I would hate to be such a trend lemming that I thought fixed gear=no brakes.

There are bikes that fit you? It's hard enough for me to find them!

Well I currently ride a SS conversion from an old 10 speed, but I am working on making it a fixed gear. I just started this thread cause i was curious what people who only ride fixed gear bikes thought when they see people riding an SS.

And also, I wanted to open up a thread for some good jokes...not left disappointed.

On a road/track frame I don't get it either. I don't see myself ever buying one but I do plan on getting a nice geared bike in the future.

It's still easier to maintain than a geared bike.

<- (hates adjusting derailleurs)

Am I the only one here who is assuming the OP is talking about all forms of single speed bikes?
Single speed mountain bikes are a totally different animal than single-speed road bikes. Single
speed for cross racing and mtn biking has different advantages and considerations than fixed
riding.

I would assume that fixed gear mtn biking is very dangerous, do people do it?

63xc.com

thats gnarly...and awesome.

being able to coast through turns and over
big bumps with your cranks horizontal makes sense.

that what i'm doing almost everytime
it gave me a better feeling of the speed i'm going
and i found it easier to reaccelerate when i don't have to completly stop...
and i'm not insecure

I try not to look down on no one.

I used to watch & see if other single geared bikers would stop pedaling, then I realized I don't have to wait for them to stop pedaling to know whether or not they were ss, the fg biker has a certain body language.

Personally, I don't get ss.

Absolutely not.. It's the stupid secular-elitism stuff that makes FG riders seem like a bunch of ******bags. Well, that's not quite fair, considering I'm sure there are gear riders that look down on FG riders... But anyway--

If someone's passionate about biking, and has a good time doing it, then hell yeah for them, regardless whether they have a nice ride or not. I'd be down to cruise with someone with a POS thrift store bike so long as they're psyched on riding. And I respect people who can stand by their decisions without having to take into account what's "cool" in the eyes of others. More power to them.

I love FG's but they're not for everyone. It's like using a Mac, or being a vegetarian, or wearing tight pants, or listening to metal, etc. You don't have to be like everyone else, and you don't have to exclude those that aren't into the same **** you are.

It's one thing to do something for the sake of fitting in, getting attention, joining a certain social circle... It's another to do something just cuz you enjoy it. I'll look down on those that are in it for the wrong reasons, whatever IT is.

/sermon

well because 90% of the ss riders i see (excluding 29'ers) are riding langsters or other expensive poser track bikes. if you are going to ride a bike like that in public, at least ride it fixed. otherwise why did you spend $$$$$ on a flashy commuter bike thats whole point is to be like a track bike?

you are funny, but i am not a tarck messenger or anything. i run 48x18, just right for riding around town, have tt brakes on my fixie, do not roll my pants up, have 0 spoke cards, and wear a backpack, not a messenger bag. i am generally not an obnoxious rider, i just ride fixed because it is a lot more fun, and i despise the rich kids on langsters who run ss and clearly just want to look cool (yes there are a lot of these in the bay area).

No I get that about the track bike poseur.

But I ride a converted 10 speed as a commuter and just for fun. Its a SS, and I am currently working on putting together a new fixie. But I just don't think any rider should look down on any other rider based on what bike they are riding, as long as they are riding.

And that goes to you Mr. Unicycle guy, just cause you only have to roll with one wheel and no handlebars doesn't make you better than me.

Haha. Don't worry. I wasn't attacking you at all.

so am i a pseudo-hipster ss rider if i ride a ss bike with bullhorns? gosh i hope noone looks down on me

What weird thoughts some people have!

A single speed (with freewheel/freehub) bike makes a lot of sense for commuting, especially longer distances. It is simpler, lighter and easier to maintain than a geared bike and when function is more important than form, coasting is something rather nice not to lose.

FG (or any) cyclists who sneer or look down at someone else's bike have forgotten that the joy of cycling is not about looking cool.

Regards.

i basically use my ss for commuting and group/pleasure 35mile+ rides. its the only bike i own

As long as you do not continue pedaling for the purpose of looking like you are riding fixed, you are just fine with me. Otherwise it's a U-lock to the teeth ;-)

bf

I think i get it... is a fixed gear the kind of bike that breaks when you peddle backwards, and a speed bike has curly handle bars and gears you can shift?

There are certain body movements (body language) that are unique to fg cycling that are not to ss cycling. Spend more time riding & less time hurling insults & you might actually figure out what they are.

I continue to slowly pedal while coasting all the time, especially when slowing down for lights. Obviously nobody would be fooled in to thinking I'm riding fixed, but I find it a good way to... I don't know, keep the legs going? You know, keeping up circulation and so forth so they don't tighten up.

first of all that first sentence made me cringe. but anyway, fg bikers have a certain body language? really? in what sense? I know all kinds of fg riders, they're all different....not common body language that i can detect.

I was sitting at a red light on Broadway tonight near Columbia U & a biker went by through the red & in response to my wife's query of whether or not he was fixed I looked & said yes.

1. He was pedaling downhill, most ss riders would have been coasting & riding the brake(s).
2. The way he was pedaling, I could tell he was applying back pressure to control his momentum down the hill.
3. He continued through red lights swerving cross traffic but never stopped pedaling, raising off of the saddle at times.

How many people riding a freewheel does that?

Went on my first singlespeed 'group ride' w/some friends this past Saturday and a guy shows up w/a Salsa Casseroll fixie. The 3 singlespeeds were a new Masi, a Nishiki conversion and a Fuji conversion. All have 46x16 gearing. We did a 50 mile ride and I learned alot from watching how the fixie guy pedalled. Very steady, even cadence. He would get lost on the decends and show up a/t top of the climbs. Suddenly, it occurred to me one could actually 'rest' on the climbs while still pedaling...the drivetrain does 'some' of the work. Now, I realize the worst of riding singlespeed...fixie envy. :p

surprisingly enough, going up hills on fixed is a breeze... you feel like you are just gliding up them. especially nice is when you pass a 10 speed going up a hill and while your just cranking past them nice and steady they're fiddling with their gears and losing torque...

Wow. Really? This? From you? :roflmao2:

@ the OP'er and the rest.
I have a question .
Q: why should one "look down" on another cyclist only because he/she is riding a bicycle that isn't a "fixed gear" bicycle ?

IN my opinion , as long as you enjoy what your doing ,should you be biased towards others who dont share you opinions , in this case "fixed gear " is better than a "Single speed " .
I dont understand this type of behavior with the cycling community .

This type of behavior is in each forum SADLY .
//T