DiabloScott

I tried it just to learn a new skill - not going real fast, not going downhill, I have brakes... I did it a few times until I figured out the moves, and that was enough.

I'd like to learn that trick of riding backwards in a circle... not that it'd ever be useful, but it's cool, and you can't do it on a non-fixed bike.


Finally, the fact that grumpy old curmudgeons don't like them, makes them more appealing to me.

rando_couche

Oh, and you can't race on the track without one - almost forgot that. (Some of the most fun I've had on a bike was Friday night races at the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome aka Marymoor.)

SP
OC, OR

rando_couche

No, but a LOT of strongly held opinions!

SP
OC, OR

79pmooney

Fix gear riding has given me an in with a crowd from another planet here in Portland, the young eastside hipsters. Quiter a few of them know or suspect I have been riding fixed longer than they have been alive. And I get a quiet respect from a lot of them. I'll take it.

Ben

caloso

I'm surprised that no one has cited the late great Sheldon Brown. He was a fan of fixed gears. Read here: Fixed Gear Bicycles for the Road

chasm54

We don't see much of you in here, @caloso. Turned 50 or just practising?

OldsCOOL

No sense in rushing things.

caloso

Just practicing. I hope no one minds that I occasionally stick my nose in here a bit prematurely, but it's a breath of fresh air compared to the 41.

chasm54

LOL. Nobody minds, I'm sure. Anyway, it's good for old farts to associate with the young.

qcpmsame 

Careful with that, you'll find yourself wearing baggy shorts, growing a beard, looking at 'Bents longingly, etc. Its a slippery slope here.....

Bill

OldsCOOL

This is true.

I may get me a set of lycra this year. They say it could make me faster.

Retro Grouch 

That's me too. I wondered what the big deal was so I built myself a fixed gear conversion to see for myself. I rode it a little bit and I liked it because it's a little out of the mainstream but I've had too many recent broken bones to want to take it up seriously.

chasm54

It's really no more dangerous than riding with a freewheel/freehub. In fact, because of the direct feedback through the rear wheel it's arguably safer in conditions where traction might be an issue - more feel.

DiabloScott

Out of context there... what I "tried" was letting the crank windmill and then re-inserting my feet in the clips while moving. It is definitely something that takes some practice.

I didn't at all say that riding FG was dangerous and I don't think that. I'm on my fourth fixed gear bike and I ride it all the time.

2003 - free frame, too small.


2005 - free frame, but beat up.


2010 - new bike, stolen in 2014


2014 - new bike, still riding



I **really** like this bike for commuting.

LesterOfPuppets

I have a front brake on my fixed gear. Stopping is not much different than on my other bikes. I'd put a rear brake on too, but it's a 590 to 622 conversion and a rear brake won't just bolt right on.

trackhub

My Gunnar Street Dog was built at Harris Cyclery, by Sheldon Brown. I have been riding it since October, 2000.

-I love riding fixed. Never looked back.
-Steel frame. Toe clips and straps. No computer. Further discussion is not required.
-All the rest: The drive train is very easy to maintain. Its simplicity is beautiful.

And that is that.

There is one thing I just don't get: Why some experienced cyclists are so resistant to even trying it. So, applying Ockam's Razor, I can only
guess that maybe some are afraid that they just might actually like it.

dbg

I'm sufficiently moved. Besides the Sheldon reference and that excellent final point above, I'm also thinking about something I don't think I've seen mentioned yet, --easier to track-stand on a fixie. I plan to build up a new flip-flop wheel for my singlespeed with a fixie on the other side. (When I commute home from the train station my biggest issue is trying to track-stand at occasional crowded stop signs)

jbenkert111

I think I get it. Good luck. Still not interested. However, I have a TT, 2 Road, MTB, and 1 Fattie bike and I prefer to have only 7 cogs in the rear and 1 sprocket in the front. That is all I need and keeps it pretty simple.

OldsCOOL

We arent far apart. I ride TT, road race, criterium style and have those kinds of bikes. Love the vintage racers and the ride they give. Nothing like it.

I have nothing against fixies, I just dont need to try one, especially after watching my son as we ride the hills.

wphamilton

I bought one for a commuting "beater" bike last December, a cheap one because I was skeptical that I'd like it enough to warrant spending any real money. Plus I'm cheap but that's another story. Anyway I might not shift more than 3 or 4 times on a commute anyway so why not.

I thought I'd keep it on freewheel mode and ignore the fixed side. It doesn't seem rational that disabling a function (coasting) would make it better. But of course I had to at least try a trip or two with the fixed gear, and as it turns out I've kept it that way for all of them. About 800 miles since then. It's a different ride, not "better" but variety is good. You'd have to actually ride some with fixed gear to find out whether it has any appeal to you.

DiabloScott

I remember thinking that, and finding it wasn't true... you can't do the little "bump and back" move like you can on a freewheel. I trackstand better and longer on my other bikes. I like the fixed gear for other reasons.

osco53

I did a SS speed with TWO brakes,, My Momma didn't raise no fool
It was fun,
sold it,
I like my gears

caloso

A few years ago I was in an omnium that had a TT. I didn't have a TT bike and didn't want to mess with my road bike, so I threw some aerobars and a 52x14 on my fixed gear. Had my PR on that course. Nothing to do but pedal harder.

Found out late that there's a bit of tradition in FG time trialing in the UK.

Bandera

The late very great Beryl Burton riding and winning a TT on FG:



-Bandera

Rowan

On a flat TT course, I would imagine there is little need for more than one gear anyway. Once you get up to speed, at least. And, of course, there are the aero and weight savings that come with having a FG/SS TT bike.

FWIW, I like FG a lot. I've been riding mine a lot more lately. Mainly because it is a really comfortable bike... based on a Shogun 400 frame as it is. I've done centuries a month on it for a full year, loaded touring in northern Europe, and even 400km on PBP before pulling out because of bad weather. Plus also a hillclimb TT or two on one... although I wasn't particularly fast, I still didn't finish last!!

As others have said, there is a certain zen in riding FG. It's not just the simplicity and that total lack of need to worry about what gear to be in. It is somewhat indefinable.

Also FWIW, someone starting a FG thread in this forum about a decade ago would have been considered a lunatic by everyone else posting in the thread. All sorts of negatives, concentrating mainly on preservation of the knees, but also leaning heavily on the notion that the hipster trend of no brake was a requirement, and therefore riding any FG would mean instant death.

It's nice to see the attitudes have changed somewhat... although not quite entirely.