It's very... engaging. I built up a fixed gear this spring. I don't ride it as much as my commuter (such is the curse of the working class), but the fixed gear is just fun to ride. You have to plan your ride more, assess hills, pace yourself, pay attention, control your speed down hills, etc. etc. The bike looks really good, too. Mine is an old Schwinn "World" - not much to cheer about, but without a derailluer, cables, etc. it looks elegant. It is more nimble, and you are definately connected to the bike - I never realized how much I coast until I rode fixed. It's really a trip to "back pedal" to slow down - very foreign feeling the first time you try it. I also find that I pay A LOT more attention to cornering since you can't just keep the inside pedal up and coast around the corner like a slug. Yes, you have to work harder up hills, and yes, it's not the perfect solution, but it is worth a try.