i ride about twenty miles a day. i use it for strictly excersice, i will not be doing races or any of that stuff. what i was wondering is, would a fixed or ss be for me. would it work well for my needs. they just seen really easy to maintain, and i was just wondering the ups and downs. thanks for the help in advance.

as long as you're not tackling huge mountains you'll be fine. do it! i did!

Yes

pick a gear and resolve not to change it for a few days. Did you enjoy it more or less then being able to switch gears? If less was it enough less that not having to do as much upkeep would be worth it?

thanks for the help guys! my local shop has a motobecane messenger for 350, is that a good one, price?

what are your needs
?

just excersice. about twenty to fifty miles a day. twent at least, everyday without fail.

responses from people who read the original post.


booyakasha.

Riding a geared bike is fun. Riding a FG or SS is fun. Riding a geared bike but not changing gears is just not fun....and no matter how much you think it may give you an idea of what its like to ride without derailerurs, its just not the same as riding a ss or FG. The simple presence of the deraileur and the constant temptation to use it spoils the fun.

Fixed gear is a great workout and it really helps your pedalling form. Go for it if your ride is fairly flat/rolling hills. Suggest using a smallish gear at first, 70-75 inches.

Counterexample: Me

To see if i could handle fg I rode a 70km commute for a month on a road bike without changing gears, And it was fun.

If you know a better way for him to figure out if ss will work for him please explain it. Neither walking up hills nor spinning out on slight descents on your brand new ss is fun either.

For me, a fixed gear makes a great second bike. It lacks the versatility a geared bike does (I *promise* someone will argue otherwise), since when I am out on a group ride, gears and brakes are wonderful things. Its pretty hard to ride in a paceline with only one gear. If you're planning on always riding alone I'd say get what you like, but as a primary bicycle I don't think I would choose a fixed gear, despite the fact mine sees more miles than my road bike. I guess what I am saying is that my road bike can fulfill every role my fixed gear can, but not vice-versa.