Fixed Gear Bikes for Wildwater Cross Training

With the Nationals behinds us and no big races until next year, Rich and I have not spent as much time in the C-2 as we did this spring. We did do some runs on the North Fork of the Nooksack in creek boats. It was nice to let the boat go sideways to the river for a change. We both put in maintenance time in our wildwater K-1 and C-1s on flat water. One other piece of cross training has been on bikes. Rich has been on Galbraith Mountain on his mountain bike, and I, Mike, have put in some miles on my fixed gear road bike.

With a fixed gear bike, the peddles never stop. They are in constant, direct drive with the rear wheel. there is also only one speed. Usually, this is a high gear. This forces you ride fast and to attack hills at speed so you don't get bogged down.It is a fun, simple type of biking.

While riding this summer, I noticed some parallels between paddling wildwater boats and peddling fixed gear bikes. First of all, the forward action never stops. You never glide down a hill on the fixed gear bike as you never rest on a brace in a wildwater boat. Both tend to be built for speed. Wildwater boats handle much better at speed. With the gearing of most fixed gear bikes, you tend to ride them fast. In climbing hills, you have to stand up and stomp or get off and walk. I also like the simplicity of the gear in both sports. If you can get on a fixed gear bike, go for it. This is one of the better sites explaining fixed gear bikes-http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html