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Anyone here ride a fixie? aka a fixed gear bicycle

Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Are you doing it because

1. It's more efficient/you genuinely like it

OR

2. you're an ironic hipster


Looking for opinions from #1's: I'm considering a fixie to replace my recently stolen bike. I got a 2 mile commute + possibly some bike paths. These are 95% non-hills and pavement, so I'm thinking fixie/single speed is the right choice.

thoughts?

my budget is <200 used.
 
When I was living in the city EVERYONE that rode a fixie was a douchey hipster.

That being said, I've been riding a road bike for a while now and can definitely see the appeal of a fixed gear, but until I find myself back in the city I need some gears for hills.
 
xanis said:
When I was living in the city EVERYONE that rode a fixie was a douchey hipster.

That being said, I've been riding a road bike for a while now and can definitely see the appeal of a fixed gear, but until I find myself back in the city I need some gears for hills.
Click to expand...

I may be mistaken, but I don't think that's a "fixie". I thought a fixie was like a kids tricycle, where if the wheels are spinning, so are the pedals. That's retarded, and dangerous imo. Single speed bikes are great, but fixed gear bikes are worse than walking.
 
lxskllr said:
I may be mistaken, but I don't think that's a "fixie". I thought a fixie was like a kids tricycle, where if the wheels are spinning, so are the pedals. That's retarded, and dangerous imo. Single speed bikes are great, but fixed gear bikes are worse than walking.
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that's the idea, minus the tricycle part. I don't quite understand it myself (from a non-hipster perspective), which is why I'm asking here.
 
SpatiallyAware said:
Enlighten me on what exactly a fixie is.
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A cheap bike based on a road bike frame with a single chainring on the crankset and a single fixed cog on the rear wheel. Most have drop bars but some have flat bars. Some have a flip flop hub with a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel cog on the other. With a fixed gear you don't need a brake because your legs act as the braking motion by resisting the pedalling action. When the bike is moving the pedals are rotating. Sometimes even a fixie will have a single front brake.

If you have the freewheel hub it technically isn't a fixed gear bike but they are so similar looking they can easily be confused...besides, I don't think there is an official term for a single speed road bike with freewheel.

Nobody rides them but hipster doofuses.

fuji_fixed_gear_bike.jpg
 
Fixed gear bikes are so wrong on the roads, especially if they have those stupid short handlebars.

A single speed is a different story. Single speed has one gear, but a flywheel to allow for coasting (or pedal breaking like on a kids bike). See that big steep hill you have to go down, NO PROBLEM. Just coast you way on down like a normal person. On a fixed gear you have to blow your feet off the pedals like a 4 year old on a runaway tricycle.

Compared to a multispeed bike single speeds are lighter, easier to maintain and generally efficient machines especially if you aren't climbing or descending too many hills. Fixed gears are made for a track and that is where they should stay.
 
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-gear_bicycle

When first riding a fixed gear, a cyclist used to a freewheel may try to freewheel, or coast, particularly when approaching corners or obstacles. Since coasting is not possible this can lead to a 'kick' to the trailing leg, and even to loss of control of the bicycle.

Riding at high speed around corners can be difficult for the novice rider, as the pedals can strike the road, resulting in possible loss of control.
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lulz.

all because they don't want a freewheel



eheh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAs-N9R85L0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC0-eCarWvk&feature=related
 
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no one actually rides a fixie? or are ya'll in hiding cuz you don't want to be berated? lol
 
The Boston Dangler said:
please, please post it on youtube 🙂
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Will do. I have to find one first though. I'm not dedicated to the idea enough to buy one. I saw them in a catalog once, and they're expensive as shit. I don't remember the price, but it was shocking considering the technology involved.
 
Some sort of fad popping around me. I went to LA over the weekend and saw em all over. I know they are very popular in the Bay. People do tricks with em and stuff, check out on youtube. My friend's trying to convert me but I'm happy with my road bike.
 
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