What made you start riding fixed?

because when I was 9 or 10 I wanted to race on the track.

"a strong alternative subculture".....does not compute.

i went fixed cause i had a singlespeed for a fair while and all my mates were starting to say i was a pussy if i didn't go fixed, plus it looked so fun, and is so fucking fun, infact i can't help but wonder why anyone else wouldn't ride fixed in london...

Thought it would be a good training bike, turned out to be a really fun bike too.

Because my old road bike weighed the same as Jupiter and I saw the fixed riders during my commute ride with much more grace and a sense of enjoyment. I thought why not, treated myself and I'm now obsessed with my bike. But if I'd known how much I'd like it I'd not have got a OTP. That's my only gripe now.

actually, i ride SS...

I ride single speed actually. Only just getting used to cycling shoooos but maybe I will try fixed. I have tried before on a few other peoples bikes and you do feel more at one so I can understand the fascination, I find it difficult to stop though... probably as I aint used to it and also... I don't have beefy boy muscles.

It looked like fun.

I like fun.

I saw the fixed riders during my commute ride with much more grace and a sense of enjoyment.

I agree. When I see hybrid-riders with rolling heads, knees and elbows all over the place, flailing around like an orangutang having a fit, pushing some ridiculously inapporopriate gear, usually with a shrieking chain - it offends me.

the technical term for the above is 'nodder'

I ride single speed actually. Only just getting used to cycling shoooos but maybe I will try fixed. I have tried before on a few other peoples bikes and you do feel more at one so I can understand the fascination, I find it difficult to stop though... probably as I aint used to it and also... I don't have beefy boy muscles.

Riding fixed you are allowed to use brakes, you know?

My actual reason was to get more effective exercise, better training and greater pleasure from a relatively short commute. In the event, I am using my fixed wheel bike for much of my winter training, doing huge miles, a few climbs and loving it.

I played polo (on my Marin hybrid) with the Oxford crew when they came to Clapham Common in Jan 07. One of them was riding fixed, and it opened my eyes to a whole different way of cycling. Bought a cheap pug racer, and the rest is in the names and faces thread.

"a strong alternative subculture".....does not compute.

I think it's what you get when you leave a tea cup on the side with the bag stil inside for a weeks or so. The furry stuff that grows on top I believe is what is referred to as "a strong alternative subculture".

... like any type of bike.

Maybe I should have phrased that a bit differently...

my fixed doesn't get knackered by me riding it like every geared bike has...

(the word riding could be replaced by crashing)

Maybe I should have phrased that a bit differently...

my fixed doesn't get knackered by me riding it like every geared bike has...

(the word riding could be replaced by crashing)

you're obviously not crashing properly then

"a strong alternative subculture"

I'm always on the sniff for strong alternative subcultures.

Before fixies it was transgender bodybuilders with me.

loved bikes, moved to london, it made sense, enjoy being part of it all.

I'm always on the sniff for strong alternative subcultures.

Before fixies it was transgender bodybuilders with me.

I thought I 'd met you before.

I agree. When I see hybrid-riders with rolling heads, knees and elbows all over the place, flailing around like an orangutang having a fit, pushing some ridiculously inapporopriate gear, usually with a shrieking chain - it offends me.

Damn, busted! :(

(disclaimer: riding a track bike during the Norwegian winter, would be the cycling equivalent to ice climbing in ballet shoes. Hybrid (winter hack) soon to be replaced by SS 29r)

I agree. When I see hybrid-riders with rolling heads, knees and elbows all over the place, flailing around like an orangutang having a fit, pushing some ridiculously inapporopriate gear, usually with a shrieking chain - it offends me.

Which reminds me, I saw a great example of this this morning. This (so-called) nodder tried to squeeze between a roadworks sign and a van. He hit the sign...then the van..then the sign again (which was now somehow attached to his bike) and dragged it down the road. Then his feet came off the pedals and he swerves all over the place (whilst accelerating away) and the sign eventually collapses into the traffic. When I overtook him he had this look of 'No one saw that. I'm convinced no one saw that. Oh my god. Oh my god. Everyone totally fucking saw that.'

It was like watching a donkey ride a bike.

I ride SS or geared (MTB) and when funds allow and the SS MTB is finished (read started) then I may seek to become apart of this alternative subculture.
Do I need an invite?
Is it like the masons?
Do I need to be bitten by an infected forumenger?

Got sick and tired of taking the tube to work so decided I was going to cycle instead. Wanted something simple and reliable and after a bit of research decided fixed was for me. I love it. Wish I wasn't so bloody patient - I'd have fucked the tube off a lot sooner then.

I saw this and thought I want one

I was brought up on BMX and the philosophy that gears are for queers. I was just gonna get me a single speed road bike for some exercise. A few of my mates were ravin on about fixed gear so I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about. Got a fixed gear. Now I see what all the fuss was about!

Sheldon Brown made me ride fixed...