Fixies

[mrkenny83]

I just read an article that tried to explain Fixies to me….

I understand there’s a culture of fixie-lovers, but I’m not yet understanding what draws them in. A bike with no gears, and possibly no brakes? That sounds EXHAUSING and TERRIFYING!!!!

What am I not understanding? Dirt? Anyone?

Topic

[Veik]

I have two of them, one is Daho Mu Uno another one is Trek Gritty
I use Dahon for commuting to Reston and around DC
Biggest plus for me – very little maintenance
I do have brakes on both bikes.

[mrkenny83]

@Veik 20001 wrote:

I have two of them, one is Daho Mu Uno another one is Trek Gritty
I use Dahon for commuting to Reston and around DC
Biggest plus for me – very little maintenance
I do have brakes on both bikes.

Is it just the low-maintenance that attracts you? Or does it offer a different (positive) riding experience?

[Dirt]

Fixie culture is a tourist attraction to me. I kind of see it, look at it, point at it and take pictures of it. I’m not sure I understand it. I’m okay with that.

Riding a fixie is fun. There’s a bit of challenge to it, but there are things that are easier on a fixie than on a geared bike. There’s a flow and rhythm to the riding that, when done by someone really good at it, is graceful and serene. Ride with OneEighth some time and you’ll see EXACTLY what I mean.

70-80% of my riding is done on fixies. All of the fixies that I ride on the road or on mountain bike trails have a front brake. My legs work as the rear brake. I’ve been fixie mountain biking for a little over a year now. I’m slower and a bit more clumsy than I am on my single speed, but I have much more fun.

I started doing endurance rides on the fixie in the last few years. The end of June I hope to finish my first double-century ride on a fixie.

In the end it comes back to the answer of your question…. It is fun…. serious amounts of fun.

Rock on!

Dirt.

[Veik]

@mrkenny83 20006 wrote:

Is it just the low-maintenance that attracts you? Or does it offer a different (positive) riding experience?

On the Dahon its the maneuverability thats a plus as well.
Small bike, easier in DC.

I think its a lot more exercise on a SS/Fixed, which for me is a plus.

But I ride my hybrid as well, and switching back and worth is not an issue…

[Veik]

I have recently spent a week in Germany, and I saw a ton of single speed bikes there.
Munich is relatively flat and those bikes work great there.

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

i’ve got a custom geekhouse and love the hell out of it.
i love fixed for a few reasons:
low maintenance/less to break/less to have stolen
more in-tune with the bike (similar to driving a stick shift)
always pedaling (which is good training for cycling in general)
and it looks so damn fresh…

it has since gained drops and a black stem.

(and i’ll always use a front brake)

[jabberwocky]

I used to commute on a fixie almost exclusively (when I rode the W&OD most of the way). The main reason was that it was more interesting. Riding the W&OD every day gets kinda boring; the fixie added some flavor to that commute.

Since switching my work to Great Falls, I ride them a lot less. Great Falls is hillier, and the traffic is far less forgiving. I do still ride the fixie occasionally, but not nearly as often as I used to.

Fixies ridden on any public road or path should have a front brake. You can control speed with the rear wheel through your legs, but braking is far less effective that way.

[bikesnick]

riding a fixed gear bike is fun, almost like being a kid again on a bicycle. there is a greater connection with the road – feeling the terrain change, watching for bumps, etc. yes, at first it is a bit intimating, especially when going downhill and feet come off the pedals! in my opinion, clips or clipless pedals are a safety must. i enjoy riding fixed as much as my road bike.

[Author]

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