Fixed Wheel / Single Speed Bikes

oxonmackem

Often wondered what are the advantages/attraction of riding fixed or single

rick_chasey

It's bloody knackering....which is the point of cycling, right?

amaferanga

For me the only real advantage is that I can ride fixed through the winter and not have to wash my bike very often since there's so little to go wrong or wear out.

The attraction is that I enjoy it. Simple as that.

Someone will be along in a minute to perpetuate the myth that riding fixed magically improves your cycling technique and makes you strong.

rick_chasey

amaferanga wrote:

For me the only real advantage is that I can ride fixed through the winter and not have to wash my bike very often since there's so little to go wrong or wear out.

The attraction is that I enjoy it. Simple as that.

Someone will be along in a minute to perpetuate the myth that riding fixed magically improves your cycling technique and makes you strong.

It's more a mental thing.

When i'm going up a little short incline on a geared bike, I can't help but change down, and kill the pain.

I have no choice on the single speed. Sure I'm gurning more than Wegeman and Greipel on E and going slower than a tourist walking down a busy London street, but I'm absolutely dying - more than I would be if I could change gear.

langster

Simplicity, silence and it takes you back to that feeling you had as a kid riding a bike for enjoyment without some other reason as to why you ride.

I ride my SS because I enjoy it

Monty Dog

You can make it easy or as difficult as you like to ride them - I have two fixed gear bikes as well as a single speed cross bike - I enjoy the simplicity - no gears to worry about, MTFU and get-on with it!

markos1963

Simplicity and rythym for me. No faster over a given course and anything over 70 miles is tough as the hills take their toll. I am a bit extravagant with my SS and treat it to a new chain every year, splashing out an extortionate £7.50

nakita222

You loo like a hipster if you dree correctly. Everyone wants to be a hipster

neeb

You loo like a hipster if you dree correctly. Everyone wants to be a hipster

I don't. The whole ridiculous phoney fashion thing (especially the cheap fluorescent deep section wheels and the retro tweed stuff) is the one thing that most puts me off trying single speed. I don't know why, but I just want to vomit every time I see someone in the full fixie getup. I think it's because it's so obviously a style/fashion uniform, but pretends to be the opposite. Proper roadies also have a dress code, but they don't try to pretend there is anything individualistic or imaginative about it.

Canny Jock

Perfect for commuting if you live somewhere flat, but for longer rides I prefer gears. Horses for courses etc.

Wappygixer

Had my single speed for 6 months and love it.
I don't ride fixed due to heavy traffic and IMO its not safe.
I live in a lumpy area and riding a SS does make you work harder but you get a sense of acheivement when you get to the top of a climb.
I got put off by some of the styling so I opted for a Felt Curbside in a custard colour, and it was cheap

amaferanga

Wappygixer wrote:

Had my single speed for 6 months and love it.
I don't ride fixed due to heavy traffic and IMO its not safe.
I live in a lumpy area and riding a SS does make you work harder but you get a sense of acheivement when you get to the top of a climb.
I got put off by some of the styling so I opted for a Felt Curbside in a custard colour, and it was cheap

What makes you say that?

dhope

amaferanga wrote:

Wappygixer wrote:

Had my single speed for 6 months and love it.
I don't ride fixed due to heavy traffic and IMO its not safe.
I live in a lumpy area and riding a SS does make you work harder but you get a sense of acheivement when you get to the top of a climb.
I got put off by some of the styling so I opted for a Felt Curbside in a custard colour, and it was cheap

What makes you say that?

Yeah, ignore the 'not safe' argument. If you only skid to stop then maybe, but put brakes (even just a front) on the thing and fixed is just as safe as SS. Never had any issue stopping in time on my Central London.

I just quite enjoy it. Nice and simple on a short flat blast into work.

Ben6899

Simple.
Hard work.
95% maintenance free in Winter.
And the bikes are generally very light!

CTank

I quite commonly read people saying 'it's not safe'. Having ridden fixed exclusively for the last year, I've yet to understand why? The first couple of times I went out, it came as a bit of a shock that the cranks kept turning, but it soon becomes second nature. And the shock was just as big when I did a couple of miles on a friend's roadbike, which felt horribly skittish and unstable compared to fixed.

So, in my opinion there is nothing whatsoever inheritantly dangerous in riding fixed, it's just different.

bjl

Just wandering how many of you ride with clipless pedals on a fixed wheel - in busy traffic i can find this a bit nervy.

blackhands

Dunno why I like it - been doing it for about 53 years. BTW I also buy a new chain every year but get mine from ASDA - much cheaper.

Wappygixer

dhope wrote:

amaferanga wrote:

Wappygixer wrote:

Had my single speed for 6 months and love it.
I don't ride fixed due to heavy traffic and IMO its not safe.
I live in a lumpy area and riding a SS does make you work harder but you get a sense of acheivement when you get to the top of a climb.
I got put off by some of the styling so I opted for a Felt Curbside in a custard colour, and it was cheap

What makes you say that?

Yeah, ignore the 'not safe' argument. If you only skid to stop then maybe, but put brakes (even just a front) on the thing and fixed is just as safe as SS. Never had any issue stopping in time on my Central London.

I just quite enjoy it. Nice and simple on a short flat blast into work.

I personally feel its not safe as you are not in complete control when you need to do an emergency stop.
You don't have to agree with me which I why I said "IMO".I've tried it and I simply feel its riding on borrowed time in heavy traffic.
I'm not interested in looking macho or cool I just want a simple bike for winter and a freewheel offers me all that.
Now if I were to have a single speed for training away from town I may well try fixed, its just not for me in heavy traffic areas.

cougie

Love my fixed bike -

Perfect for winter - cheap
Easy to clean
Less to go wrong
Feels great riding fixed
Does give you a great workout - no coasting
Fun !

As to riding clipless - it's no bother - if you have problems with clipless - you shouldn't really be on the road ?

mankybianchi

Got to admit I'm not even conscious of being fixed if emergency stopping; it's just an emerghency stop.

Being fixed frees you from worrying about what gear you ought to be in for any given terrain, simply get to know the gear you have in relation to your fitness/pedal style and enjoy the varying rhythms as your revs become more flexible ie lower and higher than when using gears. You become more flexible in your cadence range rather than the other way round.