Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - new to fixed gear cycling

hello,
just wondering what some of the benefits of riding a fixed gear bike are. im new to this, and wondering if they are better for training or anything

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Wait wait, I was really interested in hearing some answers on this one.

well on a fixie you always have to pedal so pedaling is harder and it is a much better workout because unlike a regular bike where you can coast on a fixie you always have to pedal so you are always doing work and you dont get to take any breaks and you will get stronger because it is just like basically try this: get on your regular bike and ride around but you always have to pedal so it is like that but even harder because you dont have gears only one, so basically to answer your question yet fixies are very good for strength and cardio training because they constantly work your muscles unlike a regular bike where you can coast

I'll bite. A benefit of riding fixed is to become comfortable at a wider range of cadences. A fixed gear is almost always in the "wrong" gear: going up or into a headwind, you're geared too high so you're forced to muscle into it, and you'll develop strength; going down or with a tailwind, you're geared too low so you're forced to spin, and you'll develop suplesse.

It is Fun and will definitely make you a stronger rider ! Oh yeah and it is really addictive =)

Yup. Your bike can be both and if you get tired, flip the wheel and coast home!

+1 on everything mentioned.

My addition: better traction for the snow/ice. A fixed drivetrain gives you more control and "feel" than any brake could in these conditions.

The always in the wrong gear= good training idea just doesnt make sense. If your goals are to get stronger bump up to a high gear on your geared bike and ride up hills. If you want to work on cadence and spinning drop down to a low gear and do long flat sprints. The versatility of a road bike will always be better for a training regiment than a fixed gear will. Most track racers only ride there fixed gear on the track for training, and thats to work out lines, standing starts, handling, fit, etc. A fixed gear isnt especially good to work on other parts of biking.

If you want to work on cadence and spinning drop down to a low gear and do long flat sprints.
There is no better introduction to super-high cadence spinning (160+ RPM) than descending long hills on a fixed gear.

It gets your legs accustomed to the motion they're going to need to reproduce.

Also tears apart muscles and knees that havent yet been developed to work in those ways, and creates unnecessary dangers. And will always be harder on knees and ankles even with the best rhythm.

Also tears apart muscles and knees that havent yet been developed to work in those ways, and creates unnecessary dangers. And will always be harder on knees and ankles even with the best rhythm.

Why are you even in this forum?

kayce... thanks so much for playing but...

Fail.

Fixed gears have been used for off season training for decades but the difference between these and most urban riders is that these bikes are geared lower and will develop smoother spinning and do increase strength and suppleness.

Talk to many older racers and they will tell you how they would start every season by riding 1000 miles on their fg and then move to their geared bikes... some coaches demanded this.

Do it right and it can make you faster and erase that nasty coasting habit so many people suffer from.

A benefit that I noticed was that it widened my powerband, if you will. In a race or groupride situation when the speed surges I used to have to drop a cog and stand on the pedals. But after an off season doing base miles on my mellow 70 gear inches, I got much better at sitting and spinning up the pedals and then dropping a cog. Much quicker and smoother.

You must be one of them sissy personal trainers who think they know how the body works. Do us a favor and go balance on a stability ball like a seal so that you can condition your muscle and knee for the traveling circus.

Or you can stop pretending you know how the body works and go ride a bicycle.

well on a fixie you always have to pedal so pedaling is harder and it is a much better workout because unlike a regular bike where you can coast on a fixie you always have to pedal so you are always doing work and you dont get to take any breaks and you will get stronger because it is just like basically try this: get on your regular bike and ride around but you always have to pedal so it is like that but even harder because you dont have gears only one, so basically to answer your question yet fixies are very good for strength and cardio training because they constantly work your muscles unlike a regular bike where you can coast

My god, this sentence.

^^^ LMAO! Powerband, your my hero!

My god, this sentence.
I'd love to see someone diagram it.

kayce... thanks so much for playing but...

Fail.

Fixed gears have been used for off season training for decades but the difference between these and most urban riders is that these bikes are geared lower and will develop smoother spinning and do increase strength and suppleness.

Talk to many older racers and they will tell you how they would start every season by riding 1000 miles on their fg and then move to their geared bikes... some coaches demanded this.

Do it right and it can make you faster and erase that nasty coasting habit so many people suffer from.

There is also the great tradition of eating nothing but large amounts of over cooked pasta during races, drink copious amounts of wine, etc. There are lots of traditions that are nothing more than that. They dont have any usefulness, and often times harmful. Such as the myth of fixed gears helping pedal stroke.
http://coachlevi.com/cycling/fixed-gear-bicycle-pedal-stroke/
http://coachlevi.com/cycling/why-geared-bike-better-training-than-fixed-gear/



Why are you even in this forum?
Because I enjoy riding bikes, mostly my fixed gear. The reason Im posting on this thread is because some one wants information, and people are misleading him, unintentionally, but Im trying to help.

^^^
so what do u propose the benefit of FG is?

EDIT: nvm. i just read the articles u posted, and i have to say
http://trollcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/i_respectfully_disagree_with_your_position_on_this_issue.jpg