You coast on that thing?

Fall/Winter '07

1. What influenced you to ride fixed (friend, professionals, seeing others, messengers)?

It was different, I was curious - Internet bike pop-culture (seeing Lucas Brunelle and similar videos). Sheldon Browns writings caught and held my attention. My roadbike was being ridden in one gear mostly (downtube shifters and laziness) so essentially already used to the SS thing anyway, as winter rolled in I got impatient waiting for my Rob Roy group buy to come in, so I did the conversion thing, as I'd already got my wheelset.

2. Is your bike (or was your first bike) a conversion?

First fixed bike was a conversion from an old crappy bike-boom era (read: cheap) Bianchi (technically had a fixed as a kid, too - solid tyres with front brake and all!).

3. Where do you live (city and state for US, city and provence/country for outside of the US)?

<---- (Toronto, ON, Canada)

4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed?

Not a small city, but I chose to try it out because I was curious about the many things I'd read/seen about fixed gears. Some of the "training" benefits I'd read interested me too, but it was more a "this is different, I want to check it out" thing. It was shortly after that when I started hearing/seeing more buzz about them on youtube, etc. - and frankly, some of those tricks looked damn cool when I saw them

edited to add more blab and include year info in post.

1994 Courier Job, Klein MTB bike got stolen, Roomates Fixed shogun conversion

2007, Truck broke down I bought a mountain bike to get around. Mtb seemed a bit slow then tried a single speed then went to fixed gear in 2008.

1972 or 73 (hey, the poll doesn't go any earlier than 1995...)

1. What influenced you to ride fixed (friend, professionals, seeing others, messengers)?

I had just started racing and I read that this is what the Euro pro's did in the winter.

2. Is your bike (or was your first bike) a conversion?

No - it was a Gitane Interclub track bike, drilled for a front brake. I installed a Weinmann sidepull and learned to ride a fixed. I think I replaced the 16t cog with an 18, so it was 46x18. On one of my early Berkeley Wheelmen training rides, Mike Neel showed up with a 66" fixed gear. He had a spare tubular and a peanut butter wrench toestrapped underneath the saddle. He smoked everybody.

3. Where do you live (city and state for US, city and provence/country for outside of the US)?

Burnaby, BC, Canada

4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed? N/A

L.

Started riding fixed in '04

1. I had heard about it and I really liked the idea. Seemed like something that would fit my life. So, when I moved to Chicago in 2004 I started riding fixed. Never looked back, as it's fit my life even better than anticipated.
2. First fixed gear was a conversion. Current fixed gear is a proper track frame that I've set up to do exceptionally well for street duty.
3. Currently live in Changwon, South Korea. It's in the southeast corner of the country, not far from Busan.
4. N/A

early 80's for winter training

1. What influenced you to ride fixed (friend, professionals, seeing others, messengers)?

at that time to help stay in shape now well the same reason


2. Is your bike (or was your first bike) a conversion?


First fixed bike was a conversion, present bike is a steel Dawes SST

3. Where do you live (city and state for US, city and provence/country for outside of the US)?

Westerly RI

4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed?

I ride fixed because I like simplicity, I commute to work and back twice a day by Fixed Gear, it keeps me in shape and it's fun

1. What influenced you to ride fixed (friend, professionals, seeing others, messengers)? Seeing other bikes, riding one for the first time, simplicity.
2. Is your bike (or was your first bike) a conversion? No.
3. Where do you live (city and state for US, city and provence/country for outside of the US)? Davis, California
4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed? Needed a cheaper alternative to my main road bike, saw BD, pulled the trigger.

1. What influenced you to ride fixed (friend, professionals, seeing others, messengers)?
I had been riding a Cdale BadBoy, and I always had the thing in the lowest gear, and it seemed kinda stupid to have gears if I wasnt gonna use them. I had seen a couple of track bikes around campus (U of HI), and basically was set on getting one from then on. Graduated, came back to CA and picked one up.
2. Is your bike (or was your first bike) a conversion?
No, the much beloved and regaled Langster was my first steed.
3. Where do you live (city and state for US, city and provence/country for outside of the US)?
Have lived in Japan for the last 2 years.
4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed?
I live in a suburb of Tokyo, and would rather ride to work than do the following:
pay train and bus fare
wake up earlier
be smashed in a traincar with a bunch of people.

Its a win win to ride IMO.

2006.

I have been living in Tokyo since 2005, and I guess it was the natural thing to do when you are completely surrounded by Keirin bikes (haven't bought a Keirin frame yet though.... LAME). I was riding a Ridgeback Genesis Day 02 from the UK. Then I got a used Langster Chicago first because I wanted bullhorns and I liked the black frame. That rode really nice, but surrounded by track frames led me to dislike the sloping TT. So then I got a Bianchi Pista (Japan edition.) Then I sold that and eventually after a FG break I got my current Masi (Although I wanted a Fuji Track Comp, but they were completely sold out in Japan when I was looking. They should be coming into stock soon though).

I might end up getting a Keirin frame soon though! Or maybe get a frame built for me! Purhaps Level??

1968.

I'm 66 and I've been messing with bikes for a long time. I built myself a fixed conversion last year just so that I could see what the big deal was. I'm going to keep riding it until I figure it out.

My answer falls nicely into the range 1995-19996.

1. A friend got a surly steamroller, and looked like a lot of fun. Then did some research on it improving pedal stroke, making you a stronger rider etc etc.
2. Still riding an early 80's Fuji conversion. Looking for a true track geo frame now.
3. Houston Texas
4. Question 1?

@ The Don,
Haha, my J friends that ride were like, "You need to buy a new bike" just cause my **** wasnt a steel NJS frame, but **** that. Its all hype anyway. In fact I now really regret buying my Samson cause Im drooling over all the nice Alu **** thats coming out now....
In any event, what is Level charging for a custom?
Bomber Pro is about 140000YEN for their basic lugged steel frame.

Heh... me too. At least, I can't see any reason not to ride it that way.

1. What influenced you to ride fixed ?
Still play soccer at 57 but have chrondomalcia. Doc said ride a stationary bike, but I started riding wife's bike to work instead last year. (10 m ea way) Decided to get my own in Feb 09, so went to bike shop and the sales guy asked if I had considered fixed. I did not know what that was, but after riding a Langster for 10 minutes, I was hooked. I love it, and ride almost every day.

3. Where do you live (city and state for US, city and provence/country for outside of the US)?
Cincinnati, Ohio; pretty big hills so started at 42/18, then 17, and now 16. Knees will limit to 42/16.

4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed?
just fun, kinda like British cars, ie why do you do that?

I first rode fixed in 1985. I'm 53.

1. What influenced you to ride fixed.

Back then I didn't know anybody riding fixed and there wasn't much info available about it. I converted an old Gitane when I bought a new road bike. Rode the Gitane off-and-on for one season as training, but didn't really understand it and ended up converting it back and giving it away. Flash forward 20 years, I was getting back into riding and bought another road bike. In 2005 I converted the 1985 Trek into FG and found myself riding that more than I did the new road bike.

2. Is your bike (or was your first bike) a conversion?

yes/yes/no. Still put a lot of miles on my 1985 Trek conversion, but I have a nice custom DeSalvo for the track.

3. Where do you live.

Arlington VA, across the river from D.C.

4. If you live in a small city or suburb, how/why did you decide to ride fixed?

- because I love the simplicity and its a nice change-up from my road bike
- because it makes you seriously strong if you ride long and especially on hills.

My thought too.

A square is a rectangle, but not all rectangles are square.

EDIT: sorry for the b.s..... but i DID enter my info earlier