I think Dennis and others touched on many of the aspects of why people like fixed. I like it due to the quietness...the simplicity. just get on and ride...get in a rhythm....feel the maintaining of that rhythm even when climbing...you feel yourself gently standing and turning with the gears...letting the bike slightly sway side to side....leveling back into the saddle at the apex...it's just a feeling you get. When I rode my single speed in Harrisburg traffic...it was because I didn't want people to give it a second look when I leaned it against the wall and ran in and out of buildings. There wasn't anything "attractive" to the thiefs at that time...they glistened and smiled when they saw those campy derailleurs and shiny cranksets...my electrical tape on my top tube...the one ring and one gear in back...I really do believe it was a deterrant for them...they didn't give it a second look.
Even on my fixies today, I do use brakes...bar one...my Dawes. I don't have a brake outfitted on it...but I enjoy the ride and silence. Give one a good try sometime away from a group and away from a crowd...you might catch yourself looking around and enjoying the feel and silence.
Walter Skrzypek
Falls Creek, Pa
owner of a Zeus fixie and Dawes Fixie
http://www.fixedgearhooligans.com
> Ken,
>
> Like Chuck states, the allure of riding fixed is something that may
> somewhat defy rational analysis, but If you try it, a certain "lightbulb"
> may click on. For me, it's the simplicity, the quietness, the more
> direct connection to the road, and having to rely on my own power when
> confronting changing terrain; a certain unavoidable honesty in that. I
> love it. Fixed gear bikes are so pretty to look at too, less to confuse
> the eye. I think that most "fixies" feel this way.
>
> Dennis Young
> Hotaka, Japan
>
>>
>> Ken Naylor wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I have never quite understood the allure of fixed gear/track bikes in
>>> the bike messenger crowd. I understood the rational of using them as a
>>> training tool for road cyclist to teach a smooth pedal motion/ cadence,
>>> but it seems that the decrease in braking ability (right?) and the lack
>>> of ability to choose a better gear for hills/wind/ect. would be a
>>> detriment. Any comments from fixed gear riders and/or messengers?
>>>
>>
>>
>> Never underestimate the contrariness and perversity of human beings.
>> When the watch industry finally came up with a cheap ($10) and accurate
>> (beyond chronometer standards) digital watch a fairly large segment of
>> the luxury watch buying public decided that what they now needed was a
>> retro mechanical watch that required regular maintenance and maybe even
>> a periodic overhaul.
>>
>> Offer all the gears in the world and thought free shifting and then they
>> want single gear bikes. "Crazy World Ain't It?"
>>
>> Chuck "loves fixed gear riding" Schmidt
>> South Pasadena, Southern California