Originally Posted by
hairnet
To me, part of riding a fixed gear is understanding and committing to what it is, not something you can switch on and off. If you want to coast then stick to a freewheel. As for you analogy, I have no idea what you're talking about. Feeling like you screwed yourself by heading out brakeless? Kidding aside, I get it but I don't agree. Brakes are one thing, fixed/free is something else.
Brake analogy: a safety feature that isn't fully in the spirit of fixed gear.
This, and the post above, are the first examples in this thread alluding to possible pedal strike in corners as an
advantage for fixed gears. Before this, it was cited as a potential problem of fixed gear vs single speed. For those who don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater (who would like all the other fixed gear advantages and experiences but won't because they'll cut a corner like on a regular road bike) it seems like a viable idea. If it's even safe - I don't know what would happen if you were coasting downhill at 35 or 40 and the clutch popped out. I imagine instant rear wheel skid or the pedals throwing your feet off and flailing about the legs. Maybe that's the real idea-killer?