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Fixed Gear Bike
A fixed gear bike or a Fixie as some people call them have their own modern sub-culture today. Some of you might ask what on earth is a fixed gear bike? Putting it simply, it is a bike on which you cannot coast which means that whenever the rear wheel is going around, so are your pedals. There is absolutely no coasting, so your feet are always going around whenever the bike is moving.
Originally these bikes, known technically as a track bike, where used for racing on a track in a building called a Velodrome. They are still used that way today and there are different disciplines in the Olympics for this type of racing. Bike couriers have been using fixies for their business in the cities since the 1980s. They are drawn to the bikes simplicity as well as its low maintenance. These couriers seem to have started a craze today that is sweeping through cities around the globe that has resulted in this sub culture that is seriously close to going mainstream.
A fixed gear bicycle has its rear sprocket fixed to the rear wheel. This means that if you are moving you don’t have the option of coasting unless you take your feet off the pedals. Now you may wonder why would a person want a bike like that? Well one of the reasons is it allows the rider to connect to their bike in a different way. People find these bicycles fun, exciting, and a great workout. It does take a little time to get use to riding one of these bikes as you have to break the old habit of coasting that you do quite regularly on a regular geared bike. Those who have tried and mastered the technique say once you learn to ride one you’ll never want to ride a regular bike again.
To further set these people apart some fixed gear riders think brakes aren’t necessary and so brakeless riding is a further sub cult in some places. They think that this puts riders in a position of intense concentration where brakes are considered not needed. While other riders dismiss this idea of riding on roads without brakes and feel the idea is based on image, rather than any practicalities. The other thing is riding brakeless is very dangerous and is against the law in most if not all places. It therefore will put at risk any chances of getting a successful insurance claim if you have an accident.
So if you are thinking of getting into this world of fixed gear bikes you might want to answer the question why first. Is it for fun or to get into a job as a courier or some other reason? This is not a light question to answer as you really need to know what you are doing and make a wise well informed decision.
If you are really going for it you will find various fixie bikes for sale in many different places. Many will tell you that you can take an old bike and cover it to a fixie bike yourself with very little problem. But here I would recommend that you buy at least your first fixie ready made by someone who knows what they are doing. You can buy them on auction and classified sites but you really need to know what you are doing before you try building one yourself.
Fixed gear bikes are all the rage and a new challenge the many want to experience. My only plea is ride safe be safe.