I drive a truck with air in the brake lines & no seatbelt as it "improves my situational awareness"

"What am I missing about fixies?" Fucking straps, they make such a difference

A lot of my bikes growing up were fixed gears. I remember flying down hills with my feet off the pedals as they whirled around like blender blades. Getting a bike that allowed you to coast or even pedal backwards while moving was a strange concept.

the fact that you’re riding without foot retention, now THAT’S ridiculous.

It also creates exceptional situational awareness that stays with you no matter what bike you ride.

I rode fixed for 6 mos as a commuter and got pretty good at it...track stands, skid stops, all that. I admit there’s something pretty cool about being able to control your speed so directly through your legs and cadence. I kept waiting to feel that fixed gear bliss people go on about, but it never happened. Never being able to coast, plus the risk of pedal strike on tight corners, never made it feel very fun. I switched back to a single speed freewheel and felt completely liberated. My bike actually felt lighter even though I had added the weight of the rear brake back on. To each their own, but fixed gear just wasn’t as fun for me.

Great video, as an experienced track bike racer the first thing I noticed is that you rode the fixed-gear with for pedals. This is rule number 1 of riding a fixed gear, you want your feet to be attached to the pedals. Either by toe straps, or more ideally through clip-in cycling shoes. All of the control of your bike is in your feet and you actually slow and stop yourself by "reverse pedaling." This is nearly impossible and dangerous when your feet are not attached from the pedal.

Two words, man; foot retention.

Having a fixie and riding it single speed is like going to a brothel for a cuddle

I went 2 years without getting some kind of foot straps/retention to my fixed gear bike with ending up me never got to relax fully. After getting retention I found the experience both more comfortable and safe not being worried to loose the pedals in high speed getting knocked down. Been riding fixed since then and prefer it. But it took some learning.

I commuted by hardtail mtb, then road bike, always geared, for years. I switched to fixed solely for the ease of maintenence. I got tired of adjusting derailleurs, rebuilding freehubs and brake-surfaces wearing out on rims.

I love my fixed gear bike. I honestly find it easier to haul ass on a fixed gear because the pedals provide momentum for your legs to keep pumping, whereas with a freewheel bike, I tend to coast more and it somehow makes me more tired when I start pedaling again. It also provides the same kind of enjoyment as driving a manual transmission. You feel more connected to the bike.

You forgot about foot retention, straps or something else. Double the fun, they say 😁

I started riding a fixie when I turned 40. It played a big part in me losing 55 pounds (25 kg) and it was exhilarating. I averaged over 10 miles/day (16 km) for over a year and it wasn't usual to ride 50+ miles (80km) over a weekend. Of course, I live in flat Chicago. I don't think I'd want a fixie in a city with significant hills like SF or Portland or Seattle.

Without foot retention you are missing out on 75% of riding fixed.

My friend comes over wants to ride my old steel bike, gets mad that it’s not a fixie, I just tell him to stay in the same gear

Clip in, or use straps,, remove brakes, your skills will increase, as will the fun.

What's more fundamentally ridiculous and far common is texting and driving.

Wholly depends on how flat the city you live in is. I lived in Glasgow in Scotland where every inch is sloped in one direction or the other. and I used to spend most of the time walking and pushing my bike up even the smallest of hills. Sold the fixie and walked instead.

Everyone saying to take off your brakes is a maniac. That said you would feel much better about the fixed gear with foot retention though. I think that's why the hill is giving you so much grief. Fixed + front brake is my go-to everyday ride because of the extra control and how it trains your pedal stroke to be much more efficient for when you hop back on a geared bike. There's a reason all the racers include practice on fixies.

really enjoyed the video, the way you kept changing the angles and background made it so much more engaging

I’m a very amateur fixie rider but it also feels good for training in a unique way, because of the effort needed to slow down (if you don’t have breaks). It’s also way easier to end up with mangled fingers while working on a fixie, but I have too many good memories in my first fixie to not have one.

Dude doesn’t even clip in or get foot straps, that’s just ridiculous

The two things I like about fixed gear: - I can road all the way without arms on the handlebars thanks to legs-breaking. - When I take my road bike, it feels like flying on a cloud when compared to the fixie.

Riding fixed gear without straps or contact pedals - this is what ridiculous. Making conclusions on fixed gear bikes just riding on regular mtb pedals, man, are you serious?

God damnit he called it a fixe

I know nothing about bikes. BUT, watching this video made me realize that my first bike experiences were on an accidental "fixie". to note: yes i was terrified of riding and yes,, being forced to keep my feet on the pedals (i was like 8, i had no sense of control) left me with a LOT of bruises

I own a 1950 chromoly frame with custom parts and as a person who raced them, was a bike messenger, and a bike mechanic. All the points you gave are on point. Plus on top of that your situational awareness goes up, you're able to learn fun tricks. And you learn about gear ratios and the convenience of the most simple form of bike.

fixie was faster by 30s in a 55min trip ... O K ..

Ive got a track frame with the fixed gear and single speed hub. My daily commutes, I use the single speed because commutes are unpredictable and for early morning training rides, I use the fixed gear - less cars. You also get two types of fixie riders - the ones who scoff at any gearing other than fixed and also ride round shouting swag and dab while doing it. And the other side who do it purely for the enjoyment of riding a fixed gear which I can appreciate. Not sure why does every situation have to have a side that thinks they are superior, at the end of the day we all enjoy being on 2 wheels!

When I really found out how controllable fixies are when I first dared to try doing a skid turn on gravel. The amount of control was ridiculous, I thought that I would've had to balance with some sort of drifting, but alas it was perfectly controllable. Another thing I found fascinating with riding fixies is how going uphill feels with that minimal energy transfer loss along with wearing cages. With enough force you can just zip uphill and that aforementioned increased control makes it easy to zigzag up the hill to have a smaller climb angle. The first time trying a fixie the thing that caught my attention was how it had this aspect of kinda surfing the pavement instead of just linearly riding it.

I JUST moved from Houston to Chicago, my car got towed and I borrowed a friends bike to get around and now I can’t stop!! Haha I fell in love with cycling by accident and now I’m trying to see if I should buy a Fixie! Great video! Thumbs up 👍

Just sold my car. About to convert to biking for my daily commutes!

You don't have foot retention, or a "track bike", which does handle a little snappier and is usually a stiffer frame. Something like a lager does have a more relaxed geometry, which leads itself well to singlespeed. Riding a fixed gear is way more involved and attention grabbing sometimes, especially as you get better at handling the bike. I think singlespeed still is for most people though, it's just a great drivetrain that is very balanced in it's traits. Tl;dr: high bike mech says it's a manual transmission for bikes

Foot retention is key for a fixed gear... Not just for hopping curbs but by law the rear wheel has to be able to skid.. Fixed gear were originally called "Safety Bikes" following bicycles known as a "Penny Farthing"... Created in Scotland by combining a German Knee Push Scooter with gears & a chain.. I was among the first dozen people to start riding fixed gear in Toronto as a bike messenger, mostly to reduce moving parts that can break.. or be stolen... In the Winter I can always rely that my rear wheel I can slow down with and not have ice causing brakes to slip on rim.. also why I use a disc brake on front, including to reduce rim wear with slippage.. I have recovered from wipeouts on wet round metal manhole covers on the street while turning because the rear wheel is dampened by my legs... Hills were terrifying when I first began riding without rim brakes, but after a couple weeks I was able to go down hills with no hands and still be able to stop at bottom with clipless pedals.. Riding as a bike messenger it helped when carrying a box on your handlebars so you still have braking ability... I rode for years without rim brakes but after a couple chains breaking I put on a front mechanical disc brake.. It helps to take the edge off when arriving at impromptu red lights... or in an emergency stop situation.. I ride my fixed gear on dirt trails along the Don River in Toronto.. and even do "small" dirt jumps on it... Fixed gear are great for commuting because it teaches you to slow down for red lights so that they are green by the time you get to them, making your ride more efficient... They are also great for physio-therapy when you have leg issues or even getting around when you have a broken leg if you take 1 pedal off as I had to do after being smoked by a car.... Legally in Canada you can ride up to 30km an hour on a bicycle if you are drunk.. I guess they figure if you are able to ride 30km an hour then you aren't that drunk.. lol.... having been that drunk crashing into the curb, I agree...

Been riding a fixed gear all summer for the first time and my favorite thing after a long ride is jelly legging (with pedal straps) while going down a long hill, it feels good in a runner's high sort of way. Otherwise I just like the challenge, it makes me want to ride more. Not quite brakeless yet, but getting there.

I'm 45yrs of age, been riding a track bike to commute for at least 15yrs. I run flats with a rear brake,which in the "fixie cult" is blaspheme. But I love it. Do what you like and love it. Edit: "flats" for me is flat pedals no toe clips or retention system.

I love all bikes honestly. I mostly ride my fixed gear though because I find it the most stimulating and fun to ride. I gotta say though if you try to ride one like you ride a freewheel bike it will just feel pointless and weird. Even though it sounds a bit juvenile and ridiculous at first glance, if you ride without foot retention and you are relying entirely on hand breaks, you are totally missing the point. When it really comes down to it, the ability to modulate your speed via the pedals is why fixed riding is so fun and intuitive compared to using hand brakes and you really need foot retention for that. (That said, a hand brake is still a good idea for fast stopping rather than just slowing or coming to a stop gradually.) As a lover of bikes, I hope you give riding fixed more of a chance!

What hub & cog combo do you use? Wanting to convert my bike and I like the idea of having instant access to both fixie and single speed riding by just flipping the wheel :)

Thank you for this. It's nice to see a perspective on the fixie from a non-cultist, particularly a practical-minded commuter.

I commuted on a track bike for 6 years and absolutely loved it. There was definitely a learning curve but once I tuned in it was the most amazing way to get around. In the past year I have been riding a geared bike and I gotta say that, outside of adverse environmental conditions, my geared bike with disc brakes doesnt stop faster or handle better. I also really miss how responsive the drivetrain was on the track bike. I loved riding track bikes around the city and once I get a little extra cash I'll own another and it will be my main ride again.

Oh, good lord, I would never ride my fixie without pedal clips. And brakes. But I don’t even live in the city. I have a bum knee from a crash, and my fixie helped strengthen that knee enough for me to continue to ride.

Hopping a curb on a fixie without a helmet... and you ask in another video if not wearing a helmet "makes you an idiot". Thanks for being so honest.

Fixie with brakes, the best of both worlds without the risk of dying

Take off your brakes, get a foot retention system and learn how to learn hop skid or just skidding in general then you'll love it

Thanks for this video! As a non-bike guy all this time I thought fixie was just a cutesy name for a single-speed bike (fixie for fixed, I.e. non-changeable, gear) 🤦‍♂️

Genesis Flyer 2019 is my fixie of choice, complete with full mudguards and lights! Can't beat the simplicity (and longevity) of fixed wheel gearing :-)

Most of my riding is done in a high density downtown core, rush hour traffic, public transit and pedestrians every and being able stop quickly is of utmost importance so a fixie doesn't make sense. Perfectly happy riding way to fast on a single speed as long as I can hammer on the brakes when needed. Fun Fact: this is my 2000 liked video. Good job 👍

Great look at these two aspects. I enjoy both modes. One more benefit to Full fixed - Theft Prevention ! If so, I bet you'd get a kick out of seeing Track races @ full fixed gear. My kids raced Velo for 2 seasons & I raced with them. Track racing is crazy fun, blindingly fast & it's own little universe ! We raced at the outdoor 333m Concrete Alkek Velodrome / Houston. There are only 20 or so in the USA but you could have one locally ? Cheers - David in East Texas

You forgot to run the, Shoelace/Pantleg-Caught-in-the-Chain and the Sharp-Corner-at-Speed-Pedal-Strike tests on your fixie. Want to get a real feel for the asphalt? Ride a fixie and do these two things and you'll nearly become one with it... literally.

Today I took my first fixed gear ride, and once I got used to not being able to coast, it was great. It felt fast, very secure, and easy to control. That said, I will not be clipping in on this bike in fixed gear mode. It's too hard to get the second foot engaged into the pedal with that pedal moving. Maybe someday... My bike did not ship with a freewheel on the other side (I ordered one to add), but it did ship with directional tires. If you're going to build or buy a flip flop, use a non-directional tire.

In traffic you have more control on the fixie and yes, after 23 years I’m a member of the fixie cult. On another note, there’s no relationship between a fixie and a single speed.

You would enjoy it more of you put some peddle straps for a more secure, comfy feel plus it will help with stopping, I ride fixed every day and I love it!! 👍 if you love fixed gears

-Food retention -Seat position goddamnit it's not a mountain bike -have only an emergency front brake and it will teach you to ride completely different, have a flow and stuff.

Fixie is a culture, is a way of living, it's exciting.

I have one. I had a Trek composite road bike years ago and I enjoyed it very much. I have been used to riding a conventional bike. A friend gave me a fixie he was no longer going to ride and it was new to me. I bombed it, without thinking, pedaling the bike until it started pedaling me. I have it set to coast now, and I have to say that the experience is entirely different. Instantaneous movement when you pedal. I find it *wants to move, and I let it rip. It is fun!! Good video.

You forgot to run over every red light when you changed to fixed

Big thing getting used to fixed. Foot retention really helps. Something about it just makes it a more connected experience. I know I’m influencing the cult like following. But it really really helps with speed controls

I welded the flywheel and converted it into a fixed wheel, used that way for years. Long time ago. Don't remember how it went, except that breaking meant dismounting

You’re such a baby about your feet on pedals while they move... you’re speaking about cycling enthusiasts (“cult of fixie”) as if they’re ridiculous for cycling (foot on pedal, moving) and it makes you sound condescending. It’s a real simple approach to cycling that ANY bike enthusiast should be able to appreciate 🤣 12 years keeping my foot on pedals downhill and I’m still alive man. Toughen up!!!!

Also try some clipless pedals like SPD with cleats SM SH51. It'll change the performance and youll definitely go faster. I have a road bike ,though fun but I ride my fixed gear more. Check out MASH SF if you wanna see why the youngsters love fixed gear. Also its customization of it all. Check out the NJS fixed gear. Beautiful bikes. Im in my 40s and I love my fixed gear bike.

I rode a single geared bike for entirety of my childhood.. although i enjoyed it i also realized it was shit for different terrains.... Few weeks ago a bought a budget geared bicycle & im really happy how versatile it is

Good Video what size WTB slick tires ?

I use 21 speed mtb for commuting but has to climb up on flyovers and steep pavements sometimes. Would it be a good idea to go single speed for low maintenance?

Fixies are great for dense moving traffic because you can make minor speed adjustments by resisting the pedals.

Nice video! I’ve been riding fixed for 12 years....you should be using straps or toe clips....foot retention is key...it will help you stop faster and pedal faster because your upstroke adds to your speed...if you try it again you will probably be even happier with your ride

The first thing I remember after when I ride my friends fixedgear is like "love at first ride" 😂 I immediately fell in love with it. I've been riding fixedgear for 4 years now 🤟

My fixie really comes in handy when my pogo stick and unicycle are in the shop

fixie is great when you get used to it, deceleration without breaks is amazing, I ran fixie with both front and back breaks for 10 years, it's a more intense work-out and makes you stronger faster. more break control just always feel connected to the ground. (coasting feels lame and uncomfortable to me(eww cassette,/derailer maintenance f-that)) it's great for strength/ resistance training as you are always moving. I went 250k once in 6 hours. never trained. just always gunned it. snapped many chains. the community is hella whak tho, and people don't know how to drive so I quit biking.

Also you need foot retension to experience the full fixed gear experience so i think fixedgears are amazing if you know how to ride them

Hello) advise the axles,replacement bushings, the axles were pretty worn out in a couple of months

my only criticism is that they didn’t have cages or clipless on the pedals it really makes all the difference

Fixed in traffic is just unsafe in my experience. Riding fixed on the track is another thing.

Why everyone love riding fixed gear ? The answer is simple. No1: you're one with the bike. You can control the speed you want with your sheer leg power. No.2: no breaks makes it dangerous and wild to ride and also more attentive on the roads. No.3 :better control cus you cannot coast. I can't explain this cus I know how it feels but unless you try one, you will know what I mean. No.4 : get bigger tighs No.5 :cool tricks to learnt and mastering these tricks makes you different from other cyclist on the road. No.6: break the rules of cycling by diy your fixedgear like eg. Sticker bombing your bike, using roadbike, bmx or mountain bike components that roadie or mountain biker won't usually do. No.6 : simple, low cost, low maintainence. No derailer, breaks, gear shifter, quick release and all that components in case you you corner too hard and your derailer break, you hop a curb and hit something and your derailer break or you cycle in gravel or raining weather and your breaking system, gear shifter, your drivetrain and derailer got caught up with pabbles, stones, mud ect... No.7: cus it's fixed gear so it gives you challenges while climbing, sprinting and desending plus, feeling accomplished when you reach the top or the bottom. No.8: Easy to clean and maintain. No.9: certain bike components and brands are rare to find in bicycle shops. Makes it special if you own one. Like me owning a Cannondale capo in Singapore is consider very rare to see in my country. Last. The community of fixedgear is very special and one of a kind. In Singapore we have mega mass ride every once a year with around 150 to 200plus fixed gear rider gather and ride together and as I cycle fixed gear for 8 years I always look out for my boys riding fixed if I see them on the road and also gives advice.

I agree with the control aspect of fixies. It is far easier to do a track stand. Suggestion: On later videos, point out another safety tip. You were right about mentioning the possibility of being tossed off the bike when you forget you are riding fixed. As important- be very careful with fingers and everything else when the drive train is moving. The chain keeps moving.

Cant forget to mention that you can also gain more power in your peddle with a strap since you can drive down with one peddle while simultaneously pulling up on the other. Ultimately you can now finally use both legs at the same time during each power stroke. before that you are really only using one at a time. tough to ride standing though for a while

Straps! I think it is essential when riding a fixed gear to have straps/toe cage/cleats since you'll have better control of your bike and that would give you additional sense of safety while riding. That being said, it would also make you faster without sacrificing safety. Have a go with it. You'll love it!

Cleat your shoes and you'll learn how to really ride a fixed gear (strap ons are authorized for the beginning, but pls don't ride fixed without a mean to attach your feets to the pedals… But you're on the good way ;)

I live in Minneapolis Minnesota USA and we get a lot of ice and snow in the winter. I’ve found that after a freeze thaw cycle the fixed gear can help keep me upright on very slippery surfaces without buying studded tires.

I rode a fixie for about a year and eventually switched back to freewheel. Hurt my knees. Made going down hills scary and dangerous.

You gotta give it more than just a day! Give it a solid week and you'll start to get it. If you're down we should go ride together, as I can see you're from Calgary.

I grew up riding old fixed gears with no hand brakes before I had any idea that other types of bikes existed. Very dangerous contraptions, can remember many times having my feet fly off the pedals, then trying to match my leg speed to the pedals to regain control only to slip off and suffer either smashed shins or hit the back of my leg and drive your feet into the dirt peeling you off the bike😂

When I was younger and had to balance training, working, and racing I used to use a fixie for training purposes. Now that I'm older I find that I spend nearly all my time on single speeds and fixies. I love them both and ride the one that best suits my mood. I'm not sure why I still have a road bike because I can't remember the last time I rode it. The simplicity of SS/fixies just make exploring a cityscape so enjoyable.

How long will you tires stay good when you breaking with your feet al the time?

I didn't use to understand it either, but I got my fixie and two weeks later I was totally hooked. Now I have two months riding everyday, and sometimes I love to just stop somewhere safe and stand on a single spot as long as I can, with my feet strapped on the pedals. My balanced has improved a lot, I can stand still a few minutes without falling

Do they say ash-phalt in Canada or am I hearing things 🤔

You can also take some things off of your bike, which makes it lighter and feel more streamlined. You don't really need your back brakes. I had a friend that just had a front break with one really short cable. Kind of nice to simplify things. My commuter is a singe-speed and works fine for me. I've considered switching to fixed-gear, but haven't yet.

These fixed wheel bikes were used in the uk exclusively for racing speed trials on a track especially for this type of bike, My late father had a Hobbs of barbican frame which was super lightweight along with alloy dropped handlebars and a brooks leather saddle, the frame was a reynolds 531 lugless, The fixed wheel you could change around to a lower one gear so in total only 2 gears one on each side of the wheel. My father swore by this bike and used it on the roads away from any dedicated racing tracks, so while riding around the streets he had lightweight aluminum toe clips and leather straps and someone tried to steal his bike didn’t know how to ride the bike it was dangerous in the hands of anyone who didn’t know how to ride one…happy days from the past 😀

My first real bike is a fixed gear (it’s actually a Fuji tarck bike) and I just like the looks of it. Fixed makes it easier to ride really slowly through crowded seconds, and there are way less mechanical issues over the long run. They’re also easier to work on, and are naturally fast and fun. The downside is that they are more tiring to use, especially on long rides. But the benefit as a trainer for a good spin technique is really nice as I coast much less often than other roadies.

“Ridiculous” A fix gear bike is the purist form of bicycle riding, one gear, bike and rider connected. It’s a thing of beauty that should be enjoyed by all 😎

3 years ago went on facebook to get me a single speed bike, bought a fixed gear instead and i have been loving every moment of it. i commute everyday on my bike and it makes boring old work routes a little more fun. a quick tip: try strapping your feet on your pedals. 90% of the control is on your feet. but keep the hand brakes

I was a messenger for a number of years. We rode track bikes for these 3 simple reasons. 1. Nothing to really steal off the bike without proper tools and effort times balls. 2. Nothing to fix. No derailleurs, no brake cable. Nada. 3. Very quick to fix some problems on the fly.

I just ride fixie because I'm tired of swapping out my break pads every couple of months on my single speed. Otherwise there isn't really much difference. And of course riding backwards in circles when you are bored is a nice novelty :)

Fixed is so much fun. Braking by hopping on the back wheel, track stand at lights. Low maintenance. Absolutely awesome

It's riding single fixed without toeclips or clipless that's ridiculous. I used to use 65" fixed wheel for commuting in winter (13.5 mile each way and hilly in parts).

If I go back to my school days (we are talking 70 years) I remember seeing fixed wheel bikes from time to time. One chap who had been injured in the war had an artificial leg and couldn’t ride a free wheeling bike because with one leg able to push down the crank would be pushed down and of course it would stay down on a free wheel. A fixed wheel would bring it back up again for him. Another unusual thing about his bike was that the crank that he didn’t use, was free and stayed in the bottom position, so he could place his artificial foot on it without it getting a crack every time the pedal came round.

I prefer single speed as i do prefer coasting. But props to those who ride Fixed- gear bikes

I predict a few fights when the post-covid masses start cycling more and certain cyclist snobs overstep their mark on common manners.

No fixie or single speed for me. I enjoy the benefits of shifting. I usually ride in 4th by default, but it's nice to be able to adjust to the conditions and inclines / declines. I am jealous of the low-maintenance internal shifters on some bikes though. Derailleurs are failure points.

Good Video What Size Thickslick ???