Been riding my Gunnar Street Dog (fixed) for ten years now. The only thing Sheldon Brown didn't warn me about, was how addicting this actually is. Continuous riding leads to continuous riding.

The answer to the question someone always asks when this comes up in the forums is yes, I have brakes on both wheels. I'll leave the brakeless (and illegal, and just plain stupid) nonsense to the 20-something hotshots. Oh, sorry, I guess they call themselves "hipsters" now.

So, why be afraid of it? What exactly is there to fear? Oh sure, there is a learning curve. It varies from person to person. I started with rides around my apartment complex, then I ventured out into traffic. Been hooked ever since.

Like most working adults, I just don't get as much time to ride as I would like. Riding a fixed gear is a solution to this problem. You get your workout. Don't forget, during the "real" bike boom of the 1890's, pretty much every bike was a fixie. And they managed just fine, it would seem.