-
I've been thinking about treating myself to something nice this year as a 40th birthday present
This might be your problem, a "something nice" fixed gear build will likely feel just the same as any of your previous fixed builds (of which some are very nice btw). A geared build will let you get much more imaginative and at least make you think you can do much longer rides.
FWIW i'm just shy of 42 and 3 out of my 4 bikes are fixed. The geared bike is pretty much trainer only and when i do use it i often find myself thinking i wish i'd done this fixed. For my 40th i had a friend build me some very snazzy road wheels which have probably done less than 200 outdoor miles.
I like building bikes but have given up on them being a catalyst to new riding horizons. IME it's generally the ride/company that make it fun and not the bike. Maybe a bike trip someplace special would be a more memorable/rewarding experience than building another bike?
How much of this is going to end up in SFSS..?
You are reading a single comment by @jono84 and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
jono84
I'm going to be 40 this year, arguably middle aged, and I do get to wondering if it's still wise for me to be kicking around on fixed gear bikes. Or at least, would I get more enjoyment out of cycling if I let go of the whole 'fixed' thing?
I definitely enjoy bikes that are on the more simplistic end of the technological spectrum so of the 11 bikes I currently own, while only 3 are fixed, only 1 is geared. (A retro mtb with a cargo fork and I run it geared as I feel like it's more functional that way.)
I've been thinking about treating myself to something nice this year as a 40th birthday present to myself and I'm finding myself looking largely at geared bikes, perhaps a svelte road bike or maybe something more functional, a modern gravel bike with 1 x 11 or 12 and hydro brakes etc etc.
Thing is, I borrowed my mate's Genesis Equilibrium last year to give the 'normal' bike thing a go and I was pretty underwhelmed. I suspect inserting gears into my current 'riding practices' (is that a thing?) might mean my average ride would be 5 or 10 miles further or 2 or 3 miles an hour faster but does that necessarily mean it'll be either any more fun or any more 'meaningful'?
TLDR: Have you moved on from fixed gear and how do you find it?