A fixie bike offers enough novelty to turn heads on the street. You've probably seen one of these bikes around your neighborhood, scratched your head, and thought "What's the point?" It does appear that fixed-gear bikes defeat the purpose of convenient and efficient transportation. A fixed-gear bike offers little opportunity to improvise when you only have one speed option. This is one of the reasons why it's merely considered a fad. It's a blast from the past which offers little value other than its novelty and offbeat appeal. You should try out a fixed-gear bike just for kicks, though; you'll find its simplicity and challenges thrilling.
One thing's clear, though; fixed gear and single-speed bikes are different, so don't expect your ride to be smooth the first time you take a fixie out for a road test. Even though its gear options are identical to single-speed bikes, it's rigged so the pedals turn with the wheels and vice versa. The absence of a freewheel also means you can't coast. A fixed-gear bike's drive train is permanently locked onto the gear on the rear wheel, so you'll have to keep pedaling if you want to increase your speed or you can let the rotation flow if you only want to maintain it. You can even opt for minimalist fixed-gear designs if you're up for the challenge. These don't have drive trains and the pedals are installed directly on the rear wheel's hub.
Your bike can switch between single-speed or fixie functions with a flip-flop hub, an essential feature if you want to effortlessly manage the transition. The hubs may be built into the rear wheel's spoke or these may be attachments. You could swap the hubs on either side or flip the wheel over to switch between the fixed and freewheel cogs. The setup is somewhat similar to a mountain bike, though, so it's best to keep things simple with an exclusive fixed-gear bike. If you can manage without all the frills, then you should choose a minimalist setup instead and do away with the brakes and the drive train. You'll need plenty of experience before you go without brakes, though, especially if you intend to use the bike on your daily commutes.
The simple setup can even work to your advantage, especially if you're looking for a convenient alternative to the complicated bits and pieces of multispeed bikes. You don't have to worry about multiple gears and proper shifting with a fixie, and the bike will grow on you as you master the quirks of its control.
The convenience of your ride solely depends on that one gear on your rear wheel, so it's important you find one you're most comfortable with. Start out with a lower gear and replace it with higher gears as your pace and proficiency improves.
One thing's clear, though; fixed gear and single-speed bikes are different, so don't expect your ride to be smooth the first time you take a fixie out for a road test. Even though its gear options are identical to single-speed bikes, it's rigged so the pedals turn with the wheels and vice versa. The absence of a freewheel also means you can't coast. A fixed-gear bike's drive train is permanently locked onto the gear on the rear wheel, so you'll have to keep pedaling if you want to increase your speed or you can let the rotation flow if you only want to maintain it. You can even opt for minimalist fixed-gear designs if you're up for the challenge. These don't have drive trains and the pedals are installed directly on the rear wheel's hub.
Your bike can switch between single-speed or fixie functions with a flip-flop hub, an essential feature if you want to effortlessly manage the transition. The hubs may be built into the rear wheel's spoke or these may be attachments. You could swap the hubs on either side or flip the wheel over to switch between the fixed and freewheel cogs. The setup is somewhat similar to a mountain bike, though, so it's best to keep things simple with an exclusive fixed-gear bike. If you can manage without all the frills, then you should choose a minimalist setup instead and do away with the brakes and the drive train. You'll need plenty of experience before you go without brakes, though, especially if you intend to use the bike on your daily commutes.
The simple setup can even work to your advantage, especially if you're looking for a convenient alternative to the complicated bits and pieces of multispeed bikes. You don't have to worry about multiple gears and proper shifting with a fixie, and the bike will grow on you as you master the quirks of its control.
The convenience of your ride solely depends on that one gear on your rear wheel, so it's important you find one you're most comfortable with. Start out with a lower gear and replace it with higher gears as your pace and proficiency improves.
About the Author:
Browse online bike stores for multi-speed, single-speed, and fixie bikes. You'll have numerous setups, designs and customization options to choose from; check out online stores first before you consider your local bike shops.
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