I read about it on the SS/FG forum and also on sheldon brown's site. Then I saw FGG. Then I asked a LOT of questions here. I've been fixed gear for almost two years.

I entirely blame Sheldon Brown. I discovered BF after I did my conversion.

Yep. I have only been on the forums for a few weeks and this is happening to me now. I just got back into riding a bike a few months ago after many years and already I want to get a second bike just to try riding fixed gear. My commute route has some hills though, and I think I need to get stronger before giving up gears.
BF definately got me thinking about it.

I did my first fixed gear conversion a few weeks ago, mainly because of BF. I haven't commuted on it yet, but its just a matter of time. Need to get some Mr. Tuffys before run it downtown.

Yeah, I quaffed the kool-aid quite deeply here. BF had a lot to do with my move to a fixie, as it was the first place I had heard of them.

Whenever I spend any time in a city I'm always checking out the fixies people are riding and I've always had a desire to build one up. BF did speed that process up and I finally got an old Puch converted, which I've been commuting on for about a month now. It was a pretty logical choice for me because my commute route is ironing board flat and on multi geared bikes I pretty much stayed in one gear the entire time anyway.

I blame Sheldon Brown. I researched his site for other bike mechanical and riding technique information, and I kept coming across him mentioning fixed gear. I remember seeing some kids riding single speed (at the time I knew nothing of fixed); I remember following one who was mashing like crazy to get up a hill, while I followed comfortably behind him in a lower gear. I thought to myself, who in their right mind would want to limit themselves to one gear? It seemed like a terrible choice.

Then I started wondering what it would be like. I bought a fixie last December; then I discovered BF. The combination of Sheldon and BF has kept me riding safely on the FG, and now I've crossed over: Who in their right mind wouldn't want to ride fixed?

+1. Two years ago I had an LBS rebuild a geared wheel with a flip-flop hub. That wheel and frame is now long gone, replaced by two more recent fixies and a single speed. Along the way BF posters have offered copious amounts of help.

Thanks to all of you!

I'm kinda scared of riding a fixie, but I'm going to be building up a ss winter beater/mountain bike. Of course, once I try it as a fix, I might make an unlikely convert.

You know I get a lot of that. Trying to convince some of my roadie friends to try riding my fixie in the parking lot is next to impossible. Only the ones that are facinated by fixies have the guts to try them out, out of curiosity.....and they "get it".

Road bike fixed gear worked for me. MTB fixed didn't. I don't know why. Maybe it was the weight of the bike. Maybe the riding position. Maybe the longer cranks or the lower gear ration. Anyway, I can't ride my SS MTB fixed without knee pain.

I gave fixed gear a shot back in the fall. Spent almost two full months commuting on one. Then decided it wasn't for me. There was just no practicality in it for me.
That's not to say I think others don't enjoy it. But give me my gears any day. And I don't mind taking care of my bikes... I've got all the time in the world.

If BF hadn't gotten me into it, sheldon's site would have, so really my interest in cycling would've inevitably led to riding an FG eventually.

I've never understood the fixie craze. Seems like there are alot of you guys out there!

Well, when you realize that it is just that, a craze, it helps understand it.
I never understood the mullet craze of the 80's, but I accepted it as part of the culture... and it faded in time.
Well, for the most part

True......but I belong in the 'spandex-fixie' category...

Rode a heavy hybrid to work for years. Got a road bike last year for faster commuting and have been doing longer group rides on that with the hybrid rebuilt as the snow bike. I want to try fixed next. Lots of riders on group rides on fixies and it makes perfect sense for commuting.

Am looking for something good for my hilly commute, but that I could also use for group rides as well next winter. The Redline 925 looks good for the commute, but not sure I could keep up with the group on it.

I first read about fixies in John Schubert's cycling book and he recommended them for winter/off-season training to improve your spin and to give a little variety to your riding. I never considered it while I was in Boston because my commute was hilly (Newton Upper Falls to Kenmore Square for you Bostonians). My commute here is fairly flat and traffic-free so a singlespeed/fixed gear is easy to ride. I just like variety in my riding especially in commuting where the route gets pretty boring. Last week I rode a different bike everyday.

Balls on the stem? Oh, so that's how you impress the ladies. Okay, I'll give it a try. It just scares me that they are going to come out with prostrate friendly stems now. And then there will be an article in the LA Times about how fixie skidding is causing ED.

I got into the fixie thing because of this website and the mighty Sheldon Brown.
Also, because of past experiences, I have an intense dislike of derailleurs. After building myself up a conversion, I really don't like my geared bikes much no more. I do enjoy my iron legs and the comments they get.

I do not own a fixie...yet.
I find the concept quite interesting primarily due to this site. However, my commute is far too long and I feel geared bikes are more suitable for the time being. That being said I would love a fixie for around town riding but again I have other priorities.

I'd say BF had something to do with it... but the bug was planted a while before I found these forums. Sheldon's site didn't hurt either... I think he has a way of explaining things so they seem less "intimidating."

When I was originally looking for a "commuter" bike, one of the LBS suggested the Langster as something challenging and fun. I was a little apprehensive about the single-speed/fixed gear thing, but it did get me thinking.

I did end up getting a "commuter" bike, then built up a fixie several months later because I needed a little yin for my yang (something light and fast and responsive to compliment my upright utility bike). I LOVE my Steamroller, I'm on it more than any other bike. It's a fair weather bike (no fenders) and carriers a small Carradice bag (DEAD sexy!) to keep my commute load small and light. My commute is short, about 7-8 miles round trip, it's got a good number of hills, but the fixie gives me a good workout in such a short time and short distance. I run 36x16 currently, so my spin is getting pretty smooth on the downhills. I do like having other bikes to switch out to, but honestly I'd give them all up for my fixie .

i came to fixed gears through singlespeed mountainbikes. originally, originally, i started commuting geared just to be a better mountainbiker.

first a singlespeed commuter then to the fixed gear.

really i do it to stay in shape for mountainbiking. my commute has a big hill and i am quite sure it is easier (maybe faster) to ride when i am coasting, but for me, it's not about easy.

i do love bikeforums though, and i certainly appreciate all i have learned here about commuting and fixed gears here!

"However, my commute is far too long and I feel geared bikes are more suitable for the time being."

Not sure what you mean by "too long"... I commute 46 miles round trip on my fixie-- Reston VA to DC. There are hills--and I add a tough one on my way home. I average about the same amount of time commuting fixed as I did with gears. I have ridden centuries on it--and use it for group rides on occasion.

Bought my KHS flite 100 from my LBS four years ago--on closeout. Have modified it slightly--carbon fork and changed the handlebars--and the gearing from 48*16 to 48*18. It is definitely my favorite commuter, and I ride it as often as I can. Put over 6000 miles on it last year.

Once you have tried it, you will understand... riding it is something you can't explain--

train safe-

60 miles rt with hills is too long IMHO. Maybe someday but I have other things I would rather try first.
I put something more like 9000 miles on a bike each year. Anyhow too each his own. I'm just saying it is not for me right now but I can see a use for it for other things besides commuting.
Not to mention that I am a bit of a gear head and love my deraileurs, shifters, etc.