1. Fixed for fitness, fixed for fun. Riding fixed has made me a much much stronger rider. This is probably a combination of more time one the bike (because it's so much damn fun) and improving my cadence and leg strength.

2. It sounded like fun and I love to wrench, so why not build up a fixed?

3. Shifty Road race bike and touring bike.

I ride fg because I like the simplicity being able to switch bars in a minute or less (brakeless) the look of the bikes, the amount of control i have when riding fixed and how it's making me a better cyclist.

To be honest, i tried fg because i saw it on the internet :twitchy:

I raced bmx from when i was 7 or 8, but recently I've gotten out of it, not on porpoise. I've done a little bit of mtb and road biking, but I'm getting the itch to start mtb'ing again. but as a whole, 75% of all the riding I've done has been with one gear and one brake.

1.They're fun, easy to build up, gives me better pedaling power on my mtb.
2. I'll admit, I was attracted by the aesthetic of the bikes. But once I rode a fixed gear bike in downtown traffic I absolutely fell in love.
3. I used to ride a ten speed myata as my commuter bike, then I gave it to my dad. I have a Giant XTC mountain bike that I absolutely love. I ride trails as often as I can. I used to ride BMX as a kid, but that didn't end really well. Haha. i only learned a couple of tricks but just used it as a means of transport.

Hopefully I'll get another 10 speed soon, not to convert.

I got into riding fixed gear when I wanted a bike but couldn't stomach anywhere near a grand for a decent road bike. I started with a thrift store Schwinn that went from single speed to fixed gear. I ride fixed daily, but am too old to even think about being a hipster or do the tricks you young guys do (seriously though, props to those of you who do that stuff that makes me think "how in the hell???") I wear "roadie attire" and basically look at my fixed gear as a road bike without gears.

I have gained a great deal of fitness and desire to go faster and just a day ago was drooling over a '07 Specialized Alllez that I can have for a heck of a deal. Come spring, I'm getting something geared.

My bikes?

Nishiki Modulus>>>Giant ATX 770>>>Cannondale (w/105)>>>Diamondback>>>Tomasso>>>Schwinn Tempo>>>Schwinn Madison '85>>>Schwinn Madision '07>>>Vision R40>>>Raleigh Record>>>Sparton ST-500>>>What's next???

I got my current bike because I wanted to buy a nice bike but didn't have the money for a nice roadbike. 700 bucks will get you a nice fixed/single speed whereas a geared bike of comparable quality was out of my price range.

Whether it was fixed or freewheel wasn't a big concern, in fact that shop simply had the flip flop set up for fixed when I picked the bike up and I ended up liking it, hence I've been riding fixed ever since.

Your responses have been very interesting. Thanks to all that participated thus far!

1. Why do you ride FG?
2. What influenced you to do so?
3. What other types of bike have you owned ?

I ride a fixed gear because it is just another way for me to enjoy cycling and was strongly influenced by the late and great Sheldon Brown in this and many other aspects of riding and building.

I have owned every kind of bike except a unicyle, a recumbent, and a Penny Farthing.

I work as a bike mechanic, am involved in local advocacy, ride a ton of miles, and will start working as a messenger tomorrow.

Being a messenger was the best gig I ever had, as it combined something I loved to do & getting paid. Enjoy your new gig & ride safe!

I made a ton of money msgring.

Why? I was riding a MTB (to and from work) and wanted something lighter. I purchased an older road bike, nice yet needed a few upgrades. With the internet at my fingertips, I wanted to try wrenching and stumbled upon the wonderful site of Sheldon Brown. He made me want to build one (I say build, it's really taking apart and changing a few things) and it happened. My commute became much better.

I guess that answered the second question as well.

I have one MTB, one fixed gear conversion (which just went on a wild ride without me in the saddle) and an old ten speed. Also a frame that is about to be built up.

1. Why do you ride FG?
My fixed gear is the only bike I have right now that I love more every time I ride it. Wind was blowing 30 mph today. I went out to burn calories for an hour and ended up riding 42 miles in slightly over two hours. Last weekend I chose it to ride a Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana fund raising ride. Rode 62 miles and loved it. Love the simplicity of it. The fact that the geared riders think your off your rocker doesn't hurt either.

2. What influenced you to do so?
Like a lot of others Sheldon Brown had a lot to do with it. The more I thought about it after reading his info on fixed gears the more it made sense. I live in Kansas so it is fairly flat here. This is a great place to ride a fixed gear. My mind was made up after a trip to Portland Maine last year. The bike shop there had several of them in stock. After test riding one my mind was made up to buy one.

3. What other types of bike have you owned ?
First bike I ever rode a century on was a 12 speed road bike from Target that I bought in high school.
86 model Schwinn Tempo. 1st "real" bike I owned. Still have the frame and some components.
Cannondale touring bike made in 1983. 2nd year Cannondale existed
Specialized Hardrock made back in the mid 80's with the oval chainrings.
Cannondale Black Lightning, the first model from the early 90's. Probably will become a fixed conversion soon.
Specialized Rockhopper 2007 model

Amazing how many people were influenced to ride fixed by S. Brown.

1. It is fun and allows you more involvement in the riding process.

2. Some friends got into it and I liked the simplicity of the bikes, so I gave it a shot.

3. I owned a few beater bikes, then an old Haro, Black Market Mob, Santa Cruz Bullit, DK R/T, Fit S3, Nishiki International super ghetto conversion, and lastly a Bianchi Pista that I have taken every measure possible to make it not look like a Pista. I probably won't be able to afford anything nicer until after college. :thumb:

1. Why do you ride FG?
I ride fixed because other people do and I need to fit in
2. What influenced you to do so?
other people
3. What other types of bike have you owned?
why would I own any other types of bikes? They're not cool

1. i dont really know. fun? i dont hate geared bikes like some. 'ewww gross, no skidz or tarckstands'
2. i was getting a tattoo and the artists bike was in the shop. during a break i was just checking it out and was like 'this is rad. im going to build one of these.'
3. right now i only have the FG but am looking at craigslist on the regs for a nice road bike. i want to go real fast and i am participating in a +200 km charity ride next summer that is not FG friendly. previously i have owned some BMX bikes and a really weaksauce hybrid my dad got me for no reason at a garage sale. i think it actually weighed 45lbs.

pretty much proves you're a liar.

1. It's more relaxing, I enjoy the feel and it's better training for the limited time I get to ride.

2. We'd take our road bikes and tie them off with one gear in the winter. Imagine a NEW Peugeot PX 10 fixie :love:...yes, back in 1976 that how it was done! None of us had enough money for two bikes way back when.

3. Lots o' road bikes. A 1980 Gitane Kilo and a 2008 Bianchi Pista (chrome of course:thumb:)

1. I ride the FG for off-season triathlon training and as a commuter bike. After 6 months of training on the TT bike, riding becomes too much of a chore (always with a cyclo-computer, HR monitor, nutrition, shoes you can't walk in, staring at the front wheel in aeroposition, hours on the trainer, etc....). My fixie is the opposite and makes cycling fun again -- no gears, no computer, no HRM, regular shoes, etc. I do have a brake, though. I'll probably skip riding on the trainer this winter and commute instead to stay in bike shape.

2. Among other things, I was looking for a bike I could ride with the family. I like the simplicity of the bike, and the simplicity of the look.

3. Triathlon and road bikes. Right now I have only a fixie and a tri bike.

Brian

1. I love the difference in riding that fixed gives, I love that it's making me stronger. Admittedly I like the cool/different aspect of the bikes and they're so wonderfully simple and elegant. Riding my roadie last year really gave me a boost into cycling, I'd been bike commuting for a year already on a heavy Xmart MTB and the road bike felt like lightning, and I rode everywhere I could and more, gave up public transport - the fixed gear was another progression into my passion. I saw the Rob Roy group buy price and jumped all over it. Despite waiting damn near 8 months for it (including build time) I've absolutely no regrets and love every minute of it.

2. I'd heard about them from the late, great Sheldon Brown and had always wanted to try it out, I got interested in them way before I realised their rising popularity (was only last summer when I started jonesing to try)

3. I've had everything from the girls/ladies 3-speeds (cheap hand me downs when I was a kid), a 20" Raleigh road bike (kid size), MTBs, BMXs and road bikes. Currently only have one other operational bike which is my old Centurion roadie. Just have a bunch of frames kicking around looking lonely.

1. Why do you ride FG?
Because I never really changed gears on past geared bikes. Also, I wanted the challenge to see if I could do it, and it's turned out to be a lot of fun.

2. What influenced you to do so?
Seeing all the clean bikes around the area influenced me to finally try fixed, after being a single speed person for a while.

3. What other types of bike have you owned?
I had a K-Mart Murray mountain bike growing up, then when I moved to NYC, I bought a 1976 Raleigh Record and converted it to single speed, then eventually make the jump to a new track bike.

I actually have to defend bb here... I know a number of messengers here who pull down some seriously good coin and as private contractors also get to write off their expenses.

I only took the mess' job here because it guaranteed me a decent base salary which means I get paid even if there are no runs, will receive bonuses, and will also be working as a private contractor which will also let me write off expenses.

I think that the job has changed somewhat as no company here can attract decent staff without being able to offer a decent wage.

---- living on the streets--- i didnt like to walk---
most trash bikes are ss candidates-- I learned to fix and ride everything I could--
fixing other peoples rides, I became a decent mech and rider--- every non-bicycle oriented
job I've had has always swung back to the bike-- esp now, as a messenger, the bicycle
( esp the Single Speed/ Track bike) is how I eat and pay rent...........with gas and the market
and economic turmoil--- I have praised the bike and I enjoy being outside-- simple life-- one gear.

1. They're easier to maintain. I commute everyday.

2. I don't rightly remember. I bought my bike from a recycle-a-bike shop. It's a late 70's bike and I hate those damn friction shifters on the top tube so I decided to try fg. Had a blast converting it and building a new rear wheel.

3. I ride a geared mountain bike as much as I can. I used to ride flatland/a little street. I really like all aspects of cycling.

It has changed A LOT! I could easily clear $1K per week no problem. Pretty much everyone were indies, but the downside was no insurance. I had my first apartment at 17 & fully furnished it by 18 riding a bike.

bb - The first day was a blast and my work today was to run all over the city with my friend (and new boss) to deliver invoices and meet our regular clients.

All our dispatch is computerized / online and tomorrow I'll have my Crackberry and will be making some regularly scheduled runs... I believe one would call these gravy.

:D