jyossarian

I've seen some posts and threads recently indicating interest and curiosity in getting a fixed gear bike. It's a trend that's been going on since at least last year. Last summer, I hardly saw any fixed gear bikes in Central Park. This spring and summer, I saw tons of roadies riding fixed gears as part of their training. My LBS has been moving Pistas, Langsters and Capos pretty consistently. And it didn't seem to have anything to do w/ co-opting messenger culture, wanting to be a hipster or fashion.

For example, the father I saw buying a Langster while his son bought an Allez just wanted to save some money and he was intimidated by all the gears on the Allez.

I got one because it looked like fun and after reading this forum, it sounded like fun. And to be honest, the attitude in this forum seemed less snobbish and more open and welcoming even with the hipster bashing threads. So I figured I'd give it a try and if I didn't like it, I could flip the wheel and ride SS. So far I haven't used the SS side and it's become my favorite bike.

So what made you get a fixed gear?

sers

to get laid.

xthugmurderx

my friend rode one, it looked interesting...i tried it out, it was interesting...and i like bikes...wanted something better than my marin mtb for city riding. 2 years later i'm a wrench, an ex messenger, owner of many bikes past and present, and an aspiring track racer. funny how things happen.

-jason

ryand

so i could walk it around.

lyledriver

I singlespeeded my Apollo to get rid of the bunk suntour derailleurs.. I rode it like that for 3 months before Sheldon had me convinced to spin a track cog on there.

paris5

i think for me it was the chance to do something harder. i'm an amateur mtn bike racer. i was looking for a bike to commute on, and to make me a better overall biker.

superdex

looked like fun, wanted a commuting/bar bike, wanted a build project that wasn't another geared roadie (in that order). Yeah, it's been all three

I Like Peeing

Good question... I think I just knew there was something more exciting to ride than what I currently had. In Philly, I went from a kid's mountain bike (hitting my knees on the handlebars and shifters) to a beach cruiser to a raleigh 12 speed to my fixie in just over a year. I had worn through most of the parts on the 12 speed and wanted to build a bike, it made sense to me to try building a fixie. It's funny, I remember hating on fixed gear bikes...but then I tried one. I think that's the same story with most people. I just built a single speed for the hell of it recently, and it was the most uneventful ride I ever had... up the fixed gear!

I Like Peeing

Furthermore, learning about all the parts and how/why they work/don't work is really exciting (contagious) to me. Hugs and kisses to all the bike churchers. Goddamn, this habit is costing me a lot of money, though.

SingleSpeeDemon

Edit: Blah-blah-blah...no one gives a **** why I ride one.

It was cheap--it's fun--I'm hooked.

acavengo

I was sick of my derailleur, switched to a hub gear, was not happy with that and decided to go fixed gear. Happiness!

mrRed

madeinkim let me ride his.

Red Riding Hood

Will you marry me? hahaaha!



I got it because a friend had bought one and riding it around was fun. They are simple and low maintence. Now I'm on my third. I love it!

marqueemoon

It looked fun. I rode one. It was fun. I got one.

shishi

converted old road bike to fixie 4-5 years ago for commuting. About a year ago wanted to race at the track so I got a track bike. That is about it.

vinnydelnegro

for me it was more of an evolution. i'd been riding a mountain bike with slicks for years. the cheap / high maintenance derailleurs were a constant source of aggravation. I finally said screw this and bought an old road bike so that i could convert it into a single speed. i began reading this forum and sheldonbrown.com in order to figure out how to do the conversion and became interested in fixed gears. didn't think i was going to go that route, but one day i was riding in the rain and my old brakes and my non machined rims were totally useless. i thought i would try fixed gear so i would have a bit more control. since i tried it, i've found that fixed gear riding offers so much more. no freewheel or derailleur noise and a smooth ride that you just don't get riding a geared bike or a single speed. ironically, i've learned a ton about bike maintenance since building my fixed gear. i still have the old mountain bike and i've totally got the derailleurs dialed in. i've also built up a road bike that i use for longer distances and for easy speed. the fixed gear is still my favorite...it's just got more soul and more character than my other bikes.

Cyclist0383

Because I love cycles and cycling. I have a collection of bikes, access to high end parts for cheap, and I ride everyday. Why not try one of each flavor?

teiaperigosa

bEcAuSe I rOdE oNe AnD iT wAs FuN

ryand

only if you buy one of these:

Red Riding Hood

haha, alright. I've always wanted a tandem.

ryand

(i did say you buy, i totally can't afford it.) and it needs to be a dw.

Red Riding Hood

****, really? I was going to pull that tandem out of the dumpster near the Popeyes and give it to you. Oh wells, the marriage is off!

ryand

theres a tandem near the popeyes? you mean the one on broad st? **** babychris lives right next door.

um, so, you wanna pull that tandem out of the dumpster anyways.

and if that was a joke i hate you for life.

kalani79

Because ryand rides one.

ryand

patrick, stop being so classy and come riding more often.

err umm, i mean lets go walk our bikes around and hit on chicks.