squeakywheel

Fixed is fine if you don't have big hills. I'm not talking about climbing. That's no problem. Descending without a freewheel can be bothersome. There are some hills on my routes where I reach more than 30 mph just coasting on my freewheel bikes. That would be over 150 RPM if I did it fixed at full speed. For now, I'm using the brake. It kind of sucks to brake going down hill. Maybe I'll get more comfortable with spinning at high RPM's if I keep at it.

I think fixed is fun, but for me single speed is practical.

mihlbach

Go FG. SS is bad news.

ilikebikes

Sorry, but your wrong about fg being much better, I rode fixed gear for some time and switched to ss and love it! so should I say ss is better? No. Its up to the person to choose not us, we can only tell the person what we prefer and not say we like ss/fg so thats what the person should ride. I listened to all the guys that told me to "go fixed" and I didnt like it, tried ss and loved it, so there you go! Im sure Ill get all the BS from all the fg action heros out there but oh well, after all is said and done its still personal preferance and riding either fg or ss doesnt make you any better than the other. Just my two little pennies

capolover

you can't ride FG drunk.

End of argument.

Coast that **** son.

roadfix

Most people can't tell the diff between what a FG and SS is so ride what you want.

bikevic

fixed gear is singlespeed.

i can't think of any reasons going freewheel. if i ride freewheel, i rather ride a bike with gears.

fixed always. faster. easier.

indijax

go fixed, if nothing else it'll make you a better biker

redfb

like someone said earlier, the decents suck on a fixed and the uphill is hard on the knees...if i were flatland i would be all about a huge geared fixed gear...in the end it's not rocket science, it's cycling. Simply figure out your own preferences.

Zodiac71

I dont know, man. I raced bmx, road and MTB for years and years and had zero problem going to fixed.

*shrug*

roadfix

It depends. The very first time I got on a fixed gear, I immediately knew this was my thing after just a few pedal strokes. I've been hooked ever since.

Tsuru

how do you figure?

capolover

because.

Deep V's is why.

indijax

ie
improving leg strength via hills
better pedaling technique

and besides riding in the rain on a fixed gear becomes something closer to fun
instead of danger will robinson

oceanfx

Get something with a flip-flop. My first foray into fixed gear was a test-ride where I asked the guy to flip the hub. It was terrible. My legs tried to reject it so many times. I bought the bike and rode freewheel singlespeed for 2 or 3 months, and then I flipped the hub "just to try it out." A year and a few bikes later, I haven't gone back.

Tsuru

I'm pretty sure single speed will improve leg strength on hills and I'm not sure how not coasting makes for better pedaling. I have to ride in the rain periodically on my single speedster with no problems, in fact, if I need to use a foot to catch my bike from sliding out from me on a slippery surface, I think I rather the pedals stay where they are while I focus on not crashing.

That being said, I think there is room in everyone's harem for a SS, a fix, and a multi-gear bike. My SS is for the long commute, my Fix is for around and about, and the multi-gear is for serious rides....

capolover

If hub sizes are the same i don't see how Fg is better than SS for buffing your legs.

You won't pedal as much going down hills of course, or when you coast but eh, that's not a lot of energy being put out.

blackblood

i have a theory to help explain this "scientific conundrum".
fixed carries momentum much better than ss. can anyone drop some knowledge on this theory?

i like both. in the summer time i ride ss much more due to the fact that i can just throw on some sandals and cruise down to the coffee shop. fall and winter is pretty much all fixed.
oh, and night rides with friends are almost always fixed.

capolover

Constant pedaling would give you more momentum over a standard period of time, yes. That doesn't mean its always a harder workout depending on where and how you ride, or how much.

ban guzzi

Running a White Industries ENO hub on my Panic. Running fixed and very happy with that. Still have a SS on the other side that doesn't get used. I've ridden fixed drunk (double vision drunk..not good but someone said 'Non' to it).
I commute faster fixed. 25-30 minutes for 10 miles. 'Serious' rides? Maybe not climbing mountains but plenty of 40-50 mile fun rides.

I kept both brakes. I USE both brakes. Skids are for kids.

All on 53/19.

do what you want, I'm having fun doing what I want...

indijax

I'm talking more about going up hills. with fixed you're going to have to hit the hills hard and all the way through--a constant pace--instead of push-push-relax into coast-push. you're kind've training your muscles for endurance.

I mean I'm not claiming to be any kind of fitness expert, just a logical thought process that I connected in my own personal health and experience.

also this:

example
you have two bikes, ones ss, one fixed; both have front brakes
you encounter slippery surface while riding in rain
ss you only have your front brake to stop you after your tire is already hydroplaning.
fixed gear you have essentially two braking/speed reduction options, AND can actually feel the exact moment your rear wheel is losing grip, therefore allowing you to better remedy situation as it happens instead of after the fact

(ps; i'm not saying ss wont improve leg strength, just saying that with fixed you are getting endurance+force; aka a little something extra)

DataJunkie

I liked riding fixed the most but my knees decided that SS was the way to go. YMMV

roadfix

My knees haven't told me to go exclusively ss but to just gear down on the fixed gear.

DataJunkie

Gearing down did me no good. Knee issues have just about soured the entire ss\fg thing for me.
I may just convert my salsa to a geared bike.

DasProfezzional

Ha ha. Ha.

benajah

I lost my right leg a few years ago and use a prosthetic, and still can ride a fixie just fine, but use a flip flop hub so if I start getting sore I can switch out and give the gimpy leg a break.