Many of the comments against riding fixed gear bikes seem to come from the viewpoint that it is an either/or decision. Having a fixed gear bike does not require you to sell all your geared bikes and sign a blood oath to only ride fixed. While I am sure there are people who exclusively ride fixed gear, I, like most people I know who have fixed gear bikes, also have bikes with gears that I ride most of the time. I don't really understand the opposition.