[Closed] What's the point of a Fixie?

Hey, who would have thought this thread would have turned out so shite? it's like watching rats trapped in a maze that they cannot get out from. Keep up the good work.

^^^ proper reason?

You're overthinking this far too much. Either give it a go, or forget about it. It's the only way you'll ever decide.

Sounds like there isn't one. There's either a reason, or it's just more fun.

I think what's really being asked is:

"Is riding fixed like riding with gears or suspension in the way that it has demonstrable physical advantages, or is like riding a unicycle, which is only worth it if the fun outweighs the physical disadvantages?"

smell_it - Member

Hey, who would have thought this thread would have turned out so shite? it's like watching rats trapped in a maze that they cannot get out from. Keep up the good work.

agreed - yet another topic to add to the list of people arguing to the death to try to convince themselves that their judgment is correct, justifiable and well thought out. and that they matter.

to be filed next to apple/android, ford/holden, cars/bikes etc. it's quite pathetic when you take a step back and observe.

agreed - yet another topic to add to the list of people arguing to the death to try to convince themselves that their judgment is correct, justifiable and well thought out. and that they matter.

remind me again what one should expect on a STW thread about something that a majority of the protagonists know very little about?

What should one expect on any online discussion board regarding anything at all?

expect - people doing the above.

hope - people discussing topics they are inevitably not experts on with an open mind.

i realise the odds are vastly stacked in favour of the former, but the reduction to insults and willy waving is still pathetic.

It's because it's a very wooly question about questionable and subjective advantages.

If the question was "I'm going racing, will I be faster with suspension/29er/slick tyres or not?", there'd be a good slice of decent, objective advice regarding equipment vs conditions. Along with a liberal sprinkling of bullshit, obviously.

But here, it seems there's no concencus on where there are any demonstrable advantages, so the argument just somes down to whether people like it or not. Hardly surprising it's all got a bit silly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FA0I77lMgY

http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/8249298/Laura-Trott-happy-to-be-back-in-the-saddle-ahead-of-Glasgow-Track-World-Cup

and the fact that there's no concencus vindicates the OP for having asked the question "Is there a point, other than it just being nicer if you like it?" because it's a decent question, and the answer, based on this thread, seems to be resoundingly "No, not really.".

Thanks everyone, you've opened my eyes quite a bit to fixed wheel bikes. Looks fun doing those type of skids but I'm not sure I could ride brake-less!

Thanks for posting a vid!

Guess you've all seen Chris Akrig on a fixie?

Can I achieve the same effect (just to try it out) by just constantly pedaling and not letting up? Minus the cool skids of course. 😉

Right, picture break..............

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Somafunk, is your charge plug a 2013? Been waiting since mid sept for mine, gettin fed up!. Where'd you get it?

I want that Surly. Here's mine, if we're posting pictures...

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Eeeeh, that's not the most beautiful bike I've ever seen...

I love those Cinellis
not cheap though

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this is my commuter, I have ridden a fixed gear since I was a teenager (the 80s), because my dad had one.
Fixed gear for commuting is super cheap. I have a 48/16 gear on it and it gets up and down most sensible hills

If I lived somewhere with nasty steep hills I would use a geared bike.

I've only ever struck a pedal really badly once and that was a long time ago on an unsuitable frame with long cranks and was caught out with the change in camber on a roundabout - I was flicked right into the air but held onto the bars and landed back on the bike and managed to not hurt myself too badly... with a SS or fixed specific frame you'd have to lean a really long way over to get pedal to tarmac

Ooooh picture time... Here's mine. A road bike, with mudguards, normal brakes, look keos and nice Harry Rowland Miche/Mavic Open Pro wheels. Oh and it happens to be fixed. Not that you would notice when I ride it.

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And here's my other one, that mildly shouts fixie. I'll be hill climbing on this on Sunday, but not in this gear.

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Jim fixed it for me......coat fetched 😳

This was fixed for the first few weeks, whilst I was waiting for a hub. And that was fun on the techie trails at puddletown. My normal fixie is a surly steamroller with surly open bars and a pdw takeout basket, sprung saddle... It's a gents ale hunter.

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Double post

Hurrah for pictures!

Touring / commuting:
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Roading:
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Mountain biking:
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Riding:
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Had a couple of hours free this morning, went over to Ashton Court, rode the fixed KM, spent the rest of the day smiling like a loon....for me that's the point............

no idea but this is way too clever:

How come all the mtb fixies don't have suspension?

I'd consider myself comfortable riding normally on a fixed wheel bike but hopping up or down a kerb, just snaps my mind - riding off road, like proper off road with roots and rocks and jumps must be proper hard

Alex of Solutide cycles fame used to do rather well at riding fixed off road, i remember following him down a tricky descent at the Euro SingleSpeed champs at Aviemore in 2004 and he was doing rather well, occasional hop here, quick bounce there and it was certainly very skilful to watch, if i tried that off road i'd be off on my face within seconds. I can manage the odd kerb and riding off a few steps is a challenge i want to master along with a long and controlled wheelie but off road riding is something else entirely.

PS : Where is Alex these days?, is he still building?

How come all the mtb fixies don't have suspension

I'd imagine suspension becomes a bit redundant when you don't have a freewheel. Maybe the kind of person who'd ride fixed offroad tends towards having the most simple form of bike?

Mine does as it improves the ability to plough through stuff when required. I move a spacer below the stem also to take a bit of pressure off the hands too.
I also run 2 brakes as it's increases the ability to be able to get down stuff in the wet massively compared to only a front brake and an impossible to control back pressure braking in slick mud and gives your legs a break if they are turning to rubber on fast downhills.

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/6905691866_7f7bb165f0.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/6905691866_7f7bb165f0.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomlevell/6905691866/ ]Stupified Simple[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/tomlevell/ ]tomlevell[/url], on Flickr

Somafunk, did you see my post above?^^^

Yeah, I sent u an email to your address in profile

[i]Mine does as it improves the ability to plough through stuff when required. I move a spacer below the stem also to take a bit of pressure off the hands too.
I also run 2 brakes as it's increases the ability to be able to get down stuff in the wet massively compared to only a front brake and an impossible to control back pressure braking in slick mud and gives your legs a break if they are turning to rubber on fast downhills[/i]

slow handclap....well done.

Your point being?

I used to ride fixed on the track and on the road. I always found that my pedalling was vastly improved...6or riding fixed. However, riding a geared bike afterwards always fel like chopping broccoli in comparison.

That said, I rather fancy another road fixed - might build one over Christmas.

Jekkyl, in answer to the q, I guess you're meaning rear suspension. Lack of is usually to do with chain length/growth/tension. Oh and fixie riders can say its because they like simplicity, I think it's a masochistic thing.......

My current fav ride...
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PS : Where is Alex these days?, is he still building?

http://leecoopercycles.webs.com/apps/photos/

http://www.63xc.com/faq/faq.htm

[url= http://crankedupreallyhigh.com/?p=185 ]Friend's thoughts on the subject[/url]

Contributions to the site most welcome....

crankedupreallyhigh@gmail.com

Never tire of looking at that ericemel - love it..!

(Not read all of that.)

Fixed is really silly, but so is riding a bike for no real purpose, so it doesn't matter 🙂

I have a really ugly fixed, which was a prize at SSUK in 2006. A Solitude frame built with some unsuitable parts. It's ugly but fun.

Rode my Simple fixed while I was sorting out my rear brake, really enjoyed it...probably because it was so different to my usual riding.

Reading this lot is making me think of going fixed again for the winter...

I used to have a fixed bike. An ancient half rusted steel thing with horizontal dropouts and 28" (they were old) wheels. Commuted on it for a year with panniers and mudguards and all that jazz.

Then I sold it to my brother. Who now rides it everywhere.

Wish I'd kept it, to be honest.

I just liked riding it - enough reason for me to think they have "a point".

More fixing. This time of the past break glitch.

Ed Hornby up there ^^^ once crashed his fixie into the Basingstoke canal. Was one of the funniest things I ever saw in my life.
I like the cut of that Kona's jib.
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Cheers our kid 😀 didn't you fall off your bike recently?
it was my dads fixed gear and probably too big really but yeah I ended up in the drink and right up to my shoulders

I have also come to the conclusion that the best way of avoiding trouser ripping or oilstain is the rolled up trouser leg - fixie****tery of the highest order and ultimate practicality in one, gah