Single-speed vs fixie | Why fixed-gear bikes are ridiculous, except for these three things

I've always found the idea of using a fixed-gear bike in a city to be fundamentally absurd. But then how to explain the cult of fanatics who love fixies? To try and better understand that cult, I decided to give a fixie another try, and to give it a close comparison to the fixie's sibling, the single-speed.

What I found was that, yes, fixies are fundamentally ridiculous. Except for these three things, which are helping me better understand the cult.

#cycling #bike #fixed

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[DT-dcbr]

I drive a truck with air in the brake lines & no seatbelt as it "improves my situational awareness"

[gmkgoat]

A lot of my bikes growing up were fixed gears. I remember flying down hills with my feet off the pedals as they whirled around like blender blades. Getting a bike that allowed you to coast or even pedal backwards while moving was a strange concept.

[gonzalolopez]

"What am I missing about fixies?" Fucking straps, they make such a difference

[stuminnis]

I rode fixed for 6 mos as a commuter and got pretty good at it...track stands, skid stops, all that. I admit there’s something pretty cool about being able to control your speed so directly through your legs and cadence. I kept waiting to feel that fixed gear bliss people go on about, but it never happened. Never being able to coast, plus the risk of pedal strike on tight corners, never made it feel very fun. I switched back to a single speed freewheel and felt completely liberated. My bike actually felt lighter even though I had added the weight of the rear brake back on. To each their own, but fixed gear just wasn’t as fun for me.

[godismeme]

It also creates exceptional situational awareness that stays with you no matter what bike you ride.

[zack-nyit]

the fact that you’re riding without foot retention, now THAT’S ridiculous.

[stevegraham]

Having a fixie and riding it single speed is like going to a brothel for a cuddle

[ericmathiasen]

I started riding a fixie when I turned 40. It played a big part in me losing 55 pounds (25 kg) and it was exhilarating. I averaged over 10 miles/day (16 km) for over a year and it wasn't usual to ride 50+ miles (80km) over a weekend.

Of course, I live in flat Chicago. I don't think I'd want a fixie in a city with significant hills like SF or Portland or Seattle.

[jakeb]

Great video, as an experienced track bike racer the first thing I noticed is that you rode the fixed-gear with for pedals. This is rule number 1 of riding a fixed gear, you want your feet to be attached to the pedals. Either by toe straps, or more ideally through clip-in cycling shoes. All of the control of your bike is in your feet and you actually slow and stop yourself by "reverse pedaling." This is nearly impossible and dangerous when your feet are not attached from the pedal.

[marcuszingmark]

I went 2 years without getting some kind of foot straps/retention to my fixed gear bike with ending up me never got to relax fully. After getting retention I found the experience both more comfortable and safe not being worried to loose the pedals in high speed getting knocked down.

Been riding fixed since then and prefer it. But it took some learning.

[Phyoomz]

I commuted by hardtail mtb, then road bike, always geared, for years.

I switched to fixed solely for the ease of maintenence. I got tired of adjusting derailleurs, rebuilding freehubs and brake-surfaces wearing out on rims.

[initialdluvr]

I love my fixed gear bike. I honestly find it easier to haul ass on a fixed gear because the pedals provide momentum for your legs to keep pumping, whereas with a freewheel bike, I tend to coast more and it somehow makes me more tired when I start pedaling again. It also provides the same kind of enjoyment as driving a manual transmission. You feel more connected to the bike.

[roak]

Without foot retention you are missing out on 75% of riding fixed.

[OgreLaur]

You forgot about foot retention, straps or something else. Double the fun, they say 😁

[delloda]

Wholly depends on how flat the city you live in is. I lived in Glasgow in Scotland where every inch is sloped in one direction or the other. and I used to spend most of the time walking and pushing my bike up even the smallest of hills. Sold the fixie and walked instead.

[danielhoffman]

Clip in, or use straps, , remove brakes, your skills will increase, as will the fun.

[raysegura]

My friend comes over wants to ride my old steel bike, gets mad that it’s not a fixie, I just tell him to stay in the same gear

[omarsrigs]

What's more fundamentally ridiculous and far common is texting and driving.

[richardsalzmann]

You forgot to run over every red light when you changed to fixed

[SteveHameister]

Everyone saying to take off your brakes is a maniac.
That said you would feel much better about the fixed gear with foot retention though. I think that's why the hill is giving you so much grief. Fixed + front brake is my go-to everyday ride because of the extra control and how it trains your pedal stroke to be much more efficient for when you hop back on a geared bike. There's a reason all the racers include practice on fixies.