I ride a fixed gear, mostly for commuting now, but I have a nice road bike as well. Before I got the road bike, I rode a number of tours—usually about 75 miles—on the fixie (only modest IL/WI hills). Would get a few weird looks and interested questions from other riders but pretty much everyone was fine with it. The hills made me stronger and I've found that being forced to pedal constantly has helped my efficiency on the road bike. I left the front brake on for the hills as I don't want to die and have nothing to prove. Once I saved up for the road bike, the fixed gear was 'retired' to commuting though I still love riding it and ride it everyday. It's stiff, fast and the connection I feel to the road is incredible. I do sprints on it regularly as part of my training.

I just love bikes and bike riding, no matter the bike. All that said, the fixed gear (and other) riders who bike with their hands together touching right over the stem drive me batsh*t with their pretentiousness. Invariably they're not wearing helmets either (oooo.....messy hair!). To each his own, however. I'd rather they be on bikes than in cars.