Now don't get me wrong, I can see the attraction of riding a singlespeed bike (I'm making one as a little over winter project) but I was wondering if someone could explain to me any way in which a fixed gear is a better choice unless you want to do tricks on it.

As far as I can see the only differences are you can't go as fast downhill, it's harder to dismount whilst moving and you can't lean as much in the corners.

So basically what I'm saying is try and convince me to build a fixed gear instead of a singlespeed becase I'm really curious as to what peoples logic is.

Get yourself a flip-flop hub so you can try fixed gear and still have singlespeed as well. Best of both worlds.

Sheldon Brown Speaks More words of wisdom

I have two bikes with flip-flop hubs; one stays singlespeed and I use it as my commuter. The other stays fixed for cruising around town and country rides without too many hills. It's not the going up that's hard, it's the going down; as you noted. But around town it's great; I can easily go 1mph and stay in control of the bike or I can go as fast as I want. I still use brakes, safer and quicker.

Riding fixed on the street is a unique experience and there are many of us who have no intention of doing tricks. Like bbattel stated, the low speed control is great and I like that when approaching stop lights.

I use my fixed gear for training and fitness and feel that the ability to resist the forward momentum downhill has done a great service to developing my legs.

'cause it's rad

Try and convince you???? No thanks. Do what you want to do.

Whilst I fully capitulate with thine trepidations let my offer mine own utmost assurances that in matters of velocity modulation for the shall we say less than idyllic months and weeks forthcoming in matters pertaining to climate and precipitation and such the fixed gear delivers an additional apparatus of control vis-a-vis a pedal-based braking system additional to a traditional hand braking. If one assumes that both systems are put into place how could not more control be achieved?

sneaky viking, you signature made me think of this: https://i33.tinypic.com/2mctugw.jpg

I am by no means an expert. Check out Sheldon Brown's (R.I.P.) website for super detailed information. Here's my reasons:

1. It's just as mechanically efficient as a single speed, if not better.
2. Better control of the bike with the ability to slow down by resisting the pedal motion
3. Creates a smoother pedal cadence
4. A fixed gear drive train "feels" better to me
5. Increased fitness from "always pedaling" and it develops leg muscles not used on a single speed (through resisting pedal motion)
6. Technically, a fixed gear is a simpler machine since it does not require a freewheel
Keep in mind that I live in Philadelphia, which is a pretty flat city.

I'm not trying to avoid your question but my honest answer is, "You have to try it to understand." Fixed riding is so different from freewheeled riding that if you've never done it no one will be able to explain it fully. A fixed gear bike is almost like an extension of your body, not just a vehicle that you sit on top of and control. I can't say that it is 'better' than a freewheeled bike, but I can say with absolute certainty that it is a whole different experience than riding freewheel.

It's actually from this thing that's going to ruin our country.

On a fixed gear bike the wheels are more like your feet.

Viking, the damage was already done years ago. The 700000000000.00 is just spliting the check.

There's a good article on fixed gear bike over on www.fixedgeargallery.com in the tech articles, entitled "A Theory of Holonomic Scleronomous Gyrators, or The Virtues of Riding Fixed".

I usually compare it to the difference in driving a manual shift vs. automatic transmission car.
You have more control with manual shift (ie: fixed)

+1... thank you.

I like the fact that it connects me to the timelessness of cycling. My FG bike is essentially 1890's technology. Orville Wright could fix my bike. Major Taylor could hop on and go (once I explained how the clipless pedals work).

Its fun?

Seriously, I could go on about the connection to the bike, increased efficiency, or mystical ju-ju, but just ride it and see.

If nothing else, its a bike and its fun to ride.

-Rob.

My reasons:

Different leg muscle training (it also forces me to push more during climbs and has helped my spin with descents)
I enjoy the difference in riding technique
Feels more challenging/rewarding when undertaking longer/harder rides
I like riding bikes, my fixed gear is a bike, I like riding my fixed gear bike.

Try it if you're curious, if you aren't - don't. If you like it, you like it. Simple, really.

I just read this. I enjoyed it muchly. Back to work.

This thread reminds me of, 'Why does a god lick his balls?' 'Because there is no god.' Or something like that.

I've read that...its a lot of nonsense.

i rode single speed for a long time before switching to fixed a year ago. in short, i'm now twice the biker i was before (through necessity without brakes, i learned to make better/more calculated decisions in traffic and use my energy way more efficiently) and always feel like i have absolute control over my bike. when i ride my road bike now, i can go fast and everything but i feel completely disconnected and can't even remotely flow through traffic the way i can on my fixed gear.

Zen. It's all about zen.

Yeah, it's the biggest pile of horse****.

That must be how the Tour de France is won (doping allegations aside), cause after all, you have 50% more available power on a fixed gear!

Riiiigggghhhhtttt.

And as far as why fixed gear? Because it's fun. The closest I can get to describing it is that it's like going down a smooth, fast river in a canoe. It really is fun.

if you dont understand then just ride it freewheel, the **** do i care?