I've just ordered a Fantom Cross Uno for riding around town. Bicycle is my main method of transportation - I ride several times a day, but mostly short distances over flat terrain. Will ride in the rain, but doesn't snow around here. I just figured out what gear ratio I want to use (thanks to those who responded to my other thread), but now I need to decide whether to go with fixed gear or freewheel.

I've never had a fixed gear bike before. I've taken two test rides (strangely neither of them had a front brake), and I immediately "got" why people are so enthusiastic about fixed gear bikes. It just feels good, and it's a lot of fun.

However, it was a little sketchy for me in traffic. I imagine having a front brake would have helped a lot (which I absolutely will do if I go fixed). I also imagine a bit of practice will have me feeling more comfortable.

I know this is a personal choice, but I'd be curious to hear what you would choose for the type of commuting/riding I do and why.

fixed man, all the way. Learn to skip and get an eversquare tire in the back and your good to go mobing through town in traffic. Front brake just depends on how comfortable you are with the various ways of stopping wiithout one

Your introduction will be more pleasant if you start with at least a front brake. If you have a flip-flop hub you can try either fixed or freewheel. Only you can decide what works best for you. In my opinion, fixed gear is more fun and quieter.

Thanks guys. Definitely going to go with a front brake to start with - no question about that. I do have a flip-flop hub, so I will be able to try both. Just trying to figure out which to start with.

Fixed with brake.

I'm new to fixed/ss, and ride ~15 miles a day, urban commute. Fixed feels MUCH better and safer on city streets than ss. To me. IMHO. YMMV.

by reading your gear thread, looks like your aiming for 72 gear inches which is pretty good for skidding. there's a bit of a learning curve, but with that gear and a front brake fixed FTW

While I think Fixed Gear bikes are clean and very simple amazing bikes, I'm not sure how comfortable I am riding through heavy traffic on FG. Sometimes I need to coast for a second or two, but more than likely I could ride FG, I just chose to ride with a free wheel. I'd say just ride whatever you feel the most comfortable on. But I'm not sure how some people say FG is safer? Yes you can control of the bike but so you do with SP and brakes. I'm not bashing anyone, but if you really think about SP is a much safer way to ride. Good luck man and ride safe

Hmm, yeah I'd ride it fixed. Run a front brake for a while if you want. If you have a shorter distance it's going to be more of a workout due to the constant spin. That said, I usually will flip it to SS for bar rides because no one likes to overexert yourself while drunk...it just leads to vomit for me.

I find that the control comes in handy precisely in those situations -- where you're hemmed in by cars on both sides, and someone does something dumb -- having the extra control makes FG the safer option for me.

But yeah, try both, and ride hard but safe!

Apparently it's an old story: I started SS, flipped the hub one weekend, have never gone back.

That said, on really rainy days I ride my Rocky Mountain with fenders, rack, bell, and other stuff on it. It's nice to get the variation. If I had to have one bike I'd have gotten something with clearance for fenders and I'd be switching the wheel around at least occasionally.

I've got two brakes, but I'm weird and have Grip Kings instead of clips. Getting curious about the clips though, so who knows?

It's a bike, it's a flexible beast. Fit what you like and change it if you want.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I know that ultimately I'll have to ride both to decide, but it's interesting to hear everyone's opinions. Luckily I have a flip-flop hub so I think I'll start with fixed and then have a freewheel on the other side in case I'm not comfortable with fixed or just want to try something different.

90% of my rides are very short distances so I like the idea of getting a little extra workout with the FG.

Question: I'm putting aero levers on. I'll be using the front brake with FG, but not the back. Should I just put the housing of the lever for the back brake on anyways for hand position? For those of you who flip between FG and SS, do you only use a front brake even with the freewheel? Or do you have a front and back brake with both FG and SS?

I would not recommend using only a front brake with a freewheel.

with fixed you have the front brake as your primary, rear skidding as your backup.

if you don't have a rear brake for freewheel then you have no backup, unless you want to slam your foot on a moving tire.

just put it on fixed, take some wrenches with you, and if you dont dig the fixed just pull over to the sidewalk and flip the wheel over real quick.

understood. so let's say i set it up freewheel to begin with and put a front and rear brake on. then i flip it and use FG. do i just keep the rear brake on but don't use it?

I suspect you're in the minority there. Lots and lots of people run SS with front brake only.

I don't really feel that either a freewheel or a fixed drive train would/should be any safer than the other when riding in traffic...

I like fixed. It took a few weeks to get totally comfortable with it, now it's second nature

If I rode an FG, I'd use both brakes, because I like having multiple ways of stopping at my fingertips.

i only use a front brake and it works fine

I have been riding fixed and ss for a while now (fixed front brake and ss both brakes). I find fixed more fun, but I just can't see how anyone can call it safer in traffic. The argument I have heard is that the rider gets more feedback riding fixed so they have more control, unless you don't know how to use your brakes properly this shouldn't be much of a factor.

Like everyone says though, give them both a try and see what you think.

single speed needs a rear brake, anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about.

I have a rear brake on my fixed gear....

I have two brakes on my bike. It's a ss/fg, but I even use a rear brake when I ride fixed *GASP*!

Yes, you can apply resistance using your legs to slow down, but you have to provide less resistance if you're simultaneously slowing the rear down with a brake.

Ride whatever makes you happy...

If you run ss then please run dual brakes (like the majority of people do) and if you go fixed, run at least one...which will also put you in the majority.

Either set up will give you maximum stopping power when you need it.

2nd

i feel like it doesn't matter whether you ss or fixed, more brakes = safer

or maybe thats my recent severe head injury talking