Okay, here'z the deal. I posted a thread here not long ago about converting an old beater into a fixie via. suicide hub. I also got into a crazy bad accident in June that seriously %(^&#! up my knee and the lube/glue inside of it, so at this point in time I'm finally coming to a point where I can say, "yeah, my knee feels fine". I have an unexplananable desire to ride fixie, and I'm destined to get a new bike on September 15th. The trouble is, I'm torn between getting the $1200 Trek 1500, or a $700 Specialized fixie. Problem is, I've read little tidbits and snags hear and there that say fixies are really hard on your knees due to...well cuz there fixies i guess. Anyone have any input, solutions, suggestions?

buy the trek?
run a small gear?

run a small gear and a brake...

Fixies are fine for knees but everyone is different. What they will do is amplify any problems with your bike setup you have.

So if you go fixed: ride a small gear, use a brake, build up your leg strength. But by far the most important is to get a bike that fits you and is fitted to you. Get the saddle height and position right and then use a pedal with plenty of float and a nice stiff shoe.

Do other forms excercise such as standing squats/swimming etc to get your busted leg into shape.

All these would be true if you wear buying the geared bike.

why the specialized in particular?

there uh, actually the only co.'s my LBS sells. Trek and Specialized. please, if you or anyone thinks a diff. co. might be the way to go, lemme know!

-rhyme masta nick

theres a Sheldon Brown article that suggests fixies are good for your knees.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-knees.html

Got any other LBS'? Trek makes the T1 for the track, and there's the C'dale Capo, Bianchi Pista, Schwinn Madison, Raleigh Rush Hour and the IRO, Soma and Surly steel bikes/frames as well.

Fit's most important for any bike. I'm on the mend from a twisted knee and while my leg wasn't strong enough to resist the pedals when slowing down, my knee wasn't any worse afterwards and actually felt better the next day.

yeah, my kneecap actually came in SERIOUS contact with the side of the truck. i'm mean, someone might as well have just nailed my knee with a baseball bat and call it at that. so i've got serious cartilage damage in there, and i went back to work not long after the crash. bad idea, i have-correction HAD, a very physically demanding job. so i'm still doin phys-therapy stretches and exerscises. yeah, think i might go for a used one, somewhere around 300-400 i'm thinkin.

Ask your personal physio/ortho or your doctor, don't take the internets advice for something that could have yer ass limping through life with chronic pain.