Originally Posted by
topflightpro
Other things to think about in regards to fixed vs. single speed: On a fixed gear bike, if you stop pedaling, the bike stops - if you try doing this when moving quickly, the bicycle will buck and can flip over. Also, on a fixie, if you pedal backward, the bicycle goes backward.
On a regular single speed with a freewheel, you can coast or pedal backward freely.
Regardless, you will want a front brake if riding on normal roads. It can be a bit treacherous riding a fixed bike without brakes on the road, especially if you do not have a lock ring on.
My first fix gear ride, I coasted to let three oncoming cars pass before I took a left turn. Locked my knee. Forward speed turned instantly into a vertical bunny hop. I remember being fully aware that my front wheel was more than a foot off the road, lower than the rear and I was still going up. Collapsed on the road with almost no forward speed and almost no road rash but my left leg felt like pulled pork only I was the pig and still alive.
Note to OP - if you haven't ridden fix gears yet, seriously consider putting a piece of tape on your seatpost exactly 1/2" above the frame. Now drop the post to the tape. You WILL try to coast in your early rides. That's not maybe. If you come close to locking your knee; well, fix gear pedals don't stop. Trying to stop them is like putting your hand in the gears of a large machine. May not work out all that well. On those lines - keep shoelaces short and tied! Trousers out of the chainring for sure! (Fingers way from the chainring spinning the cranks on the bike stand.)
When you have done enough "tried to coast and got kicked in the ass!" to retrain your reflexes,you can return you r seat back to normal.
Ben