Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Why flats?

So, not to sound offensive, but...

Why is it that Flat bars seem to be the fixie fad?

I know it's been a while now, but I am seeing flats more and more recently, and I wonder what the allure is?

Is it weight? is it aesthetics? is there some sort of functionality you get?

Personally, I like my drops quite a bit, and I like having the hand position options. But Mostly It's for the looks.

I know a lot of you have several bikes, often with varied handlebars, so I don't mean to sound condescending, just curious as to the reasoning.

It's easier to push when walking to the coffee shop. Most FG riders with the tiny chopped down flats don't ride farther than the local bar anyway.

my back stiffens up when i ride with drop handle bars so i brought a flat bar to keep my back the straightest possible

^ This is precisely why I switch to risers sometimes too. My Madison looks awesome with track drops but they're really not that practical for everyday riding, especially considering that I have recurring back troubles.

Flat bars/risers aren't always just for ****ty hipsters making an aesthetic choice.

Back should not be straight...

It should make a curved arch

I feel like I see more Risers than Flat-bars.

I've got drops on my roadie, flats on my globe roll, and soon to have risers on my kilo. Gotta diversify *****es.

I had drops on a conversion that I made, but I switched that to bull horns, then I ended up giving that bike to my friend.

Flats are for people that don't need leverage.

Speaking of flat bars; I was given a nitto di1do bar recently for my birthday recently as a gag.... :lol:

I got flats so i dont bump into peoples cars.

I got flats so i dont bump into peoples cars.

as opposed to what other bar?

I thinks flats are ok for average rider/commuter/whatever that doesn't care to go fast. I don't why people try to ride 20mph in an upright position. There are other interesting bars, I just bought mustache bars for my fixie commute bike.

as opposed to what other bar?
27" BMX bars.
I find bull horns easier to get weave through traffic.

the more upright riding posture and wider stance gives greater comfort and stability, but compromises in aerodynamics, and subsequently, speed. for a commuter or cafe/bar bike without a need to go to the track (or to go faster than 20 mph for any sustained period), flats/risers may be more appropriate than drops/bullhorns.

Thanks!

I suppose risers have the advantage of the posture that I didn't think about.

the chopped flats seem to just give you the same flat position you already had with the unchopped drops. But the risers make sense for a different riding posture.

Thanks for the replies!

the more upright riding posture and wider stance gives greater comfort and stability, but compromises in aerodynamics, and subsequently, speed. for a commuter or cafe/bar bike without a need to go to the track (or to go faster than 20 mph for any sustained period), flats/risers may be more appropriate than drops/bullhorns.
Yeah except that my risers are five inches below the saddle and i can sustain 20mph without breaking a sweat thank you very much.

Frankly there are myriads of varying bar styles out there and different folks that like whatever they like for whatever reason so because one fella doesnt understand or agree's with why someone chooses one style over another, you've just gotta let it go.

Much riding is practical a-to-b or simply recreational, the need to have numerous hand positions or be aerodynamic simply isnt critical for scores of folks. Rest assured that like many others if what they have gives them issues they will go about rectifying it.

Generally I figure if someone is doing something because its a 'fad', it'll go away soon enough. If it wasnt comfortable/tolerable they will either fix it or throw the towel in. An uncomfortable bicycle truly does suck and at some point we generally wake up to that fact and do something about it.

For most people riding at an easy 10-mph is just fine thank you very much, at some point comfort takes precedent over performance for most.

My first bike had risers on it - I hadn't been on a bike in years, and found the more upright position to be more comfortable on my back, especially my lower back. Even on shorter rides - I find this position to be more comfortable. At the time, I didn't 'get' drops.

My new bike has drops, and I 'get' them now, and love them - and have found now that I'm used to using them, that they are more comfortable than my old risers - especially on longer rides. I find it's easier to keep my arms in a proper position which translates to less tension/stress on my shoulders, and the slight arch in my back helps absorb some of the bumps/etc, and it's not quite as jarring on my spine when I hit rough patches.

Flats are for people that don't need leverage.

And bar ends fix that.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=151107&d=1250617464

Just the other day, I saw a carbon fiber felt turned into a fixed gear. It had pink risers and matching Deep V front with an aerodisk on the back, fizik arione saddle. But here's the kicker, the rider was a chubby kid with a BMX helmet. I cried a little inside.

just like everything else in the world, it's a matter of style, comfort and choice.

Most urban fixed gear riders I see with drops are on the tops 99% of the time anyways, so the rest of the bar is superfluous for them. 8-12" flatbars just make sense for them.

Many don't have hoods, so there are fewer hand positions than for brake lever equipped road drops.

Dave, I really like that bar setup.

I've got the Origin8 risers on my road bike. They are cut probably a bit wider than most people would use them simply because the levers wouldn't operate properly on the bends. I actually really like the fit though, it's wider than my drops or bullhorns, but still low to feel aggressive. Bombing hills on it (with my head down and the cranks parallel to the ground) feels totally natural, which I didn't expect.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/blickblocks/CIMG3503.jpg

Sorry for posting the geared bike again...I would probably love it as much if it had a fixed cog instead of a cassette.

btw "flats" mean non-heeled lady shoes, guys. lol

Cue someone photoshopping girls shoes as handlebars.

hey CG is that you Candice? Or are you another CG?

Also what seat is that on the bike you posted?

EDIT

Different CG, sorry the C is for Chris in this case and 85 was birthyear

beat up Turbro.

shame they don't make those in brown. I have an old old black Avocet Touring Seat on my fixie, I like the seat quite a bit, but I want a brown seat.

I'm a dork like that.

Just the other day, I saw a carbon fiber felt turned into a fixed gear. It had pink risers and matching Deep V front with an aerodisk on the back, fizik arione saddle. But here's the kicker, the rider was a chubby kid with a BMX helmet. I cried a little inside.

Today at the LBS I saw a 14 year old, about 5'4", walk off with his 61cm craigslist LEADER frame assembled for tricking. He spent a grand on it total. It has "awesome barspin clearance" so that makes up for it

Was it the steel trick frame? The iraluminum track racing frames are pretty tight geometry, I don't think you can barspin them. Thank goodness.

GT road bikes are so cool. :[

Today at the LBS I saw a 14 year old, about 5'4", walk off with his 61cm craigslist LEADER frame assembled for tricking. He spent a grand on it total. It has "awesome barspin clearance" so that makes up for it

some times i weep for our future....

btw "flats" mean non-heeled lady shoes, guys. lol

my girlfriend saw the title and was very excited to read the thread. the sheer disappointment was exhilarating.

If you're not planning on riding far or fast, you really don't need drops.

Was it the steel trick frame? The iraluminum track racing frames are pretty tight geometry, I don't think you can barspin them. Thank goodness.

it was one of their aero Al frames, but he has a special fork on it for the tricking


some times i weep for our future....

hehe " Whoa, hang on there. You're walking off with my track frame."

Risers came on a conversion I bought off CL a little while ago. Super comfortable and functional for a more townie/bar bike fixie. I don't really use drops in the city on any bike I own all that often (except for bombing hills), so it made sense to me to keep them. Plus I like being a little more upright in traffic.