Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Be Honest II

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?

I'll go first:

1. I love riding FG. I have Ironman legs because of it, have lost 30lbs since getting back on & love the exhilaration of riding brakeless.

2. I was attracted to the simplicity of the bikes some of the other msgrs were on, they looked cool (the bikes), & were very easy to maintain in a time-is-money business. After getting done for the day, I was much less worn out after a day of riding like I was on a mountain bike. Plus I could carry up the steps on my shoulder after a long day. Since then I was sold.

3. Various BMX bikes, 24" wheel crusiers (Schwinn Pro Stock), 10 speeds, Mountain bikes, 2 SS conversions.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?



1. It is fun. The bike is light and responsive, much more of an extension of the body than freewheel bikes.
2. See above.
3. I bought my first bike 37 years ago and have had single speeds, road bikes and mountain bikes. My other bike is a Fat Chance steel framed mountain bike which is 20 years old. I've put many thousands of miles on it Despite the gearing it is still a simple light and responsive bike and will last forever.
http://static.zooomr.com/images/1106058_e7c764bd56.jpg
4. Yes I have brakes.

Thank you Jack.

That fat chance sounds cool as hell, jack. I was never into MTB, but those bikes always caught my eyes.

1: I like the rhythm you get into when riding fixed.
-You get a lot more control in the winter riding a fixed drivetrain as compared to a freewheel with brakes that are slicked over with water, mud and oil from the road.
-Trackstanding is useful and kind of fun.
-It's nice to ride somewhere far and think "I pedaled every inch of those 60 miles" or whatever.
-It's possible to build a legit bike for a lot less than a comparable road bike, barring coming up on a really nice roadie at a garage sale or something.
-Riding fixed for 2 years made me a much better rider when I started riding road bikes.

2: My friend rode fixed and was all about it. I rode his around a parking lot and immediately liked it. I was already riding a really janky singlespeed and wanted to build up a better one, so I figured I could just build a conversion with a flip flop and just run a freewheel if I didn't like fixed, but I never flipped the wheel over.

3: I had a bright orange mountain bike when I was a kid. It was pretty nice for a kids mtb i guess. When outgrew it, I totally stopped riding bikes for a long time. When I left for college, I realized that taking the bus everywhere really sucked, so I painted a mural at my schools bike coop in exchange for a schwinn mountain bike, which I destroyed in an unfortunate MTB incident. I was reliant on bikes for transportation at this point and wanted a road bike, but all I could afford was this $30 death trap schwinn varsity singlespeed that was 10 times as dangerous as any brakeless fixed gear. I rode it for 9 months while I saved up for a fixed gear. Now I own a conversion, a nice road bike, a janky old 10 speed and another fixed project languishing in pieces. I really want a cross or touring bike.

1. its a lot of fun
2. saw a trailer for mash sf on youtube. wasnt interested in bikes before seeing the trailer.
3. no real bikes before my fixie. but nao i have 2 fixies and a downhill mtb. cycling is a ton of fun!!

1. It is surprising fun. It is a good workout and for more control in wet and slippery conditions.
2. Reading about Sheldon Brown's exploits on a hotted up Raleigh 20.
3. I've got around 17 bikes, including a very nice vintage road bike, 2 recumbents, several vintage English three speeds, a couple of folders and a cheap, heavy rigid MTB. Just Because.:D
4. I ride with at least one brakes on all my ridable bikes. I have a very old track bike to restore that has no brakes.

The Ibis Scorcher review on Bicycle Guide turned me on to fixed gear riding. So I ordered one from Ibis and never looked back.

1. It feels nice.
2. I kept hearing about how great it was, so I gave it a shot. Why not? If I hated it, I could flip my wheel around, sell the cog/ring on Craigslist and use the money to buy a freewheel.
3. I've always had a mountain bike. My last bike was a Specialized Hardrock that I got when I was 15. I did however, have a road bike when I lived out of town, but had to sell it for rent. That was what got me really into the idea of skinny tires and light weight.

1. Why do you ride FG? It is fun, fast, and cheap. I commute to work on it.
2. What influenced you to do so? Sheldon Brown's evangelical articles, and teammates. I wanted a winter beater to put in more riding hours before race season started in April. I then started commuting and didn't want to leave my road bike at work. It then took on a life of its own.
3. What other types of bike have you owned? Still own a high end road bike, a mountain bike, and two fixed gear bikes.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?

1. For me, it was all about the learning process, I have ridden bikes for years and was getting burnt out on it. It was fun to go out and learn how to ride and control a FG. I am amazed at how little control the average cyclist has over their bikes.

2. Living in NYC track bikes are everywhere, I couldn't help but drink the Kool-aid.

3. I have owned BMX, MTB and Road bikes.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?

I'll go first:

1. I love riding FG. I have Ironman legs because of it, have lost 30lbs since getting back on & love the exhilaration of riding brakeless.

2. I was attracted to the simplicity of the bikes some of the other msgrs were on, they looked cool (the bikes), & were very easy to maintain in a time-is-money business. After getting done for the day, I was much less worn out after a day of riding like I was on a mountain bike. Plus I could carry up the steps on my shoulder after a long day. Since then I was sold.

3. Various BMX bikes, 24" wheel crusiers (Schwinn Pro Stock), 10 speeds, Mountain bikes, 2 SS conversions.

The saddest thing in life is somebody who seems to feel constantly compelled to defend and justify his choices.

1. Why FG?

Variety is a good thing. FG is no more exciting or more ZEN than any other bike I own. It's simpler, and by far the cheapest way to go.

1. Why FG?

Variety is a good thing. FG is no more exciting or more ZEN than any other bike I own. It's simpler, and by far the cheapest way to go.

cheapness is dependent upon your desire for NJS goodness!!!

1. So I can kick it with the cool kids.

2. Nobody influenced me to do it, brah. I just thought it'd be fun to ride a track bike on the street 'cos I'm badass. And they have no brakes, so obviously that makes me cool. This was about 30 years ago. I was 3 years old at the time. I would have been doing it even longer but my mom wouldn't let me.

3. Heaps. Of course I rode BMX cos of jumps and tricks and stuff. And I rode DH mtn bikes cos that was also badass. No way was I doing cross country though, those dudes sometimes wear lycra and I don't do that. Obviously I will soon be doing cyclocross since I have mad handling skills and am really fast (I have beaten all my friends to AND from the bar). Oh, and I've had NJS bikes and vintage Italian steel and I like the new breed of bikes too (Bianchi Pista, Pista Concept). I change my bikes pretty regularly cos I'm really hard on my equipment and not much can stack up to my power. No road bikes though - gears make you weak.

1. Why do you ride FG?
Because it's a no hassle ride and is easy to maintain and works great in February here in Canada.

2. What influenced you to do so?
While living in San Jose, CA 4.5 years ago all my friends rode bikes. I too wanted to ride with them and asked them to build me a bike. It was fixed gear, I had no idea what that meant. But it only cost me $100 for my conversion and I have gotten a lot of fun out of it.

3. What other types of bike have you owned?
Own a Specialized Allez and Surly LHT now. Before that it was just a knockoff mountain bike when I was 10.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?

1. It's a lot of fun.

2. Sheldon Brown.

3. Currently I have a hard tail mountain bike, a greenway bike (hybrid), and the fixie. In the past I've owned rigid mtb's, a vintage 10 speed road bike, and an early hybrid style bike.

1) Its fun. I enjoy riding my bike much more than any other form of transit
2) I saw someone riding a tarck'd out pista downtown once (arrospok, risers, etc). I though it was pretty cool
3) My madison is my first "real bike" I haven't really ridden since I was ~12, now I'm 17

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?



1. because of peer pressure
2. mashsf
3. track bikes>all

for real though
1. it's simple and it gives me an adrenaline rush everytime i ride it =)
2. i had almost every other type of bike and wanted to 'try' it
3. road, mtn, bmx

I'm liking the posts on here so far, keep it up & thanks to all!

2. Nobody influenced me to do it, brah. I just thought it'd be fun to ride a track bike on the street 'cos I'm badass. And they have no brakes, so obviously that makes me cool. This was about 30 years ago. I was 3 years old at the time. I would have been doing it even longer but my mom wouldn't let me.


Didn't you stop riding when you were 4, then come back here to spout off about how you've been ballin' fixxxed for 29 yrs when you started up again this summer? Or do I have you confused with someone else?

Didn't you stop riding when you were 4, then come back here to spout off about how you've been ballin' fixxxed for 29 yrs when you started up again this summer? Or do I have you confused with someone else?

:lol:

Didn't you stop riding when you were 4, then come back here to spout off about how you've been ballin' fixxxed for 29 yrs when you started up again this summer? Or do I have you confused with someone else?

why do you continue to jock me so hard? Why do you come onto my threads with nothing positive or even close to the topic at hand? I know why.

Sorry kyselad, I only like the ladies. Plus I'm married. Flattered tho.

1. Because it's one of the only things i can still do that makes me feel the way it does
2.Red light go a documentry about alley cat racing in NYC
3. I have all kinds of bikes

1. It's fun, cheaper, and I didn't want to lock up a 'nice' bike downtown every day.
2. My roomate in college was a huge downhill mtb guy. When I told him how much I hated driving in traffic and having to park downtown everyday, he told me he'd help build a bike on the cheap. On the cheap just happened to be ripping the non-functional derailleurs off a trek 1000, and locktiting a cog on.
3. mtb, road

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?

.

1. The simplicty. The efficiency. The feedback from the drivetrain/tire to surface. I'm a nitpicker about the stupidest things and derailleurs provide nearly limitless potential for tweaking and diagnosing, and me, being on the lighter-side of OCD, would spend lots of time just fussing with them. Besides that, geared bikes, even the nice one I have, feel like slugs now - all sloppy chainline and mysterious noises and such and no matter how fast i'm going, they still feel slow and disconnected. I've still got a couple of geared bikes (Specialized Sirrus and some kind of Panasonic grocery getter) but my fixies get most of my attention.
Esthetics fits in there somewhere, too. And I always run at least a front brake (for my safety and yours).
2. Pure and simple peer pressure. ;) Actually, it seemed to be the only way to get Gurgus to shut the hell up about fixies and actually start riding one. :D
3. Rigid MTN bikes, assorted POS's. Usually a bike that starts out as one thing but gets re-purposed for another. The Sirrus is the most modern, complete, and well appointed bike I had bought and its still a good bike despite losing 16 of its 24 speeds (on purpose - front derailleurs, BAH!) but most of my stable is cheap/free bikes lovingly/frighteningly restored.

Dave G.

1. Fixed for fitness, fixed for fun. Riding fixed has made me a much much stronger rider. This is probably a combination of more time one the bike (because it's so much damn fun) and improving my cadence and leg strength.

2. It sounded like fun and I love to wrench, so why not build up a fixed?

3. Shifty Road race bike and touring bike.

I ride fg because I like the simplicity being able to switch bars in a minute or less (brakeless) the look of the bikes, the amount of control i have when riding fixed and how it's making me a better cyclist.

To be honest, i tried fg because i saw it on the internet :twitchy:

I raced bmx from when i was 7 or 8, but recently I've gotten out of it, not on porpoise. I've done a little bit of mtb and road biking, but I'm getting the itch to start mtb'ing again. but as a whole, 75% of all the riding I've done has been with one gear and one brake.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?


1.They're fun, easy to build up, gives me better pedaling power on my mtb.
2. I'll admit, I was attracted by the aesthetic of the bikes. But once I rode a fixed gear bike in downtown traffic I absolutely fell in love.
3. I used to ride a ten speed myata as my commuter bike, then I gave it to my dad. I have a Giant XTC mountain bike that I absolutely love. I ride trails as often as I can. I used to ride BMX as a kid, but that didn't end really well. Haha. i only learned a couple of tricks but just used it as a means of transport.

Hopefully I'll get another 10 speed soon, not to convert.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?

I got into riding fixed gear when I wanted a bike but couldn't stomach anywhere near a grand for a decent road bike. I started with a thrift store Schwinn that went from single speed to fixed gear. I ride fixed daily, but am too old to even think about being a hipster or do the tricks you young guys do (seriously though, props to those of you who do that stuff that makes me think "how in the hell???") I wear "roadie attire" and basically look at my fixed gear as a road bike without gears.

I have gained a great deal of fitness and desire to go faster and just a day ago was drooling over a '07 Specialized Alllez that I can have for a heck of a deal. Come spring, I'm getting something geared.

My bikes?

Nishiki Modulus>>>Giant ATX 770>>>Cannondale (w/105)>>>Diamondback>>>Tomasso>>>Schwinn Tempo>>>Schwinn Madison '85>>>Schwinn Madision '07>>>Vision R40>>>Raleigh Record>>>Sparton ST-500>>>What's next???

I got my current bike because I wanted to buy a nice bike but didn't have the money for a nice roadbike. 700 bucks will get you a nice fixed/single speed whereas a geared bike of comparable quality was out of my price range.

Whether it was fixed or freewheel wasn't a big concern, in fact that shop simply had the flip flop set up for fixed when I picked the bike up and I ended up liking it, hence I've been riding fixed ever since.

Your responses have been very interesting. Thanks to all that participated thus far!

because and yes Sheldon's site was the first thing i saw back when i was 15. I read that thing like it was my job and learned from it.

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned ?

I ride a fixed gear because it is just another way for me to enjoy cycling and was strongly influenced by the late and great Sheldon Brown in this and many other aspects of riding and building.

I have owned every kind of bike except a unicyle, a recumbent, and a Penny Farthing.

I work as a bike mechanic, am involved in local advocacy, ride a ton of miles, and will start working as a messenger tomorrow.

Being a messenger was the best gig I ever had, as it combined something I loved to do & getting paid. Enjoy your new gig & ride safe!

I made a ton of money msgring.

Why? I was riding a MTB (to and from work) and wanted something lighter. I purchased an older road bike, nice yet needed a few upgrades. With the internet at my fingertips, I wanted to try wrenching and stumbled upon the wonderful site of Sheldon Brown. He made me want to build one (I say build, it's really taking apart and changing a few things) and it happened. My commute became much better.

I guess that answered the second question as well.

I have one MTB, one fixed gear conversion (which just went on a wild ride without me in the saddle) and an old ten speed. Also a frame that is about to be built up.

1. Why do you ride FG?
My fixed gear is the only bike I have right now that I love more every time I ride it. Wind was blowing 30 mph today. I went out to burn calories for an hour and ended up riding 42 miles in slightly over two hours. Last weekend I chose it to ride a Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana fund raising ride. Rode 62 miles and loved it. Love the simplicity of it. The fact that the geared riders think your off your rocker doesn't hurt either.

2. What influenced you to do so?
Like a lot of others Sheldon Brown had a lot to do with it. The more I thought about it after reading his info on fixed gears the more it made sense. I live in Kansas so it is fairly flat here. This is a great place to ride a fixed gear. My mind was made up after a trip to Portland Maine last year. The bike shop there had several of them in stock. After test riding one my mind was made up to buy one.

3. What other types of bike have you owned ?
First bike I ever rode a century on was a 12 speed road bike from Target that I bought in high school.
86 model Schwinn Tempo. 1st "real" bike I owned. Still have the frame and some components.
Cannondale touring bike made in 1983. 2nd year Cannondale existed
Specialized Hardrock made back in the mid 80's with the oval chainrings.
Cannondale Black Lightning, the first model from the early 90's. Probably will become a fixed conversion soon.
Specialized Rockhopper 2007 model

Amazing how many people were influenced to ride fixed by S. Brown.

1. It is fun and allows you more involvement in the riding process.

2. Some friends got into it and I liked the simplicity of the bikes, so I gave it a shot.

3. I owned a few beater bikes, then an old Haro, Black Market Mob, Santa Cruz Bullit, DK R/T, Fit S3, Nishiki International super ghetto conversion, and lastly a Bianchi Pista that I have taken every measure possible to make it not look like a Pista. I probably won't be able to afford anything nicer until after college. :thumb:

1. Why do you ride FG?
I ride fixed because other people do and I need to fit in
2. What influenced you to do so?
other people
3. What other types of bike have you owned?
why would I own any other types of bikes? They're not cool

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?



1. i dont really know. fun? i dont hate geared bikes like some. 'ewww gross, no skidz or tarckstands'
2. i was getting a tattoo and the artists bike was in the shop. during a break i was just checking it out and was like 'this is rad. im going to build one of these.'
3. right now i only have the FG but am looking at craigslist on the regs for a nice road bike. i want to go real fast and i am participating in a +200 km charity ride next summer that is not FG friendly. previously i have owned some BMX bikes and a really weaksauce hybrid my dad got me for no reason at a garage sale. i think it actually weighed 45lbs.

I made a ton of money msgring.

pretty much proves you're a liar.

1. It's more relaxing, I enjoy the feel and it's better training for the limited time I get to ride.

2. We'd take our road bikes and tie them off with one gear in the winter. Imagine a NEW Peugeot PX 10 fixie :love:...yes, back in 1976 that how it was done! None of us had enough money for two bikes way back when.

3. Lots o' road bikes. A 1980 Gitane Kilo and a 2008 Bianchi Pista (chrome of course:thumb:)

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?



1. I ride the FG for off-season triathlon training and as a commuter bike. After 6 months of training on the TT bike, riding becomes too much of a chore (always with a cyclo-computer, HR monitor, nutrition, shoes you can't walk in, staring at the front wheel in aeroposition, hours on the trainer, etc....). My fixie is the opposite and makes cycling fun again -- no gears, no computer, no HRM, regular shoes, etc. I do have a brake, though. I'll probably skip riding on the trainer this winter and commute instead to stay in bike shape.

2. Among other things, I was looking for a bike I could ride with the family. I like the simplicity of the bike, and the simplicity of the look.

3. Triathlon and road bikes. Right now I have only a fixie and a tri bike.

Brian

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned?


1. I love the difference in riding that fixed gives, I love that it's making me stronger. Admittedly I like the cool/different aspect of the bikes and they're so wonderfully simple and elegant. Riding my roadie last year really gave me a boost into cycling, I'd been bike commuting for a year already on a heavy Xmart MTB and the road bike felt like lightning, and I rode everywhere I could and more, gave up public transport - the fixed gear was another progression into my passion. I saw the Rob Roy group buy price and jumped all over it. Despite waiting damn near 8 months for it (including build time) I've absolutely no regrets and love every minute of it.

2. I'd heard about them from the late, great Sheldon Brown and had always wanted to try it out, I got interested in them way before I realised their rising popularity (was only last summer when I started jonesing to try)

3. I've had everything from the girls/ladies 3-speeds (cheap hand me downs when I was a kid), a 20" Raleigh road bike (kid size), MTBs, BMXs and road bikes. Currently only have one other operational bike which is my old Centurion roadie. Just have a bunch of frames kicking around looking lonely.

1. Why do you ride FG?
Because I never really changed gears on past geared bikes. Also, I wanted the challenge to see if I could do it, and it's turned out to be a lot of fun.

2. What influenced you to do so?
Seeing all the clean bikes around the area influenced me to finally try fixed, after being a single speed person for a while.

3. What other types of bike have you owned?
I had a K-Mart Murray mountain bike growing up, then when I moved to NYC, I bought a 1976 Raleigh Record and converted it to single speed, then eventually make the jump to a new track bike.

pretty much proves you're a liar.

I actually have to defend bb here... I know a number of messengers here who pull down some seriously good coin and as private contractors also get to write off their expenses.

I only took the mess' job here because it guaranteed me a decent base salary which means I get paid even if there are no runs, will receive bonuses, and will also be working as a private contractor which will also let me write off expenses.

I think that the job has changed somewhat as no company here can attract decent staff without being able to offer a decent wage.

---- living on the streets--- i didnt like to walk---
most trash bikes are ss candidates-- I learned to fix and ride everything I could--
fixing other peoples rides, I became a decent mech and rider--- every non-bicycle oriented
job I've had has always swung back to the bike-- esp now, as a messenger, the bicycle
( esp the Single Speed/ Track bike) is how I eat and pay rent...........with gas and the market
and economic turmoil--- I have praised the bike and I enjoy being outside-- simple life-- one gear.

1. They're easier to maintain. I commute everyday.

2. I don't rightly remember. I bought my bike from a recycle-a-bike shop. It's a late 70's bike and I hate those damn friction shifters on the top tube so I decided to try fg. Had a blast converting it and building a new rear wheel.

3. I ride a geared mountain bike as much as I can. I used to ride flatland/a little street. I really like all aspects of cycling.

I actually have to defend bb here... I know a number of messengers here who pull down some seriously good coin and as private contractors also get to write off their expenses.

I only took the mess' job here because it guaranteed me a decent base salary which means I get paid even if there are no runs, will receive bonuses, and will also be working as a private contractor which will also let me write off expenses.

I think that the job has changed somewhat as no company here can attract decent staff without being able to offer a decent wage.

It has changed A LOT! I could easily clear $1K per week no problem. Pretty much everyone were indies, but the downside was no insurance. I had my first apartment at 17 & fully furnished it by 18 riding a bike.

bb - The first day was a blast and my work today was to run all over the city with my friend (and new boss) to deliver invoices and meet our regular clients.

All our dispatch is computerized / online and tomorrow I'll have my Crackberry and will be making some regularly scheduled runs... I believe one would call these gravy.

:D