Fixed vs Gear Bikes Hill Climbs

riding gears on hill climb.

Readers Question: I came fifth at burrington on sunday, riding fixed, and it was my first hill climb (or competitive event, for that matter), 8.01. i’m interested in the age-old hillclimb debate of fixed vs geared. Out of interest, have you ever ridden any fixed?

Well congratulations on ride! It’s a good time for first hill climb and race.

Benefits of Fixed

• Lighter. With no gears, and one less brake, a fixed can be lighter. The steeper the hill, the more difference weight saving makes. For a flat race, weight is of minimal importance, but for a hill climb it can make a large difference.
• One study I came across suggested every kilo saved was worth 2 seconds for a 100 metre height gain. I don’t know how scientific that was. But, it’s not like half a minute. If you have a hill with 200 metre height gain, and a fixed bike is 1 kilo lighter than gears then, theoretically, it could be 4 secs quicker. But, this is  subjective.
• 100% Transfer. I’m not sure how much more power is transferred with fixed. But, it is said there is a greater feeling of being connected to the bike. There is no freewheel.
• I remember hearing Chris Boardman saying – unless the hill has some downhill bits, you will go quicker on fixed. Chris Boardman was national hill climb champion three times before going onto bigger things like Olympics and Tour de France.

There’s also many other benefits of fixed gear bikes like – easier to maintain, look cool, easy to clean e.t.c. but, they are not really an issue for hill climbs.

Benefits of Riding Gears

• If you get the fixed ratio wrong, you can suffer on parts of climb and go slower. Gears means you don’t have to worry and will always have enough gear ratios. I have heard some of the top hill climbers complain they got the wrong fixed gear choice. For example, at 2010 National championship, Matt Clinton said he was surprised by headwind meaning he was over-geared.
• You can get a bike with gears that are pretty light.
• If you ride fixed, you have to do more preparation and know your gear ratios well. But, it is hard to test the hill climb at race pace – you will be tired for real event!
• Many hills have variable gradient so with gears you can ride your preferred cadence.
• If you get the wrong fixed gear, you can really lose a lot of time (even come to a standstill).
• A change in wind direction can throw your gear ratios out of step.
• It’s hard work descending on a fixed, because you can’t freewheel. The fixed hub acts as a braking mechanism though.

It really depends on hill, the general feeling is a steep hill with constant gradient like the Cat and Bec (upto 25% gradient, 1 in 4) fixed is better. If the gradient is variable, gears are more important.

A climb like Burrington Combe, I don’t think there’s much in it. I know Danny Axford rode fixed when he did the hill once. But, I was changing gears quite a few times when racing. I doubt it’s much quicker on fixed.

In the 2010 National hill climb Championship -

• 1st place Dan Fleeman rode gears.
• 2nd Place Matt Clinton rode fixed.
• I was 4th place  and rode gears.
• When Jim Henderson won title n 1998 on Dovers he used fixed.

I’d certainly like to get a fixed gear bike sometime and find out for myself. I am planning to buy a fixed for 2012 National hill climb championship on the Rake in Lancashire.

Conclusion: if gradient is steady, and you get gear right, fixed will probably be a little quicker.

I sometimes take front chain ring off to save 120grams. A half-hearted attempt to have less weight!

Related

• Hill Climb Page

• Fixed Gear Bikes
• Single Speed bikes