Fixed gear bikes have been raced on the track or Velodrome for many years. They have also been used by road cyclist for off season training during the winter or for adding some variety to their normal training routines.
2. Fixed gear bikes, or otherwise known as fixies,
have develop into somewhat of a popular trend
among the college crowd and the Hipsters.
As popular as they have become they are not new
to the biking world.
3. Fixed gear bikes have been raced on the track or
Velodrome for many years.
They have also been used by road cyclist for off
season training during the winter or for adding
some variety to their normal training routines.
4. Early on in the history of cycling the freewheel was
introduced. This revolutionized cycling but the fixed
gear was still here to stay.
What the freewheel did was allow the pedals to
remain stationary while coasting. With fixed gear
bikes the pedals will continue to rotate as long as the
bike was moving.
5. The rider can still apply some braking action
when they apply resistance to the pedals
rotation.
The bike can actually be ridden backwards
because the pedals can also be rotated in either
direction.
6. One of the benefits of the fixed gear bike is its low
weight. Not having derailleurs, shifters, cables and
all the extra chain rings cuts down on the overall
weight of the bike.
The drivetrain itself is more efficient than its geared
version because there is less mechanical parts to get
in the way. The rider is able to transfer more energy
to the drivetrain than a geared bike as well.
7. There are many fixed gear riders that do not use
brakes; they have become proficient enough at
applying resistance to the pedals to slow down and
stop.
A bike rider can also learn to go into a controlled
skid to stop. When the road is wet or slippery
many riders feel they get better road feedback with
a fixed gear bike than they would with a geared
bike.
8. Since one cannot stop the cranks from rotating you
must get used to going downhill fast or even going
into tight corners because the pedals could hit the
road while they are rotating.
Going downhill at high speed could have a rider
pedaling at up to 170 rpm or even higher. Many
think that riding a fixed gear is more efficient and
you are able to transfer more power to the road.
9. Someone new to this kind of bike may at first
have difficulty with the constantly turning
cranks.
It will take a little bit of riding to get used to
this new style after riding a geared bike for
years.
If you have not tried the fixed gear way of
riding you owe it to yourself to check it out for
some added variety to your bike riding.
10. Find more info and check out some bikes for sale
at Fixed Gear Bikes For Sale at Squidoo.com.
