A fixed gear is - well, fixed. You cannot coast. If you pedal backwards, it goes backward. There is no freewheel. Most tracks ban bikes with brakes or freewheels. This is because, in a fast moving pack, it would be extremely dangerous if one rider were able to slow down suddenly. With fixed gear and no brake, you can only slow more gradually, which is safer for other riders. You can buy a single speed freewheel for riding a track bike on the road, but it won't be allowed on the track.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
> Good Day to All;
>
> OK, I am off on another tangent. Yesterday while I was driving I found
this
> bike laying along side of the road. Turned out to be an old Raleigh of
> unknown vintage or model, because of a few bad paint jobs. I stripped the
> frame today and am thinking of turning it into a track bike of sorts,
since
> I only live about 3 kms from a track. I have been reading up on track
bikes
> and suddenly I had this light bulb moment... and now the stupid
question...
> is the drivetrain on a track bike fixed? What I mean can you coast on a
> track bike or do the pedals always keeping around, like if you pedal
> backwards, the bike will go backwards?
>
> Sorry for the obvious display of ignorance,
>
> P. Lynn Miller
> Sydney, Australia