upgrade to make fixed gear faster?

Question

I bought a pure fix bike (Juliet) 2 weeks ago I know its not the best bike in class but I was thinking of doing small upgrades before I end up buying a better and a lighter frame years from now...

How do I make it faster? Bigger sprocket or smaller freewheel cog? Mine comes with flip flop hub I do not ride fixed gear yet only freewheel.
Is getting thick slick tires and bigger sproket a best solution for now for getting the bike faster?

I ride 8 miles to work and back.. It takes me 50-1 hour to make it to work due to mostly red lights. My goal is to make this bike faster.
Any tips will help.
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Theres several options to speed up a fixed gear bicycle. Here is a couple right off the top of my head. 1) Throw it off a tall cliff. 2) Drag it behind a car doing 60+ mph. On a more serious side take it back and get a refund if possible. If not there's lots of suckers who've been taken in that a fixed gear bike is actually good for street use. Then go to a bicycle shop and buy a bike with multiple gears.

Answer 2

An hour for 8 miles is really slow.

If your not already doing it ride on the street not the sidewalk.



You didn't explain what gear ratio you use

But I'm sure the stock ratio is somewhere near 46:16



Bigger rings or smaller freewheel will also make it harder to pedal.

I suggest for your next bike get a bike with gears.

It will make your commute much more enjoyable



Single speeds are fun to ride around

But to commute you need gears

Answer 3

The easiest way to make it faster is for you to pedal faster. The quicker you spin your legs, the faster the bike goes. To help with that, cycling shoes and clipless pedals will make pedaling more efficient. But your bike is built for cruising in relative comfort, not speed. You have cruiser tires, a flat bar,and I imagine the bike ways a fair bit, even with no gears. You can try getting a larger chain ring, that will be easier than going to a smaller gear in back, but I don't know if this bike is meant to have interchangeable chain rings.

Answer 4

nothing really

clipless pedals is about it

thinner tires if it has over 25mm, get 25mm

bigger sprocket probably won;t help

you mean front or back?



are you having trouble going up hills, or down, or speeding on flats?



it might also just be you and your fitness level

and cycling expertise



gears would make it way faster

sorry

way it is





wle

Answer 5

Upgrades? Gears, derailleurs, shifters, etc. See link...

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/defy.3/18733/76110/