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?
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):
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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GAVIN FISSO Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike US $329.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 6:56:20 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Fuji Road Bike Saddle By Cionlli Fixie Model Black 305g US $69.95 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 7:10:04 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Fuji Road Bike Saddle By Cionlli Fixie Model White 305g US $69.95 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 7:10:11 PDT | Watch this Item |
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CYCLOCROSS FIXED GEAR MTB BIKE CROSS BRAKE LEVERS 22.2 US $14.50 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 7:10:16 PDT | Watch this Item |
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FIXED GEAR SINGLE SPEED TRACK BIKE BICYCLE CHAIN RED US $9.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 7:34:18 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Fixed Fixie Gear Bike Cog Chromoly CNC Lockring NEW US $11.97 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 7:38:19 PDT | Watch this Item |
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FIXED GEAR SINGLE SPEED TRACK BIKE BICYCLE CHAIN GREEN US $9.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 7:42:18 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Fixed Gear Hooligans embroidered bicycle patch, New, urban, bike messenger fave US $2.00 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 8:31:48 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Sun Ringle Venus Sealed Cartridge Fixed Gear Track Bicycle Bike Wheelset 700c US $129.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 8:48:07 PDT | Watch this Item |
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NEW 54cm Track Fixed Gear Bike Fixie Single Speed Road Bicycle - White Color US $197.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 9:15:23 PDT | Watch this Item |
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54cm Black Fixed Gear Bike Single Speed Riser Bar Fixie Road Bike Track Bicycle US $197.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 9:21:15 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Mountain Fix Gear Cannondale Bike Bikes Handle Bar Speedometer Odometer Counter US $6.40 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 10:03:38 PDT | Watch this Item |
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micargi 48cm red kids road track single speed fixie FIXED GEAR bike bicycle US $289.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 10:34:19 PDT | Watch this Item |
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micargi 53cm yellow road track single speed fixie FIXED GEAR bike bicycle US $289.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 10:37:24 PDT | Watch this Item |
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micargi 48cm white road track single speed fixie FIXED GEAR kids bike bicycle US $289.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 10:47:18 PDT | Watch this Item |
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micargi 48cm yellow kids road track single speed fixie FIXED GEAR bike bicycle US $289.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 10:49:41 PDT | Watch this Item |
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LOW RISE BARS, FIXED GEAR, TRACK BIKE, ROAD BIKE, COMMUTER,MASH SF, SUPREME,ONLY US $18.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:01:58 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Retrospec Fixie Beta Series Medellin Fixed Gear Single Speed Road Bike *f259 US $314.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:06:51 PDT | Watch this Item |
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KMC Z410 SINGLE SPEED FIXED GEAR TRACK BIKE BICYCLE CHAIN 114 LINKS 1/8" BLACK US $16.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:17:19 PDT | Watch this Item |
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micargi 48cm green kids road track single speed fixie FIXED GEAR bike bicycle US $259.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:19:12 PDT | Watch this Item |
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KMC Z410 SINGLE SPEED FIXED GEAR TRACK BIKE BICYCLE CHAIN 114 LINKS 1/8" BLUE US $16.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:39:01 PDT | Watch this Item |
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SE Bikes Fixed Gear Alloy Track Bubble Cog 20T White Screw On US $24.95 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:44:47 PDT | Watch this Item |
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SE Bikes Fixed Gear Alloy Track Bubble Cog 20T Black Screw On US $24.95 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:44:54 PDT | Watch this Item |
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KMC Z410 SINGLE SPEED FIXED GEAR TRACK BIKE BICYCLE CHAIN 114 LINKS 1/8" RED US $16.99 Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 11:45:22 PDT | Watch this Item |
March 7th, 2009 at
I did not realize that they even made a fixed gear bike… strange
March 11th, 2009 at
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.
August 12th, 2009 at
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.
October 8th, 2009 at
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…
March 13th, 2010 at
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
April 6th, 2010 at
Does owning a ‘fixie’ make it incredibly hard work to get up hills then? Looks like fun but pretty tiring