SlackerInc

I mean, first of all: do you people live somewhere really flat? Because in my town, we have some steep hills, and I just can't even imagine not having a low gear to use. For that matter, in general I'm a "spinner" and like to start out, even on flat terrain, in a low gear and then work my way up through the gears in the first block or two.

But what really boggles my mind (and this is specifically concerning fixies, not singlespeeds) is the idea of not ever coasting. I coast probably 70 percent of the time I'm on my bike! (I am "car free" and use it to get everywhere, but I don't race or anything.) Nothing better, to my way of thinking, than sitting on my bike, coasting along, thinking "if I were walking I'd actually have to be expending effort right now, and going slower". Heh, admittedly I'm lazier than the average bear (well, it's all relative: I'm still working harder than people who drive cars to get from point A to point B)...but still: really? No coasting? Why would that be good?

Mumonkan

the same reason anyone rides a bike, because its fun, and they like it. the kind of bike someone rides is really just personal preference

GENESTARWIND

Why not try it for yourself and find out?

Spoonrobot 

Just for reference, this guy is a little soft.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...arted-out-fast

diff

You can coast with a fixed gear. Just loosen up and let the momentum carry you. You don't *have* to be putting pressure on the pedals 24/7.

GENESTARWIND

Dont you mean ignorant?

SlackerInc

That's not the same reason anyone rides a bike. Mine is my principal form of transportation to get me where I need to go. That's like saying people only drive cars for fun.

And yeah, I understand it's personal preference...my question is why do you prefer it? I'm really just curious, and--yes--ignorant. Was hoping to have my ignorance enlightened from people who would presumably have the answers!

GENESTARWIND

I ride my bike to work and wherever i need to go because i enjoy doing so. I could ride the bus but i choose my bike, i could get my license back but i enjoy riding my bike. Also i called you ignorant based on what you where saying in the other thread not this one.

SlackerInc

How does that thread indicate IYO that I'm "soft"? I actually don't eat the things you showed in your photo, or anything containing sugar or refined flour.

ETA: Genestar, aren't there separate threads for a reason? Otherwise, we could all just post in one big mishmash thread, but I think that would be a little confusing (hint, hint).

markaitch

@SlackerInc, do you get no enjoyment whatsoever while riding your bicycle?

if so, there is absolutely no reason for you to be hanging around in a bike enthusiast forum, whether it be ss/fg, track racing, roadie, mountain or whatever genre you decide to question.

good luck &...have fun

misskaz

Previous thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/807051-Why

How to climb on a fixed gear bicycle: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...d-Gear-Bicycle

Answer: It is fun.

howeeee

I rode a fixie once, seems like fun, but I am 59 and have heard from guys how they screwed up their knees, so I keep away from them. If I was 30 i would be riding one often.

Bat56

You say you are lazier than average. I see that.

Practical reason number one: I ride through the winter. Freewheel pawls freeze. Less parts means lower maintenance. If my brakes freeze I can stop.

SlackerInc

Markaitch, I don't see "enthusiast" up at the title of the forum anywhere. Something wrong with my browser, maybe, or are you sort of inserting that in yourself? Bicycling is something I do every day, it's an essential part of my life, and something I'm interested in discussing. As I say, I do enjoy that my bike gets me places faster and with less effort than walking!

Bat56, thanks for giving a real reason I can wrap my mind around. For the rest of you, can you really not imagine how you might explain to a friend or relative what you like about fixies and why they ought to try it too?

I get a vibe from what I've read so far of "it's more effort to ride this way, so this proves our toughness and fitness; you want a bike that makes it easy to ride, which makes you wimpy". So, by this logic, aren't the wimpiest of all those who ride something like a Pinarello Dogma2? My cheap, heavy bike certainly takes more effort than the Pinarello does to move along. But maybe I should let some air out of my tires and leave the brake pad rubbing against the wheel, to make my ride more rigourous and manly. ;-)

hammer_down

Im with GENESTAR on his first comment. try it out and see for yourself. I, like you, was skeptical about fixed gear; i wondered how anyone could ride like that. In May, i bought my first fixed gear and havent really looked back. after the first week or so, you dont even notice that you are pedaling 100% of the time, it just becomes second nature. the hard part is going back to a freewheeled bike from a fixed.

striknein

Oh, this thread again. Has it been a month already?

SlackerInc

Misskaz, your climbing article was an interesting read, thanks. It only tends to confirm me in my previous impression, though:



So after working your ass off to get up a hill, you don't get recovery on the descent! Not my idea of "fun". Neither is lagging way behind my friends who are on conventional bikes, because mine is "very inefficient". I get that riding a way less efficient bike is proof that you are strong, but couldn't you just tie a cinder block to the back of your bike and drag that around? LOL

Don't get me wrong: none of this is to say that you are wrong to feel like this is a fun activity. I'm a firm believer in "between consenting adults", etc. It's just something that I am very puzzled and curious about, kind of like the motivations of people who join those "Polar Bear" clubs where they jump into icy lakes in the wintertime. They too appear to be having fun! But I don't need to try that to know I wouldn't like it; similarly, since I always try to expend the least effort possible* on a bike ride, I know I don't want to make my ride less efficient.

*I have figured out when I can stop pedalling and start coasting, a couple blocks from my front door, such that I don't even have to ever hit the brakes: my momentum peters out and I just stick my foot out to catch myself as my bike tips over...LOL. (That said, I have found from experience that going up a long, slight but steady incline, it's less work in the end if I do power down on the pedals and build up some speed.)

misskaz

I don't try to convince other people to ride fixed, so I don't have anything like that already prepared. I do it because I enjoy it. Why isn't that enough?

What do I specifically enjoy about it? the simplicity, the intuitiveness, that it becomes so second nature to just pedal more slowly when you want to slow down and vice versa, how when riding a freewheel now i feel like i'm constantly using my brakes, that my bike is super light and nimble, that i don't ever think about whether i could be in a better gear, the feeling of accomplishment doing something other people think is hard even though -- news flash -- it's actually not, my fixed gear bike gang, BFSSFG, ease of maintenance, the cool factor even though i'm too old to really care about that, defending fixed gears from stupids who think fixed gear bikes require being brakeless, wondering why people always ask this question even though no one asks "why ride a 10 year old department store mountain bike?"...

Spoonrobot 

That thread, as well as this one, indicates that you're both ignorant and arrogant. A combination that both supposes stupid questions about subject matter a person has no knowledge of and at the same time suggests changes to make that subject matter appeal more to said person.

You want to know what the appeal is without even approaching the subject with an open mind. The first sentence makes a massively incorrect supposition that even a cursory amount of research would have uncovered as being false. From there on it's more presumptions that have little to do with reality and so much more to do with your billowing arrogance, permeating every word you type and polluting this forum.

The appeal you ask? The appeal is so broad-ranging, so strongly tied to both individual and culture that it is difficult to succinctly state without being reduced to trivial fragments that do little more than scrape the surface. For someone like you, there is no appeal. Stay locked in your myopic, car free lifestyle and bother us no more with your inanities. There's nothing here for you.

hammer_down

you seem very close minded to me. if you are coasting 70% of your rides, you probably aren't keeping up with your friends either. and you wouldn't be keeping up with someone on a fixed gear, while they are pedaling and enjoying the ride, you are just sitting on your bike looking around. also, if coasting for two blocks and not having to use your brakes to stop at your door is a big argument for you why freewheeled bikes are better, then it's going to be very hard to get through to you.

just remember, we all have fun on our bikes, some more than others, fixed/free, who cares. its fun to get out there and pedal (more than 70% of the time)

striknein

Can't we all just agree from now on to link Sheldon and get on with our day?

GENESTARWIND

Dude just stop.

MAGAIVER

I have better control of my bike when riding through the city, once you learn to resist the pedals to slow down it works sorta like engine braking a car. Maintenance on a fixed bike is almost non existent, and for someone that rides year round that's a great thing, all I have to do is clean/lube the chain every few days and I'm good to go.
As for the ability to coast, that's not required on short commutes, you soon learn to relax your legs and its almost as if you were not pedaling at all. And for going uphill and just have to HTFU and pedal, also follow "The Octopus" tips.

It's not nearly as bad as it sounds you just need to get used to it, ride a sensible gear ratio and use a brake or two.

diff

Has nothing to do with trying to be manly, or proving fitness. Fixed gear is much more fun than a freewheel. Also, I never have to reach for a brake as I control my speed 100% with my legs. Every time I ride a freewheel bike, I can't stand the fact I have to reach for a brake to slow my speed. It's annoying.

If you are going for 100% efficiency, than a geared bike is the way to go. By I can care less about efficiency, fun is more important.

Also tons of cool circus tricks that are possible with fixed gear.

And lastly, during the almost 3 hours you sat on this forum staring at your computer screen scratching your head, you could of rode down to your local LBS and tested out a fixed gear. Which would of answered your own question.

GENESTARWIND

i wont be able to ride until tomorrow considering ive a flat and no money till i get paid