So I’m sure this has been discussed before, but I don’t really post here anymore, and the search function wasn’t so much working, so…
I converted a bike to a fixed gear recently, and I ride it as much as possible. It is incredible. Who else rides?
Can you guys do any tricks? ride backwards, spins, long or varied track stands, spins?
I figured it’s related to unicycling, they’re both fixed gears, you know.
i just got back from a half hour ride on my fixie. finally took it out of winter storage (well, i bought it like last november. and i stopped riding it around new years since it was so warm here)
can’t do anything yet. can barely get my foot into the clips. turning scares me because my toes rub on the front wheel. and as much as i try to not use my brake, i have to on downhills because my leg muscles are pretty shot right now!
but it’s pretty fun!
the only time i ever tried one was when my (super cycle athlete) single speed friend tried it out on his bike and hated it. i got on it and found it very instinctive. if i ever get a bike again, 'twill be a fixie
I’m considering modding my mountian bike to a single speed, possibly fix gear. Anyone know what they’re like in traffic?
I bought a singlespeed / fixie a month ago. It has a flipflop hub on the back and can be flipped from singlespeed mode to fixie mode.
I’ve been riding it in singlespeed mode. I hope to be riding it more often in fixie mode, but I’m still getting things adjusted and sorted on the bike. Once I get it all sorted I’ll try the fixie mode more.
Current gearing is 46/18. That gearing works great for the mostly flat bike trail where I’ve been riding it. Gets to be a bugger on short steep hills though. First thing I checked when looking at the bike was if I’d have problems with toe overlap with the front wheel. The front of my shoes just clear the front wheel with millimeters to spare. And that’s with using 170mm cranks. It’s gonna be a good fit for fixie use.
I’ll have to see where all this goes and how much I’ll be liking the fixie option vs. the singlespeed option.
I have no idea how gears/speeds work on a bike…what is the difference between single-speed and fixed-gear?
single speed you can coast, fixed gear is like a uni-cranks move with the back wheel, not independent. usually fixies only have one gear.
any nice fixie hubs sounds like it would be fun…
Like a BMX?? 
yea, bmxes is a singlespeed. but when most people talk about singlespeeds, as in piecing one together or racing them, they mean mountain bikes with only one gear…
I think Huffy made a MTB once that had a single speed. Didn’t take off very well though. 
Every time I mention to people that I have a fixed gear they always ask if it’s like a BMX. And all the BMX’s I know and/or have owned are always single speed. So either I’m not describing it right or a whole lot of people can’t tell the difference.
I think there is a small difference between BMX and MTB
BMX
BMX is an abbreviation for bicycle motocross, the style of biking created with its use. BMX biking is an started by kids trying to emulate their favorite motocross riders on their own bicycles. BMX bikes are traditionally set on 20’ wheels and smaller than normal frames. The ratio of the frame size allows riders to maintain controller when performing tricks. The handlebars on a BMX bike can spin completely in a circle. This in itself is considered a trick in BMX. BMX bikes are used to ride in streets, on half pipes, in dirt jumping and more.
MTB
A mountain bike, also called a dirt bike or trail bike, is designed exactly for its name. Mountain bikes are used to ride in mountain terrain: rocks, hills, dirt. Mountain bikes are known by their wide tires and handlebars that are perpendicular to the ground. Mountain bikes are also equipped with a shock absorption system, key when riding on rough ground.
For more info: associatedcontent.com
A whole lotta people don’t know the difference. I have never seen a fixed gear BMX style bike. People obviously just don’t know what they’re talking about if they get them confused.
I don’t have one, never had a chance to ride one. But I really want to buy one!
There’s a core group of older guys who ride fixie on the trail network at UMaine. I’ve only seen them a couple times, but they’re nuts. I’d like to give it a shot sometime, but don’t want to spend the money to build up a cheap bike now.
My fixie is pretty great in traffic. Since you can’t slow down as easily, you very quickly learn why they say “No gears no fears!”
I thought I understood, but that video confused me…if those are fixies, why were they able to coast so much?
From what I can see, those are fixed gear bikes, because I don’t see any brake leavers on the handlebars. (Single-speed needs a brake, and always rear. Fixed gear either go no brakes, or a front brake if the rider so chooses)
They’re not coasting. They’re skidding. They do a damn good job of it though. Basically they lock the back wheel from not pedaling. But they lean so much forwards their back wheel isn’t touching the ground nearly as much so they can continue to move on their front wheel.
Why the difference in brake choice? Front brakes are more effective so why not use the on both?