that makes a FG ride safer... or you can still pedal the hell of it on the down hill, high cadence fast riding is fun.

I spin out at about 180. I'm not a fan of the feeling of going 40mph with no control of the bike. So yeah, safer it is. For me at least.

wow, that's extreme to me I don't think I have ever been faster than 32mph on a descend... I use a front brake and some back pressure to keep her under control...

Big, long, straight hills + road bike = even faster lol.

You really have to trust your bike at that point.

30 on a descent is hardly a descent, at least after I experienced 50mph. dats exhilarating

road bikes
can stop
don't want to

I don't only ride a fixie, since it isn't the best for heavy loads or pulling a trailer, but it is fun. A lot of fun. Sheldon Brown's web pages convinced me to give it a try, and after my first fixie was stolen, I built a second. It might be nice to have another for winter riding, but I don't have a spare frame that would fit the tires I want with fenders.

45mph on fully loaded bike is certainly a thrill. My scariest moments on the bike that weren't traffic induced have not come while on my fixed gear.

Well said!! :)

Why does no one mention the mechanics of fixed, which, for me, is the real pleasure. Maybe it's because it is difficult to describe. The first time I realized that I could change my speed/bearing with a very slight turn combined with a half-rotation partial shift of my weight onto the rising pedal, I was hooked. The same move with a freewheel and brakes is far less immediate, and not especially fun.

I know that all bikes can bring out a rider's "style" but fixed seems to give a few more vectors of expression that make riding a little deeper.

I look forward to buying a road bike and learning of all the aspects which I am missing, but I know for a fact that the first time I don't feel the unrelenting forward pressure of the drive train, I'm going to be bummed.

I've broken 50 a couple of times, and yeah. I'm pretty much fully exhilerated by the time I hit 45, anything beyond that is just icing but I'd probably poo if I hit 60.

There's really no where steep and straight enough here to go 60. The reason it is easy for me to hit 50 is because I weigh 200lbs and can truck pretty well, I just coast while everyone has to pedal to keep up. At that speed I am way above my highest gearing anyway