View Poll Results: Fixed/SS as your ONLY bike??
Yes



69
50.36%
No



68
49.64%
Voters: 137. You may not vote on this poll
Fixed/SS as your ONLY bike???
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Union City/Davis, ca
Bikes: CAAD9 6
Fixed/SS as your ONLY bike???
i rode a fixed gear exclusively for about 3 months and recently i decided to buy a touring bike and then sell my fixed gear since i would have no use for it, but after i got my touring bike, my fixed gear is so fun!!
i posted my bike on craigslist but i'm really torn on whether i should really sell it or keep it.
just curious, how many of you here use a fixed gear/ss as your ONLY bike? If so, what kind of riding do you do?
as for me, when i only had a fixed/ss, i would do 30-40 mile rides on mountain roads with a fairly easy ascent, im guessing no more than %5 incline(according to mapmyride), and ride around my neighborhood, but i was really sick of the limitations of a SS, especially for mountain roads and such. thats when i realized i needed a different bike for serious riding. After i got my touring bike, i was pretty surprised at how much faster my SS bike was on flat pavement and thats whats making me have second thoughts on selling it, haha.
i posted my bike on craigslist but i'm really torn on whether i should really sell it or keep it.
just curious, how many of you here use a fixed gear/ss as your ONLY bike? If so, what kind of riding do you do?
as for me, when i only had a fixed/ss, i would do 30-40 mile rides on mountain roads with a fairly easy ascent, im guessing no more than %5 incline(according to mapmyride), and ride around my neighborhood, but i was really sick of the limitations of a SS, especially for mountain roads and such. thats when i realized i needed a different bike for serious riding. After i got my touring bike, i was pretty surprised at how much faster my SS bike was on flat pavement and thats whats making me have second thoughts on selling it, haha.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,568
Likes: 0
From: Athens, Ohio
Bikes: Fuji Track, Half built 70s Azuki
i own 3 bikes but currently only one of them is built up completely and its my fixed gear. Most of the riding i do is commuting to class and work, about 2 miles each way, and running errands around town. Sometimes I go on longer rides(30mi-ish) but that isn't that common during the school year.
#4
there was a time when my only bike was a fixed.... but that was long ago. i currently have 9 bikes. that said, only one shifts lol. 2 fixed, 5 SS (of different size shape and purpose), and 1 geared road bike
#6
I only have two bikes right now, that are assembled, (the closet is flooded with spare parts, and I think there is a frame in there too) anyways, I have one road bike and one track bike, but at this point the track bike is the only one that gets any use, my poor road bike just has to sit in the corner. It is a beautiful bike and functions very well but lately I have really enjoyed riding fixed, it is just more fun for me, and better exercise. But you had mentioned riding on mountain roads, I live in the city and so the track bike works great, but if I was riding on mountain roads i might consider a mountain bike, or, a touring bike like the one you purchased. But no one said anything was wrong with having more than one bicycle tony? Each bike can serve a different purpose, I feel like any one who is really adamant about cycling owns AT LEAST two bicycles, many people own much more than that, If I were you I would reconsider selling your fixed gear, you never now when you might wanna start riding fixed again and it will save you the trouble of having to buy another one in the future.
#7
Live without dead time
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
My main bike is my fixed gear and my main use for my bike is as transportation. I'm on it for at least an hour a day, longer if I'm running errands or doing some riding for fun. Since I can accomodate my route to never have to ride up any steep hills, I don't particularly need variable gears. For my purposes the reliability of a fixed gear bike makes the most sense and it's the only bike I need. I also have a rain/slush bike that is a single speed with fenders and wider tires. For days that it's rainy or slushy, that bike makes the most sense.
Someday I'd like to get a nice road bike and start doing really long rides on the weekend but it's not in my budget anytime too soon.
Someday I'd like to get a nice road bike and start doing really long rides on the weekend but it's not in my budget anytime too soon.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
Currently, 6 bikes built up, with a closet full of parts (recently moved and thinned out the stable from 13 completes):
1. geared 1x9 freeride/all-mountain hardtail mtb
2. full rigid fixed/ss mtb
3. geared 1x9 cyclocross race bike
4. geared 3x9 touring bike (w/ racks, fenders, etc)
5. track race bike
6. single speed beater/townie bike
all see regular use. the bikes I got rid of during my move to texas included a few bmx's, an old road bike or two, some old three-speeds, and my beloved downhill racing mtb (no more mountains
)
1. geared 1x9 freeride/all-mountain hardtail mtb
2. full rigid fixed/ss mtb
3. geared 1x9 cyclocross race bike
4. geared 3x9 touring bike (w/ racks, fenders, etc)
5. track race bike
6. single speed beater/townie bike
all see regular use. the bikes I got rid of during my move to texas included a few bmx's, an old road bike or two, some old three-speeds, and my beloved downhill racing mtb (no more mountains
)
#9
K2ProFlex baby!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 59
From: My response would have been something along the lines of: "Does your bike have computer controlled suspension? Then shut your piehole, this baby is from the future!"
Bikes: to many to list
I use my SS on most of my rides, but Philly (where I ride anyways) is kinda flat, so I really dont see the need for anything else, but I do have a few geared bikes just in case
__________________
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
#11
Don't smoke, Mike.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,295
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Bikes: Devinci Tosca, IRO Rob Roy
Only one bike? Jesus, why would you even think something like that?!
Geared 'cross bike, singlespeed cross bike, geared and singlespeed mountain bikes ... singlespeed commuter, roadie scum bike, touring bike, winter bike, bar bike, polo bike ... SWEET FIXY TRIX bike, etc., etc.
Geared 'cross bike, singlespeed cross bike, geared and singlespeed mountain bikes ... singlespeed commuter, roadie scum bike, touring bike, winter bike, bar bike, polo bike ... SWEET FIXY TRIX bike, etc., etc.
#14
on your left.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 0
From: Blacksburg, VA
Bikes: Scott SUB 30, Backtrax MTB
#17
I added a first fixed gear bike to my fleet of bikes in 1994.
I'll go through periods of where I'll ride nothing but fixed. But on average, my fixed gear bikes get ridden much more frequently than my geared bikes.
I'll go through periods of where I'll ride nothing but fixed. But on average, my fixed gear bikes get ridden much more frequently than my geared bikes.
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Bikes: '06 DK Cincinnati, '09 Mercier Kilo TT
I have a fixed gear and a BMX, but since getting the fixed gear it's all I ride. I've ridden my BMX once in the last two months, and that was to get to work when my fixed gear was out of commission.
#19
Fixed gear has been my re-introduction to biking the last time I had ever road my bike a lot was middle school, I'm 20 now. I must admit fixed gear has gotten me really exciting about cycling in general. Its my only bike, until I get money. I bought a complete bike, but for my next I wanna dirty my own hands and build a ss mountain, cos theres a lot of nature around here. Hm that is if, I don't get preoccupied with upgrading my fixed.
#20
I rode/owned fixed exclusively for two years and just recently got a cross bike. I realized the limitations of fixed after awhile (forget about long hilly group road rides, hate your life when it gets windy, and feel the limitations when taking things off-road) and decided some gears/brakes were in order. Still love the track bikes but variety is the spice of life, and cross is the new tarck. I think all the time riding only fixed, especially doing road rides/training, has made me a way stronger rider than if I had the choice of gearing down when things get hairy.
#24
I have 1 fixed gear (2nd fixed gear being built), 1 road bike, 1 Raliegh Sports 3 speed, 1 geared MTB, 1 singlespeed cross bike being built after the 2nd fixed is done.
they all serve different purposes...if you only have 1 bike, you can only do 1 type of riding & who wants that?
they all serve different purposes...if you only have 1 bike, you can only do 1 type of riding & who wants that?
#25
It's totally conceivable to have a fg as your only bike, but it might not be the best tool for everything you do. I have three bikes:
1) track bike - custom lugged steel, no brakes, relatively tall gears, fancy paint
2) road bike - cf, clipless, full ultegra
3) commuter bike - AL road bike conversion, relatively short gear, brake
I don't really need anything else for what I ride.
1) track bike - custom lugged steel, no brakes, relatively tall gears, fancy paint
2) road bike - cf, clipless, full ultegra
3) commuter bike - AL road bike conversion, relatively short gear, brake
I don't really need anything else for what I ride.




