Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fixie Wannabe

All, I've been on the Roadie forums for some time. I'm just curious about the attraction of the fixie group. I'm a Bianchi rider and have thought of getting an old steel Bianchi fixie. Why? Just to have one. But I'm curious about others interest in this type of bike. Thanks!!!

Riding fixed makes me a better lover.

It makes me happy not to worry about things like der pulleys and brake cables. Oh yeah, it makes me a better lover too!

I think the connection between yourself and the bike is something different for everybody. To me it's the crazy freedom I have when I am on my bike. A friend of mine describes it as having superpowers. Fixedgear riding is my superpower.

Well, when you get into a little race with someone on the way down to the corner store, if you lose you can always say, "Well I only have one gear." And if you win you can say, "Hah, and I only have one gear!"

-Jason

You don't think about riding, you don't think about the bike, you just ride.

You're riding no-hands up to a red light downhill? No problem, just slow down and look for cross traffic.

Some pedestrian or car jumps out in front of you? Pedal the other direction.

I'm riding an early 90's Bianchi track bike, and I live on the third floor. It's light as helium and makes carrying it back to my apartment at the end of the ride nice.

Buy one, try it, if you don't like it...

Someone else will. That's why god made e-bay.

On my fixie I can close my eyes and ride for miles. Can you do that on your roadie?

Firing a handgun from a trackstand ALWAYS looks cooler.

All, I've been on the Roadie forums for some time. I'm just curious about the attraction of the fixie group. I'm a Bianchi rider and have thought of getting an old steel Bianchi fixie. Why? Just to have one. But I'm curious about others interest in this type of bike. Thanks!!!
There is a Zen like experience that happens when riding fixed. You become almost connected to the road as you pedal along. I know that sounds loopy but it is something that almost everybody says, who give it a chance long enough to become proficient at riding fixed. Some of us have made the complete conversion over to riding fixed exclusively. I have.


Fixedgearhead

FGH's description is a good one. The bike is almost silent, no clicking freewheel or buzzing rear der pulleys. Everything is tight. You feel like part of the bike or vice versa. You pedal forward, the bike goes forward; slow your pedaling, the bike slows. You move, the bike moves; if the bike moves, you have to move.

Of course, 165 makes a good point, too.

1. It's a pure karma experience...
2. You will be in another dimension. Your bike will become part of you. It's not you on a bike -- it's you and your bike. Fusion karma experience
3. It makes bad lovers good and good lovers great... [fun fusion karma experience]

and skidding on a fixie is much more rewarding than using a handbrake :)

You can perforate the streets! Make the world into your own little cardboard cut-out.

']Firing a handgun from a trackstand ALWAYS looks cooler.

I've always thought it would be nice to buy a crossbow and ride through suburbia hunting suvs.

Less kick.

the first time you learn to ride a bike and your dad is running along side the bike telling you to keep pedaling - there is that one moment when he lets go and you feel like you're treading water in the air.

riding a fixed gear is like that one instant the first time you learned to ride a bike, but every time.

Thanks for all the great replies. Sounds like my wife will benefit from me riding a fixie as well!!! Bonus!

It's just a bike. Strip away all the 'stuff' that's supposed to make bike riding faster and more efficient and easier and what you have left is two wheels, two gears, a chain, pedals, a seat and a set of bars all held together by the frame. That's what you NEED to ride. You get on and ride. There's not adjusting your mechanical advantage to fit the terrain or how you feel. There's no coasting to let your legs 'rest'. In it's purest form there's not even any brakes to worry about.
Just a person on a bike.
Pedal faster to go faster.
Pedal slower to go slower.
But never stop pedaling.