Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Top Ten Reasons I ride a fixie

1. It's so freaking quiet.

2. no one else does it.

3. it's a politically charged action (i.e. these streets are mine too)

help me with the rest of the list please.

I needed an excuse to keep on buying new pairs of pants.

It feels good
It's good for your spin
It builds strong climbing legs
Low maintenance
Funny looks from people who know bikes
Funny looks from geared riders when passing them going uphill
Fixed gear bikes look really cool and simple

I get tired of adjusting brake cables.

It's a great conversation starter.

It's a great snob conversation ender.

I can't adjust derailers to save my life.

If I didn't feed my obsession by riding my fixed gear I might kill somebody (most likely an SUV owner).

So I guess community service???

i'm confused...

mayonnaise, your number 2 reason isn't exactly true, as there are more'n one ppl who ride fixes on this forum alone. and, your #3 reason isnt endemic to FG; it applies to all bicycles.

my reason? b/c i can ride fast using just one leg.

-rob

I can't afford derailleurs....

..I dont know what a derailleur is

My reasons:
-I don't like city-pickers cleaning equipment off my ride.
-I prefer to be in tune with my ride
-the challenge is greater
-the learning curve
-easier maintenance
-simplicity
-you're a geek
-no one likes me
-I spilled my Hi-C

-I spilled my Hi-C

Sloppy boy!

The joy of explaining that it is in fact NOT an expensive race bike. Rather it is in fact a bike cobbled together from a garage sale crapster and the second hand parts bin at the LBS.

Parking it secure in the knowledge that if it does get stolen:
1) Hopefully it'll throw the thief or at least blow his/her knees.
2) That isn't your expensive >$1,000 "good" bike being ridden away from you as you exit the grocery.

It's a whole lot of fun!

More control than I've ever thought possible.

I'm an anarchist. We do things the hard way.
And simplicity is beautiful.

Sloppy boy!
Yeah, it was the green crap too.

Yeah, it was the green crap too.

That's gonna leave one of the funky you-couldn't-hold-it-could-you stains, isn't it?

always do

- I love skidding.
- I can never get enough skidding.
- Sometimes, skidding is all I think about.

BK

2) That isn't your expensive >$1,000 "good" bike being ridden away from you as you exit the grocery.

I guess that depends on what kind of fixie you are riding.. :)

I guess that depends on what kind of fixie you are riding..

Very good point. The only one that I would lock up outside of anywhere is the crapster though. The one I'm building right now is actually going to be nice (I hope) It's a 1978 Raleigh Competition GS purchased for $10 at a garage sale. A friend of mine works at a sign painting shop and painted it for me after I sanded it down. He's dropping it off in a half hour! He says it looks great. I can't wait to see it. Anybody interested in pictures? Should I post a step by step rebuild?

Anybody interested in pictures? Should I post a step by step rebuild?

Yes please, on both. :D

I go into a zen-like trance everytime I ride.