FIXIES: What's the Big Idea?
 

There seems to be an awful lot of youthful cyclists, who are now riding bikes called "fixies", that have no brakes. Furthermore, they require that the cyclist continue to pedal, while going both up and down hill.

Can you imagine going downhill and not coasting most of it?

What's the big idea with this fixie stuff?

No brakes! No coasting downhill!

Sounds like no fun to me! :rolleyes:

I am with you slim, so maybe someone who knows the why of this fixie idea will come forth...I think part of it is the simplicity of it, that is, less 'stuff' on the bike such as gears and such...
fixie world, let us know.

Maybe you need try it before you pontificate on how bad fixies are or is this just a troll. I have to many miles on my knees to do fixies but still ride single speed a lot. Basically a fixie with brakes and the ability to coast. Roger

No Rhenning, I can assure you, I'm no troll. Riding single speed is great! I love Raleigh's Rush Hour. However, riding without brakes is down right dangerous, foolish, and knot-headed! :(

PS.

This post is both that of a complaint, if you don't ride with brakes and an inquiry, if you have to pedal while going downhill. That just sounds weird! Can't even imagine going down a steep hill and having to pedal at top speed or RPS while descending.

it's simply a differnet style of riding, and your "brakes" are your legs. if you're good enough at it there's no need for a hand brake. the concept isn't anything new, fixed gear comes from track bikes and got reappropriated in the 80's by bike messengers in the big cities as a fast, simple, and reliable alternative to geared bicycles, which we all know have a tendency to malfunction and breakdown often. as of recently it has become a large trend, and commonly gets a bad reputation due to the large amount of unexperienced hipsters that don't know how to ride. personally, i ride single-geared, but the concept is similar. simplicity is key. but as from the concern of brake safety, unexperienced riders pose a hazard to themselves and others but those who know what they're doing are just as safe as any other rider on the streets, perhaps more so.

Riding fixed with no brakes ain't so bad. Kinda crazy in traffic, though. You can slow down a bit by resisting the pedals rotation. You can slow down a little quicker by skidding. You can slow down even more quickly by jamming your shoe behind your fork or dragging a shoe on your back wheel Ted Shred style.

Single Speed without brakes is what's really crazy. I've had a few single speeds without brakes for short periods of time and braked Flintstone style (if on a low-saddle bike) or foot jammed behind the fork depending on how urgent the stop was.

I don't like fixed downhill either, but other than that they're fun as hell to ride.

Fixies without back brakes are not inherently unsafe. Fixies with no brakes and and experienced rider aren't either (Shoe on the tire skid is easy enough for them).

Different folks, different strokes.

I have to say I didn't "get it" either. I got a great curb find frame when the college let out that didn't have working shifters or derailleurs and was missing the rear wheel. I traded a decent pair of brake levers from a totaled bike for a flip-flop wheelset (fixed on one side, freewheel on the other side if the hub) It was supposed to have a freewheel, but when I got it, it didn't. I decided to give it a shot running fixed and it's just plain fun! I've logged twice as many miles on that as any of my other freewheeling bikes combined. It's just a different frame of mind and a different kind of bike... kind of like my roadie buddies couldn't imagine riding a relaxed geometry frame with fat tires and 3 speeds until they try it and love it.

This is the "Alt Bikes" forum, is it not? None of the bikes here make sense, nor are they supposed to.

After riding fixed, single speed, and multi-speed, I can say without prejudice that I'm a derailleur type of guy.

It's just minimalism, really. Cut out all the excess machinery and devices and try to get the thing to the least you can have and still call it a bike, and then ride.

So.. you can only stop as hard as the traction on the rear wheel will permit? Not very hard, in other words?

That sounds pretty unsafe, or at least suboptimal. :headscratch

KeS

Even with brakes, you can only stop as hard as the traction on your tires permit. There's no drogue shoot on bikes :)

Alt forum: yes there is.

Until recently I didn't consider myself able to comment. Now that I've done dozens of fixed rides and covered a ton of miles, flat and moderately hilly, I can chime in.

I love it! Plain and simple, it is fun. Takes probably two weeks to get totally comfortable, but I can now ride my fixed gear bike for 20 to 30 miles and never touch the brakes. I have them just in case, that's just me. I don't judge those who do or those who don't. What I would say is that until you know what you are doing, and it takes awhile, I wouldn't go brakeless. After you have experience with putting back pressure on the pedals and how to skid in an emergency, going brakeless is viable.

I had tried fixed gear riding with my original singlespeed bike that had a flip/flop hub. Mixed emotions and it didn't really catch on with me.

Then I saw a nice bike advertised on Craigslist and went to check it out. It was listed cheap and the photos were fuzzy, but it was a 1989 Miyata 312 in my size.

When I arrived to look at it, it was in beautiful condition. The owner had obviously taken good care of it, kept it dry, etc. The bike was set up as a guy's "trainer". He used it to work on his cadence and spinning skills. It had one chainring up front, no derailers and a fixed-only hub in the rear. I knew I was going to buy it, but was honestly thinking about swapping rear wheels out with a flip/flop arrangement.

I bought it, took it home and said "what the heck, I'll give it a try as-is." I was amazed at how fast and smooth it was! The ride was silky smooth due to the splined, triple-butted steel frame. Very lightweight and the frame and components in nearly-new condition. I got a steal at the price I paid.

I haven't looked back and have never changed out the wheel. It will remain fixed. I go out to the garage to choose among my "too many" options, at least according to the wife, and a lot of the times I grab the Miyata over the other wonderful bikes. I even took it out of town with me the other day on a business trip. I rode it at night on an awesome trail and had a great time.

So count me amongst the fans of fixed gears. I rarely if ever use the brakes anymore, but I'll keep them on just the same. Any BTW, I'm no youngster. Approaching 50 now and my knees have no issues with backpedaling.

I advise trying it for at least a couple of weeks in order to see if it fits your style. Not for really steep hills unless you don't mind getting off now and then. For most moderate hills, just practice.

I stand corrected :)

I run a fixed gear mountain bike for winter commuting. Fewer parts to seize/freeze or fall of in all the snow, ice and salt.

I must admit it is nice having a simple bike to just hop on and pedal around. I use is frequently for short errands around the neighborhood. also, since its just a crappy looking old Mtn bike that I got in trade for a case of beer I feel better leaving it locked in shady locations.

I think it's a good concept, one side of the hub has the SS freewheel for urban city riding and when or if you want to ride at a velodrome, you have a bike that can be quickly converted over to FG. Outfitting the bike with just a front brake, gives you 75 % of a bikes stopping power and loosening/removing a screw and a bolt, flip flop the rear wheel and the bike is race ready for the velodrome.

Yes, and there's a very limited amount of traction available at the rear tire. But never mind, I don't want to sidetrack this with a discussion of the physics of braking, and I've got the info I needed. Tx!

KeS

For certain values of fun. Can't say it would appeal to me to be honest.

Fixies are certainly nothing new.
http://i52.tinypic.com/2889pqs.jpg

I've had a fixed gear bike for over 20 years now on and off from track bikes to conversions. I prefer the track bikes and ride one now. There is really nothing alt about them. They are designed to race on the track but are fun to ride on the street too. Some road racers, myself included, get them to train in the winter months. It's a bit of old school training thought perhaps but it works. Years ago when I first started riding one I never had a brake on it. There wasn't even a mounting hole for a brake on my track bike. I think you would be surprised how easy it is to stop one. Having said that, I live in the mountains now and prefer to have a brake on the long descents. Having brakes is almost ALWAYS better in all conditions but it's pretty easy to stop a track bike with the right gear ratio. But it takes work and it's a lot easier to just pull a brake lever then throw your weight around and apply back pressure.

In my opinion, it's about fashion and style. Most of the Fixie riders that I see around Austin all have similar elements of style. The items are just mixed and matched in a personal flare.

As for simplicity, I ride a single speed with a coaster brake and FAT tires.

I understand fixies. I don't understand no brakes.

Why? Two reasons. First, I don't care if you're Eddy Merckx, Jan Ullrich, Lance Armstrong, etc., you cannot, and I repeat, cannot stop as fast by backpedaling as you can with good brakes. And I've had more than a few occasions where I've needed to make a quick stop. Secondly, redundancy. If your chain snaps, you have no brakes. I always want at least two ways to stop the bike, fixed or not.

Like has been said above, don't knock it until you have tried it. I have a fixie that I have put over 24,000 miles on in the last 7 years. I ride a brake because you need it to go down hill :) I have done double metric centuries on it, took it tp Colorado to "Ride the Rockies" in 2007 (included going over Independence Pass--over 12,000 ft up). It is fun to ride and if you gear it right, it will not kill your knees as is a common misconception.

I ride brakes because braking without wears out three things... the chain, the rear tire and your knees. (I did learn how to brake without using the brakes, but it is very counter intuitive--you need to throw your weight forward--crotch to the stem, and that doesn't feel right--I will stick to brakes).

You learn how to ride high cadence and you can 'coast' by letting your legs 'noodle'...

Oh-- and I am not a young hipster-- I am 56 :)

train safe-

yeah.. no

i've ridden with fixed gear riders who don't have brakes.. it sounds crazy to me but they manage to ride pretty normally when i've ridden with them

i rode a fixed gear bike long enough to realize how much i love coasting