You guys all young?
 

are there many guys over 50 ridding fixed? I'm not saying that 50's old. Read it was hard on the knees and just a young guy's game. I tried one out and I really like it but don't want any extra problems. thanks.....

I know a guy here who is 42 and he has several fixed. I thought maybe the age was catching up to him when I found out he was riding 38x16 gearing, but then one day out of nowhere he tells me he's pushing 48x15 brakeless! S'far as I know, he's got no problems.

I think it all depends on what ratio you're riding. I'm young but I have knee problems (used to be a dancer but had to quit per doctor's orders), and I don't have any issues riding fixed yet. Premature arthritis may be a'comin', but I'm ok for right now! :)

If you put on enough miles using proper technique, before you start hammering big gears, you should be fine(although I'm not sure that skidding is advisable).

I ride a 46x17 or a 46x20 depending on the ride that day FWIW. I'm only 39, but I really don't foresee myself having any problems riding fixed. I could be wrong though.

im 39 have several bikes and cycle almost everday . but on my SS i run a 48t/16t and i dont have any problems .. well atleast not that i know of :S
:)

Cheers T

i'd say just use a comfortable ratio, and use a break and you will be fine.
but i'm not a doctor.

will be 45 in October and I ride either 45:17 or 45:16. Have a front brake but its for emergencies only. Everything is leg work.

I asked you guys because I'm thinking of getting a cheap one off Bikesdirect.com. Rode a Pista that was too big for me but I loved the feel. People think of me as a strong rider in the geared road bike crowd; my legs are very strong because of the nature of my job and I'm light. So maybe I'll be ok? I'm 52.

I'm 53 and crazy.

That's great to hear. :)They say if you ain't nuts there's something wrong with ya.

theres a story on oldskooltrack.com about a guy they ran into that was riding a fixie and he was like in his 70's or 80's if I remember right. If I find the story I'll post a link.

same here .. i would say / consider myself as 40 and wicked NUTZ

I'm 49 and ride 48X16. No problems with the knees.

42.

There are plenty of "older" people riding fixed.

I' ve used 42x16 brakeless for the last three years.

Will be 54 this year, 42x16 and 50x18, but I also live in flat Florida...........

When I worked at this hotel in a rather large city, this man in his late 70s road around on this old fixed gear bike, and he'd come into the hotel...had brakes of course.

My knees actually got better once I started riding fixed.

I'm 52-- and ride a 48x18 fixed... I think the knee issue is hogwash-- If you don't use brakes, mnaybe it's an issue, but if you use brakes, I don't see the problem. I've been riding fixed (I average about 8500 miles a year--roughly half of it fixed) and have no knee issues at all. If anythingm, riding fixed has made my legs stronger, and the effect is strength in the muscles around the knee, so they are better supported.

train safe-

+1
due to a wierd birth defect, I have problems with my right knee. since I started riding fixed (73.4 GI) they've all but disappeared.

Oh, i'm 32.

I'm 49 until November. SS so far, but I'm building my IRO group buy frame as a fixie, 48x18.

Yes, I'm young.

50 something is the new 20 something as they are now saying, so it is for the young guys- 50 plus.

keep on truckin'!!!!!

S/F,
CEYA!

cross training people.
riding ONLY a brakeless fixed gear for years on end will almost definitely **** up your knees. every now and then get out on a road bike or mtn bike.

I'm 28, but the friend who got me into fixed is in his mid-40s.

i was introduced to fixed gear by someone in his 30's, lived with a girl whos father was in his 40's and still messin' on a track bike, and ride regularly with guys in their 40's and early 50's on our fixed bikes. common sense and a brake will take you a long way. growing up is giving up!

39 years old, never had a drivers license my entire life, been riding bikes all my life. bmx, mountain, road, and now fixed.

Don't sweat the knees, even riding fixed is less wear and tear than running. If you are really worried, just throw a front brake on and use it.