What types of distance and conditions are fixie good at?

Fixed gear bicycles have been used since the invention of the modern "safety" bicyce (2 equal sized wheels, crankset, chain). For around 30 years the Tour de France was ridden on fixed gear bicycles, until the derailleur was invented and refined to a practical point. The only "legitimate" fixed gear racing nowadays is different track racing events on the velodrome, although there are more informal messenger races and even stationary bike races where fixed gear bikes are commonly used.

Fixies are great for really any type of commuting, training, basically anything that you would do with a road bike. Of course if you were racing someone of your same fitness who was on a geared bike, they would probably whoop you just because they have so many more gearing options and can relax on the hills when a fixed rider would have to be cranking away with their single gear.

They are excellent for cadence training and power training.

Last year I commuted 40 miles a day, 3 days a week to school on my fixie, so yeah they are awesome for long distance as well as commuting.

here are some pros and cons (in my opinion) on fixies:

Pros

You really do feel like you are one with the bike. you have complete control of it especially if you are running a front brake, so it ends up feeling like an extension of your body. what i mean is that when you get to a stoplight, you can trackstand, whereas on a road bike, most people unclip and have to put their foot down, and then get their foot back on the pedal when it turns green.

You get excellent cadence training, since you cant stop pedaling so when you go fast, you have to pedal fast.

They can also be good for hill training, because you can't just ease up, you have to go hard or get off and walk.

there is very little maintenance you have to worry about. every few months replace your chain (here is another pro, single speed chains are CHEAP like 10 bucks). replace your tires when you need to. lube your chain with a good chain lube maybe once a week. and thats pretty much it for maintenance.

You can race them on the velodrome which is incredibly fun

you can do cool tricks with them

cons

Unfortunately, these days, fixed gear bikes are popular as fashion accessories.

people might call you a hipster

it is absolutely miserable to ride in strong wind (but so is riding a geared bike in the wind)

as for if i would get one if i already had a good road bike, I do already have one good road bike, which i race, and i have 2 fixed gears. one that i ride on the velodrome, and one that is for around town and road training, and tricks and all that.

@xps...

I agree with a lot of what you say, especially about fixies being good for your cadence. I'd add that it will smooth out your pedal stroke as well... I also think they're b/c of the lower maintenance, though in reality adjusting derailleurs is not something that has to happen too often usually, especially once cables are stretched.

I would say to the other points... people WILL call you a hipster, and that most people have no business riding one off of rollers or a velodrome. It's kind of like hot rod cars drag racing in my opinion. Sure you're a good driver, yada yada yada, but all it takes is one old lady pulling out in front of you when you're not looking...

I can also trackstand fine on my road bike. You just need to work with the brakes a little more :-)

Not trying to be argumentative... just my $0.02

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RE:

What types of distance and conditions are fixie good at?

Seems like Fixie is getting more popular these days. What are the common usages of a fixie? Is it mainly for local commuting? Are there anyone use it for longer trips (> 30 miles)? If you already have a good road bike, will you add a fixie to your collection? Does it help your training?

You your road bike in one gear and leave it there. You will find out what having one gear is all about. I like to climb hills and go faster to 21 mph.

Best Fixies

short flat slow dangerous commuting

also posing, posturing and poseuring

well maybe mainly that more than the former actually

but you can have PLAID WHEELS, if you give up brakes

wle