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May, 2025

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Fixie Bikes

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imkayjay
Posts: 98 - Karma: 200
So I'm looking into buying a fixed gear for the summer as well as for some riding around in college. I live in a pretty hilly place, so Im thinking flip hub will have to be a necessity. But I dunno. Are hills really that hard to manage on a single speed?
Anyways, if you guys have any recommendations for brands or styles, please let me know! Ive never owned a fixie so i'd love any input. Thanks!
12 years ago
307 113
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38105 - Karma: 129,826
LOL have fun dying on hills.
12 years ago
26 2
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
SS is obvs better on flat but I use mine up hills alright. You can always get out of the saddle on the steeper pitches. I just like my single because I think about the road more, and less about cadence or gear choice. But gears are chill too.

I built my single out of a 1982 NISHIKI royale so IDK what brand to suggest.

If you want the single look (which I'm assuming is your main reason), you could go with an internal hub system that will still look barebones, but will give you 5-10 speeds.

Go to your LBS
12 years ago
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EricaMN.
Posts: 2704 - Karma: 347
single speed no brakes, do it you wont
12 years ago
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SkeechyD
Posts: 2026 - Karma: 1,071
build one your self, find an old bike and then source parts. isnt being hipster about being cheap and thrifty.



in all reality, I ride a "fixed" gear just for the sake that its more difficult than riding a normal bike. Not to be trendy or shit, I just think its a load of fun. It challenging and makes you think.

And building on your own bike creates sentimental value.

Also, since you dont know shit about them, but a brake on it so you dont hurt other people when you cant stop.
12 years ago
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SkeechyD
Posts: 2026 - Karma: 1,071
and if you want to show your hipster pride call them "fixes"
12 years ago
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
So, what flavor latte did you get this morning? Did you get any foam in your mustache?
12 years ago
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Logey.
Posts: 2996 - Karma: 456
Lulz I googled fixie bike and it asked "did you mean fixie bike hipster?" you should try it
12 years ago
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Caleb.E
Posts: 3556 - Karma: 1,015
I would reccomend just buying a shitty 10 spead from the 70s and converting it. really easy .

And don't put alot of expensive parts into it, number one crime on campuses are bike thefts...
12 years ago
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Blindsurfer
Posts: 2252 - Karma: 2,802
its hard to believe but i ride a fixie and its actually easier on hills than a regular road bike
12 years ago
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Blindsurfer
Posts: 2252 - Karma: 2,802
i have a flip flop hub but once you go fixie you will never ever go back, best bike for roads
12 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
I use a flip hub on my bridgestone, and it's definitely nice.
12 years ago
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SassySloth
Posts: 3753 - Karma: 2,095
Looking at picking up an Eighthinch conversion kit for my old 10 speed. Seems like the easiest way to go.
12 years ago
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,847
do you also hold your breath for fun and drive with one eye closed? those were not good reasons for doing something lol
12 years ago
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 246
I dont get the whole "its harder" thing. ok, the pure basics are harder, but once you get used to it it really isnt even that hard to get it down really well. and once you've done that, all it does is limit you, its not harder, its just less capable. its like saying mtn biking on a road bike is harder, but your going 2mph and crawling over pebbles compared to bombing the shit out of everything and flying through the air on a DH bike. your limits are just reduced when riding fixed.

IMO, for a fun ass ride around the city bike, get a singlespeed on a fixed freestyle frame, rear brake, and big tires. you can do everything you can on a fixed, still have the simplicity and reliability, but have way more fun purely because you can just do more.


12 years ago
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,472
Why do you do tricks instead of just carving down the slopes. Carving is way easier
12 years ago
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,847
Because people may enojoy doing tricks more. But that's a bad comparison. The comparison would be carving in an easy way or a hard way with no other benefits. Why would you do it
12 years ago
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3609 - Karma: 3,980
OP...
Click for larger image
12 years ago
13 1
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
Oh shit I have a great idea!!!

Don't buy a fucking fixie you hipster fuck.

I live in a hilly place is a fixed gear a good idea?

No, it's fucking not. Buy a 6 speed or better.
12 years ago
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nkmo.
Posts: 3994 - Karma: 285
You almost sounded like you knew what you were talking about until the whole rear brake thing. Rear brakes are useless by themselves, your wheel will lock up before you achieve any meaningful stopping power. If you're scared of your front brake, you are a big ol' pussy.

People who hate on fixed gear bikes are just that, haters. Do whatever you want to do. I ride my fixie and my road bike the same amount, just depends where im going or how I feel that day.
12 years ago
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SkeechyD
Posts: 2026 - Karma: 1,071
i drink it black. i hate the taste of black coffee but I do it anyways because it makes me seem cool
12 years ago
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SkeechyD
Posts: 2026 - Karma: 1,071
have you ever ridden a fixed gear? they are fun as fuck. you can do things on them you cant do on a normal bike. hipsters gave fixed gears a bad rap but the fixed gear culture was around way before the latte and mustache trend started

12 years ago
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,157
I just got a State a month ago and I love it. I ride SS because I have a torn ACL, and I have no problems with hills. As long as you have some momentum going into it you're fine.
12 years ago
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scrambledeggs
Posts: 380 - Karma: -1,291
belt

drive.
12 years ago
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
this whole thread is a fucking facepalm.

buy an old 10, 18, 24 whatever bike and fix er up.

you want a new single speed or 8-speed(
12 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38105 - Karma: 129,826
You've never ridden a road bike then.
12 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
old cruisers are heavy as balls. Not a fan at all.


But really, I almost always use my freewheel side of my flip hub if I'm not just riding around town and it's totally fine. I also actually have a brake on my bike. Those who go all "premium rush" with their no brakes opinion are just asking to get wrecked, or are just more hardcore than I am, I suppose... I even installed a little footrest so I could rest my legs when cruising in 'fixie' mode. No fucks given.


I always laugh when I get shit for having a brake. I mean it's a fucking BRAKE! why would you not want that? It's just stupid because of the illogical-ness of not having one. If you don't want one? Fine. That's yours to deal with, but don't tell me I'm dumb for not having a fucking brake. That's like saying I'm dumb for driving sober.
12 years ago
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JeremyClarkson
Posts: 1600 - Karma: 1,932
dewd I was part of fixed gear culture before it was kewl. Also I listend to the black keys before they were kewl tew dewdmang
12 years ago
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scrambledeggs
Posts: 380 - Karma: -1,291
fixed gears is the only bike I will be seen riding.
12 years ago
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
when did only hipsters ride fixies? i mean you guys are fucking brutal about this, whats even wrong with being a hipster? as hipsters are known today its no worse than looking like all of us do when we ski, its just a style, quit being so fucking idiotic and find something else to make fun of.
12 years ago
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GIF
Posts: 468 - Karma: 1,279
Fixies can really help your riding technique too, a lot of the best road bike riders ride fixies around in their free time, most of the world cup downhill bikers also ride fixies around in their free time. It helps with pedal awareness and actually using your full pedal motion instead which most riders don't actually use.
12 years ago
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
wtf, cut off my post. anyway, if you want new, get a single speed or 8 speed(
12 years ago
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
wtf ns, can't make arrows w/o deleting the rest your post?

an 8 speed is what I'd suggest, the windsor oxford for example. get one from here, put it together yourself, its not too hard.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/city_bikes.htm

the issue here is that someone who knows nothing about bikes has no business whatsoever on a fixed gear.
12 years ago
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RockNRollNghtClb
Posts: 2013 - Karma: 2,509
i can see hating on fixed gears due to all the hipsters that ride them. But honestly, fixed gearing is fucking dope, some of the dudes that ride in San fran just fucking hauling ass everywhere are insane. I have a flip flop and mostly ride on the single speed side, i can't handle riding the fixed gear side
12 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
Just last week I was in SF, and saw a fixie rider fucking buttering his bike down a stupid steep hill. I don't even know how that was possible.

Those guys are for real.
12 years ago
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Logey.
Posts: 2996 - Karma: 456
I keep seeing people say that fixed gears are so fun. Why are they so much more fun than a regular bike? And what's up with the no breaks? I can understand a bare basic style but breaks are usually important
12 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38105 - Karma: 129,826
Dat yay area don't fuck around.
12 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
They are fun because you control the bike completely with the pedals. You can effectively ride backwards on them, and they are extremely light, so you can do tricks because of this.

And a lot of fixie riders use no brakes, because you brake with your own legs by putting resistance on the pedals... so even downhill, you're working it pretty hard.

12 years ago
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
Hilly area and you're looking for a fixie...people like you drive me crazy, life isn't all about looks and being cool, damn make it easy on your self, so some hipsters won't think you're as cool but just get some gears who cares
12 years ago
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
Here's a horrible comparison, I can't think of anything better right now.

So a super nice road bike is like an s4, m3, something nice, fast, and easy to drive well. A fixed gear w/o brakes is like a stock car, fast, light, hard to drive well, twitchy, etc. you're in complete control, but if you fuck up it's game over.
12 years ago
2 0
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 246
rear brakes do a pretty damn good job, i had a front/rear on my singlespeed for awhile but i like just having a rear, i can still stop from like a 30mph sprint in a real short distance. for cruising around town ive never felt the need for a front too.
12 years ago
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SkeechyD
Posts: 2026 - Karma: 1,071
i can hear you saying " that guys riding one? man, fixed gear bikes are over!"



12 years ago
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
fuck off, fucking die right now.
12 years ago
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
love mine. ride it everywhere. Yes hills can be a bit of a pain in the ass but I rock a front brake and eggbeaters (clipless is key on a fixie) and once you learn to skid, down hills are fun as fuck. I like my brake to slow myself down a bit before a skid if I'm cruising down a hill fast. And it's nice in traffic especially drafting busses, I listen to gear shifts and use it to slow down since a skid can drop speed too much and lose the draft
12 years ago
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,083
i was a mountainbike guide and probably conducted a dozen "technique" trainings and while youre right generally, you need both brakes for an efficient stop and if you transfer your weight to the back enough and dont pull your brake like a mofo, the rear wheel wont lock up.

only rear brake vs both brakes is around 1:2.5 or so braking distance wise.

so for emergency stops, you need both brakes. for any casual/regular stop, just the rear brake would be enough. but its just soo cool and trendy to have just the front brake.
12 years ago
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
keeping in mind this is for a freewheeled bike and not so much a fixie, because you effectively do have a rear brake if you slow your cadence or skid. I use my front brake to slow me down then skid to stop completely
12 years ago
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,083
but i would argue that this way you are more likely to lock up the rear wheel than with a "regular" brake. he was basically implying that you dont need ANY braking system on your rear wheel
12 years ago
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nkmo.
Posts: 3994 - Karma: 285
Didn't really mean to imply that. But I can see what you mean.

I would most definitely run both brakes on a single speed. If for whatever reason you didn't though, just a front would be more useful than just a back.

As for the ease of locking up the rear wheel on a fixie, it depends on what size chainring you're running on the front. Someone rocking a smaller ring will lockup the back easier, however they won't be reaching the same top speeds as someone running a larger ring.

both>front>back>none.
12 years ago
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,083
agreed
12 years ago
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RockNRollNghtClb
Posts: 2013 - Karma: 2,509
this has got to be the fucking stupidest logic Ive ever heard in my life jesus christ.
12 years ago
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