Noobie here,

After longing desperatly my whole childhood for a "ten speed", and having to settle for a Schwinn Typhoon, I am at a loss to understand the fixty craze.

I finally got my dream bike when I was 21 and out of the Army, an old Raleigh Comp with brakes and gears ADDED.

One cant help but think that Fausto Coppi and his peers, having to disengage their rear wheels and flip the chain onto the next cog, would'nt be somewhat bewildered as well?

I don't get it, help me out here.

Well, how about you try a fixed gear or a singlespeed bike, and see for yourself? If you don't get it then, there is no point for us explaining it to you.

Why have more than one gear when you really only need one? Extra gears + derailer + brakes = weight, and most people only ride in one or two gears on their road bikes anyways. The few times you would find lots of gears practical (steep uphills) can be easily accounted for by being in shape.

As I said, my childhood bike was a Schwinn Typhoon, single speed, coaster brake, my sister had a Schwinn with the same drive train but with skinny tires.

You didnt really answer my question.

Is it a philosophical thing? A matter of principles? Or are there advantages that can be expressed in human language?

yeah all i think about is philosophies and principals when i'm bombing streets and flipping off peds on my fixed gear.

it's a lot more fun
fewer parts = fewer chances for malfunction
cheaper
simplicity
did I mention it's fun?
much better control at low speeds and in tight spaces

those are some of my reasons

Wimp, I dont get it, are you saying I'm a troll?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

need anyone say more?

I love my track bike.

And this dude's comment about only using 2 gears on a road bike is, needless to say, completely untrue.

Two very different bikes. Geared bikes have thier purpose, fixed gears have thier purpose.

Ride either one.

Kyle,
Bombing streets, flipping off peds? You sound like a real ambassador for the sport.

Have you ridden a fixed gear bicycle, dorkhead?

dude, chill. it was just a joke-post.

Read my second post Macka, and Kyle I am completely chilled, I'm in Chicago and it's about zero out today, had to break out the balaclava.

I ride a fixed gear because I strongly believe in using the most simple design possible to accomplish a given task. Also, having a direct connection to the drivetrain has an appeal that I can't describe very well. Its fun. We are minimalists or something. Enough said

I did.

You rode a single speed with a coaster brake.

Perhaps you should go down to your local bike shop, test ride a fixed gear, and answer your "stoopid kwestion" for yourself.

Thanks for all the replys, you know, I have an old raleigh touring bike frame with horizontal drop outs...........

Seriously, I am not a troll, My Daughter started school At Depaul Univ. and everytime I go to Lincoln Park, I see lots of fixed/singles, and I am not a person that follows cycling trends, just an old dude that rides for fun and fitness in the far boonies of Chicago.

Anyway, thanks again for all the non cynical/smartass answers, I am starting to like the idea, but I think I'd keep the front brake.

most of us choose to ride fix because of the lack of maintenence. no brakes or derailuers means no cable to adjust, and there is less to steal off a fix gear bike in terms of components.

what?!

I would say that to appreciate the virtues of a fixed gear, you have to ride a fixed gear.

never mind

I was simply saying that those were my reasons for switching from a road to fixed gear bike. Everyone has different experiences, but I found myself only riding in one, maybe two gears 95% of the time, so I ditched the derailers and rode my bike as a single speed for a while, then converted to fixed.

fixed gears are for people who hate technology