You can take utility cycling out of the LCF list, but obviously have not taken away the embrace/claimed "ownership" of utility cycling by the more emotional LCF (and other fixated) ranters.

Interestingly, the only person to mention Zen, or connectedness with the bike, in this thread is ILTB. One of the problems of BF is that ILTB ascribes opinions and behaviours he sees from some posters to everyone who likes the same sort of bike. Therefore everyone who likes road bikes is lycra-fixated and thinks that anyone on a three speed is not a proper cyclist, for instance, or anyone who likes disc brakes must ride dangerously fast. It's important to note that ILTB isn't just anti-fixie, he's also anti derailleurs, anti drop bars, anti hand operated brakes. In fact, anti anything that's not an internal geared hub, laid back geometry, and north road bars. I like my fixed gear, but I've never suggested that there's a "zen of fixed gear", or anything like that. I've even debunked some of the myths. What I say is, it's fun, you should try it. I also think that tight geometry road bikes with drop bars are fun, and that tourers with drop bars are comfortable, and 3 speeds with north roads are fun, and folders are fun. You should try everything, then you'll know.

Actually I believe that ILTB doesn't even own any bikes and is just trolling around I ride a fixed on occasion, I rode fixed way back in the 70's when I was racing, as a training aid. They have their advantages and disadvantages just like every type of bike. You could probably use any one type of bike for every situation...whether it would be/is suitable is a debatable point.

Aaron

If you pay a bunch of money for a conversion, you may suffer the same cognitive dissonance as these nice gentlemen here ("I paid a bunch 'o money, this must be great!"), LOL

I paid $25.00 for my Kuwahara and like all my bikes, the conversion / build was done with recycled parts and I did all the work... I don't buy into the flavour of the day mentality and would never pay what some folks do for shiny parts.

"The cultists are not discussing utility or good sense. The same paean of praise for their fixation can be found on other lists too. Also the same passionate and irrational attacks on those skeptical of their claims."

I think the discussion has been all about whether or not a fixed gear can be used as a utility bike and that I have provided some solid evidence that it can be done... I expect to log nearly 5000 miles between now and May on my fixed utility bike as it really is the most practical and utilitarian vehicle I have for winter.

"You should try everything, then you'll know."

I'm working on that.

Of course it can be done. The reasons offered appear to have little to do with utility or practicality.

So tell me why on earth I choose to ride such an impractical bike ?

Really... enlighten me.

People do all kinda perverse stuff for pleasure, pain or both.; lot of it doesn't make any sense at all except to those who get their kicks that way. How/why you get yours? How da heck should I know?

So basically...you got nothing.

Is the MTB you're thinking about converting your only bike? If it is, try to borrow a FG from a friend for a good long trial period. If you do have other bikes, go ahead and convert the MTB and see how you like it.

Obviously this is a matter of personal preference. There are no right or wrong answers.

My personal opinion is that I wouldn't use a fixie in winter around here, although that may or may not be relevant depending on where you live. Even riding through 2-3 inches of snow that get put down over the pathways and roads overnight is not fun to ride through without being able to shift gear ratios. Its not outright difficult of course, but it does get tiring if you're riding in it for a while.

I would think that if you were needing to do the work on the bike anyways, why not go for something cheap and simple like a 3 speed internal? It would be fairly inexpensive, but give you more cadence control on the snow and have the same low maintenance.

?? I got nothing to answer your weird request to explain away YOUR preference for impractical bikes? I'm not your shrink; but feel free to think you sure told me off, as well as explained just how sensible fixed gear bikes are for utility cycling.

You clearly do not understand the point of training on a fixed-gear bike - it's all about the stroke. Riding on a fixed gear bike (with proper gearing) forces you to develop a smooth, controlled, circular stroke that later will transfer well to geared riding.

I own a track-bike (among a few other) and have to admit that riding on track is a major, major training aid.

PS. I did see someone argue that "on track, they do not allow geared bikes because they do not want people to accelerate too fast". Have you ever actually see a good track sprinter and how they accelerate?

It's not a weird question when you realize that I give answers and examples and you just keep calling my ride impractical with no experience with which to base your answers.

So what do you ride ?

If it's not a recumbent or a unicycle I am probably in a place to make informed comments.

After you go and spend some time riding a fixed gear in a utilitarian or non utilitarian manner than you will be in a place to make informed comments too.

I guess where you come from all that "stuff" [I]about the stroke[/I,] about needing a fixed gear to develop a smooth, controlled, circular stroke and major, major training aid has something to do with utility cycling.

I was replying to specific point that you were making about fitness value of riding fixed gear bikes. However, I feel your pain and will give you my two basis points on the utility value of fixed-gear bikes.

Utility biking is vast - one could imagine applications where a fixed gear bike might make sense. While you would not want a fixed-gear bike for delivering pizza, you might like one for riding as a messenger in Manhattan. Ability to track-stand with ease at the lights, simplicity in terms of repair and low(er) theft probabiity would be the reasons.

As per utility...

It's -19 C / -30 with the wind chill and snowing and I'm just heading out to do my Sunday night grocery shopping on my Kuwahara.

The fixed gear will offer some great control on what will be sketchy roads and I am in the kind of shape where carrying an extra 40 pounds doesn't really slow me down... the touring geometry on the bike really makes for a stable bike when the paniers are stuffed.

Why is ILTB still a member on BF? Apparently he hates everyone here and probably had never even ridden a bike. For all I know he is just the kid who tryed to do things that the other kids where doing, but still never fit in. So he got jeleous of what the other kids where doing and it bothered him and he hid that botheredness with anger towards the kids who where getting enjoyment from said activity. Now he is grown up (age wise anyways ) and somehow didnt feel like he fit in with the "cyclist" group even though he got a bike so he is now taking his anger out on the people who are actually getting enjoyment out of the bikes.

Anyone else agree with my diagnosis?

Another "utility" Freud wannabe pipes in to join the M%M jokers who posted similar idiotic psycho babble on this thread. Is being a whining crystal ball gazer part of being an LCF escapee, fixed gear devotee, or what? Or just being a cry baby who heard words that displeased him?

I can believe the lower theft probability. For the obvious reasons.

The other two features?

Trackstanding? So what?
Simplicity? Maybe so compared to a suspension derailler bike, probably not a bit compared to a S/S coaster model.

Maybe I misunderstood. Do "utility cyclists" wrap their axles around the needs of those who deliver groceries for a living and require messenger chic?

I am not whining because something displeased me. I am just tired of seeing another good thread get thrown off track and turned into a fight by some whining ***** old man like yourself coming in here and starting crap again.

But I guess in Iowa, that is about all there is to do huh? Either fight on the internet or have sex with sheep. I guess now I see why you chose to fight on the internet.

Ignore list works I have no idea what he says

There's a post over in the fixie forum that is pretty interesting in relation to the above items:
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/367201-how-many-you-use-your-fg-ss-road-bike.html

What is interesting to me is the range of opinions expressed by fixie users. Some say they go up hills faster, some slower, some not at all. Some say it slows them going down hills, one says it speeds him up. No talk of perpetual motion and zen propelling them up the hills, though.

(In one of the posts, it is mentioned that with a single speed, you go up hills faster because you have to...and that's something I've found on my single speed as well. It might be easier and less tiring to downshift and go up slower, but that's no longer an option. I passed a fair number of people on hills a while back doing that.)