I noticed in a few threads people referencing fixed gear biking as a gate way drug into real cycling (to turn a pun), and it got me thinking the other day on a ride.

I started on BMX when I was a kid, eventually 'upgraded' to a 10-speed when I was a teen and because of the constant tinkering associated with a geared bike, stopped riding that bike and it rotted in the garage.

Years later, I got into mountain biking, but the constant tinkering associated with adjusting derailleurs, etc associated with the drive train made me consistently look toward bigger, more expensive components - and eventually I got bored and walked away - again.

Even 8 years ago when I started riding again, on a mountain bike to lose weight and help my commuting costs - I kept dreaming of bigger, better...LX, XT, Saint.................................on and on.

Then I made friends with a LBS owner, who let me trade my cheap Deore geared bike for an old Bridgestone road bike, and while I loved it, I found I only used 3 gears, and when I tried to be more in tune and use them all, I consistently screwed up my drive train.

I dreamed day and night about 105+ grade gearing, thinking it was the solution. I bought and built up a 105 cafe racer, and really enjoyed it - but still found myself frustrated by gearing, and the fact that I didn't even use it but it always needed fine tuning and adjustment.

I grew sick of the click of freewheel cogs sounding like locusts mating every time I went everywhere, it actually destroyed the perfection of biking for me.

And then I found SSFG thanks to Sheldon and other people on this forum/internet and finally realized that I wasn't crazy - there was a group of people that saw eye to eye with me and loved the simplicity of riding without worrying about which gear they are in, cadence, is my derailleur working right, etc etc etc and feel that I found the pinnacle of riding.

So while some see the evolution for the average rider being:

Fixed gear>vintage road bike>modern road bike

I think that it goes something more like

Fixed gear>something 'bigger and better'>modern road bike>fixed gear

Because eventually you just ride to ride, and realize that kit, bibs and lycra don't make it better or worse - they're just a stage that leads to enjoying riding for riding, not to save weight, or more aerodynamics - but simply to ride fast to be a kid again.


Anyhow, just my rant and 2 cents.

Now back to important ****