Fixed Gear Bicycles

A converted fixie.

Fixed Gear Bicycles or "fixies" are one of the kinds of bicycles you may see on the roads of Davis. Fixed gears are the oldest form of drivetrain on bicycles. They are extremely simple from a mechanical standpoint, and this simplicity tends to be attractive to some riders. The 'fixed' refers to the lack of a freewheeling mechanism on the bike, so whenever the wheel is moving so are the pedals, and vice versa. If you pedal forward, you move forward, and if you pedal backward, you move backward.

They can be used by serious cyclists looking for a different type of training on the bike. Around town, they are most commonly found under people who are just getting from point A to point B.

There is a large discussion of whether the fixed gear mechanism itself constitutes a brake, because it is possible to skid the rear wheel by using the crank and chain. In Davis and Sacramento, the authorities have come down on the side of the bike needing a separate braking mechanism in order to comply with the law. So, if you do decide to ride a fixed gear, be aware that riding without a brake will get you a ticket.

Fixed gear bikes are not commonly understood by those who do not ride them. Common questions and their answers:

How do you stop? A rider may resist the forward motion of the pedals, thereby slowing the rear wheel and ultimately coming to a stop. More advanced stopping techniques include skidding and skipping, though the former is a very inefficient method of stopping. Also note that the ability to skid one's rear wheel in this manner does not satisfy California's requirement of having a brake capable of skidding a wheel.

Does it take more energy than a regular geared bike? If you know when to shift on multi-speed bicycle, a fixed gear will almost always use more energy. The rare exception to this is if you're riding your fixed gear at your optimal cadence at all times (no accelerating/decelerating) in which case the decreased weight/friction from the missing derailleur will end up saving you a small amount of energy. However, if you don't know how to use the shifter on a multi-speed bicycle (as many people don't, sadly) then a fixed gear may take less energy.

Why would you choose this type of bike over one with modern features, including multiple gears and the ability to freewheel? Some reasons: A fashion statement. Mechanical simplicity. Visual simplicity. Because you want to hang with the fixie kids. Alternate training style. Feeling "more connected" to the road. Better control on slippery roads. Fewer parts results in less, usually cheaper, maintenance. Lighter than the same frame built with a geared drivetrain. The ability to trackstand on level ground (that is, ability to stop and maintain balance without putting a foot on the ground).

Aren't they terrible for your knees? In a word, yes. Especially if ridden with a high gear ratio at low speeds, a fixed gear bike puts more pressure on your knees than a geared bike. Using brakes to slow down will help alleviate this problem.

If you're interested in more information, especially local, check out the group DavisFixed.
If you want your own fixed-gear bike, great places to check out the selection are local bike stores.
If you want to race them on a track, the nearest is Hellyer Park. This is the only place one should ride a fixed gear bike without brakes.

Comments:

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2009-07-29 17:17:17   I'm aware that fixies have suddenly become very popular (possibly for fashion reasons). But other than that, why would you choose this type of bike over one with modern features such as multiple gears, a freewheel, and...brakes (often not found on these bikes)? —IDoNotExist

2009-07-29 20:28:29   Not that I have one, but I think its because they are simpler to maintain. Maybe the freewheel somewhat insulates the rider from the road also? I will probably setup my own in about 20 years after everybody else forgets about it. —NickSchmalenberger

2009-07-29 22:07:15   An analogy I've used is driving manual vs. automatic. Sure, automatics will do most of the work for you, but driving stick gives you a better feel for how your car handles. And it's fun. Aside from that, I can vouch for the simplicity aspect. I wanted to try to build a bike from parts found through the Davis Bike Collective and I liked how the fixie is a bike at its most basic level. I also wanted a blue chain and I could only find one for a single-speeds. So yeah, guilty on the fashion charge too :) . —KevinChin

2009-07-29 23:33:45   "An analogy I've used is driving manual vs. automatic." Bad analogy. Both manual and automatic transmissions are variable, unlike a fixed gear. This would fit more for an analogy between a typical manually shifted bicycle and one of those rare automatic shifting bicycles. However, if you really want to use the car analogy, you can call a manual transmission a typical multi-speed bicycle, and a direct drive as the single speed / fixie. —aggie1100

• Hah :) . When I first mentioned my analogy to my wife, she called me on it for this same reason. True, the concept of shifting doesn't fit, but that's not what I was shooting for. I was thinking more about the sensation of riding, and the extra bit of effort you have to take into account with the fixed gear. You learn to drive with an automatic, then when you first try manual it's decidedly different: you need to learn when to shift gears, timing the clutch to get out of first, etc. Similarly when I learned to ride my fixie, suddenly I could stop without using brakes—but I had to take a few minutes to figure out how. Same with coasting (or lack thereof). Track stops at red lights (much easier on a fixed gear). But in the end, whether you're riding a fixed-gear bike or riding a multi-speed bike you are just riding a bike (balance, pedal, turn in the direction you want to go) just like driving either manual or automatic is still. . . well, just driving. —KevinChin
  

2009-07-30 00:43:16   On the shifting issue - is this equivalent to if I rode my (multispeed) bike with exactly one gear ratio all the time, and never shifted? I know that I'd be pedaling way too fast if I couldn't change gears as I accelerated.

On automatic shifting bicycles: are you referring to a CVT? Those have essentially infinite gear ratios, where you are always using the best ratio for that particular speed. This seems like the opposite of a fixed gear bike to me. —IDoNotExist

2009-07-30 08:13:21   On the shifting issue - is this equivalent to if I rode my (multispeed) bike with exactly one gear ratio all the time, and never shifted? I know that I'd be pedaling way too fast if I couldn't change gears as I accelerated. Your multispeed bike would still be able to freewheel. Take that mechanism away as well, and you have a single speed fixed gear.

On automatic shifting bicycles: are you referring to a CVT? These are two different technologies. Shimano makes a group of components called Coasting, which has a 3-speed automatic transmission with coaster brakes (which I also find pretty sweet). The NuVinci hub is the only CVT I'm aware of in the bike world, and it's very much a manual transmission (also very expensive). —BrettHall

2009-07-30 09:35:47   Keep in mind that when you choose a gear ratio for a fixed gear, you're choosing the highest gear ratio you're going to be comfortable with while riding at cruising speed. In that case, you wouldn't be pedaling really fast during acceleration; instead you'd be pedaling slower (with a bit more force) while getting up to that speed. And though you'd probably learn to stop as BrettHall described (pedals with toe cages help), it's a good idea to have regular brakes installed anyway. —KevinChin