Noob question: Fixed vs. Track
 

So I'm a little confused about this...

Is this right:
All track bikes are fixed gear.
Not all fixed gear bikes are track bikes.

If you add a brake to a track bike is it still a track bike or is it only a fixed gear bike?

True - you get an A.

Its a track bike...with a brake. What makes a bike a track bike is its geometery.

The deffinitions are sort of loose. A track bike with a brake could still be a track bike, but it wouldn't be legal to race it on any track.

Fixed gear = the kind of drive train.
Track bike = IMHO referes mostly to the frame and geometry, and what you use it for.

Why do you need to catagorize these things though?

Interestingly, though, the track bikes of yesteryear often featured less aggressive geometry than what would be typical for a road bike today, so it confuses things somewhat. Making it even more confusing, there is more variation within the track discipline (ie, a six day versus pursuit bike) than there is between track and road.

Basically, a fixed gear bike is the superset. A track bike is a bike designed for racing at a velodrome. There are some generally accepted rules for how to design a track bike today.

Yes

Set theory and definitions

We're on our way to a more 'logical' bike forums.

The thought has priority over the ride.