I think that a more aero wheel on the back seems to be the way of the pros both road riders and track riders alike, though by the time it has gotten past your front wheel, frame, trainers, toe clips, straps and jeans I would doubt it makes any noticeable difference to your average city rider. Plus sitting pretty upright on risers wearing a shirt isn't the most aero technique either.
On a technie note M.I.T. did some wind tunnel tests and found that in terms of aerodynamics one's head and helmet is by far the most problematic area and that from a saving energy point of view you are more efficient with a £200 TT helmet and normal wheels than an normal helmet and a £5000 set of dimpled carbon disks.
That said I do really like the way odd wheels look on the right set-up (and nick's(?) Memphisesque Aerospoke was amzingly nice.)
Oh and a fixed gear is a gear you can't change, singlespeed, BMX, cruiser or what have you, a fixed wheel is a wheel which is not free ie a track wheel.
I always thought a fixie was a road bike which had been fixed whilst a track bike is well...
I think that a more aero wheel on the back seems to be the way of the pros both road riders and track riders alike, though by the time it has gotten past your front wheel, frame, trainers, toe clips, straps and jeans I would doubt it makes any noticeable difference to your average city rider. Plus sitting pretty upright on risers wearing a shirt isn't the most aero technique either.
On a technie note M.I.T. did some wind tunnel tests and found that in terms of aerodynamics one's head and helmet is by far the most problematic area and that from a saving energy point of view you are more efficient with a £200 TT helmet and normal wheels than an normal helmet and a £5000 set of dimpled carbon disks.
That said I do really like the way odd wheels look on the right set-up (and nick's(?) Memphisesque Aerospoke was amzingly nice.)
Oh and a fixed gear is a gear you can't change, singlespeed, BMX, cruiser or what have you, a fixed wheel is a wheel which is not free ie a track wheel.
I always thought a fixie was a road bike which had been fixed whilst a track bike is well...