I notice most fixed gear bikes have flat bars or at the most bullhorns. This includes ones being sold complete and 90% of those in videos I've seen. (of course custom ones range from everything to everything)

So why is it that more fixed gear bikes have flat bars but the rest of the other forums swear by drop bars no matter what you ride? (hybrid, commuters, cyclo's, and of course roadies.)

I personally grew up on flat bars and feel much more in control on any bike with them. I'm just O.K. in the drops, but I'm pretty wiggly on the tops.

{edit** After some explanation: by flat bars, I really mean anything with a wide, squared off stance that gives you more control.

i assume it's just part of the fashion.. chopped riser bars are popular here (in san jose).. seen bmx bars too. brakes are rare but sometimes you see drops with brakes.. haven't seen a lot of drops without brakes

Yeah I def like the look of chopped risers and some smaller bmx bars. So it's more about the style than control?

i think for a lot of fixed gear riders, style trumps everything else

Not sure where this came from but I personally hate flats; drops and bullhorns FTW.

I think it's a comfort thing. I'm sure kids on their horribly welded frames and superdeep v's don't care much about performance and rather have a comfortable bike they think looks good. I see the trend dying down in my neck of the woods though. everyones going with the 'pista' drop bars and usually have them angled all weird with no tape or plugs haha

I like risers because I will never ride more than five miles. That's a ****ing promise.

i'm messin with drops for the first time in ages and I don't like them that much. I'm a professed lover of the RB-021 nittos and I think until I get a roadie that will be my first choice.

Bullhorns all the way, drop bars on my actual race bike.

Can only ride on tops with skinny jeans, reaching for bullhorns or drops squishes the kiwis. Might as well have flatbar.

Seriously.... I ran into my family friend's kid this one time and he had exactly what you describe, and while we chatted unmounted his bars kept on hitting his TT. Worse was he was riding a freewheel without a break and would dismount and footbreak like on a longboard when he needed to stop.

This is a serious accident waiting to happen. Try and get some pictures!

Nah that was long ago; his up to speed now after flipping numerous bikes; he rides a spoked out dolan pre cursa.

wow... I wanna say something mean about it being ok that he's riding like that so he can get a darwin award...... and I guess I already did.. so yeah

I have drops (sitting in the closet), just do not like them. I prefer wide risers that are shoulder width or just slightly wider. My other favorite bar is the Soma Sparrow.

Maximum comfort and hand positions.

It's not just style. In city traffic drop bars are useless, you just don't need to get "aero" and being upright both makes you more visible and easier for yourself to look around. And bullhorns are good for climbing hills. In fact I would even say drop bars are mostly form over function for most people.

This. It's funny how a lot of people slag risers saying they're "just for fashion" but I find risers much more practical and comfortable for everyday city riding.

I can understand how some road drops are functional on the street but track drops? If anything, that's more of a fashion statement than anything else. Sure, track bikes naturally look killer with track drops but are they practical for riding around town?

This! for the most part, rather...
(oops, a minute late, Scrod beat me to it)


What do you mean, YOU GUYS? Are we the spokespeople(apparently all male) of Singlespeed/Fixedgear? A good majority of us don't rock flat-bars anyways.

I love being on the hoods on my road drops in the city. I like zero-drop bullhorns also. Them super low bullhorns are a bit much in the city for me.

Risers? I don't even run risers on my MTBs. I understand lot of people like 'em tho.

My latest project is poor-mans MTB bullhorns. Basically moved brake and shifter levers to some barends so that the barends are the primary position and the flats are relegated to long grinds up hill and just taking a break and sitting up usage.

i chose rider bars because i had them and they look better with a single brake. if i had some aero brake levers i'd put drops on i think

have yet to actually ride the damn thing though so i dunno if the riser bars are comfortable. gonna take a test ride tomorrow and find out

Drops with two brake levers for me. Assuming your bike actually fits you and the levers are positioned properly the hoods are a very comfortable position that still lets you see everything and react quickly, similar to bullhorns really. I spend most of my time on the hoods. Down in the drops is for aero when high speed cruising in a pack or big hills for the leverage. If I need to change up my grip I'll some time ride with my palms on the back of the curve behind the hoods. I don't understand riding on the flats. I'll move my hands there only when riding very slow if I'm sitting up straight to look around.

I was thinking of getting rid of bars altogether and sticking a grip on my stem and steering my bike like a rudder. lol

I think the OP's assertion that most FG bikes have (cut down) flat bars is incorrect. Perhaps this notion is based on what is posted on some tarck sites or internet videos, but from what I've seen, the majority of FG bikes are sold with drop bars and most are built that way as well. If you look at the bikesdirect offerings, all of them have drop bars, except for the PK Ripper (aka death bike). I have have several FG bikes with various setups, but the majority have road drop bars.