Originally Posted by
noglider
I think part of the appeal for many is that life has become so complicated, so a simple bike is appealing because it's simpler than what we've become used to. So it's an aesthetic choice more than a practical one, for some people.
I bought a cheapo generic Chinese fixie bike from Nashbar in the fall. The frame and geometry happen to give a very nice ride. I ride this bike for fun. It will never be my main ride. And since I spent so little on it, it doesn't have to be.
Performance has a cheap fixie frame on sale for $200 plus $100 for the fork. You can buy a good vintage frame and fork in great condition for that kind of money. You can buy a whole bike and sell the parts and end up paying nothing.
I tried fixed gear and hated it, but it was fun to build the bike. I still have the wheels, so I'm goimg to build another one for one of my daughter's friends.