Fixed Gear Bikes


Fixed Gear Bikes 101

February 17, 2009. This post has 6 responses. Leave another.

Wikipedia says:

A fixed-gear bicycle or fixed wheel bicycle is a bicycle without the ability to coast. The sprocket is screwed directly on to the hub and there is no freewheel mechanism. A reverse-threaded lockring is usually fitted to prevent the sprocket from unscrewing. Whenever the rear wheel is turning, the pedals turn in the same direction. By resisting the rotation of the pedals, a rider can slow the bike to a stop,which will cause the tires to skid,without the aid of a brake. Stopping is sometimes known as “skidding” in the fixed gear world. A fixed gear bicycle can also be ridden in reverse.

Or as 63xc.com says:

A fixed gear bike lacks a freewheel, and thus denies you the opportunity to coast. As long as the rear wheel is turning, the chain and pedals go with it. Because your legs are directly connected to the wheel, you can stop just by reversing pressure on the pedals. Hell, you can ride backwards, if you have the nerve. What you can’t do is change gear.


So, that’s it, right? One gear, and you brake with your legs. No, fixed gear bikes are a lot more than that. In the last couple of years, a whole community has grown up from the grass roots, spreading the gospel of fixed-gear bikes. It’s even been called a movement. But why?

Fixed Gear Bikes

Why such devotion to a bike that happens to have a different kind of mechanism? Why the obsession with tricking out these bikes? Well, the only real way to understand is to ride one for yourself. Find friends with fixed gear bicycles and try them out. Or just take the leap and get one yourself. Just do your homework first.

First stop: check out the late great Sheldon Brown’s essential Articles for New Cyclists, which explain everything you could possibly need to know to get started. The check out the rest of his archives for the more advanced stuff.

A more user-friendly walkthrough for beginners is Greg Goode’s Fixed Gear 101. Lots of excellent advice there for anyone just starting out with fixed-gear bikes.

As for gear, you can easily get cheap fixed-gear bikes, parts and equipment on eBay. Here are the latest listings pulled up fresh. If you don’t see something you want now, just check back and they’ll be updated. Or click on something interesting and then surf around. There are so many to check out, you’ll probably end up clicking a “buy it now” button faster than you can bring your fixie to a full stop.

The latest fixed gear stuff up for sale (click here for more):

single-speed-fixie-fixed-gear-track-bike-bicycle-crankset-cranks-175-white-175mm SINGLE SPEED/FIXIE/FIXED GEAR/TRACK BIKE BICYCLE CRANKSET CRANKS 175 WHITE 175mm
US $27.87 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:06:42 PST
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radius-alloy-brake-caliper-rear-only-fixie-fixed-gear-road-bike-silver-55mm-73mm Radius ALLOY Brake Caliper Rear Only Fixie Fixed gear road bike Silver 55mm-73mm
US $19.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:37:19 PST
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wheels-chainwhip-fixed-gear-track-bike-3-32- WHEELS Chainwhip - Fixed Gear/Track Bike - 3/32"
US $17.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:39:33 PST
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leader-2011-735-black-58cm-frame-only-barely-used-fixed-gear-road-bike-bicycle Leader 2011 735 Black 58cm Frame Only barely used fixed gear road bike bicycle
US $400.00 (1 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:44:46 PST
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grips-track-fixed-gear-messenger-pista-road-bike-green GRIPS TRACK FIXED GEAR MESSENGER PISTA ROAD BIKE GREEN
US $0.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:50:23 PST
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new-dia-tech-dia-compe-gran-compe-shot-lever-fixie-fixed-gear-road-bike-black New Dia tech Dia Compe Gran Compe Shot Lever Fixie Fixed Gear Road Bike Black
US $47.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:55:06 PST
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white-weinemann-deep-v-with-black-formula-hubs-track-bike-fixed-gear-wheelset White Weinemann deep v with Black formula hubs track bike fixed gear wheelset
US $52.00 (3 Bids)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:55:45 PST
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wellgo-track-bike-pedals-fixed-gear-single-speed-fixie WELLGO TRACK BIKE PEDALS,FIXED GEAR,SINGLE SPEED,FIXIE
US $7.87 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 17:47:15 PST
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700c-x-23c-duro-tire-fixie-bike-tire-fixed-gear-tire-road-tire-black-gum-272362- 700c x 23c duro tire fixie bike tire fixed gear tire road tire black gum 272362
US $15.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 17:57:27 PST
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2-track-fixed-gear-bike-pedals-fixie-single-speed-gold 2 TRACK/FIXED GEAR BIKE PEDALS,FIXIE,SINGLE SPEED GOLD
US $8.87
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:00:55 PST
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50cm-track-fixed-gear-bike-fixie-single-speed-road-bike 50cm TRACK FIXED GEAR BIKE FIXIE SINGLE SPEED ROAD BIKE
US $219.95 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:01:11 PST
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new-54cm-track-fixed-gear-bike-fixie-single-speed-road-bicycle-black-color NEW 54cm Track Fixed Gear Bike Fixie Single Speed Road Bicycle - Black Color
US $197.95 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:02:14 PST
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700c-fixie-bike-tire-fixed-gear-bicycle-tire-hybrid-bik-tire-all-blue-156-272320 700c fixie bike tire fixed gear bicycle tire hybrid bik tire all blue 156 272320
US $15.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:03:26 PST
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700c-duro-tire-fixie-bike-tire-fixed-gear-tire-hybrid-black-w-green-156-272352 700c duro tire fixie bike tire fixed gear tire hybrid black w green 156 272352
US $15.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:06:32 PST
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61cm-track-fixed-gear-black-alloy-road-bike-bicycle-new 61cm Track Fixed Gear Black Alloy Road Bike Bicycle NEW
US $169.97 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:19:07 PST
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55cm-track-bike-fixed-gear-chromoly-frame-set-fork-new 55cm Track Bike Fixed Gear Chromoly Frame Set Fork NEW
US $69.97 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:19:11 PST
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raleigh-professional-1973-road-bike-frame-vintage-fixed-gear-50cm-53cm Raleigh Professional 1973 road bike frame vintage fixed gear 50cm 53cm
US $187.56 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:32:44 PST
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new-dia-tech-dia-compe-gran-compe-shot-lever-fixie-fixed-gear-road-bike-silver New Dia tech Dia Compe Gran Compe Shot Lever Fixie Fixed Gear Road Bike Silver
US $47.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:37:07 PST
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kiyo-miyazawa-njs-keirin-frame-53-5cm--keirin-track-bike-fixed-gear- Kiyo MIYAZAWA NJS Keirin Frame 53.5cm ( Keirin , Track Bike , Fixed Gear )
US $490.00
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:43:53 PST
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rh+o-silver-goathorn-goat-horn-handlebars-fixed-gear-fixie-road-track-bike RH+O silver goathorn goat horn handlebars fixed gear fixie road track bike
US $16.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:44:56 PST
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wellgo-wr-1-track-fixed-gear-single-speed-bike-pedals WELLGO WR-1 TRACK/FIXED GEAR/SINGLE SPEED BIKE PEDALS
US $17.87 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 18:55:18 PST
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track-fixie-fixed-gear-bike-handlebar-bar-grips-red-new TRACK,FIXIE,FIXED GEAR BIKE HANDLEBAR BAR GRIPS RED NEW
US $0.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:04:28 PST
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fixie-fixed-gear-bicycle-bike-53cm-rd-626-black- Fixie Fixed Gear Bicycle Bike 53cm RD-626 Black
US $239.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:07:55 PST
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fixie-fixed-gear-bicycle-bike-53cm-rd-626-green Fixie Fixed Gear Bicycle Bike 53cm RD-626 Green
US $239.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:11:13 PST
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fixie-fixed-gear-bicycle-bike-53cm-rd-626-red Fixie Fixed Gear Bicycle Bike 53cm RD-626 red
US $239.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:17:43 PST
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fixie-fixed-gear-bicycle-bike-53cm-rd-626-yellow Fixie Fixed Gear Bicycle Bike 53cm RD-626 yellow
US $239.99
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:20:18 PST
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new-fixed-gear-bike-grips-130mm-red NEW Fixed gear Bike Grips 130mm - Red
US $14.41
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:39:43 PST
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thomson-elite-black-fixed-gear-track-x4-road-bike-stem-0x110x31-8 Thomson Elite Black Fixed Gear Track X4 Road Bike Stem 0x110x31.8
US $74.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:59:08 PST
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-vintage-model-nagasawa-njs-frame-54-5cm--track-bike-fixed-gear-keirin- " Vintage Model " NAGASAWA NJS Frame 54.5cm ( Track Bike , Fixed Gear , Keirin )
US $1,480.00
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 20:00:34 PST
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track-fixie-fixed-gear-bike-straight-bar-handlebar-red TRACK/FIXIE/FIXED GEAR BIKE STRAIGHT BAR HANDLEBAR RED
US $9.87 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 20:00:35 PST
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[Click here to see all fixed gear bike stuff for sale]


6 Responses to “Fixed Gear Bikes 101”

  1. I did not realize that they even made a fixed gear bike… strange

  2. Never really heard about fixed gear bicycle before this but it seems interesting from what I read from this article. I wanted to know more about this kind of bicycle and wondering where I can buy this kind of bicycle with a good price.

  3. It takes a bit of practice to become comfortable on a fixed gear. Most cyclists, trying it for the first time, will automatically try to coast once the bike gets up to a certain speed. The bike will not allow this, and it is disconcerting. It takes a couple of weeks of regular riding to unlearn the impulse to coast, and become at ease on a fixed gear.

  4. Brilliant, but there’s just one thing that I don’t really understand: How are you supposed to cycle at any speed without coasting from time to time? And just lifting your feet from the pedals must result in the backs of your feet being hit regularly. Wouldn’t mind trying to ride backwards though…

  5. obsessions Says:

    I am a person who frequently becomes obsessed with different thing from fast cars to the art of shaving with a straight razor. My latest obsession is with the fixed gear bicycle. Thanks to sheldon , blogs, articles and web sites like this one i have started building myself a fixie.

    thanks . . . to whoever started this web site

  6. Does owning a ‘fixie’ make it incredibly hard work to get up hills then? Looks like fun but pretty tiring :)