Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - So Why'd you get a Fixed Gear?

I've seen some posts and threads recently indicating interest and curiosity in getting a fixed gear bike. It's a trend that's been going on since at least last year. Last summer, I hardly saw any fixed gear bikes in Central Park. This spring and summer, I saw tons of roadies riding fixed gears as part of their training. My LBS has been moving Pistas, Langsters and Capos pretty consistently. And it didn't seem to have anything to do w/ co-opting messenger culture, wanting to be a hipster or fashion.

For example, the father I saw buying a Langster while his son bought an Allez just wanted to save some money and he was intimidated by all the gears on the Allez.

I got one because it looked like fun and after reading this forum, it sounded like fun. And to be honest, the attitude in this forum seemed less snobbish and more open and welcoming even with the hipster bashing threads. So I figured I'd give it a try and if I didn't like it, I could flip the wheel and ride SS. So far I haven't used the SS side and it's become my favorite bike.

So what made you get a fixed gear?

to get laid.

my friend rode one, it looked interesting...i tried it out, it was interesting...and i like bikes...wanted something better than my marin mtb for city riding. 2 years later i'm a wrench, an ex messenger, owner of many bikes past and present, and an aspiring track racer. funny how things happen.

-jason

so i could walk it around.

I singlespeeded my Apollo to get rid of the bunk suntour derailleurs.. I rode it like that for 3 months before Sheldon had me convinced to spin a track cog on there.

i think for me it was the chance to do something harder. i'm an amateur mtn bike racer. i was looking for a bike to commute on, and to make me a better overall biker.

looked like fun, wanted a commuting/bar bike, wanted a build project that wasn't another geared roadie (in that order). Yeah, it's been all three :D

Good question... I think I just knew there was something more exciting to ride than what I currently had. In Philly, I went from a kid's mountain bike (hitting my knees on the handlebars and shifters) to a beach cruiser to a raleigh 12 speed to my fixie in just over a year. I had worn through most of the parts on the 12 speed and wanted to build a bike, it made sense to me to try building a fixie. It's funny, I remember hating on fixed gear bikes...but then I tried one. I think that's the same story with most people. I just built a single speed for the hell of it recently, and it was the most uneventful ride I ever had... up the fixed gear!

Furthermore, learning about all the parts and how/why they work/don't work is really exciting (contagious) to me. Hugs and kisses to all the bike churchers. Goddamn, this habit is costing me a lot of money, though.

So what made you get a fixed gear?

Edit: Blah-blah-blah...no one gives a **** why I ride one.

It was cheap--it's fun--I'm hooked.

I was sick of my derailleur, switched to a hub gear, was not happy with that and decided to go fixed gear. Happiness!

madeinkim let me ride his.

so i could walk it around.

Will you marry me? hahaaha!



I got it because a friend had bought one and riding it around was fun. They are simple and low maintence. Now I'm on my third. I love it!

It looked fun. I rode one. It was fun. I got one.

converted old road bike to fixie 4-5 years ago for commuting. About a year ago wanted to race at the track so I got a track bike. That is about it.

for me it was more of an evolution. i'd been riding a mountain bike with slicks for years. the cheap / high maintenance derailleurs were a constant source of aggravation. I finally said screw this and bought an old road bike so that i could convert it into a single speed. i began reading this forum and sheldonbrown.com in order to figure out how to do the conversion and became interested in fixed gears. didn't think i was going to go that route, but one day i was riding in the rain and my old brakes and my non machined rims were totally useless. i thought i would try fixed gear so i would have a bit more control. since i tried it, i've found that fixed gear riding offers so much more. no freewheel or derailleur noise and a smooth ride that you just don't get riding a geared bike or a single speed. ironically, i've learned a ton about bike maintenance since building my fixed gear. i still have the old mountain bike and i've totally got the derailleurs dialed in. i've also built up a road bike that i use for longer distances and for easy speed. the fixed gear is still my favorite...it's just got more soul and more character than my other bikes.

Because I love cycles and cycling. I have a collection of bikes, access to high end parts for cheap, and I ride everyday. Why not try one of each flavor?

bEcAuSe I rOdE oNe AnD iT wAs FuN

Will you marry me? hahaaha!



I got it because a friend had bought one and riding it around was fun. They are simple and low maintence. Now I'm on my third. I love it!

only if you buy one of these:
http://velospace.org/files/Tandem1.jpg

only if you buy one of these:
http://velospace.org/files/Tandem1.jpg


haha, alright. I've always wanted a tandem.

(i did say you buy, i totally can't afford it.) and it needs to be a dw.

(i did say you buy, i totally can't afford it.) and it needs to be a dw.

****, really? I was going to pull that tandem out of the dumpster near the Popeyes and give it to you. Oh wells, the marriage is off!

theres a tandem near the popeyes? you mean the one on broad st? **** babychris lives right next door.

um, so, you wanna pull that tandem out of the dumpster anyways.

and if that was a joke i hate you for life.

Because ryand rides one.

patrick, stop being so classy and come riding more often.

err umm, i mean lets go walk our bikes around and hit on chicks.

same reason why Tiffany decided to cover "i think we're alone now."

i know. i think i'm too classy for bikes now. ****in buried by class.

though i do walk my bike to class to help alleviate my classiness.

theres a tandem near the popeyes? you mean the one on broad st? **** babychris lives right next door.

um, so, you wanna pull that tandem out of the dumpster anyways.

and if that was a joke i hate you for life.


hahaha don't be hatin'! I live on the 1400 block of Catharine. You know people? There are some kids that lock their conversions outside my house. Brings tears to my eyes everytime.

chris lives on your block. 1426. he rides a fuji track. i think he just painted it now. he should be back in philly in the next couple of days. maybe you should come riding with us next time i'm in town. wow, i never knew he had neighbors that didn't suck.

chris lives on your block. 1426. he rides a fuji track. i think he just painted it now. he should be back in philly in the next couple of days. maybe you should come riding with us next time i'm in town. wow, i never knew he had neighbors that didn't suck.

Whoa nelly, I'm 1424.. Is he on the forums!? What the hell, yes, we should ride. We just moved in March.

yeah, babychris. he posts rarely, and usually just to make fun of me. he posts more in the dc thread than anywhere else, but he posted in the ugly mug and show your ink threads as well.

so, did you notice the people on the bottom floor of 1426 are growing weed in the window.

bloody brilliant people right there.

madeinkim let me ride his.

that is exactly how i started. lets have a moment to thank ellis for spreading the love.

I had an old 14-speed (7x2) that I did not want to keep maintaining. Did the conversion and it's been my favorite ride since.

**Deleted by moderator.**

I keep imagining a crackhead stealing that tandem and trying to sell it to me...

I keep imagining someone in the dumpster looking for the tandem.

my less than is divided by three.
</3

Cheap and fun.

Seems to be getting more and more expensive, though. But just as fun.

I made my fixed cuz I had an 70's road frame laying around and wanted something I could ride to school, work, or just around that i wouldnt have to worry about a lot of parts goin missing. Also its fun to ride on and good training for road racing, no *****ing out when its windy.

I was tired of people asking to ride my bike while drunk when I was in college. It made for some fun scenes " It doesn't have any brakes and you can't stop pedalling. have fun"

to train. to figure out why all the messengers i use to chase in the city were as fast or faster than me on my mtb w/ slicks. to climb better/stronger. because i am addicted to allthingsbike. it's simpler - less to go wrong. brand new bike for sub-$500. it's dangerous as ****

all the above in any order you like...

I crashed my road bike, and realized the two places I live are 45 minutes from tracks. Then I thought building a track bike would be cheaper.... hell no it isn't hahahaha.

Cheap and fun.

Seems to be getting more and more expensive, though. But just as fun.

Yep...

I was tired of people asking to ride my bike while drunk when I was in college. It made for some fun scenes " It doesn't have any brakes and you can't stop pedalling. have fun"


that's awesome...

Because I needed a new bike that would get me around faster than a 12+ year BMX bike, didn't want any gears, and the Van Dessel had a nice look to it. I figured if I didn't like fixed, I could flop it around to single speed.

I like skidding too much to do that ever though now. :)

stealing the best answer from the last thread like this... he told me to
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/fell/images/personal/scb_eagle.jpeg

stealing the best answer from the last thread like this... he told me to
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/fell/images/personal/scb_eagle.jpeg

Yes, you must obey Igor.


One of my friends had one, and after I rode a couple of times and nearly died, I was hooked. You're not having fun unless you're almost dying.

i got a bonus from work but it wasn't enough to cover a road bike. so i got one with fewer gears and it turned out to rock.

I had to sell my crappy cruiser when I moved to Spain...Got back to NY eventually and was hanging out in the park with a friend and he showed me how to trackstand. Bought a conversion shortly thereafter, then was gifted a sweet track bike and love it like crazy...