Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Why?

What is the advantage of a fixed gear bike over a single speed with coaster or rim brake, or a multi gear bike? I'll never go fixed, since I like to be able to coast at times, (and I like brakes) but I would like to know what the advantages/perceived advantages are for the fixed gear bike.
Yes, I expect to be cussed out, ridiculed, insulted, and etc. for asking but if I don't ask, how am I to learn? Besides, I have been cussed out, ridiculed, insulted, and etc. for 53 of my 54 years, so will be nothing new.

i was going to post something insulting but i decided against it, even though these types of threads come up from time to time, read almost verbatim to what you wrote, and are annoying to answer.

go ride one and find out for yourself. it's something you have to experience directly.

By your logic everyone should be riding carbon fiber frames with lightweight wheels and full campy super record (with the 11 speed cassette). Actually scratch that, we'd all be driving cars.

Sometimes it's not about advantages but just something different. Sometimes it's just about fun. I for one ride a track bike because I race at the track. I commute on a single speed (sometimes a fixed-gear with brakes).

But if you want some actual advantages, here are some (some of which can apply to single speeds):
* less maintenance
* trackstanding at intersections
* learning how to spin
* racing track
* looking cool

It's fun.

A genuine desire to learn about fixed gears shouldn't cause the participant to expect ridicule. It's depressing to think this is what is expected of people that DO ride fixed gear bicycles.

Any way, most will tell you that riding a fixed gear is something that can only be experienced. A particular bond between body and machine that seems almost to practical. In reality, there is defintely a machinal advantage. The cog is directly threaded on to the hub resulting is a lot more power being immediately transfered to the rear wheel as you pedal.

Another way to approach it would be its durability. The less moving parts being exposed to weather and abuse, the lease likely you will have issues with the bikes (in a extremely average relative theory).

Feeling tied to the road gives a good idea of traction with weather as well.

Again, there are numerous things that are better explained through experience then words.
I hope this helps explain the idea though.

By your logic everyone should be riding carbon fiber frames with lightweight wheels and full campy super record (with the 11 speed cassette). Actually scratch that, we'd all be driving cars.

Sometimes it's not about advantages but just something different. Sometimes it's just about fun. I for one ride a track bike because I race at the track. I commute on a single speed (sometimes a fixed-gear with brakes).

But if you want some actual advantages, here are some (some of which can apply to single speeds):
* less maintenance
* trackstanding at intersections
* learning how to spin
* racing track
* looking cool

What the **** are you talking about? He merely asked why some find fixed gears preferable to SS.

Well he asked why fixed-gears were better versus every other type pf bike.
And personally it's already been outlined here and elsewhere. The decision to ride fixed or not depends ultimately on whether or not you personally enjoy it.

By your logic everyone should be riding carbon fiber frames with lightweight wheels and full campy super record (with the 11 speed cassette). Actually scratch that, we'd all be driving cars. ...

If that were the case, I would not be riding. I have the following bikes:

1988 Fuji Mt. Fuji Mtn Bike (18 speed) all original friction shift Sun Tour. I bought it in 1995, for the princely sum of $125.00, and have put over 30,000 miles on it. Oh, the frame is lugged and braised triple butted steel.

Late 1980's/ early 1990's (I think) Nishiki Colorado Mountain bike. All original Shimano oval chain ring drive, Steel frame.

2 unknown vintage Huffy Beach Cruisers, steel frames (and rims, for that matter) these were dumpster finds after Hurricane Dennis, in Florida.

1970's Ross 10 speed "Professional" 27 inch wheel road bike, braised steel frame (probably "gas pipe" steel) I bought it from a neighbor for $10.00

Miami Sun Adult Trike (Single speed. I hope to someday upgrade it to a 3 speed) Steel frame and wheels. A pawn shop find for only $105.00

Sears Tote Cycle Sturmey Archer internal rear 3 speed with coaster brake, (Steel frame separable design) ($99.00 from eBay, including shipping)

"Tank" brand Micro 16 Folding bike single speed (Steel frame) ($97.00 from eBay, including shipping)

Vertical PK7 full suspension mountain bike the only new bike I have bought in over 30 years, on sale at Target, for $88.00, 4 or 5 years ago. Aluminum main frame, steel rear triangle, 21 speed

I have another mountain bike in storage, over in Nevada, I do not remember what brand it is, I think I paid something like $25.00 for it from a pawn shop, in Vegas. I have not seen it in over 5 years, and bought it mainly for a few parts (wheels and V brakes) for the Fuji.

All of these bikes were bought over a fifteen year period.

I never said anything about a single speed with coaster or rim brakes, or a multi speed bike being "better" than a fixed gear bike. I asked what the advantages are for the fixed gear bike. I never MENTIONED CF frames or 11 speed cassettes or Campy

Finally, I don't own a car, and have not owned one since 1994.

Consider this thread "fixed"

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

We're the same age so you'll probably enjoy riding fixed.

go ride one and find out for yourself. it's something you have to experience directly.

QFT

and i will add that fg, compared to a ss with same gear ratio, etc, seems to be easier to climb hills with.

There are no advantages to riding fixed... I just love doing it

I guess you could say health and maintenance are the two main reason for riding fixed... I don't care I just love it.

I'm not apposed to riding any other kind of bike... I just sold them all so I can buy more track bikes.

It's fun.

That pretty much sums it up.

Also, my 20 year old "mountain bike" weighs less than I can afford.

For the record, I do have a geared bike and love it as well.

We're the same age so you'll probably enjoy riding fixed.

Chronologically, we may be the same age, perhaps, but not physically.

I have a hereditary bone disorder (MHE) so my joints are a lot "older" (as in way beyond "worn out").

When I was a kid (of 10 or 11) I was told by the Doc's at Iowa City Medical Center, that I would be in a wheel chair by the age of 30. I am convinced that riding my P.O.S. bikes every chance I get, is what has kept me out of that chair for an additional 24 years so far. (I have to admit though, there are some days when a wheel chair would be mighty nice. I figure I'll probably have to get one with-in the next 5 years or so :notamused: )

I personally enjoy ss more. I use a fg for track (duh), and for cross racing. The only advantage I find is for cross racing. If you can get around a cross course fast on a fg... you'll fly on a single, or geared bike (coasting is a must in cx).

i have both a coasting one gear and a fixed and i like both...during the week i mostly ride the fixed bike and occasionally i will take out the coasting bike if i want to give my legs a break

The momentum of the fixed wheel transfers energy to the cranks. Because fixed bikes bleed less energy, they maintain speed and climb better at the same ratio compared to a free-wheel setup.

It's the zen thing, stupid.

It's fun and challenging.

Yeah I gotta ask what's up Yoshi, you're not bright but you usually aren't stupid. You seriously can't trackstand with a freewheel? Seriously? You can't practice or advance your spin with a geared bike? Are you handicapped? I wouldn't hold it against you? Maybe.

I own fixed on a climb with a road bike, you guys are making **** up, because you can expend less energy climbing by utilizing gears while losing speed when raising your ratio means your road bike climbs better, wih your fixed it means you have no choice in the matter of how much energy you must expend.

This place spawns ignorance.

Less work to maintain - Check
Fun - Check
For track - Check

Other answers are reflecting yourr ignorance of cycling

Fun, it's a change from riding my freewheeled bikes. Provides an interesting physical challenge over distance rides. I love the simplicity of them, there's a certain beauty found in fixed/track bikes that I don't see in others. Not advantages though, my roadbike is fun too, just in a different way. It's just another bike to ride, I just seem to enjoy riding this one more than I do my others :)

Oh, and yeah... it's fun.

Yeah I gotta ask what's up Yoshi, you're not bright but you usually aren't stupid. You seriously can't trackstand with a freewheel? Seriously? You can't practice or advance your spin with a geared bike? Are you handicapped? I wouldn't hold it against you? Maybe.

I never said you couldn't. However a fixed-gear provides advantages in those areas, over a bike with a freewheel.

And to everyone here, my point about the road bike and the car was that the OP was asking what the advantages of a fixed-gear were, the implication being that people road fixed-gears because they present an advantage over single speeds or road bikes. If you take that logic to the extreme then you would only ride the bike that gave you the greatest advantage, which is a car. And yes that's a hyperbole.

Edit: just to clarify, while I was being snarky, my point is that people don't always ride a certain bike because it gives them an advantage over another type of bike. Sometimes they just want to ride that bike (which I suppose could be an advantage, but let's not go there). And I did answer his question. You all need to LTFU (Lighten the F up).

What the **** are you talking about? He merely asked why some find fixed gears preferable to SS.

No, he didn't. He asked what the advantages were. Completely different.

It's EXTREME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is fun, but if I were to say there were any advantages to riding fixed, they would be:

1-ease of maintenance
2-they're good for certain types of training.
3-you will be allowed on a velodrome track (as long as it is brakeless)

I own fixed on a climb with a road bike, you guys are making **** up, because you can expend less energy climbing by utilizing gears while losing speed when raising your ratio means your road bike climbs better, wih your fixed it means you have no choice in the matter of how much energy you must expend.

This place spawns ignorance.

Less work to maintain - Check
Fun - Check
For track - Check

Other answers are reflecting yourr ignorance of cycling

So you are denying the momentum and weight benefits of a fixed gear bike on the street?
Who’s ignorant?

So you are denying the momentum and weight benefits of a fixed gear bike on the street?
Who’s ignorant?

The momentum argument is generally speaking a fallacy. The momentum in the cranks helps you pedal through deadspots, but if you are letting your cranks do that for you then you are actually slowing yourself down by increasing the resistance.

In my personal experience I have found it easier to climb on a fixed-gear compared to a road bike with a similar gearing. In this case I believe it is because of the momentum - climbing at low cadences requires a lot of force on the pedals and generally results in sloppy pedal stroke. Not having to pedal through dead spots helps you maintain your rhythm which makes it easier to climb. However it is possible that this speculation is completely incorrect, as soft-pedalling through dead spots on a road bike would accomplish the same thing. It warrants more thorough experimentation/analysis.

However climbing in a large gear at low cadence is biomechanically less efficient than low-gear/high-cadence so a road bike is better at climbing than a fixed-gear with a typical gear ratio.

Of course fixed-gear drivetrains are more efficient at transmitting torque from the cranks to the wheel than a road bike, due to a lack of derailleur and a straight chainline. The difference in efficiency between a fixed-gear and a single speed is probably negligible.

As for weight, the lightest bike I own is a track bike (around 16lbs) but there are road bikes out there that weigh much less than that. Weight only makes a real difference when climbing so for general street use a light weight bike offers little advantage over a heavier bike, everything else being equal.

fixed gear no handed trackstands to impress the townies.

The momentum argument is generally speaking a fallacy. The momentum in the cranks helps you pedal through deadspots, but if you are letting your cranks do that for you then you are actually slowing yourself down by increasing the resistance.



I disagree.
You are correct, if you are letting the cranks do the work for you, but if you are powering the cranks, any momentum is an energy benefit over a free-wheel at the same cadence.

It's a grand idea for ANOTHER bike.
It's soooooooooooo quiet.

I disagree.
You are correct, if you are letting the cranks do the work for you, but if you are powering the cranks, any momentum is an energy benefit over a free-wheel at the same cadence.

If what you say is true, then you have discovered free energy. Since free energy violates the first law of thermodynamics, I'd say it safe to assume that your assumptions are false.

In any case, if you are applying a relatively constant amount of force on the cranks during the entire rotation then your chain is staying taut, meaning that NO momentum is being transmitted from your rear wheel to your cranks.

I drew a little picture to explain what I mean about the taut chain (ph33r my MS Paint skillz):

pedalling:
http://www.aplusbi.com/images/drivetrain/drivetrain_force.png

Not pedalling:
http://www.aplusbi.com/images/drivetrain/drivetrain_no_force.png

Force is transmitted from the cranks to the wheel along the top part of the chain, force is transmitted from the wheel to the cranks along the bottom part of the chain. It's not possible for force to be transmitted along both at the same time (even with a perfectly tight chain, though it's easier to see with a slightly slack chain).

If what you say is true, then you have discovered free energy. Since free energy violates the first law of thermodynamics, I'd say it safe to assume that your assumptions are false.



No, I haven't discovered free energy and I'm not talking thermodynamics. I'm talking experience, real world comparisons and undeniable conclusions.

No, I haven't discovered free energy and I'm not talking thermodynamics. I'm talking experience, real world comparisons and undeniable conclusions.

Refer to my diagrams. I am talking about physics and engineering, not zero-blind, single participant case studies.

RE: my free energy comment.

If what you say is true, and the momentum supplied to your cranks from your rear wheel acts as an energy benefit over a freewheel, this means there is a net positive.

Now let's assume a completely zero loss environment here, in other words there is no resistance on your bike at all, it will continue to move forward forever. Ignoring the fact that if you are pedalling there is NO momentum supplied to your cranks from your rear wheel (as shown in my diagrams), the rear wheels momentum (the product of its mass and angular velocity) is transmitted to your cranks via the chain. You then supply power to the cranks, thereby increasing its momentum. This combined momentum is transmitted to your rear wheel, increasing its momentum. So far so good. However you imply that you get a benefit from the momentum that is transmitted from your rear wheel to your cranks and back. This means that if you don't pedal, the momentum in your cranks is going to somehow increase the momentum in your rear wheel.

Think about it - if you don't pedal when you have a freewheel, your cranks don't move. If you don't pedal on a fixed-gear, your cranks do move. You are implying that the moving of your cranks means you need to put less energy into the system to maintain your speed which means that the moving of your cranks is putting energy into your rear wheel (more than it is taking away). Obviously this is impossible - the energy that your cranks can put into your rear wheel cannot be greater than the energy put into them by the rear wheel in the first place.

Here's the deal, a fixed-gear drive train is more efficient than a road bike drive train, all else being equal. It may be more efficient than a single speed due to the efficiency of the freewheel mechanism (I have not verified this, but it would make sense).

That alone can make a big difference. The momentum transferred to your cranks can make it easier to pedal if your pedal stroke is sloppy, but it doesn't make it more efficient.

It sounds to me like you are noticing that it is easier to pedal (especially uphill) on a fixed-gear because of the momentum carrying you through dead spots, and you are noticing the increased efficiency of the drivetrain. The problem is that you are attributing one to the other.

^ This is reasonable.
I can’t argue physics - im too much of a layman.
I guess I was touting the perceived benefits of fixed-gear biomechanics.

I got one because I needed something to stand by while drinking PBR and smoking Parliments

I got one because I needed something to stand by while drinking PBR and smoking Parliments



...and somewhere to put your spoke cards.

A fixed gear will climb slightly better on a hill that A) has a linear slope and B) has a slope that is in the proper torque range for your legs. A geared bike will climb better in the real world.

Preferance, its all about preferance, I know about six guys (myself included in the six) that tried fixed gear, everyone hated it but one. Does that make it suck? No, just means five guys in Philly didnt like it for whatever reason, but we all like single speeds including the one guy that likes fixed. (he now owns two bikes, one fixed and one single speed) its really as simple as that. Im sure youll hear this same story some day but in reverse ;)

I just have more fun on mine. I haven't tried SS yet though, but riding fixed is more fun than riding with gears for me.

I just have more fun on mine. I haven't tried SS yet though, but riding fixed is more fun than riding with gears for me.

and thats what its all about, whats more fun for you :thumb: Ill be god damned if Im going to ride a bike because everyone else tells me I should! No sheep here ;)

fg, compared to a ss with same gear ratio, etc, seems to be easier to climb hills with.

+1 . . . keeps bloodflow = less lazyness uphill (or it's a placebo, one)

i will add that fg, compared to a ss with same gear ratio, etc, seems to be easier to climb hills with.

I don't find that to be true. I regularly ride two different bikes, one fixed and the other ss, geared identically, up the same hill every week. On the ss I can't tell the difference between that and the fixed gear when grinding up this hill. The fixed gear does not assist me in any way.

I built up a conversion for commuting and wet-season training. It's simple, reliable, and fun. Here's a training benefit: it broadens your power band. With a derailler bike you can choose the optimal gear for your speed and cadence. That's really the whole point, right? The thing is, you get used to riding in only the correct gear.

On a fixed gear, you're often in the "wrong gear." Maybe you're going down a decline or with a tailwind and you're in too low of a gear, maybe you're going up or into a headwind and you're in too high of a gear. With the former, your only choice is to spin it up; with the latter, to grind it out. Over many miles, your legs get used to spinning higher cadences at the top and pushing higher torque at the bottom.

Previously during a race or a group ride, if the pack suddenly accelerated I would have to drop a cog, stand up, and mash. After riding fixed, I can spin up to a higher cadence, remain seated, then drop a cog. Much smoother and faster acceleration. Or on rollers where I would previously gear down, now I have the low cadence power to stay in the big ring and power over the rollers. So that's a concrete benefit I have realized from riding fixed.

Exercise. It works better than a coach yelling "PEDAL PEDAL PEDAL" and chasing you in a car.

Zen is easier to achieve with a fixed wheel.

....that and babes love my skidz.

Weight only makes a real difference when climbing so for general street use a light weight bike offers little advantage over a heavier bike, everything else being equal.
Weight makes a big difference when going down the hill, too. Heavier bike = slower up hill and faster down hill :D

Weight makes a big difference when going down the hill, too. Heavier bike = slower up hill and faster down hill :D

I don't know about that. From back in high school I remember seeing a bowling ball and a penny hit the ground at the same time when dropped from the same height.

Try it right now with a penny and something substantially heavier (like a can of soup).