I wish people would just admit that riding fixed is simply novel or fashionable & SS isn't a big departure from a geared bike (bar slight weight difference & no derailleur to catch on rocks).
I never understood the reason for SS bikes until I got one and rode one (won it in a competition). Until then I had geared MTBs, one set up as a jump/4X bike but still with 8 cogs at the back. I'm not sure quite why I liked riding SS but I think it's simply the simplicity of it. Unless you're tackling big hills you don't really need more than one gear particularly in an urban environment. So when I made the decision to get a road bike (due to the depth of the mud this summer) I wanted a SS one (cost was also a factor in this). At the time I was unaware of the fixed scene but rapidly found out about it whle researching which bike to buy. I've ended up with a flip-flop hub but am riding it fixed so far. No fashion involved
But I do love the way fixed bikes look: clean lines, with the lack of wires everywhere. I look at my MTBs and they look clunky and clumsy and fussy. The simple aesthetic of the fixed road/track bike is very appealing, which is perhaps why its taken off as a fashion thing. Not sure about lo-pros and carbon wheels tho
I never understood the reason for SS bikes until I got one and rode one (won it in a competition). Until then I had geared MTBs, one set up as a jump/4X bike but still with 8 cogs at the back. I'm not sure quite why I liked riding SS but I think it's simply the simplicity of it. Unless you're tackling big hills you don't really need more than one gear particularly in an urban environment. So when I made the decision to get a road bike (due to the depth of the mud this summer) I wanted a SS one (cost was also a factor in this). At the time I was unaware of the fixed scene but rapidly found out about it whle researching which bike to buy. I've ended up with a flip-flop hub but am riding it fixed so far. No fashion involved
But I do love the way fixed bikes look: clean lines, with the lack of wires everywhere. I look at my MTBs and they look clunky and clumsy and fussy. The simple aesthetic of the fixed road/track bike is very appealing, which is perhaps why its taken off as a fashion thing. Not sure about lo-pros and carbon wheels tho