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Fixies?



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 26th 09, 08:09 PM posted to rec.bicycles.rides
Papa Tom
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Posts: 369
Default 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?


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  #2  
Old February 26th 09, 08:21 PM posted to rec.bicycles.rides
Art Harris
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Posts: 577
Default Fixies?

"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?


They ain't beach cruisers.

See:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixeda.html

Art Harris
  #3  
Old February 26th 09, 09:11 PM posted to rec.bicycles.rides
Papa Tom
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Posts: 369
Default Fixies?

Hmmm. Interesting that one of the first things that jumped out at me on
this page was the following quote:

"I still feel that varable gears are only for people over forty-five."

As I mentioned, I'm 46, so that answers PART of my question!


  #4  
Old February 27th 09, 06:42 PM posted to rec.bicycles.rides
Jym Dyer
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Posts: 999
Default Fixies?

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


=v= They're about 10 years late to the party, but hey.

=v= Fixies are fun, they're just very a different feel. Your
legs have a direct connection to the bike and never stop moving,
which means you can't coast, and you use your leg muscles to
pedal backwards when stopping. A classic fixie setup is to
have a rear wheel with a different-sized gear on each side of
the hub, and you can flip sides for mountainous terrain.

=v= Fixies have a minimalist beauty and some people take it
further by not having any brakes. The result is a "track bike,"
so named because it's intended for riding on velodrome tracks.
One stops, as I mentioned, by pedaling backwards.

=v= Track bikes aren't street-legal (there are laws requiring
brakes), but some people do ride track bikes on the street.
There has been much fear and panic about this, as if there's
been a sudden influx of insane bikers who can only stop by
crashing into widows and orphans.

"I still feel that varable gears are only for people over
forty-five."
As I mentioned, I'm 46, so that answers PART of my question!


=v= As you can imagine, fixies put more demands on muscles
and joints (especially knees), as would any single-speed bike.
My friend Jon is 50 and has no trouble riding his fixie every
day, and he lives in a decidedly unflat part of San Francisco.
_Jym_

 




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