Originally Posted by Yonni .
1. Yes but why not on a road as well? I've seen people doing hill training on a fixie. Very tough on the way up and good for power training. On the way down you improve your pedal stroke and max cadence by having to pedal.
2. Can't comment on helmets as many folk ride through my city on bikes of all shapes and sizes without a helmet - that's not unique to fixies!
3. Non sequitur
4. Why tacky? Does it spoil the look for you? If that makes them OK to ride as a utility bike then why not a fixie as well?
5. True, you can coast but that is exactly why people who ride fixies do so, because you can't coast.
6. Why must you be able to coast in order to commute on a fixie? Non sequitur, again.
7. Ok that's my tuppence worth. i think you are missing the point of fixies. Have you ever given one a proper go? More than once around the block? I'm not saying that they are for everyone but once you get a feel for one it becomes a nice addition to the stable. I use mine for short trips and training. I like the way my legs are made to work for starting and stopping. I love the fact that it's cost me next to nothing to build it from (you guessed it) an old steel frame (far superior ride to my more expensive but harsher aluminium bike). I like the fact that I've made it from the bottom bracket up and will soon be building my first set of wheels for it. It's just a different way of cycling and a good experience to have had.
Disclaimer: I do not frequent college campuses (campii?) and am in no way considered a "cool kid" at 44 I also do not commute as I work from home.
Ride on, ride on...
1. What I should have said is that fixed gears belong on tracks and for training use. I am all about using them for training.
2. I know a lot of people don't wear helmets, I wasn't implying that was a sixed gear fad. I was just saying, how dumb is it to not wear a helmet on something that is designed to go fast and it has no brakes or way of stopping fast.
4. A fixie makes no sense as a "utility bike" it is not practical for that purpose. If I worked at a bike shop and someone came in with a need for a simple bike to ride to and from work or school and the grocery store occasionally, I would recommend just about everything but a fixed gear bicycle.
5. Non coast makes sense for training indeed, but not for casual commuting.
6. Try to ride a fixie through traffic with a bag or even just a back back. And then when a car doesn't see you (as they often don't) try to stop and not get killed. Maybe that's just my lack of fixed gear experience. Even if I was good enough on a fixed gear I would never choose it as a commuter.
7. And finally, no I have not ridden a fixie for any extended period of time. I would like to own one however. I would use it for what you are describing for the most part: for training and maybe occasional recreational rides to get the feel of constant pedaling. I do like the idea of a fixed gear but my frustration lies in all of the people riding them around that have no intention of training or are just riding them because their friends have one.
So, to be clear, I am not against fixed gears, I would like one to use for it's intended purpose. Which is training (on or off track), and track use.
