gunther vaughn

I just put a freewheel on my flip-flop hub and I like it I suppose (though I have no brakes right now so Im keeping it fixed till I get some)

Im just wondering what the benefits/disadvantages are with fixed and free .

I can see myself saving back tires and having a more relaxed/easier ride with a freewheel .. But the fixie just seems more fun and I can trackstand with it fixed .

Ah cant decide

Opinions ?

Jaytron

Fixed is more zen brah

UCF Eric

Using a freewheel shouldn't save your tires more than a cog and lockring.

gunther vaughn

Freewheel = no skids ever

sillygolem

Feel aside, with a fixed cog and some foot retention you can keep the bike from rolling backward on steep hills. If you are wondering where this would be an issue, you haven't ridden a steep enough hill yet.

redpear

See, I thought you meant downhill, and I was very confused. But I realize you mean going up. It makes a bit more sense, though I don't think it's any harder on a freewheel/geared bike.

jessesv

Honestly, with a freewheel and brakes you'll be overall more relaxed when riding. Not that everyone shouldn't always be aware, but when I'm riding fixed (and I don't run brakes currently) I am usually way more alert of my speed going through corners, crosswalks, up/down hills and trying to think 5 steps ahead (And I assume this thought probably only applies to fixed+brakeless.) When I ride geared, I'm still very aware, but I lax up a bit since I can coast and stop within reasonable time.

I love riding fixed, but in order to enjoy it and not get into serious accidents, it requires a bit more focus. It's all about comfort level vs. enjoyment level: if you feel a little uneasy riding around fixed+brakeless, then try out the freewheel+brakes and see how comfortable you feel. Otherwise, just stay aware, ride safe, and ride whatever makes you feel good!

UCF Eric

I have a cog and never skid....

brianl289

I have a free wheel on mine because I like going down huge hills at 35 mph without having my cranks going insane and my legs sticking out. However, I will most likely do fixed on my next bike that will be a trick bike, so I wont see many big hills. Also, I will always have a brake on my bikes, so there isnt a huge reason for me to go fixed.

stryper

You can't ride 35 down a hill??? Unless you have real low gearing that isn't spinning too fast

jibberishballr

Fixed advantages: More control of Bike, Can slow down with legs (brakes less necessary), Constant Movement of Muscles/better workout, Can trackstand, Can Skid, Ride Backward, More Street Cred.

SS advantages: Less Pedal Strike (can hold pedals horizontal on turns), Can Coast/Relax, Downhill at higher speeds is easier

evilcryalotmore

fixed = man with or with out brake(s)

freewheel = man with brakes

brianl289

35 is pretty quick. When I ride with my friends, they all have to pop out of their cages to go down a big hill or else their legs go crazy fast. and that doesnt usually end well lol

spazzkid

I just flipped my wheel today and went out for a ride (out of necessity, the fixed side was stripped and im waiting for a new wheel). having been riding fixed for a couple of months now, it felt a little wierd at first but i got over it pretty quickly. Like what other people said, it is quite relaxing and easy, although I do miss the direct 'feel' and unforgiveness of a fixed. I came home not feeling that tired, maybe I wasnt pushing enough. The hills for some reason felt pretty easy (or maybe I just had a good night's sleep).

But yeah, do what makes you enjoy the ride most

GeoKrpan

I calculated that, on my bike, 46x16, 76gi, at 34mph I'm turning 150rpm.

GeoKrpan

I think that if you're training on a SS/FG for riding a geared road bike then freewheel is better.

TejanoTrackie 

Your idiot friends are going to end up looking like this guy:

Dcv

I like fixed on the road, ss off-road.

JohnDThompson 

Unless you lock up the wheel with your brakes.

Freewheel does mean no worries about skid patches, as the skid can happen anywhere on the circumference of the tire rather than concentrated in only a few spots.

JohnDThompson 

That's what brakes are for, and only an idiot would ride a freewheel with no brakes.

tFUnK

I love coasting down hills.

hairnet

Do'h

coasting vs. no coasting. You can do eveything else on both kinds, even tark stands

steak

Cool click noises when you coast using a freewheel

cbresciani

I must say riding fixed is way more intense, I've been riding my track bike quite a bit and really like it on the roads. Granted there were a few times where I thought, man I wish I had a freewheel, especially after about mile 11! I did buy a clamp on brake just in case I decide to try a freewheel, but so far I'm not to set on trying one.

jibberishballr

I ride 47x16 and can go 35 downhill no problem. Spinning 150rpm isn't that fast really. You should be able to to do that and if you can't you should practice and learn