I rode a fixie to supplement my training for a few years in the 70s. I had this miserable Paris Sport "training bike" that was brazed so crooked that I had to dish the wheels to make it roll straight. Still, I could stop at Serio's and ride home with a sack of groceries in one arm and my feet in the toeclips. I'm using Look Delta-style pedals now, of course, but I'll go back to toeclips and track pedals if I can find traditional shoes and cleats that fit me.

Riding a fixie is refreshing. On a 72-inch gear, I grunt up the hills, spin my legs out going down, and the momentum of the back wheel pushes my feet over against headwinds and small hills. With such a small gear I can't hammer, but the spinning effect is great for burning calories, honing my technique, and recovering my morale.