Practicality of fixies

[Trengot]

I'm wanting to get a bike for riding to and from uni (still) and have found this

I've not ridden a fixie before. Would it be a bad idea to get one considering the route has a fair bit of hill and traffic and the bike has no brakes?

[Rich]

I'm not the most knowledgeable on fixies but here's some thoughts:

That's a track bike, not a commuting bike, won't the angles be really harsh for cruising around on?

You need at least a front brake too if you're using it on the road, so that'd solve the no brake problem.

Depends on how hilly, I know a load of people shoot around on them in the Burgh and it's not a flat place. Once you've got used to it people say you have a load more control when you're shooting through traffic.

[yoadius]

Leave fixed wheel to the velodromes and fag art students, get a single speed with a front brake that can freewheel if you want simplicity.

[Big Red S]

descending on a fixie is difficult and painful. If the route's hilly, you'll want several smaller hills to practice on and get the strength up. Going down a hill on just a front brake is generally less desirable than burning the crap out of your legs to slow down.

personally, road bike. Maybe singlespeed if you want the simplicity, but if there are hills regularly I'd want a rear brake.

[magnus]

fixed wheels practicalities lie on the track.

Those who ride them on the road are doing it purely for the value of looking like a knob. They can make as many reasons up as they want about increased control and speed but they are lying.

[Big Red S]

They're brilliant fun to ride, though.

[Trengot]

cheapest road bike within a bus journey on eBay it is then

[magnus]

They're brilliant fun to ride, though.

They arnt though


Its like driving a formula one car round a city centre. The real potential for speed there but unable to achieve that speed due to using the completely wrong tool for the job.  They are akward, uncomfortable bikes which you cant turn,accelerate,slow down properly with.

[Big Red S]

They're brilliant fun to ride, though.

They arnt though

Its like driving a formula one car round a city centre. The real potential for speed there but unable to achieve that speed due to using the completely wrong tool for the job.  They are akward, uncomfortable bikes which you cant turn,accelerate,slow down properly with.

He said fixie, not track bike. Something with lazy road bike geometry, fixed wheel, front brake and sod all else is fun to ride. Perhaps only in town, but it's hilarious fun no less.

[Mike Skinner]

Lolz at magnus just being wrong on this one. Might not be your thing but you can't say it isn't fun as that's been proved wrong by everyone that rides and loves them.

I've never ridden a track bike but I can imagine they'd be pretty dire for riding around generally on, fixies in the street sense aren't though.

Christ, people used to run fixed gear bmx's

[yoadius]

Can't go round corners at any decent speed on a fixie without stiking pedals on the floor, made even worse on the 'road' geometries with a lower bottom bracket. For a blast round a city they might be fun, but for commuting or even worse, tricks, there are many better suited bikes out there.

[Parryman]

fixies are fine for cities and flat areas, not so good for hills.
cornering is shit at speed.

i say get a cheap roadie, then SS it and get a flip flop rear so you can run fixed/free and see which you prefer.
chances are it will be the geared bitch.

[magnus]

They're brilliant fun to ride, though.

They arnt though

Its like driving a formula one car round a city centre. The real potential for speed there but unable to achieve that speed due to using the completely wrong tool for the job.  They are akward, uncomfortable bikes which you cant turn,accelerate,slow down properly with.

He said fixie, not track bike. Something with lazy road bike geometry, fixed wheel, front brake and sod all else is fun to ride. Perhaps only in town, but it's hilarious fun no less.

You would make a valid point if it were not for the fact that 90% of fixie riders ride track bikes.

[Big Red S]

Hm? He still asked about the practicality of a fixie, and fixies are still hilarious fun to ride, irrespective of how many people there are who appear to quite like track bikes.

[Parryman]

my fixie isnt as tight as a track bike.