This fall I'm going to be moving onto campus at my college. I'm building a bike from the ground up, and I'm wondering if I should go singlespeed or fixed gear?

Which do you guys think would be better for a semi-flat, paved, POPULATED area? And why?

Get a flip flop wheel, then you can have both. If this is is just for getting around campus, one gear is fine, its less hassle, less to take care of, less to break.

I just went through the same thing, bought a bike that has a flip flop and included both the fixed and the freewheel. For actually riding around on campus/populated areas, ss is the way to go. A little easier to stop faster, and you can coast if you need to.

A fixed/ fixed hub is always better than a "flip flop hub" in addition to being less rubbery and not being a fashion statement with socks; you can mount a freewheel (for singlespeed) on any one or even both of the fixed sides and vice versa with fixed. In addition, if worse comes to worse in the event that you prefer fixed and the unfortunate stripping of threads happen because you're too into your studies to tighten them regularly, you always have a spare side.

Depending on where you are going to college (typically high bike theft areas) you might want to stick to something that doesn't stand out in the bike rack...

I disagree with that. Once you're comfortable riding fixed, I greatly prefer it when I'm slowly tooling through crowds on campus. Being able to modulate my speed via my drive train gives excellent control.

Use (a) brake(s) on a campus with a lot of people.

I prefer fixed for low speed control, but you do need brakes.

For sure. If you hit someone because you thought you'd be a ****** and ride brake-less you're just a dick cyclist. You should probably ride at a manageable/controlled speed too, until you can hit the streets.

I will say that although its against everything I just said, I had a lot of fun slaloming through huge crowds on my bike pre- and post- 4th of July fireworks.

+1. Riding across campus feels downright dangerous to me on a freewheel. Fixed I can follow along behind a group of large women blocking the path going 1.2 mph without falling over. Also, many times while at school I have ridden my bike alongside friends who were walking at a normal pace, not so easy with a freewheel.

Fixed with front brake only and a clipless pedal / shoe system is the best setup for full control of a bike.

qft

Thanks for the replies everyone! I think I'm going to go fixed with a front brake.

I've never had problems going at walking pace on my roadie. And I stop much more confidently with it too than a fixed bike, even with a front brake. I've seen a lot of people whip skid to stop and accidently swipe other riders or have really close calls/bailing as there are huge throngs of riders really close and really slow. I don't think I could have done what I did on picnic day on a fixed, 30 mph between people walking everywhere with only inches to spare :O I was a crazy SOB

That's dumb no matter what kind of bike you're riding.

I actually prefer fixed for populated areas. I can pedal much slower and stop and wait (tarckstand) for someone to get out of the way without getting unclipped/strapped.

Don't you think if you're skidding into crowds/other riders then you're kind of a ****** for overestimating your ability? I do stupid stunts on my skis like whip into a stop in front of buddies who fell so I can toss snow on their face and laugh about it. I guess its conceivable I could really, really mess up (anything is possible, just not very probable and all) and hurt them bad. So if you're not sure you can pull off that sick skid into a crowd maybe, you know, use your brakes or ride slower?

That makes a lot of sense. I didn't think of it so much as speed of riding. I was thinking more about being able to stop a little faster whenever someone walking around decides to be a jackass.

Fixed gear no brakes. but toe clips/ straps are necessary

Either dumb or troll, idk.

Unfortunately, just typical of a lot of the participants in this forum.

better get something with mad street cred so you can sup girls.

Like I said, that Picnic day was not my greatest moment... But sure, still think I would have killed myself in that lapse of sanity if I was on fixed. GET A FRONT BRAKE

+1 on Big Shot