Point/Counterpoint: Fixed-gear bikes
Point/Counterpoint: Fixed-gear bikes
Friday, October 24, 2008
PRO: Fixies dangerous, magic
By Nicholas Olsen
In recent times the fixed-gear bicycle has come back into its own, as thrill-seeking riders have picked up on its simplicity and feeling of power.
Many zealots have done away with the unnecessary parts. Like brakes. Crazy? Probably. The drive mechanism forces one to pedal as long as the wheels are in motion. The opposite is also true: If the pedals aren’t moving, then neither is the back wheel. Make no mistake, this is not the same simple bike you rode as a child. A halfhearted effort to stop will not overcome the wheels’ momentum and will fling the rider out of the seat with surprising force.
Within the danger, though, lies the beauty of fixed-gear riding. On the thin edge of control there comes a calmness. The pedals whisper what you never realized was there: The tiny rocks and cracks, the slightest hills and sandy patches. A whole new road stretches out begging to tell you its secrets.
Some spandex-clad road bikers express disdain for the fixed-gear riders who eschew cycling’s elitist culture of high-priced parts and gear, opting instead for hoodies and PBR packed away in deep messenger bags. Road bikers are always excited to retell a story from a friend of a friend about a fixed-gear biker who was killed while riding brakeless.
Despite cries of danger from the old school, fixed gears appeal to the cycling misfits going somewhere fast.
CON: Fixies for hipster fops
By Horace Williams
The rear freewheel sprocket was developed during the bicycle’s early heyday in the 1890s, followed shortly by the invention of the rear derailleur. The thing about both of these innovations is that they work. The rear sprocket allows cyclists to exploit excess momentum by coasting, while the derailleur lets riders stay within their preferred cadence range over a variety of speeds. Both grew out of the historical trend of bicycles to become more efficient and more comfortable, and it’s no wonder that they’ve become modern biking staples.
But if conveniences like these are available at low cost, why are so many people suddenly rejecting them in favor of fixed-gear bikes? Many reasons are cited, from “my fixie is lighter” (the difference between a fixed-gear and a comparable freewheel bike with gears is actually only a few hundred grams — about the equivalent of one more obscure novel) to “it really helps me improve my pedaling style” (it also puts incredible strain on your legs and knees from using them to brake, so unless you’re training for track cycling, it probably isn’t worth it).
Basically it is difficult to find a real, utilitarian justification for riding a fixed-gear bike. When you factor in the many other modifications “fixies” often make to their bikes, such as doing away with rear (and sometimes also front) brakes, the whole practice seems pretty absurd. However much people go on about “the fixie lifestyle of being in tune with their bike,” the real reason people choose a fixed-gear is because they and their hipster friends have decided that they’re too cool for safety and comfort. And if that’s what you’re looking for in a bike, by all means, go fixie. But please stop trying to convince me that it’s somehow superior to a freewheel bike with gears and a derailleur. And for God’s sake, use brakes.
Comments
None 3 years, 5 months ago
I agree. Fixed gear bikes can be dangerous. I read an article from http://www.thefixedgeargallery.com that suggests making fixie riders get a license since they can be a bit difficult to maneuver for some people. But that might be crossing the line.
None 3 years, 6 months ago
i own four fixed-gear bicycles - one of them is a mountain bike. i mainly use the road bikes to commute to work (about 8 miles each way), and yes, i do ride the mtb on trails (northern florida - not exactly mountainy). these are my only bikes, and i am completely devoted to fixed. that being said, there is no good logical reason (other than training) to ride fixed. except i like it... thats the hard part to explain. its not something most cyclists would like the first time they try it. but once you get used to it, it truly is hard to go back. now a geared bike feels broken to me, and it seems like there is too much stuff in the "cockpit". on a fixed gear, you feel like a freight train, especially on the flats and slight inclines, where the momentum of your back wheel pushes the pedals over. i raced both road and mountain in college, and have done a lot of riding since. i eventually got bored, and stopped lusting over the latest and greatest gear. i needed something new to rekindle my interest in cycling, and fixed was it. im back to lusting over gear, but now its a cheap set of drop bars flopped and chopped, or cheapie wheels that have rims that match my frame color. i love the uniqueness and sleek look of the bikes. as far as the hipster crowd - i am pretty sure im not that hip. im a middle aged married guy with a corolla. i do wear baggy shorts and a hooded sweatshirt, or whatever else is comfortable on a given day. frankly i dont look so good in lycra and i dont think most other people do either. so of all the reasons people use to defend their reasons for riding fixed, i think the only one that matters is that they enjoy it. those of you who ride geared bikes enjoy that. i dont judge you for it, and i dont expect you to explain yourself.
so try riding fixed sometime. or dont. doesnt really matter to me one way or the other...
None 3 years, 7 months ago
I took a 29.5 lb. bike-boom 10-speed ('77 Raleigh Grand Prix) and turned it into a 20 lb. bike to keep at the office for lunch rides. I ride with both brakes since I'm not using a reverse-thread lock ring. Total cost: $14 rear cog, $6 bar tape, $10 chain... and one less bike in the landfill. It helps that I had an old alloy road wheelset to replace the original steel wheels and a spare saddle to replace the '70's POS seat. With a straight chainline, the chain requires much less maintenance. If it disappears from my office, I'm only out $30 and some spare parts. Having to hump it up hills and spin down the other side means I get more of a workout in less time (a power and speed workout all-in-one). I'm too old and nerdy to ever be a hipster (and what's up with the cards in the spokes?).
None 3 years, 7 months ago
I don't own a fixie, but I do prefer dangerous magic over safety ...
None 3 years, 7 months ago
Hi Frankincense,
I learned how to install a brake by doing it on a fixie, first. Using cheap parts made me brave & even though I cut the first housing & brake cable too short, it only cost me about 10 bucks, & I then did it again. I guess you could do this on a road bike, but who would? My point was that it's a good entry-level approach to bike work, because it's simple, & you can tell right away if you did a good job or not.
As for theft, my fix gear cost a fraction of my cannondale road bike. It also has a bolted on rear wheel that wouldn't work for a typical mountain bike, ergo, I don't worry about that being stolen. When I lock it up I just throw a cheap u-lock on.
You seem a bit obsessed with the danger of people being part of a "cultural bandwagon". I'm not sure why you are so worried about it! Just relax a little. For the record, I'm not sure exactly who or what are hipsters, but if you are angry that I'm stealing hipster culture, that's fine, you can still do the winter training ride I've organized: 5:30, every tuesday for the next 4 weeks (then we shift to Wed), meeting in front of Romeo's. Slow speed, high spin, easy gears, we'll ride the canal trail & get in base miles.
Peace
None 3 years, 7 months ago
"you don't have to worry about theft/damage/etc. It's easy to fix on the side of the road, even if the chain breaks you can get home. If the wheel gets busted in the rear, you just have to keep it from rubbing the stays.
A fix gear is a reliable, CHEAP, easy method of transportation. You'll learn a lot about proper cabling & working with the chain & invest in the tools that you'll then need on a shifting bike."
I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. If your chain breaks, you are equally screwed with or without a derailleur. I'll grant you the point on a wheel out of true, although disengaging the rear brake will solve the issue without any tools. as to cheap? well, chances are, if you're going fixie it is to fall in with the Rudy's hipsters, which means you'll probably be paying someone to remove parts from a fully functional road bike, and then paying to get some flashy components thrown on. Speaking of which, how do you not have to worry about theft? Who in the world is going around stealing rear derailleurs? Finally, I have no idea how riding a bike without shifters or a rear brake is going to help you learn anything about cable routing. You seem to be generalizing your experiences converting your bike to the greater fixie population, which... well I mean come on.
I do agree that the article's scope is way narrow. But like I said earlier, I think the author hit the nail on the head saying that most fixie riders are unapologetically jumping on a hipster bandwagon that they know nothing about.
None 3 years, 7 months ago
As a spandex wearing shifter who also owns a fix gear, I can say the "con" piece is a bit misleading, in that it chooses to focus only on one aspect of fix gear riding. If that were the case, this article should be titled, "Brakes or no brakes?". Many fix-gear riders choose to ride with a front brake. This makes the bike every bit as safe as a freewheel bike with 2 brakes. The rear brake only accounts for 15% of your stopping power & can cause you to fish tail if you over-use it. I tend to not use my rear brake on my road bike except sparingly, & my knees (Bad as they are) can eat that on the fixie with an easy gear & a good spin.
It's a great way to get around New Haven because there are few hills & you don't have to worry about theft/damage/etc. It's easy to fix on the side of the road, even if the chain breaks you can get home. If the wheel gets busted in the rear, you just have to keep it from rubbing the stays.
A fix gear is a reliable, CHEAP, easy method of transportation. You'll learn a lot about proper cabling & working with the chain & invest in the tools that you'll then need on a shifting bike.
I rode the Lulus ride for a year on just a fix gear: The strength & training benefits speak for themselves....
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