I see maaaaddddd people bashing, hating, smacking kufi, joking on, and in general destroying other peoples bikes. SO; to avoid dirty looks from fellow forum members lets make a list of things to generally remember when altering/creating your own fixed gear:

Brakes - you need to stop
Foot retention - toe clips/straps, or clipless, etc
Seat Height vs. Bar Height - The seat probably shouldn't be higher then the bars/stem
Riser bars with a neg. degree stem

I'm at work and have school soon so I'm out of time, add!

I don't give a **** how other people look at me or my bike.

Brakes - you need to stop. If you feel comfortable riding brakeless, your legs suffice.
Foot retention - toe clips/straps, or clipless, etc are recommended, but if you've been riding fixed for a long time you may be able to handle platforms. Hell, they're your shins.
Seat Height vs. Bar Height - The seat will probably be higher than the handlebars/stem. A few inches of saddle-to-bar-drop isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Riser bars with a neg. degree stem make less sense than a flat bar on a straight stem, but a lot of people build their bikes from spare parts, in which case using a less-than-optimal set-up isn't something to lose sleep over.

In most cases your seat should be higher than your stem IMO unless you have wrist/back problems.

And otherwise who cares what other people think about your bike. The only piece of stupidity that I think is deserving of universal criticism is riding fixed without foot retention. Other than that people should do whatever makes em happy regardless of what other people think.

Don Sheldonito himself said that riding fixed without foot retention is an advanced technique that should only be undertaken by experienced fixed gear riders. That said, I ride with clips and straps. And a brake. Riding fixed without brakes and without foot retention, however, is probably asking for more trouble than most people can handle.

If someone feels like riding without foot retention, whats the issue? I rode fixed for a while with just platforms before going clippless and had no issues, and didn't bash my shins to much, maybe ones or twice in a few months.

i built my fixed gear bike before ever looking on these forums or learning that it was such a mad fashion in America. my bike has quite a big saddle to bar drop. i have a long torso. if you want it ride it, even if people who like to oppose the mainstream condemn you for it.

Maybe if your like being a windshield.

Ride your bike the way you like it.

Anyway, -1 to the OP for trying to pass off his opinion as universal and self-evident truth.

Other than for doing freestyle trick type stuff I can't imagine why someone would want to ride without foot retention, especially if they're experienced enough to benefit from the added control of foot retention.

Because while you're worrying about the spinning shin smasher underneath you and how to get your foot back on it, you're distracted from the various other hazards on the road that can kill you.

I mean hey, do what you want. I think it's stupid though

Good point, never thought about that.

+1 thread closed

Wow,
This forum is a bunch of hypocritical little girls who think their 25$ conversion is the best thing in the world. Really and honestly to most of you: suck my ass.

Can you please point out one hypocritical statement in this thread please and thank you?

Also, -1 for assuming everyone here is riding a cheap, janky conversion even though nobody posted so much as a description of their bicycle in this thread. Your ability to suck rivals that of a black hole, nay, perhaps even a Jarvis St. hooker.

Disagree. even serious road and touring bikes sometimes have a little seat to stem/bar drop. it should just be within reason for the type of riding one does and the way that their body is shaped. (ive got an old nearly stock road bike which fits me and has a small seat to bar drop)

My tips for fixed gear building/converting/customizing is build something you like, is comfortable to ride, and get out and ride the d*mn thing. I would recomend putting foot retention and/or brakes on it, (not going to try and mandate that because i am not your mother) to make stopping a little more feasible.

I said forum, I tried to start a thread for people to find tips on their first fixed bike, such as; it is harder to slow/ride your fixed gear bike without foot retention of some sort.

I'm not even going to waste time trying to satisfy your requests, someone who uses words like janky next to their miguel cervantes quote needs to get punched in their smug moronic mouth.

Why do you call yourself brooklyntrack

I just finished reading Don Quixote. I liked it. ****ing sue me.

Because I live in Brooklyn and Brooklyn Fixed sounds ridiculous.

I'm not hating on Don Quixote, just your use of it's quote.

Down Jr. down, good boy.
You are so wrong about your bar/seat height theorem. I'll wager there's folks here that have been riding longer than you've alive so spare us your platitudes.

I'll quote whatever the **** I want you nosy little jerk.

Fail because you have already been beaten to the punch at it was stickied.

https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/287364-resource-thread-single-speed-fixed-gear-read-first.html

Is that really what this forum is all about? one upping, +1, -1, and fail?
You all disgust me and bring a bad name to fixed gear riding, I haven't had a chance to ride with and other fixie riders yet, but if they're all like the people on this forum then i want to smash up my bike that I've spent countless hours painstakingly making my own. We're fixed gear riders, were supposed to support each other and offer help and advice, not prove one moron is less moronic then the other.
I was really hoping this forum would be different.
Y'all don't have to worry about me failing anymore, cause I really never want to read a single word any of you ever type in regards to bikes again.

If any of you are ever in NYC and have the balls to talk to someone about bikes without flaming and hating from behind you computers, then hit me up. In the mean time, dont waste my inbox space or time with your petty hateful responses.

Nobody cares, bye!

Do you act like this on the streets of Brooklyn? I'm amazed you lived long enough to build a bike up. It generally is a very supportive community, one that doesn't suffer tools and fools, as we don't have time for 'em. So if you ever wanna grow a pair and come back like the Jr. Biekin' Cub you are and stop acting like you invented the fixie, then feel free.