fuji86

When riding them in traffic, I almost out of habit move to and use the curb as an easy step when a light changes red. The crank arms rotating becomes an issue for me in that regard. With SS, I can orient the crank arms to be in the up position on the right hand/curb side of the bike.

trevor_ash

I'm not a hipster or a "young kid", but I ride mostly fixed (always with a front brake unless at the track). I do not have the "skillz" to ride without brakes. Also, it drains too much energy. I'm usually riding long distance so I like to use the brake to conserve energy.

While I agree that you can stop quicker and safer with brakes, you shouldn't judge the talent of some people who ride without them. It's quite amazing what some riders are capable of doing, instinctively, with just their legs and excellent riding ability. These are typically the kind of people that can ride wheelies and bunny hop curbs on their fixed bikes without regard to crank rotation during the start of the jump.

With that behind me...

I enjoy riding fixed because I feel more in tune with my body and my surroundings. I don't have the distraction of changing gears in my mind, I'm constantly planning escape routes (in traffic for example) and always "thinking". I simply feel more as one with the world around and beneath me. I also feel more in control of my bicycle, like I am the one in charge, not it.

Take for example climbing a steep, but short hill. On a geared bike you can sort of lazily go up it, change gears when you get tired, etc. On a fixed bike the way you ride changes. You'll be tempted to attack the hill, ensuring that when you approach the top, you're only just starting to approach a slower cadence. This is what I mean by control. I'm the one that has to get up the hill (not my gears) and I'm the one that is in charge of getting it done. The bike doesn't give me any other options (gears).

Long winded, but that is the fun of fixed for me.

P.S. The word "fixie" secretly drives me nuts but I try to ignore it as I don't think it's going away. I think that's just my curmudgeonly self.

pablosnazzy

i'm 42, i ride a fixed gear, no brakes front or back, up and down hills. i like it. it's simple. it makes me a stronger rider on my other bicycles. and it's great for riding drunk because i don't have to think about pedaling.

it's not for everyone. don't knock it until you've tried it.

pablosnazzy

it's niether dangerous, foolish, nor knot-headed when you know how to do it. pedaling down a hill isn't either. riding a fixed gear means you are always in control of the bike, IF you know how to ride one.

pablosnazzy

my chain came off once, i was making a left turn in traffic, i had to stop. jammed my foot between the front wheel and fork (similar to BMX flatland )and i was stopped. no problem, totally safe.

riding a fixed gear with no brakes isn't dangerous, IF you know how to ride one.

TugaDude

P.S. The word "fixie" secretly drives me nuts but I try to ignore it as I don't think it's going away. I think that's just my curmudgeonly self.

Me too! And when people pronounce mixte, "mix-tee". But I think I just need to chill. And you are totally correct, it is not going away. Oh, another one. Do you notice with the advent of video games, a lot of the younger set says they are going to "verse" each other? Or it is me verse you, when they mean versus? Drives me batty.

SlimRider

Alright Pablosnazzy,

So you're going down a steep hill. Suddenly, a car door opens up in your direct path, just a few feet ahead!

If you don't have any brakes, what do you do?

Your fate would have to be worse than the guy with good front and rear brakes! The guy with brakes will be better abled to (at the very least) slown down faster, in an effort to decrease impact.

You on the other hand, would suffer greater impact and subsequently, more serious injuries.

I'll just bet you any kind of money that I can grasp my hand onto my brake lever, alot faster than you can stuff your foot onto your wheel (or whatever it is you guys do).

Come on... Bet! I'll just bet ya!

Yeah, there, I said it! Guys with brakes, are just plain faster than you guys without brakes!

Yeah, I'm your Huckleberry!

PS.

Just call me Doc!

trevor_ash

The original post was about why people enjoy riding fixed gear bikes. Not the dangers of riding fixed without a brake. Most people riding fixed on the street have a front brake. It's the exception that do not. I liked the OP's question, it's a fair one to ask and I remember having the same question.

SlimRider

Hey there Trevor_Ash!

Yes, I would have to agree that riding fixed-gear does seem to be just a tad intriguing. However, I would have to have brakes.

I really do love the Raleigh Rush Hour!

pablosnazzy

you swerve around it and keep riding. just like when a car cut in front of me making a right hand turn, i turned with him and kept on riding, cursing him, and didn't hit him.

if you want to see how people ride fixed gears through traffic, (and they are extreme, it's not always like this, look here: https://www.digave.com/videos/)

if you ride a bike in traffic long enough, you are gonna hit something whether you have brakes or not. not having brakes is just as safe, if you know how to ride it.

also, with my fixed gear, i don't' have to buy brake pads or worry about shifting problems or anything else. just flat tires (changed one today as a matter of fact) and a chain.

pablosnazzy

the rush hour is a darn good bike. and i think it comes with a flip flip hub, so you can switch from fixed to singlespeed. the only thing i don't like about it is the narrow handlebars. i like wider handlebars.

LesterOfPuppets

You know how in cartoons, characters try to avoid being hit by trains by running away from them, right down the tracks?

frantik

you should get a unicycle.. one less wheel to worry about

dahut

This is kinda what I was thinking. The whole point of "alt" is to be, well... alternative.
I like that the idea came from track racing, although I dont think Im really keen to get into it. Single speed/coaster - sure. Fixie, well, Im alright with gears.

PS I have noticed that most of the alt-fixie girls are hot, in a neo-goth, kinda emo hipster sort of way.
Thats cool.

ecnewell 

Because it takes longer to slow down, you have to think a little further ahead when you're riding fixed in traffic. E.g. you pay attention to the traffic lights on the next block, not just the one in front of you--Notice those people up there who just might decide to cross the street, and plan accordingly. I feel like it makes me a better rider on my geared bike too.

There's just something about it that's so smooth and fluid. All the energy you put into the crank gets transferred to the wheels, never lost in slack chain like on a geared bike. Plus, the bike is light and nearly silent. Try it, you might get hooked.

dahut

Maybe one day....

LesterOfPuppets

Energy lost in slack chain. Knee slapper right there!

ecnewell 

Yeah, that was kind of dumb. Oops. I guess what I meant was energy lost during shifting - like when the chain jumps to a higher gear. That little jerk you feel sometimes? That's what I'm talking about. That doesn't happen on fixed/SS.

jdgesus 

on a fixed gear/track bike without any hand brakes, you just dont go fast down steep hills... i personally creep down hills if i dont have a hand-brake

the ppl that do go fast, are very extremely nuts. just like those who ride geared/hand-brake bikes down steep hills really fast.

dahut

Hey, wheres the fun in that?

I dont suggest you go roaring down congested urban hills/streets at breakneck speed. Even out in the country where I ride the most, I keep my speed under control. But creeping down hills? Hmmmm....

hairnet

It is fun because it is challenging. A while back I went brakeless for a week and went down hills as slow as I could, it was really difficult at time and I enjoyed it.

Doohickie

That is my plan. I have a single speed right now and will soon be building up a new wheel for it. This one will have a flip-flop hub. We'll see how that goes.

dahut

Well, different strokes for different folks. I probably need to try it. That'll be my goal for next year - get a fixie.

Artkansas 

The difference that kevin_stevens was noting I believe is that front wheel braking is far more effective than rear wheel braking. Hence the suboptimal. I guess there is also a question of how strong your legs are when braking.

As for me, I live in the hills. Brakes and gears are good things.

UberGeek

And, to each their own, I say. I don't ride fixies. They just don't do it for me, and I think they're kinda silly, but I'm sure avid fixie riders think my 24 speed bike, with cables flopping all over the place, and the worrying about being in the right gear, with the proper cadence kind of silly too