Buying new bikes is becoming a seductive habit. I've had so much fun on my last year purchase.

All the same, I'm increasingly intrigued by Specialized Langsters, Lemond Filmores. Kona Paddywagons, Bianchi Pistas. I'm attracted by the whole 'less is more' idea.

Any views?

Out on the plains single-speeds make sense.

Otherwise they seem an offense to wisdom and reason.

you bet! Have been riding fixed for almost 5 years now-- it's wonderful. I have taken my 'fixie' to the mountains, have ridden double metrics on it-- the whole range... It is the bike I reach for first. It is also my primary commuter-- I put over 6000 miles on it last year (out of a total of around 9000).

Mine is the KHS Flite 100-- their entry-level steel fixed gear. I have changed the bottom bracket, the headset and fork, and added brakes front and rear. I ride a 48x18.

There is a post I did on Ride the Rockies on the fixie in Bike Forums somewhere.

train safe-

I'm with you TWL, but in the college town (on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains) where I work, fixed-gear bikes are quite the fashion statement. I've even seen some young-uns ride hilly centuries with them. I must say I like the clean look, but trying to get around these parts on a fixie just seems brutal.

[edit] buelito, I can't imagine doing what you do. I sit at your feet in wonder.

Yeah, that's a big part of it. So, you'd advise 'go for it'?

Chacun a son gout, but I am firmly entrenched in the "gears are good" camp. To me, selecting the right gear at the right time is part of the fun of cycling, and having multiple closely spaced gear ratios makes one a noticeably faster, more efficient cyclist. For those of us who contend daily with hills and/or traffic, fixed gear can be tough on the knees and downright dangerous.

Riding fixed gear does admittedly provide a unique experience which some relish, but single speed freewheeling makes no sense whatsoever, because one can readily duplicate the experience by selecting a particular gear and then leaving the gear levers untouched (but ready at a moment's notice if grade or wind conditions change).

Hi WobblyOldGeezer,

Two years ago I converted my '77 MASI road bike to a single speed (42t x 16t). And, unless you just have to have a new bike, I recommend converting something you already have (but don't ride much, if at all).

I use it mostly for recovery rides, since the gearing prevents me from going too fast, no matter how much I'd rather crank it up and go after that young rider who just went past me . . . . I have taken it on a couple of club rides and was amazed at just how well I was able to keep up with the "multiple speed" riders.

Just yesterday, I completed the conversion of the same bike to "fixed gear." I bought a new rear wheel with a 15t fixed cog (and lock-ring, of course), so the gearing is slightly higher, but more to the point, there is no coast-ability. Those pedals just keep coming around!

My first "fixie" ride was 32 miles, Whittier to Seal Beach and back on the Coyote Creek and San Gabriel bike paths (plus a mile each way in traffic from home to the bike path and back again). Good news: I didn't crash! I did have a couple of "brain-fade" moments when I tried to "coast" but those pedals coming around quickly "corrected" that!

Best News: Wow, when I'm cranking it out on the flat bits it feels SO SMOOTH! Wonderful really! Much different cycling experience than on a freewheel equipped bike (single or multi-speed). So yeah, I love it, but this old dog still has a few new tricks to learn before I'm ready to take it on a ride with the club.

And yes, I kept the brakes on, front and rear. I tried to stop without brakes, and yes, it is possible! But (big BUT) it uses totally different muscles (or the same ones in different ways), so I'm sore in new places today. Still, fixed gear riding is a wonderful thing, and a great addition to (almost) anyone's cycling experience.

Rick / OCRR

+1

I rode a single speed for 9 years but I was young and foolish I have enough problems getting up the hills on my current bike with all the gears

I've got an early model Fillmore with the apparently heavier front fork (which to me means less likely to confirm my distrust of carbon fiber bits ) and I find myself riding it more than the geared bikes. I currently have it on the single speed side of the hub, haven't flipped it over yet to fixed. Hills just mean push harder and go slower, kind of like being 50+ I guess.

I guess I should hang out in this 50+ section more, but I don't, I guess I'm in a state of denial (which is a small town just north of Milwaukee, it has a small river that is not named The Nile {which is probably more properly referred to as a creek [ the creek in denial, not the river called The Nile]}). I also don't have PayPal, which apparently is an impediment to being a participant in this sub-section (can't get the jersey).

Here's a pic of the bike on a bridge over the creek in denial:

Oh my goodness, what a great bike and photo. Fuel to the fire. Thanks

Hey Wobbly--

I wish you had never started this thread. How am I going to explain why I need one of these to my wife?

https://missionbicycle.com/?gclid=CKj...FQVfFQodbV1Nhg

here is one i ride in the city i have been riding fixed gears for 20 years a i am 53
cheers

Raleigh One-Way here. I use it mostly for nice recovery/rec rides on the O&E towpath with Cheri.
Why people (including Cheri) run geared bikes on it is beyond me.

I have an old bike that I "fixed" last winter after I borrowed a friends fixer for a while and really liked riding it. I ride mine about 20 miles down the park road which is mostly flat about once a week and I really enjoy that. I've also done some hilly 50 mile rides on it and that's a lot less fun. I really don't enjoy steep downhills on it at all, esp. when tired.

All too often I find myself in Single speed- Slow!!!

Have enough hills in my area to say that a single speed would not be the ideal bike.

Finally, a valid reason to go for it. I'll be converting Uncle Duke, my 1980 Fuji S12-S 14 speed general purpose road bike to Raoul Duke, fixed gear assaulter of all things logical and reasonable.
I'll need a new role for that bike once my Trek 970 takes its bar end shifters to go on the dirt drop handlebars.

I don't quite understand the arguments against fixed gear bikes. It's not like I'll sell all my geared bikes and only ride fixed. It will be just another choice in the toy box. I think it will be fun.

Yes BluesDawg,

It will be fun!

Rick / OCRR

A recent conversion to fixed gear.

I have a single speed Schwin Paperboy Bike. I don't think we're talking about the same kind of bike.

I don't see how you guys ride fixed gear bikes. More power to you.

Don't forget you can go off road too. I have 2 SS MTB. A 2007 Monocog 29er and a 2008 Gary Fisher Rig. Now I lust for a new IRO.

I commute on a Bianchi San Jose SS bike to downtown Honolulu. Least expensive bike I own and hopefully the SS will discourage most thieves.

I built myself a fixed gear bike last year so I could see for myself what the big deal was.

I must not be doing it right or something because I still don't see what the big attraction is. Anybody want to buy a fixed gear bike?

I converted a Gios megalite to fixed/ss and commute on it. I love riding it.

I'm in the process of building one.

And I got my 70 year old friend to try riding it for the first time.

There are millions of single speeds out there. Grew up riding on them, in hilly West Virginia. I could see riding one on relatively flat terrain. But not fixed. And I'd want a nice, sedate SS, something like 36-18.

However, I would prefer a nice little 3-speed to a SS. Like a green Electra Amsterdam 3-speed that is 38-19. Very nice city/commuter bike.

I agree with the poster who recommends converting a old bike that you don't now ride much to a FG.
I fixed my beloved Nishiki Professional and now ride it regularly.
Then I went and bought another FG bike just so I could have one at work and one at home.