RiderForLife98

hey everyone
So the other day i decided that i would buy a kilo tt stripper for my next bike as my old bike is to say not the best of conditions (very old hand me down). SO i set to saving up money for it and before i picked the kilo , and my friend lends me his fixed gear for a few weeks as he had to go on vacation and told me i could use it if i liked. So i basically rode his bike a good amount of time and found fixed gear riding to be quite fun. So i show my dad and he says ok, but then he talks to his friend who has been riding since he has been a kid and this is what his friend says "he will kill himself on a fixie, it's to dangerous to use." Now my dad says no. So my question is, is his claim real or is it not? Thnx.

P.S i always ride with a brake, helmet, and always follow the rules of the road.

seau grateau

You'll be fine.

Leukybear 

Only if you do this with a fixed gear bike.

I've commuted daily on a fixed gear bike for the last 6 years and I'm still here.

TheRealFaux

I have a fixed gear, road, cyclocross and mountain bike. If I end up in a precarious situation, the bike I would most be confident in riding out of the ordeal is my fixed gear because I feel like I have the most control over the bike. The drivetrain is directly engaged with my legs, so I am able to not only modulate and control my speed and bike with the brake, but as well as my legs. I might not stop as fast as my cyclocross bike with the stupid powerful mini-v brakes, but I feel like I am in more control. Maybe stopping super fast isn't the best thing to do, maybe whipping my bike into a different direction would be safer and the nippy and quick handling of most fixed gears bikes would help with that.

Your dad's friend probably gets his opinion from when he see's the ill-fitting gaudy fixies where the owner has no idea what their doing then ride similarly in correlation.

mihlbach

Fixed gears have some potential additional dangers. For example, chain derailment can lead to catastrophic wheel lookup and riding fast without foot retention may not be such a great idea. But manage your chain tension properly and use foot regention and youll be fine.


One could just as easily argue that freewheels are more dangerous...if your brakes fail you would have no other way of stopping.

It goes without saying that ridng any bike is potentially dangerous.

Use a brake.

Your dad is either grossly misinformed or is just being irrational (like people who willingly ride in cars but are afraid to fly.)

Dannihilator

If you use your senses and use that brake, helmet and obey the rules of the road, fixed is perfectly safe.

Otto374

CyclingDaily

A fixed gear bike without foot retention is dangerous.

hairnet

Say it's a single speed and then flip the flop.

You wield quiet a large brush.

c0urt

twice

Bakersb

Parents tend to be quick to judge and reliant on their friend's opinions rather than taking the time to research themselves.
But, when you want to tell them the truth, it seems to them that you're just back talking.

Approach this in a way, to address his concerns, saying that it is a common conception that fixed gear riding is dangerous, but that's because most people view the singlespeed/fixed gear community as jackass hipsters not stopping for red lights.

Tell him you'll have a helmet, brakes(mention those hipsters don't have breaks), and tell him its like a regular bike, the only difference is you keep pedaling, forever.

Dodgson_here

Many people make a logic jump from fixed gear to brakeless. That is a safety argument that can be made. A fixed-gear bike with brakes is no more or less safe than any other bike. I would ask for a chance to address his concerns specifically.

CyclingDaily

I haven't got any sleep since last night, my brain isn't functioning.

AristoNYC

I read somewhere their periods attract bears. Bears can smell the menstruation.

cc700

guns don't kill people


people riding fixed gear bicycles kill people

cc700

i've been riding a long time and i saw a movie about it once

AristoNYC

Truth.

Nesquik

As an avid motorcyclist- two wheeled contraptions dont get real dangerous until you start adding motors or defying gravity. Or both. Especially is the latter occurs by accident- like it did to me two summers ago lol.

If fixed gear bicycles are too dangerous, you should refrain from leaving the house.

cc700

seriously, it's only dangerous if you have no concept of where things will hit you. and if that's the case, ANY bicycle is a one way ticket to an early funeral. tell your dad that any bike with a brake can stop in time to be safe, and by limiting your drivetrain choice he's actively discouraging your active lifestyle and health. also, if he loves and trusts you, he would ask more than his one cyclist friend before handing down such a heavyhanded decision.

you should demonstrate your ability to stop on a geared bike and then on a fixed gear bike(with a brake if you know what is good for you) and show him that the dangerous talk is baloney, and it's more about being sensible and obeying traffic laws.

highonpez

Not only is riding one dangerous, but posting on a forum dedicated to them can give you a computer virus. And lupus.

c0urt

i have hurt my self more and worse on my bicycle than i ever did on on my motorcycle,
and I will take the blame for it, it is my choice

caloso

You're going to die!*










*Someday, probably not today, probably not on your bike.

oneeyedhobbit

Somehow I've survived riding without foot retention for a year.

RiderForLife98

Cool thanks for all the replies guys!

Sixty Fiver

If you ride a fixed gear with brakes and a lid your parents should not have any more worries than they would if you rode a geared bike or singlespeed.

No-one says you have to use the brakes but when you need them they are there.

I think that we have moved away from the "brakeless is cool" mindset that used to be so prevalent... I like to ride fast and need to stop fast and you can't do that by skidding.