Fixed Gear Vs. Single Speed Pros/Cons
 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a fixed gear and single speed bike.?

Do you ride single or fixed? Why?

I ride Single. I like to coast. I'm also a newbie to riding road bikes.

I'm sure you are fixing to hear from lots of fixed riders.

Fixed gives you the direct control, flywheel effect, and skids and trackstands if that's your thing.

SS makes descending nicer, though descending on fixed is fun in a manic kind of way.

I choose fixed for general city riding. For long distances I have a geared carbon road bike.

Matthew

Agreed that fixed is perfect for city riding. It lets you control your speed with the pedals exactly rather than just speed up and control the speed with the brakes after accelerating.

Also I think we need to consider that riding fixed makes you seem a lot cooler than riding singlespeed.

Fixed is more fun.

COASTING == CHEATING!

;)

Few things are more fun than bombing down a hill on a freewheel in a tuck position.

That said, a singlespeed makes it difficult to maintain a regular cadence. Since you can't gear up with a derailleur, once you start spinning out you start coasting.

Fixed is easier to climb on and safer to ride in wet conditions. There is a direct connection to the drivetrain and road that is addicting. However, riding down very steep hills can be annoying because of the high rpm cadence and taking very sharp corners at an extreme angle is more likely to cause a pedal strike.

Yep, that is correct.

SS are more friendly for riding with friends, girl/boy friends, husband/wife....I still ride my Fixie with my wife most of the time even though I have he SS option

Fixed gives you a bit more control over the speed of the bike, I like it more for a flat city area. On hills, singlespeed is more rider-friendly.

Fixed gear is a lot easier to pedal. May be a good (if you're only riding fixed) or bad (if you like riding geared bikes too and develop a lazy stroke).

How's the learning curve on a fixie?

Took me about an hour to get used to the pedalling, and another hour to get used to how to brake. It's been almost 2 months and it feels more natural to be on a fixed gear than a coasting bike now, it felt downright weird when I switched to the single speed side after my lockring came loose on my way home.

i tried my new bike in fixed mode yesterday for the first time. it was pretty insane the first few minutes, but it got easier and easier by the minute. i'm gonna go ride it right now :)

fixed gear gives you a falsely inflated opinion of yourself, and the belief that some mystical culture surrounds your choice of transportation/fashion accessory



freewheel is just like riding a bike

funny. when i dont ride fixed i just ride my road bike. coasting is nice.

I like it all.

Fixed, I have ADHD so coasting makes me bored.

We're almost to page 2 and I haven't heard the word "zen" used once. I'm disappointed, BFSSFG.

fixed gears do the pedaling for you :thumb:

for some that's a plus and for others a minus.

:)

single speed

only because i cant get my foot in the clip once it moves. :cry:

oh yeah, those straps on 99 percent of fixies get annoying.

i rode a 6 speed for a long time, and now i started riding a fixed gear about a week ago. its very fun. toe overlap and straps aside, it is just like riding my 6 speed. i added brakes a few days ago, and it is not hard to get used to at all. i used to practice to do little coasting on my geared bike, maybe that's why.

i asked this thread because i haven't tried a single speed yet, but after reading, i assume its just like riding fixie but being able to coast, obvious pros, but nothing major.

I have both fixed and ss bikes, I ride them both.

yeah man

I like ss a lot better for hillier terrain (though I like gears most of all). Fixed is fun and made me a stronger rider faster.