Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fixed Gear/Single Speed life lesson

For my final lesson in my technology education class, i have a month to create a 30 minute lesson about a topic of my choosing. I chose to educate the class on the mechanics, the culture and the passion of singlespeeders and fixie riders. I am in the initial planning phases where i develop what the outcome is, as in, what i want them to know. Any things you guys would like to see brought up? And serious stuff, try to keep the BS level to a minimum...

Consider us the wannabe-Luddites of the cycling realm...maybe. Simplicity is always a comment here. So is 'not having my bike parts ripped off' when locked up in an urban center. I do it b/c I can. I am not a big fan of gears, etc. Yet the idea behind all the engineering, from the first bike to Campy 10-spd carbon whatevers....amazing. But not even close to hopping on a one geared bike and relying on musculature and manipulation to control speed.

Technology education and single speed philosophy?

I am going with 165 here; simplicity is the answer. Since it is a technology class you could try and show them that even though technology has given us the means to move past having to to ride a bike with only one gear, many of us choose to ride them that way. It's not because we have an attitude or anything and don't want to change, but rather some things are just as useful and enjoyable with out needing constant improvement.

Good luck with the class.

thanks guys...i also want to delve into the culture aspect of it, like the oldskooltrack and things of the sort. I know i will mention the brutal simplicity and start with the anti-technology of the bikes, then work my way into the culture aspect.

Maybe compare/contrast with more modern technology? I'm thinking computers and cars that are designed to be thrown away...

I think planned obsolecense (probably misspelled) is the term...

I look at riding a fixed as organic gearing. Instead of a geared bike where your speed output can change whilst your power output is static, on a fixed gear, your heart, lungs and muscles act as the gearing system. Want to go faster? pedal harder. Want to downshift at a light? resist. Want to upgrade...knee replacement surgery.

Want to upgrade...knee replacement surgery.
:roflmao:

You might relate it to other hobbies. I think immediately of hunters who use a bow and arrow or gun enthusiasts who collect muzzle loaders. Or even people who walk instead of drive cars.

Don't forget about courier culture.

check out the oldskooltrack website. they've got someone's thesis on it. references!

How about slanting it - the technology part - towards near perfection? You could show & tell both bikes and demo how, despite 120 years of bicycle evolution, the older version remains viable, even preferable for some of us, today.

I look at riding a fixed as organic gearing. Instead of a geared bike where your speed output can change whilst your power output is static, on a fixed gear, your heart, lungs and muscles act as the gearing system. Want to go faster? pedal harder. Want to downshift at a light? resist. Want to upgrade...knee replacement surgery.
I had an upgrade performed back in 95. Now I am part Titanium, at least 3 grams worth of me is.

I had an upgrade performed back in 95. Now I am part Titanium, at least 3 grams worth of me is.


So you're a wieght weenie then?

:LOL: