Fixed Gear Bikes

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 19 Sep 2007 21:19

If you wanna try a fixed gear bike just find a comfy gear and dont ever shift.
You wont be in the "cool crowd" but itll give you an idea. My knees cry out for gears and I have a high cadence (smooth cranking speed) to make up for it.

sampotter · Post by **sampotter** » 19 Sep 2007 21:27

I'm tempted to convert my single speed bike to a fixed gear bike but I'm not down with the douchebags that ride them in Seattle.

The only reason I see right now to convert are the tricks you can do on them. Beyond that it just doesn't seem quite worth it. Single speed bikes offer a lot of the same advantages and save you some of the danger.

hacksterbator · Post by **hacksterbator** » 19 Sep 2007 21:37

sampotter wrote:... and save you some of the danger.

pussy

jon · Post by **jon** » 20 Sep 2007 05:46

Tricks?? Wow wait just a sec ... you guys actually ride your bikes? I thought the idea was to make them pretty and then just walk beside it while I hit up all the coffee places in town. Fudge this I am going back to long boarding!

hacksterbator · Post by **hacksterbator** » 20 Sep 2007 13:20

jon wrote:Tricks?? Wow wait just a sec ... you guys actually ride your bikes? I thought the idea was to make them pretty and then just walk beside it while I hit up all the coffee places in town. Fudge this I am going back to long boarding!

HAHAHA!!! Sad but true.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 20 Sep 2007 14:01

Hey Jon, some people actually like riiiiiiding their fixies!

I've got all the poser elements (chrome bag, tt pad, risers) except I actually ragingly love fixed gears and the art/science of riding them.

Sam, I think you're missing the point. There aren't some big pile of downsides...

Also, it's really easy to get wrapped up in hating the hipsters, but in doing so you are electing to prevent yourself from a whole world of enjoyment.

Oh yeah, and I loooove doing tricks on my fixed gear.

Here are two tricks I invented:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=C1E4Wf8mVwM

Don't hate, appreciate!

sampotter · Post by **sampotter** » 20 Sep 2007 17:27

Well, I have gotten really bad reviews of it from my extremely-extremely-serious-about-biking bike mechanic best friend, saying that it was essentially much more about the pretentiousness and that after a number of close calls on his fixed gear he decided it was kind of stupid. I'm not saying I won't try it, but it probably won't be for a while.

Also, as for hating hipsters - totally worthwhile!

Edit: Someone should just change my title to codgery old man.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 20 Sep 2007 18:37

I just tightened up all the bolts and pumped up the air on my bike.

Tomorrow is my second day of work at my new job and I am going to bike there on my fixed gear to be on time for my 8 AM shift.

I am so stoked to be a bicycle commuter!

It's 6 KM mostly uphill, which means that after a long day of work I will have a sweet cruise downhill to my house.

Nathan · Post by **Nathan** » 20 Sep 2007 19:26

sam you have a paramount so you couldn't go wrong even if you put a 10 speed cassette on it

if you go fixed though, get brakes and its not so bad.

jon · Post by **jon** » 20 Sep 2007 19:30

Fixies are fun there is no doubt but if you wanna get places/commute a regular road bike makes much more sense. Sometimes not making sense is more fun though

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 20 Sep 2007 19:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI4gOrp0 ... ed&search=

hacksterbator · Post by **hacksterbator** » 20 Sep 2007 20:38

pretty dope.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=R5mxMOGLiRw

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 20 Sep 2007 23:15

I run red lights already but not at the same speeds they do.

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 20 Sep 2007 23:40

I thought you couldnt cruise on a fixed gear?

jon · Post by **jon** » 21 Sep 2007 11:43

Sam I don't know what link you are referring to but I think you must be talking about the messenger race in NYC video. Most of the bikes in the video are not fixed.

tstep84 · Post by **tstep84** » 25 Sep 2007 16:41

I got in late on this thread I think. I really like fixies, but to be honest, I agree they are not always practical. OK, if you are a messenger, and you ride allday, don't want to worry about brakes, your gears getting messed up, all the things that happen to road bikes when you ride everyday, etc... Then its reasonable to have a fixed gear bike. Now take into consideration where they are going. I lived with a messenger last year. Awesome guy, taught me a lot about bikes and riding. Most of their rides are not that long, plus we are in a city with no hills. Whats the fun in going up a hill, basically doing leg presses?
This topic started by someone who wanted to buy a fixed gear bike. The question you should ask yourself is, where will you be riding (hills?), how far will you be riding, and what are you going to be using it for.
I have a raleigh road bike. Its probably 15 years old, geared, and I love it. But heres why. I ride for fun and transportation. I ride to class and work which is 10 minute rides, but I also ride for fun, around 30 mile rides. 30 miles on a fixie... I don't see that being much fun. I did the pub de shore ride in philly. We rode philly to atlantic city, 65 miles. I saw guys do it fixed gears, thats a friggin feat! But they finished later than sooner than the guys on road bikes.
So think about your decision.

tom

PS. You definetly do get this feeling of attachment being on a fixed gear, its pretty cool.

DJJAZZYJEFF · Post by **DJJAZZYJEFF** » 25 Sep 2007 17:16

I have a Masi Speciale Fixed, and I love it. I actually bought it because i couldn't afford a nice road bike, but wanted something faster than my hybrid. It's great though. I've done 25 mile rides on it with no problem.

I do understand the hipster haters, though. Here at college there are very few people that know about bikes, but the two people i know give me a hard time for running a front brake. They're like "i thought no brakes was THE reason to ride fixed." All i can do is shake my head and ride away.

I love cycling caps, though. Cycling caps = no helmet hair. I hate the 3 "rails" i get from my helmet.

hacksterbator · Post by **hacksterbator** » 26 Sep 2007 12:52

got my first piece of poser equipment yesterday! Picked up a chrome shoulder bag, and i gotta say i really enjoy riding with this as opposed to my usual back pack. it keeps my stuff right against my back, and even thought there's the same amount of gear in the bag if feels lighter because it's all nicely distributed instead of a huge wad of it sticking out from the center. could it be that my prejudice towards fixie gear is unwaranted? is it possible that i'm mistaken about bar pads and cycling caps as well...?

probably not the caps.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 26 Sep 2007 13:18

Meh, it's really easy to hate, but it can be wicked fun to appreciate.

I think most these posts are sorta wastes of time.

I guess I don't spend much time thinking about what my fixie can't do, but rather what I can manage to do on my fixie.

Lately I've gotten all obsessed with seeing how much airtime I can get on my fixie, it's incredibly hard!

[you guys] BUT TOOOOM, FIXED GEARS ARENT THE BEST JUMPING BIKES, STOP TRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111 [/you guys]

I am chasing after sweet physics, not hyper-analyzing a totally fun situation to the point of killing the mystique.

I see fixed gears as a sweet fun challenge.

Also, now that I am not a newb, I can ride my hardest and furthest on a fixie and do so with more control than a stupid geared coaster bike.

Why does anyone ever EVER want to trust their life to some mechanical clamping device that may or may not work?

My legs always work and they are always there moderating my speed carefully. I fully believe that an experienced fixed gear rider is the safest cyclist on the streets.

That said, MANY fixed gear riders are newbs and don't spend much time honing this totally unique skillset.

I am really not trying to dis everyone here, but it really frustrates/annoys me when I read tons of posts from people trying to talk down something they just don't get or haven't taken the time to fully appreciate.

snafu1322 · Post by **snafu1322** » 26 Sep 2007 20:07

I picked up a road bike for now. Only reason is I'm doing 30+ mile rides weekends and 60+ mile rides soon with a lot of uphill miles (And hopefully some 100 mile rides when i get in the shape haha).

Gonna picked up a fixie soon though for my 15 minute commute to school and for fun. I also live by a bike trail that is 15+ miles that is all flat.

But from reading this thread and talking to the guy who owns the bike shop i have gone to since i was little, I'm getting a fixed as soon as I have the money.