I don't get it either ... but it comes up every time someone asks or talks about doing a tour on a fixed gear. I find it really strange that people who have never ridden fixed gears, or who have never toured with people who are touring on fixed gears, should feel so hostile toward those who do or who want to.

And they always make the oddest comments about it ... as if they think it is somehow incredibly difficult or would be very painful. Very odd.


Although I've never personally ridden a fixed gear, I've ridden with those who have. I've seen Rowan climb steep hills (some of which, I had to walk even though I had gears) with his loaded touring bicycle ... and he was doing just fine. No knees blowing out, no pain, or anything like that.

Here's a shot of our bicycles ...