I stopped by our local bike shop today, and somehow the topic of fixed-gear bikes came up. The owner, an old friend, offered a spin since they have one in the shop. I don't get it. For the record, neither does he.
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Dec. 8, 2009 9:08 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
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Dec. 8, 2009 9:12 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork
I had a classic beach cruiser at the beach. Perfectly flat there, and I still hated only having one gear.
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Dec. 8, 2009 9:15 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
I don't mind the one gear. It's the no real brakes that didn't thrill me.
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Dec. 8, 2009 9:50 p.m. CLynn85 New Reader
In an effort to see what all the fuss was about (and since I've never owned a road bike) I just built one up out of a junk Murray department store bike, finished up tonight but raining so only got a quick ride out of it, but I think I'm going to enjoy it.
The simplicity is what really appeals to me. Also, a lot of times when I ride, I catch my self coasting A LOT. I think the fixed gear will make me more consistent and not just ride short hot blasts with lots of coasting.
Details of my bike to follow. Net investment so far - $7.
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Dec. 8, 2009 11:35 p.m. Jamesc2123 Reader
lots of folks i see do put a front brake on. I do always wonder though whats so wrong about a freewheel single speed with some good, real brakes on it. It has almost all the simplicity and a lot more practicality.
But i guess if you're looking at it from a practicality standpoint, you're probably not cool enough to ride a fixie.
[Ducks head from impending flying spanners]
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Dec. 9, 2009 6:08 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork
Fixed gear = no coasting, no brakes?
They're all over NYC for those that feel cliff diving or polar bear wrestling isn't adrenaline enough for you.
Dan
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Dec. 9, 2009 6:47 a.m. 4cylndrfury Dork
Yeah..theyre a fad. Eventuallly no one will like them, and they will be the slap bracelets of the bike world. Theyre loosely based on circle track race bikes. Look up circle track crashes on youtube and youll never get back within 50 feet of one. Fixies ooze dismemberment capability. Now thats not to say race car drivers have never been close to danger before. Its just that a hans device is not going to keep your eyeballs where god put them when some other racers pedal is attacking the front of your head.
youve been warned
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Dec. 9, 2009 6:55 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
don't understand it either, But I do ride a single-speed Fuji (coasting hub) around the trails here.
the single gear is pretty high and I can do about 18-23mph on it fairly easily.
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Dec. 9, 2009 10:20 p.m. vazbmw Reader
For me it is a great workout. With the hills we have here it is a challenge on both sides With all my years of running track in college and beating my knees up. The bike is less stress than pounding on pavement. I can get a great 6 mile workout in less about 30 minutes (of heart pounding action) I have a commuter bike for getting around on. But the most fun is the fixed gear, and the fixed is a lot less to take care of. I ride in the rain all the time. Dry it and oil the chain. Then it is ready to go again
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Dec. 10, 2009 7:12 p.m. Rusnak_322 Reader
Why not just leave it in gear? I borrowed a fixed gear hard tail mountain bike at a bike park, it was perfect there, but it would suck in the outside world. And it freewheeled.
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Dec. 10, 2009 8:08 p.m. vazbmw Reader
That is what I used to do, but there is still a whole lot of coasting that you are not aware of once you try fixed
Like anything else, it is probably not for everyone, but I see bikes like I see shoes. there is a right one for whatever you are trying to do. Just pick it
Also the deraillieur on my commuter bike cost almost as much as my whole fixed gear bike. Add that to the Campy crank and chainrings and that is more than the total of my Fixed gear
Rusnak_322 wrote:
Why not just leave it in gear? I borrowed a fixed gear hard tail mountain bike at a bike park, it was perfect there, but it would suck in the outside world. And it freewheeled.
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Dec. 10, 2009 10:59 p.m. Tommy Suddard SonDork
I love my fixie, but nobody else does. I guess it is a matter of personal preference.
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Dec. 10, 2009 11:13 p.m. thatsnowinnebago Dork
Rusnak_322 wrote:
Why not just leave it in gear? I borrowed a fixed gear hard tail mountain bike at a bike park, it was perfect there, but it would suck in the outside world. And it freewheeled.
Not to pedantic but a fixed gear doesn't coast, a singlespeed does.
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Dec. 12, 2009 9:52 a.m. dxman92 Reader
I am in the camp of 'fixies look cool but impractical around Pennsylvania due to hills.' I converted an older Schwinn mt. bike into a single speed and couldn't be happier. It just got bullhorns and the rear brake went the way of the dido bird.
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Dec. 12, 2009 12:42 p.m. maroon92 SuperDork
I remember having a fixie when I was quite young. I think it was my first bike post-training wheels.
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Dec. 12, 2009 10:11 p.m. asterisk New Reader
This is a topic flogged like so many other dead horses on cycling forums but it's just another form of cycling.
I rode a couple seasons at the local velodrome and still have my track bike. It's decidedly not the most practical bike (steep geometry and no bottle cage mounts) but it's just another tool in the fleet, like a Formula Ford that you can occasionally drive on the street. Granted at one point I did a century on the thing but it wasn't my finest moment.
The trend that leaves me confused are downhill bikes. Designed for going one-way, down and not back up? That's crazy talk.
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Dec. 13, 2009 7:16 a.m. 4cylndrfury Dork
asterisk wrote:
The trend that leaves me confused are downhill bikes. Designed for going one-way, down and not back up? That's crazy talk.
them thars fightin words
As a former adrenaline junkie, I can say that downhill MTB is awesome and insanley stupid at the same time. If I were 10 years younger, and had 1 less wife, Id probably pick it up in a heartbeat.
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Dec. 14, 2009 8:44 a.m. Monkeywrench Reader
I've lived in Philly for the last 4 years, and though I think the fixie fad is starting to fade out, there are a still ton out there.
This video is the best fixie spoof.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2885aR6o6s
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Dec. 15, 2009 10:01 p.m. wherethefmi Dork
it's a bike messenger sign of man hood
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Dec. 17, 2009 1:41 a.m. MitchellC HalfDork
rationalizing a fixed gear vs. a geared road bike is about the same as a '91 Miata vs. a 2009 Camry for a daily driver. Beware: You may also be in a niche that most people do not care to comprehend!
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Dec. 17, 2009 6:21 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
asterisk wrote:
The trend that leaves me confused are downhill bikes. Designed for going one-way, down and not back up? That's crazy talk.
What 60+mph through the woods on a ski run, sliding sideways through the corners isn't an enough of an adrenalin rush for you?
I've done it a few times times when I was younger. remember, you're feet are usually locked to the pedals while you're doing it.
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Dec. 19, 2009 1:55 p.m. asterisk New Reader
I think you are missing the tongue in cheek aspect of the comment. Also, we did all that in the 90s on cross country bikes. The drops were smaller but the rush was still there and we could ride back to the top, no shuttle needed.
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Dec. 21, 2009 12:36 a.m. vazbmw Reader
Yup!
MitchellC wrote:
rationalizing a fixed gear vs. a geared road bike is about the same as a '91 Miata vs. a 2009 Camry for a daily driver. Beware: You may also be in a niche that most people do not care to comprehend!
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Dec. 21, 2009 1:28 p.m. donalson SuperDork
vazbmw wrote:
For me it is a great workout. With the hills we have here it is a challenge on both sides With all my years of running track in college and beating my knees up. The bike is less stress than pounding on pavement. I can get a great 6 mile workout in less about 30 minutes (of heart pounding action) I have a commuter bike for getting around on. But the most fun is the fixed gear, and the fixed is a lot less to take care of. I ride in the rain all the time. Dry it and oil the chain. Then it is ready to go again
dude what size frame is that?... that head tube is MASSIVE... and i ride a 65cm lol
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Dec. 25, 2009 12:10 a.m. vazbmw Reader
Frame is 67cm
