Southern California - Single vs. Fixed: What's the definition pls?

Sorry, but I was looking into the thread and don't understand the difference between single speed and fixed.

Many thanks.

single speed is one gear ratio, but the free wheel gives you the ability to coast.

fixed gear is one gear ratio, but the hub is fixed (not free) so you do not have the ability to coast.

You can also ride a single speed and pretend to be riding a fixed gear by not coasting at all. :p

I thought single speed was when you ride all your rides at the same speed without improving. You do a single speed! Guess I have alot to learn!:D

I thought single speed was when you ride all your rides at the same speed without improving. You do a single speed! Guess I have alot to learn!:D

Actually Beanz,

"Single-Speed" is kind of mis-leading, since I can go lots of different speeds on my single-speed. Instead, I think we should call them "Single-Gear-Ratio-with Freewheel" bikes.

A fixed gear is way different, at least for me, since I have this built-in "coast-reflex" which is downright dangerous on a fixed gear bike (yeah, ask me how I know!). I've pretty-much learned not to do that, but still, occasionally, it happens.

My question is: When is a fixed gear bike a "Fixie?" My guess is that a Fixed Gear Bike (in an on-the-road context) has brakes, whereas a "Fixie" does not. Is this right?

Of course, a track bike in a velodrome context doesn't ever have brakes, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I mean: Fixie or Fixed Gear on the road.

Rick / OCRR

One guy over in the fs/ss forum thinks riding a fixed gear and taking a spinning class are the same thing.

{clip**A fixed gear is way different, at least for me, since I have this built-in "coast-reflex" which is downright dangerous on a fixed gear bike (yeah, ask me how I know!). I've pretty-much learned not to do that, but still, occasionally, it happens.


Spot on Rick. It took me a few weeks of daily riding (commuting) to really shake the reflex. The worst lesson was when I learned that I tended to coast when I signaled turns -- take hand off bars, stop pedaling, begin launch.... I remained upright, but terrified -- I mean, I was signaling because I was in heavy traffic after all.


My question is: When is a fixed gear bike a "Fixie?" My guess is that a Fixed Gear Bike (in an on-the-road context) has brakes, whereas a "Fixie" does not. Is this right?

The folks on LAFixed, for example, really shun the term "fixie", so in their vocabulary, the answer is "never". My take is that "brakeless" implies fixed gear -- unless you don't value your life. I'd say that "fixed gear bicycle" means a road-oriented setup where you don't coast. "Brakeless" means a road-oriented setup where you don't coast and don't run brakes; this is a subset of "fixed gear bicycle". And "track bike" is a track-oriented setup with neither coasting nor brakes.

In the end, though, as long you're clear about what you mean when it matters, well ... {shrug**.

too many definitions in this thread. fixed means fixed.

fixie is a dumb word.

One guy over in the fs/ss forum thinks riding a fixed gear and taking a spinning class are the same thing.

Spin bikes don't freewheel, so in that respect they are the same. As is the "launch effect" if you forget and try to stop pedalling. But pedalling a stationary bike isn't exactly "riding".

"fixie" is just short for "fixed gear", i.e. no freewheel. Lack of brakes doesn't come into it.

I always thought "Fixie" was Trixie's little sister. I also thought Single Speed referred to the pace of life you maintain when you're forever a Bachelor. Wait, maybe I'm on the wrong forum.

Okay everyone, thanks for the clarification on that! I will strike "fixie" from my vocabulary from this point forward.

I will, however, keep my brakes mounted (Modolo Equipe with Tecktro cyclo-cross levers) because I do value my life (somewhat), and panic-stop situations happen!

Yes Brian, that "coast-reflex" on a fixed gear bike is downright terrifying, but that's good (in a way), because that makes it a very educational experience!

Rick / OCRR

the coast reflex is something you get over pretty quickly, though. at least i did the first time i almost bucked myself off.

If it's for street use, the same difference between smart and jackass.

Most "bottom engineers" on fixed gear with no brakes on city streets are attempting to assign themselves with a modicum of bravado in order to attain credibility with the "cool" crowd." However, as it is with many things, that legitimacy cannot be self ascribed. Rarely is the case, wherein a fixed gear is being utilized for actual training purposes. Those individuals might be forward thinking enough to practice on what's known as a "velodrome" or in an area with little traffic like the Rose Bowl. Not in Silver Lake or Hollywood.

Hi, I'm new to this forum. Can somebody tell me where the "insert trite disquisition on the sociology of street fixed gear bicycle riding" button is?

Hi, I'm new to this forum. Can somebody tell me where the "insert trite disquisition on the sociology of street fixed gear bicycle riding" button is?

You can't see it? It's as plain as the nose on your face. Geez.

Well, since I started this thread, I'll just interject that your replies have provided an explanation for an accident that gave me my first "serious" injury as a little boy. I was about 7 years old and I had a conventional bike with coaster brakes and one speed, what I now understand was a "single-speed" bike. My little friend Susan had a cute little bike that was somewhat smaller than mine but otherwise looked for all the world the same in form and function. So, I jumped on Susan's bike and, with her permission, took it out on the street in front of our schoolhouse for a test drive. Naturally, I wanted to impress Susan with my cycling ability, so I took off like a shot on her bike pedalling at top speed for a good portion of a block and then decided I'd reverse pedal and slam on the brakes. What I unfortunately was not aware of was that Susan's bike was what I now understand to be a fixed gear bike with no coaster brakes. After 50 years, I still have a 3 inch scar on the back of my left leg right above the knee where some sharp piece of her left pedal whirled around and bit out a half-inch wide wedge of flesh right before I went spread-eagled onto the pavement. Well, it's at least nice to know the technical reason for the event.

Well, since I started this thread, I'll just interject that your replies have provided an explanation for an accident that gave me my first "serious" injury as a little boy. I was about 7 years old and I had a conventional bike with coaster brakes and one speed, what I now understand was a "single-speed" bike. My little friend Susan had a cute little bike that was somewhat smaller than mine but otherwise looked for all the world the same in form and function. So, I jumped on Susan's bike and, with her permission, took it out on the street in front of our schoolhouse for a test drive. Naturally, I wanted to impress Susan with my cycling ability, so I took off like a shot on her bike pedalling at top speed for a good portion of a block and then decided I'd reverse pedal and slam on the brakes. What I unfortunately was not aware of was that Susan's bike was what I now understand to be a fixed gear bike with no coaster brakes. After 50 years, I still have a 3 inch scar on the back of my left leg right above the knee where some sharp piece of her left pedal whirled around and bit out a half-inch wide wedge of flesh right before I went spread-eagled onto the pavement. Well, it's at least nice to know the technical reason for the event.

What ever became of Susan?

What ever became of Susan?

Funny you should ask . . . I was wondering the same thing! And did her bike survive?

Rick / OCRR

That sounds like my first bike (especially when you mentioned 50 years). It had a brake pedal of sorts on the frame. I remember being all excited when I finally graduated to a "coaster bike." I had no idea I was leaving my hard core biking days behind.

Yep, I always think of the difference as both having only a single gear, but if you take your feet off the pedals of a SS while in motion the pedals stay where you left them. If you take your feet off a FG while in motion the pedals will continue to revolve.

They are scary bikes at first, but only because they are unfamiliar. I far prefer riding fixed, but when I'm lazy or just flat out tired I sure appreciate my geared bikes.

A place for all bikes, I guess.

What ever became of Susan?

Reader, I married her!

Reader, I married her!

PC, sometimes I think I love you.

single speed = wussies
fixed gear = real men

What ever became of Susan?

Well, first about the bike--like a young gentleman I, with blood gushing down my leg, returned Susan's bike to her in working condition, albeit with a few scrapes and scratches. And then I limped home (across the street) to beg the 14 year old baby sitter to just patch the gash up as best she could, which she did with about 10 bandaids, and not to tell my parents, who I knew would whoop the daylights out of me for being such an idiot, and then take me to the doctor where I would get a shot and stitches (I would rather have had my leg cut off than that). And that's why I have a scar the size and shape of a peach slice to this day on the back of my leg.

And about Susan....it turns out that I recently had a chance to see the group picture from our 40th high school reunion (I didn't attend). There were all of 15 people in the picture, and as I recall, Susan was among them, looking a little plumper than I recall, but still with a sly little grin that made me wonder if she may have always known the difference between single-speed and fixed-gear bikes, but just wasn't tellin', especially to show-off little boys.

So, another question. What is the typical arrangement for braking on single-speed and fixed-gear bikes?

Many thanks.

My recommendation is to run at least a front brake on the fixed gear and run both front and rear brakes on the single speed.

My fixie has one brake at the front...:D

It's in the process of being sanded...and the braze-ons just came off. :p

Single means I'm not getting any at the moment. Fixed means even if I was getting some, the junk wouldn't work.