Originally Posted by sedition

I don't think anyone can really make a good-faith argument, performance wise, that fixed gear bikes trump a standard road bike. I say that as fixed owner/rider. That said, I will take issue with one claim made above. The rest, as far I am concerned, are not up for debate.

(1) "It stops faster"
I ride a front brake on my fixed. I don't believe that, with brakes, a fixed will take any substantive less time to stop than any other similarly situated bike with brakes. I've been riding around the city of Boston for over 15 years on all kinds of bikes, and have had to make my share of emergency stops. In my experience, I have not noticed any real difference in stopping time. Perhaps I just don't know what I am doing, which is entirely possible.

However, in defense of fixed, there is just something sensual about the direct-link of gear, power, and rider that nothing else comes close too. That alone, for me, is enough reason to ride one.