Go on, convince me...

I'm mainly into going up hills anyway :)

if you go around judging everyone by the actions of one person, you're obviously rather stoopid

oooh, snap

50mph on the cuntster? don't fink so! there lies the beauty of the freewheel and da gearies.

pub?

My fellow cyclist (riding a fixie) swerved, tried to back pedal I guess and ended up embarrassed on the floor.

The problem was he was riding a fixie and not a fixed gear, thats probably why he fell off

Had a couple of issues when I switched. The main one was when farting. I hadn't realised before that I stopped pedaling whilst squeezing one out. Now I can pedal and fart at the same time all day long.

Win win win.

It's just a matter of perseverance and adaptation.

yeh dude, the guy was obviously an idiot. Unfortunately there is no law prohibiting idiots from riding fixed-wheel bikes, or any other mode of transport.

you're not the bloke who hangs out outside cafe 1001 sometimes with the ridgeback hybrid? That guy doesn't seem to like bikes without gears, singlespeed or nay.

I swear i saw him shouting at a toddler on a trike.

yay for fixies! they rock!

just get a bike that you're happy with, why the hell should we have to convince you?

Had a couple of issues when I switched. The main one was when farting. I hadn't realised before that I stopped pedaling whilst squeezing one out. Now I can pedal and fart at the same time all day long.

Win win win.

It's just a matter of perseverance and adaptation.

haha too true

Thanks for all your replys to my 'go on convince me' question. I thought it might generate a bit of controversy. I must admit I laughed out loud to a lot of your replys but some of you guys just take things too seriously and just go to show how precious some people get about their passions.
Nobody succeeded in convincing me however but I will be going out soon to try a fixed wheel for myself. Obviously the best thing to do. You never know I might join the ranks of fixed gear lovers very soon. In the mean time, I'll stick to my single speed with 2 brakes. ;-)

i dunno. i went on a ride to oxford at the weekend, and there was this guy on a 'fixie' - we came down a hill , there was a corner and he went flying off into the bushes!

Thanks for all your replys to my 'go on convince me' question. I thought it might generate a bit of controversy. I must admit I laughed out loud to a lot of your replys but some of you guys just take things too seriously and just go to show how precious some people get about their passions.
Nobody succeeded in convincing me however but I will be going out soon to try a fixed wheel for myself. Obviously the best thing to do. You never know I might join the ranks of fixed gear lovers very soon. In the mean time, I'll stick to my single speed with 2 brakes. ;-)

You didn't generate any controvesy, you just misunderstood what 'fixed wheel/gear' meant, nothing more.

i dunno. i went on a ride to oxford at the weekend, and there was this guy on a 'fixie' - we came down a hill , there was a corner, he avoided a crashed rider and he went flying off into the bushes!
.

I didn't even notice this thread.

I would've said: It's not our job to convince you. Try it if you want to, see if you like it and want to ride fixed, and if not don't.

Really, whatever you enjoy doing you should be doing*.

• So long as it's not harming others... this is an attempt to say I'm not encourage you to go on a murder spree because you enjoy that.
  

If you go looking for controversy, you'll probably find it.

Ride a bike and have fun. That's all that matters.

It's not even that big a deal. I think some people can overthink it and build it up to this big scary dangerous concept which, once you do it, you'll find it's really not.
It's not like jumping out of a plane or something.

"Fixed gear is dangerous because I don't pay attention when I'm riding" ? ;)

You didn't generate any controvesy, you just misunderstood what 'fixed wheel/gear' meant, nothing more.

No misunderstanding on my part. I know exactly what a fixed wheel is and I know they can have brakes. I also know you can crash on them, just like on any other bike. Maybe the question should be are you more likely to?
Controversy? maybe, maybe not, but there's nothing wrong with a healthy debate is there? I'm sure we'd all agree that the most important thing is we just ride and enjoy it what ever we're on :-)

Only idiots are more likely to crash, even on tricycles.

personally i find myself much safer on a fixed, as you don't go freewheeling around the place, therefore it forces you to ride in a more considered manner.

Like in Oxford town centre ?

considered not considerate ;)

personally i find myself much safer on a fixed, as you don't go freewheeling around the place, therefore it forces you to ride in a more considered manner.

would hate to see you on a SS...

I got a regular geared road bike first after riding BMX's & MTB's for most of my life.

Only road it for a few weeks, I found the combination of high speed, weak brakes, and freewheeling while in a leant foward position - Terrifying!

I stuck a computer on, the fastest I could manage was 22mph and it didnt feel good.

I sold it and looked into the idea of fixed wheels, eventualy found a wheel for £10 and a old raleigh frame and stuck it together.

Felt much much better, both faster (for me), more comfortable and safer.

Drivetrain rusted up during the winter, so I had a break.

But fixed it up a month ago and have been riding hard on it since.

Ride over 20miles a day, even though I only need to ride 10 to get where I need to be.

Just so enjoyable.

I would only ever consider a freewheel bike if it has a "cruising stance" when sitting down.

I would not consider anything else as a nippy urban bike to get places, gotta be fixed for that.

No misunderstanding on my part. I know exactly what a fixed wheel is and I know they can have brakes. I also know you can crash on them, just like on any other bike. Maybe the question should be are you more likely to?
Controversy? maybe, maybe not, but there's nothing wrong with a healthy debate is there? I'm sure we'd all agree that the most important thing is we just ride and enjoy it what ever we're on :-)

You read a breakless bicycle rider having an accident as "not a good advert for the fixed wheel."

I don't think I am being unreasonable in thinking that your prejudices against fixed wheel are based on a (common) misunderstanding.