Fixies

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Trevrev

Trevrev

Veteran
Location
Southampton
Just wondering, what is the attraction of riding a fixed wheeled bike on a commute?
Is there an advantage?
I seem to be seeing more fixies/single speed cycles of late.

Trev.
 
fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
No fussing with gears. Easy maintenance. Oh and great for training.
 
Jezston

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
A significant reason for you seeing more is that they have been increasingly fashionable over the last few years.

But as fossyant says they are very easy maintenance, and also fun.
 
StuartG

StuartG

slower but no further
Location
SE London
Yep, unless you have got some serious hills ordinary derailleurs are somewhat wasted and just collect s**t and do you really want to adjust a slipping dirty oily gear before work?

Hence a sensible commuter bike these days should be either a single/fixie if flat/you are strong or a hub gear for comfort. There is a reason Sturmey-Archer ruled the roads when most people used a bicycle to go to work ...
 
B

Bicycle

Guest
I'm a recent convert and retain geared bikes too.

They really are a lot of fun to ride. Once you remember not to stop pedalling, they are smoother than whipped cream. the advantages are manifold, although there will be times when you want gears. Neither set-up is better. They are both deliciously different from the other.

You can slow down by 'throttling off' as you can in a manual car.

Your pedalling technique improves, as does your ability to sustain higher-cadence pedalling.

You become a more flaxible rider and your legs seem to work better both at very low and very high cadences.

For me, it's just a lot of fun. My old 23-mile commute (only 3 days a week) was OK with gears but MASSIVE FUN on my fixie.

Once built, they are a piece of cake to look after.

Everyone I've lent mine to for a blast has come back loving it and crying with mirth.

Also, it's quite unlikely to be stolen as if you're not accustomed to riding one they're weird in twelve different keys all at once.
 
Jonathing

Jonathing

Über Member
Location
Birmingham
I used to ride 200 miles a week to work and between jobs in Portsmouth, Fareham, Havant etc, a land well suited to fixed wheel. They are so much fun that after moving to Sheffield, a land profoundly unsuited to fixed wheel, I bought a bigger sprocket and have continued to ride fixed here. Although nowhere near 200 miles a week. They really are glorious fun so long as you remember that if you stop pedalling it will try to pull your knees off and as Bicycle says, "weird in twelve different keys all at once."
 
skudupnorth

skudupnorth

Cycling Skoda lover
Location
Astley,Manchester
Did an 84 mile return ride to college the other day on mine and felt as fresh as a daisy,they are great !
 
D

Deleted member 1258

Guest
I rode fixed in the late 1980's/ early 1990's then stopped, I came back to fixed just over 4 years ago and can't understand why I stopped in the first place. I use mine for commuting, 6.5 lumpy miles in 25-30 minutes each way, club rides and general running around. Great fun, practical, as long as the hills aren't to steep, and convenient, its just a different way of doing things.
 
ianrauk

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Fixies on a commute? Well for 1 it gives you carte blanche to jump red lights. And 2 it gives you a chance to waggle your arse in the air whilst trying to trackstand when you do stop at that once in a blue moon red light
 
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