Fixies?

I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these? If so, what's your feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. I wouldn't take one much beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?

Papa Tom wrote:
I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these? If so, what's your feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. I wouldn't take one much beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?



fixed gear is a special kind of single speed, there is no freewheel or
coaster brake on a fixie so the pedals go around as long as the bike is
moving

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

"Papa Tom" wrote in message
...
I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed
gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these? If so, what's your
feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that
serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. I wouldn't take one much
beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?


Papa Tom,
"single speed" could mean "coaster bike" which could be your beach cruiser,
or it could mean "single speed freewheel" which could be a "10 speed" style
bike that has been stripped of derailleurs and all but one front and one
rear sprocket, or it could mean "fixed gear" which is a bike without a
freewheel, so that whenever the rear wheel rotates, so do the pedals. Some
of these have no brakes other than the feet resisting the pedals rotating.
Modern "single speed freewheel" and "fixed gear" bikes are likely to be much
lighter than beach cruisers, so would be easier to ride up hills with. If
you have a multi-speed bike, you could try riding it in only one gear and
see how it suits you on the hills.
Kerry

On Feb 26, 1:13*pm, "Papa Tom" wrote:
I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?


http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these? *If so, what's your feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? *I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. *I wouldn't take one much beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?

Do beach cruisers come with a fixed gear, light frames, and 700c
tires? Uhhhh, no.

They are trendy, but don't dismiss them for that reason alone. They're
good for exercise and simplicity and fun.


The hubs can be run with either a fixed cog or a bmx freewheel. The
bikes on Nashbar look to have poor gearing choices, so the cogs would
have to be replaced first thing for most folks for something larger.

If you want a fairly priced but better specced single speed road bike
that's strong, I think a Kona Paddy Wagon or Redline 925 are smarter
choices.

I've run single speed road bikes for years, FWIW. It's no big deal if
you have the right gear. If I'm hauling a lot of crap, I take the
geared bike...

On Feb 26, 11:13*am, "Papa Tom" wrote:
I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these? *If so, what's your feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? *I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. *I wouldn't take one much beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?

A single speed usually refers to a single speed freewheel bike --
meaning that you have one gear and can coast. A fixed gear is a
direct drive mechanism. When the wheel goes around, so does your
crank and legs.

Many people ride fixed years. They are the Bohemian cause celebre. I
rode fixed gears for many years in hilly terrain, and they were
manageable going up because I always used reasonable gears, but they
were miserable on long descents. They were a tool to improve my spin
back in my racing days, and I raced track, too, so I rode a fixed gear
racing. But nowadays, I like to commute through the hills as
comfortably and quickly as possible -- which means having a selection
of gears going up and going down. A fixed gear is not a good choice
for me. -- Jay Beattie.

Ah hah. Actually, I think I KNEW the difference between regular single
speed and "fixed gear," but forgot.

Anyway, the reason I asked is that I'm debating whether to convert an old
mountain bike into a simple single speed (not a fixie) with a coaster brake.
This would become my "chore" bike, meaning the one I would ride to the
supermarket, the local pizza place, etc when I don't want to leave my other
bike (a 21-speed) outside.

I'm still in good shape and take some challenging multi-day rides on my
other bike, but I'm wondering how much I will end up hating a single speed
once it's piled down with groceries and I need to get up the moderate hills
around my home.

Papa Tom wrote:

I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

In this case, "hot, new" must be translated into "jumped the shark
three or four years ago; now the province of fashion-addled morons and
punk-ass kids".

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?

A fixed gear is like a single-speed in the same way that a brain-
damaged and retarded adult is like a small child. Their utmost
capabilities are similar, but only one of them is sad and
unfortunate. Fixies and brain-damaged adults are a lot more
intractable, bothersome, and dangerous.

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these?

Nobody of any consequence. But judging from my neighborhood, there
are a lot of people of no consequence these days.

If so, what's your feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. I wouldn't take one much beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?

They are not cruisers. You can't cruise on one even if that's what
you want to do. They're sort of like walking, if walking could tear
your pants off, and if pausing while walking caused you to fall down
and hurt yourself.

A single speed road bike, or better yet a coaster braked road bike, is
a great way to enjoy the essence and simplicity of cycling on a pure
and undistracting machine. I recommend it.

Fixed gearing, though, is like manual spark advance on cars-- there
were good reasons that it was superseded a long time ago, and there
are no good reasons to consider bringing it back. If there arose a
hipster fashion for driving cars with manual spark advance, then the
folks who did it would sometimes become a nuisance to other road users
due to their impaired ability to deal with traffic situations.

Chalo

Papa Tom wrote:

I'm still in good shape and take some challenging multi-day rides on my
other bike, but I'm wondering how much I will end up hating a single speed
once it's piled down with groceries and I need to get up the moderate hills
around my home.

You'll like it. It's easier than you think. Just choose a gear that
allows you climb the grades you are likely to face without stalling.
(I use 45/19 for about 64 gear inches.) If you are tired and heavily
loaded, there's no shame in stepping off and walking a very steep
stretch now and again. But I think you'll find that it is rarely
necessary to do so.

Chalo

On Feb 26, 2:36 pm, Chalo wrote:
Papa Tom wrote:

I just got the new Nashbar catalogue, which appears to be pushing fixed gear
bikes as the hot new technology.

In this case, "hot, new" must be translated into "jumped the shark
three or four years ago; now the province of fashion-addled morons and
punk-ass kids".

First of all, is a "fixed gear" bike the same as a "single-speed" bike?

A fixed gear is like a single-speed in the same way that a brain-
damaged and retarded adult is like a small child. Their utmost
capabilities are similar, but only one of them is sad and
unfortunate. Fixies and brain-damaged adults are a lot more
intractable, bothersome, and dangerous.

Next, is anybody out there riding one of these?

Nobody of any consequence. But judging from my neighborhood, there
are a lot of people of no consequence these days.

If so, what's your feeling
about using one for a moderately hilly area with only moderately strong,
46-year old legs? I've got some old single-speed cruisers around that serve
me fairly well for riding around the block. I wouldn't take one much beyond
that, though.

Are the new fixed gear bikes anything more than glorified beach cruisers?

They are not cruisers. You can't cruise on one even if that's what
you want to do. They're sort of like walking, if walking could tear
your pants off, and if pausing while walking caused you to fall down
and hurt yourself.

A single speed road bike, or better yet a coaster braked road bike, is
a great way to enjoy the essence and simplicity of cycling on a pure
and undistracting machine. I recommend it.

Fixed gearing, though, is like manual spark advance on cars-- there
were good reasons that it was superseded a long time ago, and there
are no good reasons to consider bringing it back. If there arose a
hipster fashion for driving cars with manual spark advance, then the
folks who did it would sometimes become a nuisance to other road users
due to their impaired ability to deal with traffic situations.

Chalo

Chalo speaks the truth!!

:::::::::::::!APPLAUSE!::::::::::::::::

On 26 Feb, 20:36, Chalo wrote:

Fixed gearing, though, is like manual spark advance on cars-- there
were good reasons that it was superseded a long time ago, and there
are no good reasons to consider bringing it back. *If there arose a
hipster fashion for driving cars with manual spark advance, then the
folks who did it would sometimes become a nuisance to other road users
due to their impaired ability to deal with traffic situations.

Chalo

If the spark timing was foot controlled it might be fun learning.
Then I could play with the noises on the overun. If I can balance my
two feet to stand, I can do it to control throttle and spark.
TJ