Fixed Gear

[kgyoung]

I was thinking about getting (if I can scrape the money together) a fixed gear bike.  Anyone have any thoughts on their usefulness vs. expense for training?  Anyone have any recommendations on what to look at?  I have been reading good reviews of the Raleigh Rush Hour and Specialized Langster.

[ThePrez]

They are a good tool to work on pedal speed, and help leg strength when really using the Fixed set up.  The Langsters are of course sweet.  My favorite is to do hill workouts on it, that's why I left my fixie in Austin

[EricW]

Fixies are great, but there are much cheaper, and frankly more fun ways of doing it.  Also, there's no need to spend 5-600 bucks on a pre-built fixed gear.  Start combing the used bike shops for an '70s - '80s steel bike with horizontal  or semi-horizontal dropouts.  Strip off all the crap you don't need (but do yourself a favor and leave the front brake on).  Ride, and smile. 

Besides, both the Langster and Rush Hour come with pretty tall gear combinations for street riding.  Additionally, lugged steel is so much nicer than machine welded aluminum (let the flame war begin!).   
 
As usual, Sheldon Brown has all the answers: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html .

For inspiration, check out fixed gear gallery: http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

And just think, in no time you'll be able to track-stand with the best of 'em, as well as having the most fluid spin of all of your riding buddies. 

[ThePrez]

And just think, in no time you'll be able to track-stand with the best of 'em, as well as having the most fluid spin of all of your riding buddies. 

Thanks Eric, hahah just kidding.  But yes, I built my Fixie with a 1985 Schwinn Prelude.  I just took off all the parts, bought a ss rear wheel, a chain, a cog, and a ss crankset, and I was ready to go for $80 invested. 

[Vanessa]

"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... As for me, give me a fixed gear!"
--Henri Desgrange, L'Equipe, 1902

i think you probably know my two cents on the matter