Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - The point of (single speed) fixed gear?

Ok so i have seen bikes around that have this single speed (fixed gear) but i mean is there a point to this, surely thats why the BMX is out there, no changing just pedal and go. But then i think well hold on BMX's are for stunt riding so then there must be some sort of alternative, that is a kind of mountain bike but only uses the single speed casestte. What is the point/advantage/disadvantages to this, one of the disadvantages i can think of is that you go as fast and for hills it aint exactly amazing.
can some explain, cheers.
I mean it looks the exactly the same as a mountain bike, and single speed because?

http://www.mtbreview.com/spotlight/philwood/bike.jpg



P.s Hey all im New :D

the reason we ride singlepseeds, or at least me, is because it is just a matter of passion. You just have to try it out, otherwise, you won't understand it. I strongly recommend you try a singlespeed for a little bit. Its an amazing feeling.

I dont know about not understanding 'if you never tried'. With very few exceptions, I think most people started riding on a single speed. For me, its about the simplicity of a minimal machine. Reminds me of being 4 on my banana-seat, coasterbrake bike.

Oh, and close to zero maintenance in over 10 years on my one-and-only, used for everthing from races to touring to trailriding, beat-up-old clunker which will blow the doors of plastic-clad gearhead-mounted vunderbikes doesnt hurt, either.

Oh, and close to zero maintenance in over 10 years on my one-and-only, used for everthing from races to touring to trailriding, beat-up-old clunker which will blow the doors of plastic-clad gearhead-mounted vunderbikes doesnt hurt, either.

That too! :D

Well, single speed and fixed gear are two different things, to begin with. Yes, fixed gear is a single speed, but you can't coast and don't see many mountain bikes set up this way.

why? Well, for me the fixed gear is a different challenge. You have to power up climbs and spin like crazy going down the other side. It's also incredibly simple riding. You pedal. That's it. Pedalling. No gears, not even a computer on mine. When you're not pedalling so hard you can feel your lungs in your ears, you can enjoy the scenery and not think about riding your bike as much. Of course, you have to remember to pedal, but you see where I'm coming from.

so is riding this single speed that much slower or not?
what would you say top speed of a single speed bike is, since the rear cog is small and so is the front?
what about hills too, isnt that a pain in the butt?

so is riding this single speed that much slower or not?
what would you say top speed of a single speed bike is, since the rear cog is small and so is the front?
what about hills too, isnt that a pain in the butt?

all of that is dependant on what gear ratio and crank length you use.

what about hills too, isnt that a pain in the butt?

No, it's part of the fun. road or mountain, not being able to dowshift on climbs will make you stronger over time. And it's pretty easy to go out on a geared bike and say 'self, you're not gonna shift on this climb' and end up downshifting and saying 'self, it's OK to drop a gear here and there'. On a SS, you just say 'self, pedal harder, breathe, relax, repeat'.

so is riding this single speed that much slower or not?
what would you say top speed of a single speed bike is, since the rear cog is small and so is the front?
what about hills too, isnt that a pain in the butt?Riding ss or fixed has nothing to do with speed. Some things in life can be appreciated in their simplest forms. You can only find this out for yourself. If you have the 'right element' in your personality, you'll love it on your first ride. Most all people who try riding fixed for the first time don't even care for it or cannot understand the concept of pushing only one gear and not being able to coast. And only a tiny few that try immediately click with the idea.

There is something inexplicably refreshing about riding your bike and hearing nothing. No derailleur pulleys, no chain grazing a front derailleur now and then, no ratcheting whine from the rear wheel as you coast. No sound save the whispering whoosh of smooth tires biting smooth pavement.

Riding ss or fixed has nothing to do with speed. Some things in life can be appreciated in their simplest forms. You can only find this out for yourself. If you have the 'right element' in your personality, you'll love it on your first ride. Most all people who try riding fixed for the first time don't even care for it or cannot understand the concept of pushing only one gear and not being able to coast. And only a tiny few that try immediately click with the idea.

I made a fixed gear bike out of an old frame I acquired a number of years ago and as soon as I got it together, and rode it, I knew on that first ride that it was love at first sight. So much so that after a few years I have sold/converted all of my 7 "multi geared road bikes" to fixed gear and only ride fixed gear bikes exclusively. I made one for my wife and she said on the first ride, "you can't coast" this is dumb. I then converted it over to single speed with a freewheel and she is happy as a clam. I will admit that it is not for everybody but if you are an active rider, then you owe it to yourself to, at least, try it and see if you like it. I did and will probably never own another multi gear bike again. Especially with the 10 speed/ electronic shifting direction that they are heading.

fixedgearhead

Oh, and close to zero maintenance in over 10 years on my one-and-only, used for everthing from races to touring to trailriding, beat-up-old clunker which will blow the doors of plastic-clad gearhead-mounted vunderbikes doesnt hurt, either.

i've yet to see any plastic-clad vunderbikes with doors yet, but i hear cannondale is working on one. =P

-rob

AS you can see, though, there tends to develop a sort of attitude towards geared bikes after you ride fixed or ss for a while. Be careful not to let that happen. :)

My single speed is a tank, big 2.1 inch tires, low slow gear ratio, and zero maintenance. I treat it like crap and it's always there coming back for more.

Also when you ride it's a physical, visceral thing, pure work without artiface.

Why ride s.s./ fixed? The other morning on my commute to work as I was pedaling along. I saw a pair of chipmunks playing and actually heard the water running in the stream that I cross. I have been riding s.s. rode bike for 3 years now and their are numerous examples of sounds and sights, I have missed for the first seventeen years my bike had 18 speeds. My attention was on wether or not I was in the right gear or not. s.s./fixed may not please everyone but riding a bicycle ought to be fun.

Why ride s.s./ fixed? The other morning on my commute to work as I was pedaling along. I saw a pair of chipmunks playing and actually heard the water running in the stream that I cross. I have been riding s.s. rode bike for 3 years now and their are numerous examples of sounds and sights, I have missed for the first seventeen years my bike had 18 speeds. My attention was on wether or not I was in the right gear or not. s.s./fixed may not please everyone but riding a bicycle ought to be fun.

That's right. I forgot to mention the quiet. You only hear the wind and the hiss of tires. Truly magical.


fixedgearhead

think of it like walking without a discman on.

fssb
sparky

Riding ss or fixed has nothing to do with speed.

even though on my daily commute on my fixie, i blow anybody and everyone away!

almost.

Dennis

even though on my daily commute on my fixie, i blow anybody and everyone away!

almost.

DennisSee.....that's your mind at work..... fixes allow you to do that.

i actually found that while i was commuting, i was faster on my fixed gear than i was on my road bike.

i also notice that when i take my road bike out for what i call "training rides" (i'm not really training for anything, i don't race, i have very little ambition to race...i guess it's just a fitness and health ride, anyway), i'm always looking down and back at the rear cluster to see which cog i'm in, even though i know it makes no difference whatsoever...and i'm also always thinking about what shift i'd need to make in the rear to get close to the same ratio if i jump to the big ring up front, so i can somewhat maintain my cadence...again, WHY?!

i also have a tendency to not concentrate on where i'm going and what's happening around me on my road bike. i sort of "fall asleep at the wheel." i think it's because i just feel disconnected form the bike and what the hell, i got brakes, right? maybe it's because i rode brakeless fixed gear in the city (boston) for like, 3 years before i ever got a real road bike (except for the road bike i bought to convert to a fixie). i tend to enjoy myself a whole lot more when i'm riding a track bike. something about being THAT connected to the bike and THAT connected to the road and everything around you. i feel like i have so much more control over the bike, even with steering. you just develop a much better rhythm and feeling for when to do what without missing a beat.

i sold the first "real" road bike i had. it was an orangey-coppery bianchi eros (before they started putting campy on them). it was a decent frame, but for me it handled like crap...way too slow on turns. i set it up with some chop-shop bullhorns and full fenders. it was my wintertime beater bike. my friend across the bridge has it now. i have a better road bike, a pinarello with a super short rear end, so it handles sort of like my track bikes. i still keep thinking that i should set it up fixed gear, but then i wouldn't have anything to tackle the hills in SF and berkeley. and also "serious" roadies wouldn't say hi to me...oh wait...they don't say hi to me now...

it's personal preference, really, but everyone i've ever put on one of my track bikes for the first time ends up loving it. it's like waking up one day and discovering you have like, jedi powers or something. it just brings you more in tune with the bike and everything around you...

i'm going to stop now before i get too redundant.

Well, I'm up to four now and freakin love it. Like someone stated, you'll know if its for you immediately. The last couple times I've hopped on the geared road bike, the first few miles feel completely disconnected...because I am. But, I still feel the need to always pedal..a good thing.

I'm soon going to build my first bike from a pile of tubes and lugs. It will be a fixed gear. There was never a question.

The other night I rode back in from the office with the headlight on and decided to turn it off since there was a good amount of moonlight....perfect silence.

Dave

Antoher benefit: instead of worrying about when to shift, or what gear im in, i can focus on the cars, the traffic flow, the vibe of the campus and seeing everything beautiful about the world. Another great thing: SILENCE. No chain rattle, no pinging of changing derailluers, nothing. Just you, your bike, nature, the road or trail, and its almost a zen like experience. Its not about speed, endurance, its about love, passion. My SS only gives me about 13-15 mph at about 90 rpm, and im fine with that. I just love riding it. For lack of a better analogy, its similar to making love without protection. Nothing to distract you, just pure enjoyment. I strongly suggest everyone go back to their roots and go fixie or SS.

[QUOTE=trekkie820 I strongly suggest everyone go back to their roots and go fixie or SS.[/QUOTE]

You mean, like ride without contraception?

At first, it was a way for me to take something store bought and make it fit me, not me fit it. Specialized 93 Stumpjumper - freewheeled. Then it was an addiction: scouring stores for whatever resembled bottom of the barrel crap and making it work for one gear; whatever, where ever. I have built a new one geared bike a year (fixed/track/single speed) since that year, either for me or a friend. I cannot stop. And I have really come to hate gears, reminding me of their impending failure or whining like a 3 year old in the cereal aisle at the Supermarket. Enough. Nevermore...nevermore. I sold my last geared bike to a commuter in Beantown last year (it was a Fort CX steel beauty - he bought it for 14 miles each way) and I felt lighter the moment it went for a ride in the Brown truck. I almost felt pure. Since then, I tout the fact that I have converted 2 friends into the world of 1x1, hopefully forever. For me, riding a fixed gear or single speed is the embodiment of autonomy and responsibility. It is a daily gut-check: do I have the balls to ride this, no brakes and all? Do I dare rely on human nature to watch my back? I don't mind if you forget me, having learned my lesson (Mayo - where are you?) of trust and cunning and when to move and when to stand. Nothing like a whistle from a bum or a cop to get the machismo pumping. I like those days, where the sun is always setting and Lake Michigan does not smell of ephemera. And those days are better realized on one simple gearing.

hey, its the best analogy i could think of...i got bikes and girls on the brain!! It makes sense though...

for me, my track bike is the bike i love the most. ask onetinsloth because i practically cried when i stripped my rear hub. it was an impulse buy since khs sponsors the berkeley team and the price was way cheaper than my proposed project price. hell, i just bought a new wheelset which was more than i paid for the whole bike. i guess that speaks for how much i love my track bike. the way i see it, everytime i ride my fixed gear is an adventure. i love the feel of being able to regulate speed solely with my legs, pedaling through corners and sprinting past people on geared bikes. riding fixed for me at first was a little weird, but i don't think i could ever ride anything else for getting around town. yes i have two other geared bikes (and an ss project in my basement), but i find myself riding them less since more things are on it to break and it's not as fun. i train on my road bike and haven't been able to build up a fixie with brakes for the hills here.

while you may think it's harder since your always pedaling, you'd be surprised how much power you lose from the chain going through so many pulleys and gears. it's HUGE. there are less things to break. less to worry about. and it's always a great conversation starter, "oh yea. my bike doesn't have brakes."

riding brakeless has taught me "how to ride" rather than always worrying about something stupid like braking in time or what gear to shift into or why my derailleur is rubbing my chain.

i like all of my bikes equally, but no matter what, i always end up wishing at some point during the ride that i was on my bmx. that bike is a god damned tank, and i'm fast on it, plus i can hop over stuff and do manuals through intersections and just have a ton more fun on it...granted, powersliding through a gap in traffic on a track bike has a definite joy all it's own, but i think my heart will always belong to bmx. people tend to keep their distance in traffic if i'm riding it.

hey stinkeh!!! let's get together sometime soon and break some sh1t! and also, can you get me that jersey i was talking about before? the all black one with the giant skull and crossbones on the front? oh, and what's the word on the bolts for the new wheel?

oh yeah, the brakeless thing gets people going...they're all like "OH EMM EFF GEE!!!! ARE YOU NUTS!?!? HOW DO YOU STOP!?!?!"

See.....that's your mind at work..... fixes allow you to do that.

speaking of your mind at work...
someone once wrote on a messenger list something to this effect:

"riding fixed no brakes gives you the ability to see into future by about 5 seconds."

i have to completely agree. a very useful clairvoyant ability that can be applied to a lot of things in life beyond biking.

Dennis

speaking of your mind at work...
someone once wrote on a messenger list something to this effect:

"riding fixed no brakes gives you the ability to see into future by about 5 seconds."

i have to completely agree. a very useful clairvoyant ability that can be applied to a lot of things in life beyond biking.

Dennis

exactly...you've got to know what people are gonna do before they even know what they're gonna do...