Hey guys, just looking for some opinions with perhaps rational argument (heh, if that's possible) about the virtues of a fixed gear bike vs. a geared bike for commuting.

I have a relatively short commute - 10 miles round trip over very gentile hills. Currently I have a cheap single speed bike I got off of Craigslist, haven't tried a fixed gear hub yet but subconsciously I try my best to pedal every spin, it feels good but the one substantial hill on my commute is a pain in the arse! But I love the simplicity of the bicycle ... I'd love to hear arguments from proponents in either direction as I'm debating either dumping some money in getting this bike in better shape or finding a decent entry level geared bike.

So what say you? thanks.

Everyone needs more than one bike. Have either to choose from depending on how you feel that day.

I'd go with both plans. Get your fixed gear up to being a reliable commuter and get a road bike for training and riding in general. Both bikes have their place in the world, and both have advantages. I tend to baby my road bike... I don't think taking it out after the rain is a good idea. Fixed gear bikes have a strong following and almost a subculture developed around them. As far as a rational arguement goes for fixies, the best I feel is that they're "simple". Keeping things simple makes for less repairs, less fuss, easier maintainance. There's also the "you don't really need gearing as much once you get in shape" arguement. Also fixies seem to think that gearing is somehow "cheating you out of a workout".

In terms of a short term plan... get the bike you have in "better shape" and at the same time, save up for a road bike or commuter.

Get a fixed wheel and throw it on the bike. Ride it a couple weeks up the ass kicking hill and in a couple weeks, it won't be kicking your ass so much. Like anything, you need to get used to it, but you will and the more you ride it, the easier it gets.

I ride both, depending upon the day.

I agree with this guy. It is always great to have a cheap fixed/ss to have around that is easy to maintain. Keep it fixed and start saving for your next bicycle whatever it will be.

+1

I have a fixed gear, road racing bike and dedicated rain/commuter bike to choose from everyday. I need more bikes honestly!

If you are commuting for utiity, get a geared bike - it makes the ride more practical. If you are commuting as an excuse to ride an edgy bike, get a fixed gear.

I spend more time commuting on singlespeed and fixed gear bikes than I do on my geared bikes and this is not because my commute is flat or because the wind never blows here...

My Peugeot road bike has seen at least 7000 km of riding since I built it last May and aside from regular maintainence and a cog / chain ring change after 4500 km has required nothing in the way of service.

I have 3 other fixed gear bikes and 2 of those also see a lot of utilitarian riding and again... they are as reliable as any bike I have ever owned.

The other fixed gear bike is 53 years old so gets pampered with long rides in the country.

I don't ride fixed gear bikes because they are cool or edgy but because I enjoy ring them and appreciate their simplicity and rock solid performance.

highly debatable


practical
Adjective
1. involving experience or actual use rather than theory
2. concerned with everyday matters: the kind of practical and emotional upheaval that divorce can bring
3. sensible, useful, and effective rather than fashionable or attractive: it's a marvellous design, because it's comfortable, it's practical, and it actually looks good
4. involving the simple basics

I do commute for utility, however, I seem to view a fixed gear bike as a utilistic (?word?) bike.

At the same time as I commute, I'd like to get the best workout as possible - I'm not fat but I could stand to be in better shape. If one bike is significantly better than the other in that respect, I'd like to favor it. I can see where the fixed bike would give a more varied workout - different cadences - but a geared bike would allow more control over cadence.

Thanks for the responses. Enlightening thus far.

I'm debating this one as well. For $400, I could have either the Wellington 3.0 or the Motobecane Messenger. I hope to ride a few miles daily from home to class/groceries/etc. On one hand, the FW looks nicer and would require less maintenance (good for reliability). There's also the possibility it would be less tempting to steal due to a lack of QR parts. On the other, the road bike would be far more versatile due to gearing capabilities. I also don't like the idea of having to flip the wheel to switch between FG and SS on the Moto, and would likely leave it in SS mode the majority of the time to enable coasting. So in the end, I'm just not sure which to get.

Buy a rear wheel with a flip flog hub for the current bike and purchase a geared bike.

Either will work. I enjoyed riding fixed gear but missed the coasting and with a bit of knee pain flipped it to SS. Anyhow, the novelty has worn off for me and I may add a RD to my salsa. However, if I need to lock up outside when my office moves I may purchase a BD SS\FG bike to lockup outside.

gears

if you want to go fixed don't shift and always pedal

if you have plenty of extra cash and you don't need more $ in your 401k, go ahead and buy two bikes

That is not even remotely the same.


Plus, the OP already has a SS. It is easy to make it into a FG.

I would HIGHLY recommend trying a fixie. You really become 'one with the bicycle' when you ride fixed.

If you truly have a 'single speed', all you need to do is remove the freewheel and replace it with a fixed gear (use Loctite and 'double nut' it with the lock ring from a bottom bracket)

Also, try some Jewish hills as well as those "gentile" ones. :-)

I disagree. I have one bike, a hybrid, that I use for everything, commuting, utility, and light trails. Unless you count my unicycle...

I have a second bike, but it's basically my roomate's - I just haven't gotten around to technically selling it to him yet.


@ the OP

If you want an efficient bicycle built for utility, go with gears. I feel that gears make it a lot easier to haul heavy loads, be they on your back, rack, or trailer.

If you want simplicity, get a unicycle.

Fixed gear bicycles: the worst of both worlds. Unicycle + complexity, bicycle + inefficiency.

There is a guy in Davis who seems to commute on a unicycle. Seems fun, but I don't ever see him going faster than 10mph or so. Not sure why.

Only you can decide if you need multiple gears for your commuting route. If you don't, then stick to fixed gear if you like the simplicity.

you couldnt be more wrong.

+1

I would say it is more along the lines of hybrid bikes being the worst of both worlds.

My answer to those who don't think a fixed gear can be utilitarian... it commutes, it tours, it gets groceries, it has handled numerous winters, and just got some new Marathons and a Wright's saddle for an upcoming century ride.

I don't ride fixed and see no overwhelming reason to do so. I do ride a single speed, actually a two speed derailleurless manual shifting bicycle. As far as practicality is concerned, riding one gear ratio largely depends on the weather, your route, condition and what you want to put up with, as far as effort. My route is fairly flat and only actually 8.5 miles one way so a single speed works for me as does a gear bike. The difference is slightly and I mean slightly less maintenance. Most of the maintenance issues are in our heads. Drive trains do wear faster on multi geared bikes as far as chains but the wear on cogs is spread out somewhat. What I like about a SS is the lack of concern for the need to shift and the visual simplicity. I simply don't need multiple gears on my commute. If I have longer to go with more climbing I use a geared bike. If you can ride your route without shifting on a geared bike then find whatever gear is the best compromise and make up a SS/Fixed with that ratio. If going fixed you can usually go up to a somewhat higher ratio, I have heard.
In my experience on relatively flat to rolling terrain, a gear inch of between 60-70 inches works for me. If you are young, trim and strong you may be able to spin a taller gear. Erring on the low side will however save your knees on head wind days and force you to spin faster, to go faster or just relax and lower the intensity. The nice thing about a freewheeling single speed is the ability to coast on downgrades. This saves your energy for climbing. One thing I have noticed is that on a geared bike, I often shift up to a higher gear and end up pushing myself too hard on flats. It seems I always want to go faster and the SS stops me from blowing out my knees. I actually end up not hurting myself as much on the SS. If I approach a hill I cannot climb, I walk.......no big deal. On a geared bike I gear down and maintain my spin sometimes all the way to a 20 inch gear on long steep climbs. My SS is my everyday crappy weather commuter and while nice, I don't worry about it as much so I use it as a tool to get to work. I could just as easily use a geared bike but I have more than one so this is what I do. There is no right answer really.

^^^

I very much appreciate your knowledge and contributions to the forum. However...

You say often that a FG is as practical for everyday riding as any geared bike. And I believe that is true for you. But isn't it true that a FG is only as practical as the rider is fit and strong? And isn't it also true that you are one of the strongest riders on the forum, logging as many or more miles as anyone here, and probably more miles over more years than maybe anyone?

For somebody just getting into cycling, or someone like me with a bum knee, or someone in less than excellent physical condition... for many people, an FG is going to require considerable strength for their chosen/necessary route. It seems to me that for lots of folks, the difference between gears and none is the difference between riding or not.

I hope one day to be repaired and strong enough to ride a fixie. But I still probably won't.

What size wheel? On a 36" wheel, 15 is quite doable, and a strong rider can get up to 20-22 or so. 26" would have a hard time breaking 10 mph, but 10 is pretty reasonable for a 29". Remember that on a unicycle, your speed is mainly based on the circumference of your tire, as that is the core of your gearing, with added effects coming from adjusting the crank length. Unlike a fixie, you can't adjust gears, your pedals turn the wheel directly at a 1:1 ratio.
The usual speed records on a unicycle have come from roadies riding a touring unicycle with a 36" wheel, probably a Nimbus or similar with bars and a split frame, with cranks between 86-106 mm. Schlumpf geared hubs that offer a 1:1.5 gear are available, though somewhat costly.
The main issue is safety specifically your runout speed, which is roughly 'the fastest speed you are able to sprint'. Crashes that would be barely noticeable below runout become dangerous. Normally on a unicycle when crashing (UPD), you land on your feet running, then mount again. If you're above runout, then you land on your feet running, then fall forward because of your inability to keep up with your momentum.