| What's so special about riding fixed gear. I thought | | | | $1000. Things you want to look at Frame size find out |
| about this today while I was out pedaling. I have six | | | | your correct size. Frame material Steel, Aluminum or |
| bikes. Road bikes, Recumbent, Mountain bike and single | | | | Carbon Fiber. Everything else can be changed or |
| speed. (I work in a bike shop). | | | | upgrated. Frame material- I recommend steel. |
| So why is it, my favorite bike is the fixed gear? It's | | | | 1) it offers a better ride than aluminum. More shock |
| probably the cheapest bike I own. It's definitely the | | | | absorbing. |
| simplest. So what is the magic of this bike that draws | | | | 2) Holds up better in a crash than aluminum or carbon. |
| me to it? Then it hit me Satori! A Zen like | | | | 3) Usually a better price than aluminum or carbon. |
| enlightenment! When you ride any other bike it feels | | | | Only negative which is not really a negative - it weighs |
| like a separate machine. You are operating a machine. | | | | more. Weight on fixed gear bikes is not that crucial |
| If you stop pedaling the machine will continue to run like | | | | since they usually weigh less than most Road Bikes. |
| a car you are basically driving the bike. | | | | Remember Fixed Gears have no shifters, derailleurs, |
| Now the difference : With fixed gear you are one with | | | | freewheel or cassette thus lighter. If your racing on the |
| the bike. You are directly connected to the road | | | | track then get an aluminum or carbon fiber race frame. |
| through that bike! The bike speeds up and slows down | | | | For the street go steel or aluminum. |
| according to your pedaling... you flow. You can not stop | | | | The only advantage an aluminum frame has over steel |
| pedaling unless the bike stops. You have become the | | | | is weight. With aluminum you have a harsher ride and |
| bike! That is the difference! | | | | in a crash it doesn't hold up as well as steel. Also steel |
| So for all the money you spent on that expensive | | | | can be bent back in shape and welded. Not usually the |
| carbon fiber road bike you can never experience the | | | | case with aluminum. It's your money so ride both and |
| same relationship that you can on that simple fixed | | | | see what you like. Here is a list of new model fixed |
| gear. | | | | gear bikes. Bianchi- Pista, Cannondale- Capo, Giant- |
| Now grasshopper you understand the essence of | | | | Bowery, KHS- Flite 100, Raleigh- Rush Hour, Schwinn- |
| fixed gear | | | | Madison, Specialized- Langster, Surly-Steam Roller a |
| Once you've decided you want a fixed gear and you | | | | couple others worth looking at Dolan and Felt also |
| want a new bike. Well your lucky most of the bicycle | | | | have models. These are just a few of the better |
| manufacturers now offer at least one fixed gear | | | | known bikes available. |
| model in their line. Most prices range from $569 to | | | | |