

On a reasonably consistent climb - with a tailwind - you'll generally be in a bigger gear and therefore go faster than geared. Typically where I'd run 39x23 geared, I'd be in 42x21/20 fixed.

[rosscollins88]

but why not just drop down a few cogs?

[MattC]

Why would that be needed?

[pj76]

it's one for the purists.

 

there's an argument put forwards somewhere by chris boardman that on a steady gradient fixed will always be faster. as long as you get the variables right.

 

a fixed climb bike should still be lighter than a geared variant. i know pete tadros got his down to about 5kg and jim henderson's wasn't that far above that figure.

[Binkyboy]

Far more National Hillclimbs have been won on fixed than on gears.

 

If it's a "roadman's" climb i.e. more than (say) 6 mins, gears often come into their own, due to the varying gradients and sometimes change of direction (wind) the longer climbs usually have. But on short climbs fixed is generally preferred.

 

With gears, there is always the danger of a fluffed gear change. With modern indexed ergo gears that is greatly reduced, but you still pay the penalty of the weight of the extra bits of metal.

[MattC]

Far more National Hillclimbs have been won on fixed than on gears.

 

Historically yes, but in recent years the Nationals was last won on fixed in 2008 and before that 2005. 2003 and 2001 before then.

 

If it's a "roadman's" climb i.e. more than (say) 6 mins, gears often come into their own, due to the varying gradients and sometimes change of direction (wind) the longer climbs usually have. But on short climbs fixed is generally preferred.

 

It depends on the rider, but yes a roadmans climb gears is preferable, but these days you can get up a short climb just as quick on gears rather than fixed.

 

With gears, there is always the danger of a fluffed gear change. With modern indexed ergo gears that is greatly reduced, but you still pay the penalty of the weight of the extra bits of metal.

 

There's been a matter of grams between my fixed and road bike in recent years, in fact I think my geared bike has been lighter. There's many riders with lighter geared bikes than the fixed riders are using.

[CarltonSuperCourse]

a fixed climb bike should still be lighter than a geared variant. i know pete tadros got his down to about 5kg and jim henderson's wasn't that far above that figure.

 

Jim Henderson has put his bike spec's here http://website.lineone.net/~jim.henderson/cycling/bikes/antigra.html and here http://website.lineone.net/~jim.henderson/cycling/bikes/nickson.html . Interesting builds.