Cot Du Trent

I've recently acquired a Cannondale R400 with downtube shifters and a biopace crank. After watching all the conversions on this community, I've decided to make a conversion myself. I started wondering, though, what makes a fixie better than a single speed? I've been leaning toward single speed because I like the idea of hand brakes over no brakes (though I know some people do put a front brake on their fixie) and the ability to coast. What is it about a fixed gear that's so appealing?

I'm not trying to start a flame war, I honestly want to know.

Also, sorry if this has been posted before, btw.

aidasr

less to break.
improved pedal stroke.
more concious bike riding.

DerekRI

Just get a flip flop hub, and try both. I'd be willing to bet the freewheel doesn't get much use.

Cot Du Trent

Actually, I think that's all it took to convince me... XD

Cot Du Trent

Wow. I've totally never heard of that. Where do you get one?

DerekRI

Most manufacturers make them. Surly makes a good quality, and relatively inexpensive one. If I were you, I would go with a fixed/fixed. That way, you can do a cog/freewheel set up at first, but if you ever decide to take the freewheel off, you can have cog/cog for 2 different ratios.

Cot Du Trent

awesome! THanks!

DerekRI

You got it! Make sure you follow up with pics, etc.

SyntaxPC

This article (and its associated author) are what got many of us hooked. Also, be sure to read some of the testimonials.

Cynikal 

That frame has verticle dropouts, this will complicate your conversion process. There is a flip flop hub built for this by White Industries called the ENO hub. It is expensive but also very well built.

xthugmurderx

you're going to want to ditch the biopace chainrings too. just get a regular (i imagine 130bcd) chainring from a bike shop. biopace isn't that great for a bike with gears. a no-no on a ss or fixed.

-jason

SyntaxPC

I've ridden fixed on biopace no problem. I don't want to sound like Sheldon fanboy (this is my second post referring to him on this thread), but he supposedly rides fixed/biopace almost exclusively.

wnatw

keep in mind that when you choose fixed over single speed, you lose:

1: the experience of swiftly coasting down a long hill without having to spin your legs as fast as you can.
2: the ability to turn sharply without risking a pedal strike and subsequent wipeout.

just sayin'.

euphoria

I would imagine that SS improves your stroke more since your legs are responsible for the full revolution. I know when I hopped back on a road bike my legs kept getting stuck in the 6 o' clock position since I was used to having them dragged along.

G0balistik

ss is just a cruiser road bike.

Sin-A-Matic

I question whether or not this is true. I remember reading that pros use fixed gear bikes for training because it improves their stroke. Sure, it's akward to ride a geared bike after riding exclusively fixed for a while, but riding an SS over fixed doesn't necessarily mean that you're doing it right. A fixed gear bike forces your legs in to a smooth stroke, conditioning them for when you choose to ride a freewheel.

recursive

After a few thousand miles of fixed-only riding, coming back to my coasting machines, I noticed that I wasn't pushing my feet through the top and bottom of the stroke. I was just letting the chain push my feet through the dead spot.

Pros ride both.

xthugmurderx

then you weren't pedaling through the stroke on your fix. pedal one footed for a couple blocks. you'll see what i mean.

recursive

I already know that I wasn't pedalling through my stroke. In fact, that was part of my point. The other part being that riding a fix doesn't naturally compel you to pedal properly.

Serendipper 

Same amount of parts on a singlespeed as on a fixed gear, minus a freewheel, which is hard to break.


Good arguments presented that a fixed gear may make you lazy on the pedalstroke. I agree.


Possibly. But perhaps you mean a better connection between bike and rider? Not neccesarily more conscious. Not having to shift makes you focused on the road more, a singlespeed provides that.

I've owned and ridden both. Both have their benefits/detriments. It all depends on personal preferance.

I choose to be a well rounded cyclist. I don't dismiss the value of any good bicycle used for it's intended application.

With that said, I recommend the flip-flop hub as well.

jotog

A flipflop hub is a wonderful invention. I've got one, but usually go fixed. I have the same size cog on both sides. To really do something different, borrow one and go up and down a great hill...there's nothing like it.
Okay, why fixed? The answer is: plain and simple.