All bikes are 'geared' bikes. SS/FG bikes just have one gear combination.

Also, the discussion of single speed and fixed gears is really two separate things. I can understand people being into the 'connected' feeling of a fixed gear, although many people would be unable to ride this way, or it would be unsafe for them, and be discouraged from riding bikes, so it is, in the end, an elitist, rather than a populist, riding.

Single speed makes some sense in a relatively flat environment, which is why you see the classic 3-speed townie rentals in the Netherlands, for example. But for people on here to claim that it's reasonable for average folks to use SS for commutes of up to 25 miles in anything but flat terrain...that's just on glue. Mixed terrain, for people who aren't young and/or very fit, requires gears.

Again, for a community that likes to think of itself as populist, SS/FG is ironically inaccessible and can be elitist.

so youre saying that because we dig the connected feeling of riding fixed gear, we're elitists?

I feel more connected to the road.

It's almost like centrifugal force keeps your rear wheel attached to the road.

No, I'm saying that the attitude that multi-geared bikes "defeat the purpose of riding", or that fixed gear riding is more legit, is somewhat elitist. I was on a ride yesterday watching an average young couple mashing up a very gradual rise in the road in a bike lane, slow cadence, maybe too high of a gear for their condition, but they'll figure that stuff out if they keep riding. As I cruised by in my p*ssy multiple gearing that allowed me to ride at a nice clip, I was having a great ride. I'm not sure they were...I hope so. That pair, on a single speed, just wouldn't be having a good time on any ride with hills, and they'd have a hard time building up their condition w/o injuries or strains, and would likely give up. The idea is to have a good time and ride more, and multiple gears are the only way in mixed terrain for average folks to safely ramp up into doing so. Multigears are a necessity for many people who would want to ride a bike, making it more possible and enjoyable, and having them ride more often. Fixed gears, even more, are, frankly, not safely doable for beginner riders or average-abilitied folks.

Your connection and enjoyment are awesome. I'm impressed as hell by fixed gear riders, and I think that non-fixed single speed is very sensible for flat and/or urban riding. That they're more legitimate than geared bike riding -- if not elitist, how 'bout exclusive?

i love the power and efficiency

seems like theres a lot of trolling from people that want to debunk FG/SS or something, i find it odd and offputting.

I like the clean, simple look and they are fun as hell to ride.

I agree with all of this. On a personal note, I love all bikes. If I had the money and the space, I'd have a ss, fg, track, road, tt, cx, ss cruiser, geared cruiser, bmx, hard 29er, touring, full suspension mountain, downhill, ss mountain, fixed mountain, randonneur, tall bike, unicycle, penny farthing, moped...

Look, I want 'em all, okay? I want to be the Jay Leno of bicycles. But I can't have it all. I think fixies are cool, fun, and easy to maintain. I live in the city, I like a challenge, and have an aesthetic bias towards cleanliness and simplicity, so it's a good choice for me.

Anybody who views one type of bicycle as "superior" has no sense of perspective.

edit: 'bent, grocery-getting trike, folding bike.

ohhhh, i just got confused. i totally agree, the statement that geared bikes defeat the purpose of riding is completely absurd.

i mostly like the smiles and nods from other fixie riders- i like when people are friendly.
and the control
and the low maintenance/simplicity.

For me, riding fixed is all about the fun. It's about not putting on funny clothes and worrying about cadence and pace and heart rate and whatnot like I do on my multi geared bike. It's about trackstands and skids and riding backwards and wheelstands. It's about not caring how quickly I can crest the next hill as long as I do.

Riding fixed puts me in a different headspace than does riding geared. I'm more apt to look at the things around me with more than a passing glance and slowing or turning around around to investigate those things further.

I don't ride fixed exclusively. Lately, though, I've been riding fixed more than I've been riding geared because I've had a really stressful few weeks at work and riding fixed is a better de-stresser than is riding geared. At least for me. At the drop of a hat I can hop on my fixed and take off; I don't have to "get into garb" and whatnot.

*shrug*

I ride/commute by SS because I have no need for more than one gear. I can ascend and pace with anyone (so far). I discovered that on my multi-gear bike if I was a little tired on the commute home I would shift to make the ride easier - which was the problem. I didn't really lack anything physically for that ride, but the gears were there...

I suppose there are people to whom heart rate is crucial, but for most people in most towns I just don't see the need for more than one gear.

As for the 'elite' argument stuff - puh-lease. If somebody feels that their fixed bike gets them connected in a way a multi-gear doesn't and they phrase it in a way that chaffs yer saddle, who cares? The comment is more about the feeling and experience, not a social commentary. And calling the kettle black or what? We've all been in a LBS - some of us probably patronize one with racing teams. Cycling has this snobbery in all its forms - most noticably from the road-race contingency.

fixed gear bikes are pieces of art, i love riding mine and i love customizing it

So i just went somewhere with my geared bike since it has fenders, and boy do i hate that thing now. So much that i'm thinking of getting clip on fenders for my fixed gear.

i am having a hard time with wanting to put on clip on fenders but i know eventually i will want some for the coming seasons...i hear the freddy fenders are pretty decent

That's like saying a 22 Mile per gallon engine isn't inferior to a 40 Mile Per gallon hybrid engine because it's how cars have always been made and that's how it is.

If it's more efficient and better for you it is.

Also, I think single speeds are just fine for newb riders. We all ride them as kids, why can't we easily do it as adults?

Multi-geared, when used correctly, are smarter, better, and make much better use of your muscles. There's a reason why the Tour guys are not on single speed, when it's about getting from one destination to another in the most efficient & fastest way possible, you just can't beat multi-gears. I've had multi-gears for years, and they are great.

With that being said, I love my single speed. I did 60 hilly miles Saturday with it set at 47/16t, and it was a miserably awesome good time. The big disgusting finale hill was slow & painful, but the sense of reward after achieving it made slow zig-zag rocking climb worth it. I commute with it, and go for 20 to 30 mile rides throughout the week on it.

For me, what I love about it is the freedom from thinking about my bicycle when I'm riding. I just go, if I want to go faster, I pedal harder, if I want to relax, I do, I'm free to think about everything BUT the bike. And that's a nice feeling.

I don't believe in fixed as my riding style doesn't mingle well with it. I don't want to mess with tricks, skids, or riding backwards, I deserve to coast down a hill at 40 mph, I like take a sharp turn all motocross style and not think about pedal strike. Fixed, with my riding style, actually makes me think about the bike again too much. I don't want to worry about strike or going to fast down a hill or where my pedal is when I stop at a light.

I just want to ride and that's what my single speed means to me. (lol. I feel like I just wrote a paper for a 1st grade teacher or something.. .ha!)

i agree with you 100%, tsuru.

plus one on that. i don't take any sensory information for granted. and i'm not implying that non-fixed gear riders do. but, as it relates to me, the need for a larger anticipation window has made me more acute. especially hearing. the sound of the distance between me and the car behind me. the clicking of the traffic signal as it changes from 50 ft away. synching your cadence with the cross traffic yellow. remembering the intersections where oncoming traffic has longer greens. and so what, these may be things that any competant cyclist should do. But, i wasn't concerned before I started riding fixed. So, if nothing else, its made be a better cyclist.

simple
quiet
quiet
quiet

i haven't rode a geared bike for a while and today i test rode my dad's old Raleigh for which i have just rebuilt the back wheel and realized how much more momentum you get from never stopping pedaling. fixed is more efficient and lower maintenance. simple.

I don't think many people hear responded that they ride fixed for exercise. Or being efficient and/or fast.

Diff'rent Strokes. I can respect that. All the idiosynchricies just come with the territory of the joy of riding fixed. The trick here though is riding so that you never really have to dismount. Ever. ;)

Fixed is so much fun.

What is ironic is that you don't see how perfect is the slippage between your usage of populism and elitism.

cause they're sexy!

Thanks man! In the end, they are all great... riding is great, plain and simple. I can appreciate fixed for those who take advantage of it. But, for why I ride, just ain't for me..