I think ironically enough that there are people in the crowd who actually enjoy the angry response that sometimes comes up when someone turns a classic into a fixed gear. Those are people who would actually laugh and get a real rise out of the angry discussion going on here. They're out there... I guess I just wouldn't want to give them the satisfaction of throwing a fit over it and giving them that laugh.

As a matter of personal preference I just can't enjoy a fixed gear; I guess I'm too set in my ways. However I very much enjoy single speed coaster brake bicycles-- this is what I learned to ride on and have regularly ridden for many years now. I do think it would be an interesting conversion for a lower-end 10 speed bike boom bike. I actually might do that to my Samurai someday (the epitome of a lower end bike boom machine). I might do it in the form of as interpretation of a 1920s single speed straight bar bicycle.

I wouldn't do it to a high end classic because of the money value at stake in a higher end bike. I also tend to prefer heavier bikes to the lightweights. I don't mind that my bike handles like a '47 Cadillac-- I actually enjoy that approach. But for some reason I am drawn to single speed coaster brake machines because of the pure simplicity of them (especially the old New Departure hubs). I guess I just don't see a problem with converting lower end stuff to fixed gear or single speed.