Interestingly, the only person to mention Zen, or connectedness with the bike, in this thread is ILTB. One of the problems of BF is that ILTB ascribes opinions and behaviours he sees from some posters to everyone who likes the same sort of bike. Therefore everyone who likes road bikes is lycra-fixated and thinks that anyone on a three speed is not a proper cyclist, for instance, or anyone who likes disc brakes must ride dangerously fast. It's important to note that ILTB isn't just anti-fixie, he's also anti derailleurs, anti drop bars, anti hand operated brakes. In fact, anti anything that's not an internal geared hub, laid back geometry, and north road bars. I like my fixed gear, but I've never suggested that there's a "zen of fixed gear", or anything like that. I've even debunked some of the myths. What I say is, it's fun, you should try it. I also think that tight geometry road bikes with drop bars are fun, and that tourers with drop bars are comfortable, and 3 speeds with north roads are fun, and folders are fun. You should try everything, then you'll know.