Area Commuters using fixies

The Gazette has a story on the increased use of fixies by local commuters.

A fixed gear bicycle, or ‘‘fixie,” has the rear wheel and pedals connected through a single, fixed gear. The mechanics of the bike make it impossible to coast, unless the rider wants to taste asphalt. It’s just like the original bicycle design: if your back wheel is moving, your legs better be pedaling.

Yet fixies are more popular now than ever before in recent memory, with an especially large, growing contingent in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

The reason is simplicity

‘‘The $150 department store bikes are pure evil,” Reighard said. ‘‘At the same price they can put out an inexpensive bike without a suspension or gears, and with much better quality throughout. But don’t get me wrong, any bike is better than a car.”

It doesn’t get much simpler than a fixed gear bike. Without the added weight of gears and suspension, a fixed gear bike can be whittled down to less than 20 pounds, nearly 10 pounds less than most of its geared counterparts. For people who use their fixies for commuting, a lighter, more streamlined bike can make all the difference.

Comments

[Jack]

With shifting always in various states of maladjustment on my three bikes, maybe I should try a fixie! Though my knees might not like it. Don't even get me started on the new Shimano shifters.

[Ryan]

You should try an internally geared hub. No derailers to get misaligned and no external parts to get dirty. I have a bike with a three-speed and I love it.

[Rory]

This story is fairly misleading. Elimination of shifters, front and rear derailleurs, and rear cogs does not save 10 pounds. My bike has 20 speeds and weighs less than 20 pounds. I can also go up and down hills without killing my knees or spinning like mad.

The fact is that 'fixies' are a hipster-driven fad/fashion statement and nothing more. They are horribly suited for going up (or down) any sort of hill and any weight savings might be a pound or two at most.

Now, I will agree that the people riding around the city on full-suspension mountain bikes might need their heads 'fixied'.

[Roy]

Hey Rory, how much did your 20-speed cost you?

[KMAX]

A simple to manage fixed gear bike is a nice easy way to deal with riding in the city where there aren't that many hills to deal with. Also as Roy points out they cost substantially less then the carbon racing bikes that weigh in around the same as them.

Also, from cycling news:

"Fixed-gear training is a popular regimen in many cycling communities. The tool is a respected special purpose bicycle, employed to improve both technical skill and physical condition. They are often sold new, built-up solely for their intended use. In the US however, fixed-gear road riding remains an obscurity."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/fixed.shtml

Stop worrying about the so called "hipsters", I'm tired of hearing from every side about hipsters and fixed gear bikes being "their thing".

[znfdl]

Now Rory when you state: The fact is that 'fixies' are a hipster-driven fad/fashion statement and nothing more. I somewhat misleading as I have been riding a fixie for over 20 years. So for me and many of my cycling buddies it is not a fad but a great training tool. So open up your mind for a different experience than what you are use to and maybe you can see the simplicty and beauty of a fixie.

[walter]

as a cat 2 bike racer, and racer on the track over the years, and friends of marty nothstein, I can boldly assert that anyone riding a fixie on the streets without brakes deserves to be killed or at least seriously.

I know you dont have the skill sof Nothstein, and he laughs hard and shakes hi head when he sees fixies without brakes on public, esp urban, roads...