When I began researching bicycles from the ambition of purchasing one, I briefly read about a type of bike called a "fixie." Momentarily, I mistakenly thought this is what I rode when I was younger (I later learned that was a single-speed), but, for a while, the idea seemed invitingly simple to not have to "worry" about shifting gears. The bike I'll most likely buy now will, indeed, have a range of gear settings, but I find myself wondering, who on this board does do most (or much) of his or her commuting on a fixed-gear bicycle.

I look forward to reading your responses — .

I'd be interested if any bicycling enthusiasts would admit to actually "worrying" about shifting gears on a bicycle.

I ride fixed for my bike commutes. It's definitely fun, and a great workout.

At least half of my mileage is done on a fixed gear and one year almost all of my commuting and good deal of other riding was done on a fixed gear... over 12 months I rode 12,000 km fixed and the other 4000 km were done on a mix of bikes that were geared with anything from a 3 speed internal hub to my 24 speed hybrid.

For winter riding there is nothing better than a fixed gear and we get a lot of that.

Eh.... I commute by single speed or an older steel cross bike. Fixed gear makes no sense to me, and kinda like it that way.

I commute via fixed gear 20mi round trip. It's certainly made me a stronger rider.

I am selling my track bikes beffore i get killed. I am getting to old for all that. You tend to go fast as all hell and hate red lights (no brakes) so you blaze through them at speed, eh! Now days I tend to have a coffee in one hand and take my time if I want.

I have commuted with old Raleigh singles speeds (coaster brakes) and "single speed" bikes with conventional hand brakes. I love it. One of my 10 speed 26" wheel bikes is permantly stuck in 2nd gear right now so it's kinda like a "single speed"...

As soon as our local "Crappy Tire" store (my fellow Canucks know what I mean) has their old school coaster brake bike on sale for $99 I am getting one for winter commuting. There aren't a lot of hills where I ride.

You don't have to use a track bike for a fixed gear, though.

I converted an old Trek 400 road bike as my fixed/singlespeed commuter. Mid 80s sport-touring geometry, full fenders, rear rack, wide (28mm) tires, and most importantly: Front and rear brakes.

My '89 Trek 660 is set up as a fixed gear bike. Two brakes, fenders during the winter, and mellow gearing (73 in.).

It's just a road bike that happens to have a single gear that can't coast. Works perfectly for my riding situation.

I sought professional help. I had developed an irrational fear of shifting mechanisms.

Fixed is just like geared except you don't coast.

Putting brakes on can remedy that.

Not Track but Fixed




Single


And Track

Over half of my commuting mileage in 2008 was fixed gear.

I moved in December, and haven't ridden it since. Another reason I hate myself for getting talked into buying my current house.

I have a Raleigh One-way single speed that I use for my commute. After a couple more months I'm going to switch it over to a fixie.

My only bike is a fixed gear and i do have a brake on it. Lots of fun, a freewheel bike feels weird or broken to me now.

The bike I've been commuting on 90% of the time is my Specialized Langster. It's light, quick, and just a blast. This bike does take the joy of going down hills though... and that's my only complaint.

I also commute (short 2.5 mile round trip) on my Raleigh one way, but in fixed (I told the LBS to switch to fix the moment I bought it)

However on the weekend I sometimes ride 25 mile round trip no problem.

Wow. I didn't expect so many responses so fast. It seems plenty of people have experiences with fixies, and most of those are good.

I don't remember reading fixed-gear bicycles don't have brakes. How does this work? Do you just "back-pedal" (or slow the crank with your feet) to come to a stop? If so, wouldn't it be useful to have conventional brakes, as well, just for added safety?

P.S. If a mod. could please correct the title of this thread, I'd appreciate it. Of course, it ought to read, "Who Commutes on a Fixie?" Thanks.

Fixed gears are not necessarily brakeless. Many people--myself included--run at least a front hand-brake as the front brake provides most of the stopping power.

Without a hand-brake, one can slow down by--as you said--resist the forward motion of the pedals with back-pressure. To actually stop--at higher speed--folks will perform a skip-stop or skid.

We needn't enter the hand-brake vs no-hand brake debate.

As for me, I ride a converted mixte frame with a fixed gear and front brake for my 12.75 mile one-way commute. I chose a fixed gear for commuting b/c: 1) Relatively little can go wrong on the way to work maintenance/mechanics-wise, 2) the commute is relatively flat so I wouldn't need to change gears often anyway (why wear down just a couple cogs on an expensive cassette vs one stand-alone cog, 3) I like the feel of the fixed drivetrain vs a freewheel, and 4) I cannot do the skip-stop/skid thing at all, though I do like to be able to modulate acceleration and deceleration with just my legs and have the brake for actual stopping.

You can skid or like skid hop to slow down if you don't have brakes. But i think you should definitely use brakes (that is just me) I'm paranoid that one will stop working so i have a backup. And prolong the life of your tires!

That title is bugging me too.

Why not add WHERE they commute. Single speed or Fixed where it is flat is a LOT easier then hilly areas.

I'm still toying with making a set of "his an her's" single speeds (wife is use to grip shifts on a MTB not stem or down tube. I'm trying to warm her to drop bars and not ready to drop the coin on a bike with STI till I'm sure she is going to stick with it) for the rails to trail mup we ride. Mostly this is to slow me down to her speed. I averaged 15mph on a hilly metric 2 weeks ago. She runs along about 10mph on the flat Mup.

I have experimented with sticking too just one gear on my commute and weekend rides trying to figure out what gear to buy but I have a couple real booger hills on the way that would just plain suck on a 16(17)-40 gear selection of the bike I am thinking of converting. My touring bike that I commute with I am usually pumping 18-36 on the one hill.

If you have momentum going uphill is not that bad, however from standstill it can be brutal lol

Personally, I run a front brake.

There is a large group that runs brakeless (probably not that many in this forum) and it's largely about style/image/etc.

Title fixed.

I commute exclusively on one of my fixed gears, 4.5 miles each way. There are a couple of small hills along the way, but it helps make it more of a workout. I have a nice geared bike too, but I love riding my fixed gears. After riding a fixed-gear, it feels really weird to coast. I'm going to start riding to take classes that are ~17 miles away, so I may add a freewheel with lower gearing. Oh yeah, I have front brakes only, so I'll probably add some rear brakes when I add the freewheel.