Should I get a fixie?

[Foxstro]

I'm looking for an upgrade from an old crappy £50 rigid bike that I ride on the road.

I'd like to upgrade to a bike like this and am unsure how I will adapt.

I won't be riding in many towns as I live out in the sticks, the routes I use are 5-45 miles all circling my house and are in fenland flat ground Cambridgshire. I've heard horror stories from cycling enthusiasts and am unsure.

Also, how does the free will flip flop hub work? Does that mean its like a normal bike just with no back brake?

 

[simon.r]

Also, how does the free will flip flop hub work? Does that mean its like a normal bike just with no back brake?

No, it means there's a freewheel (i.e. you can stop pedalling and coast like you can on a normal bike) on one side of the hub and a fixed sprocket (i.e. you can't stop pedalling) on the other. You have to remove the rear wheel and turn it around to swap between the two. The bike you've linked to has both front and rear brakes.

Some people enjoy singlespeeds (with the freewheel), some enjoy fixed gear, some enjoy both, some enjoy neither. Sorry, but IMO you won't know if you like it until you try it

 

[Foxstro]

No, it means there's a freewheel (i.e. you can stop pedalling and coast like you can on a normal bike) on one side of the hub and a fixed sprocket (i.e. you can't stop pedalling) on the other. You have to remove the rear wheel and turn it around to swap between the two. The bike you've linked to has both front and rear brakes.

Some people enjoy singlespeeds (with the freewheel), some enjoy fixed gear, some enjoy both, some enjoy neither. Sorry, but IMO you won't know if you like it until you try it

What I'm unsure about is, how do you stop if it's on freewheel? I feel like it's something I'd be in to as all the benefits are there but I have just had little experience and have asked very few questions.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

That bike you gave the link to has a back brake,In freewheel mode it's
just like a normal bike but you only have 1 gear and you can stop pedalling
going downhill,Flip the wheel around to fixed and you have to pedal if your moving,
So going downhill your legs spin round whether you like it or not,
Back brakes are not usually used on fixies as you can lock up the back wheel,
You apply back pressure thru the pedals and use the front brake to slow yourself down

 

[Foxstro]

That bike you gave the link to has a back brake,In freewheel mode it's
just like a normal bike but you only have 1 gear and you can stop pedalling
going downhill,Flip the wheel around to fixed and you have to pedal if your moving,
So going downhill your legs spin round whether you like it or not,
Back brakes are not usually used on fixies as you can lock up the back wheel,
You apply back pressure thru the pedals and use the front brake to slow yourself down

I assume this means when using the fixed mode it's pretty much essential you have some good pedal clips then?

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Yep good clips/flat pedals and straps/spd's whatever your preference

 

[simon.r]

It's debateable, but I think you'll find most fixed gear riders use either clipless pedals (SPD type) or toe-clips of some sort. They're not essential, but I reckon your shins would take a bit of a bashing if you used flat pedals as a beginner!

 

[Pennine-Paul]

flat pedals and straps are fine,

flat pedals on their own not recommended

 

[DooBlood]

yes.

 

[al-fresco]

I'm old and live on the border of Wales - not a promising combination to try riding fixed for the first time. I bought a Specialized Langster last October and I've done 1,600 miles on it over the intervening 6 months - and enjoyed every one of them. I think you'll do just fine.