New to Fixed Gear

!±8± New to Fixed Gear

What's so special about riding fixed gear. I thought about this today while I was out pedaling. I have six bikes. Road bikes, Recumbent, Mountain bike and single speed. (I work in a bike shop).

So why is it, my favorite bike is the fixed gear? It's probably the cheapest bike I own. It's definitely the simplest. So what is the magic of this bike that draws me to it? Then it hit me Satori! A Zen like enlightenment! When you ride any other bike it feels like a separate machine. You are operating a machine. If you stop pedaling the machine will continue to run like a car you are basically driving the bike.

Now the difference : With fixed gear you are one with the bike. You are directly connected to the road through that bike! The bike speeds up and slows down according to your pedaling... you flow. You can not stop pedaling unless the bike stops. You have become the bike! That is the difference!

So for all the money you spent on that expensive carbon fiber road bike you can never experience the same relationship that you can on that simple fixed gear.

Now grasshopper you understand the essence of fixed gear

Once you've decided you want a fixed gear and you want a new bike. Well your lucky most of the bicycle manufacturers now offer at least one fixed gear model in their line. Most prices range from 9 to 00. Things you want to look at Frame size find out your correct size. Frame material Steel, Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Everything else can be changed or upgrated. Frame material- I recommend steel.

1) it offers a better ride than aluminum. More shock absorbing.

2) Holds up better in a crash than aluminum or carbon.

3) Usually a better price than aluminum or carbon.

Only negative which is not really a negative - it weighs more. Weight on fixed gear bikes is not that crucial since they usually weigh less than most Road Bikes. Remember Fixed Gears have no shifters, derailleurs, freewheel or cassette thus lighter. If your racing on the track then get an aluminum or carbon fiber race frame. For the street go steel or aluminum.

The only advantage an aluminum frame has over steel is weight. With aluminum you have a harsher ride and in a crash it doesn't hold up as well as steel. Also steel can be bent back in shape and welded. Not usually the case with aluminum. It's your money so ride both and see what you like. Here is a list of new model fixed gear bikes. Bianchi- Pista, Cannondale- Capo, Giant- Bowery, KHS- Flite 100, Raleigh- Rush Hour, Schwinn- Madison, Specialized- Langster, Surly-Steam Roller a couple others worth looking at Dolan and Felt also have models. These are just a few of the better known bikes available.