Winter Cycling - Fixed for winter

Who switches over to fixed wheel in the winter?I run 54 to 65 Gear inches.

I guess I might ride my fixed gear a little more than I do otherwise.

I ride fixed year round on my commute. The difference is in the winter I switch from a track bike to a tourer with studded tires when it snows. I'm not sure how much better a fixed handles but it does reduce the components that may fail in bad weather and you always have a brake (other brakes can corrode or freeze in the winter).
Craig

rode a fixed gear last winter, trying to get together a SS for this winter

I do. I'd load the photo, but it's too large to upload at the moment. It's an old Peugeot, I just updated it with fenders. I've ridden it 4 seasons now. I have a set of Nokians that carry me through some of winter's harshest weather.

I ride fixed year round, just switch out the frame. I wouldn't trust anything else on sheet ice and snow. There is so much more control on a fix, it's hard to even quantify it...

Hey .... how many gear inches do you run on the snow on a fixed?

Hey .... how many gear inches do you run on the snow on a fixed?
I run a 700c bike. With slicks I run a 40x16, with studs I'll probably go to 40x18 or 40x19. The thing is most riding in the winter is on dry clean roads so I want to maintain my speed when possible. However studs are slow so the lower gear becomes necessary.
Craig

I'm riding a SS mtn. this winter - I'm going to try out a fixie in the spring, then if that works okay, I'll go to fixed next winter. Baby steps...

FS to Rigid for me when the season changes, I love my gearies too much to give them up.

I run a 700c bike. With slicks I run a 40x16, with studs I'll probably go to 40x18 or 40x19. The thing is most riding in the winter is on dry clean roads so I want to maintain my speed when possible. However studs are slow so the lower gear becomes necessary.
Craig

HA! ... I guesstimated something similar.

Thanks Craig ...!

I like to run a 46 or 48 by 18 or 20, course it all depends on the studded tires, and the bike.

I am new to this so be patient. What is the advantage of a fixed gear/ Why not just leave your bike in one gear?

Fixed gear means that you control how fast or slow you go with the pedals, rather than with brakes. One feels the road better, and is constantly making microadjustments as to speed, on a fixed gear. Thats my take, anyway.

My current "snow" bike is an old Raleigh Mustang ATB with studs front and back. I'm currently looking into converting it to SS or fixie. My last ride in slushy conditions, it pretty much ended up as an SS anyway. ;)

Bought a Canadian Tire (department store) $300 hybrid bike two summers ago, used it last winter. In the spring all the components were crap even though I used plenty of WD-40 etc. A friend of mine at the time purchased a fixed bike and I learned of the benefits of fixie, especially as it may apply to winter biking. Promptly got rid of all the components except the front brake, JB welded a suicide wheel, and used a drill to create some more space on the vertical dropouts for some tension: it's pretty good as I choose my cogs correctly, but chain stretch does it in :(. Use the bike in the summer quite a bit as a fixie. Now ride it in winter. Don't use the front break at all, so really no need for even that component (other than the fact I run a suicide wheel ;)). This winter we already had two good snow storms. Just get on the bike at home and get off at work, no fiddling with cables/derailleurs. Last storm I wish I had a little lower gear though. Honestly I will most likely go to internally geared hub in the future.

I run 44 gear inches.