Another fixie conversion question- anyone out there ride one?

[Kimmyt]

OK, so I don't know much about bike and maintenance. But for some reason the idea of building a fixie commuter bike has been popping into my head recently. I think I have a frame for it, an old Raleigh from the early 80's. I'd have to double check it on fit, but I think it might be okay. And it would probably be one of those things that would take me forever, but I'm also looking at it as a fun way to pass the winter months as well as to learn more about bike tinkering without messing with my girl.

I have a few questions though, and thought you girls could help me out. The whole fixie thing seems like such a club, and oddly enough (I'm not usually like this) but I'm kinda loathe to go on a ss/fixed specific BB to ask this question as I get the impression that most people that build and ride fixies (at least the dudes) can get kinda elitist and gear-*****y (okay, nothing wrong with gear-whorishness, I do have some tendencies as well).

Anyway:

1) How much harder is it to ride one? I'm a moderately strong rider on a regular bike, but honestly? I love my triple. I am getting better at hills, but still have LOTS of room for improvement and I'm really worried that if I spend time making a ss or fixed-gear bike that I will have to be that idiot walking it up some hills on my commute and will feel like such a poseur. I'm wondering if it's not gonna be as bad as I think, none of the hills are REALLY bad (well, one is, but I'd be ok with walking up that one as it's right at the entrance of my work)

2) What are the benefits of a fixed gear vs. a ss? In Triskeliongirl's post I see that it is much easier to convert a bike into a ss than a fixie. I guess to some people, it's more of an aesthetic thing, but the frame I have will need some updates anyway, so in my mind why not mess around with it and make it fixed since I'm not going to ride it in it's current state anyway. I have read Sheldon Brown's pages on it and if I do the conversion will probably follow his info and some other site's I've found.

3) Will riding a fixed gear make me stronger? This is kinda related to Question 1. But in my mind I'd think that if I can handle the bike, having only one gear would make me alot stronger of a rider. The question, as I said in #1, would then be, can I handle the bike (and I know there's all sorts of gear-ratio things that I would need to figure out... I don't have much of a head for numbers, so this would be the hard part)

4) And finally, is it just getting in over my head? Since I'm only a beginner at tinkering with my bike (just learned to clean it last year and have never really messed with tuning it for fear of messing it up too much) is this crazy idea of mine just stupid? I mean, my thought is, right now I'd be investing no money in it. I have a frame that's free, so I could start to mess with it and if it gets too difficult or too expensive I could just can it and sell the frame on eBay or something for a few bucks. So it's really no loss, of course, it might mean kicking my car out of the garage for the winter, which is fine too.

Anyway, just some ramblings from my bored mind at work, maybe I won't do it at all, but the thought has been hovering the past week (possibly because I've been couch-bound due to my gimpy ankle).

K.

[DebW]

Why not take a few rides on your current bike pretending that it's a fixing. Just select one medium gear and leave it there. See if you can get up the hills. Also try to never coast, even going around corners and down hills. That might tell you if you really want a fixie, without the time, expense, and risk.

[mimitabby]

Debw, what great advice!

I think riding a fixie will definitely make you stronger. A lot of our toughest riders ride fixies for the training rides.. when they get back on their multiple geared bikes, they are animals.

[7rider]

If you're in a hilly area and used to a triple, I think a fixed gear bike would be pretty tough for you. Even a single speed. I've heard/read that fixies can be tough on your knees. But they do help smooth out your stroke.
I've pondered converting my (soon to be) old Axiom into a SS to use as a commuter. DH's comment - "You'll hate it at the first hill you hit." Don't know if that's totally true, but DebW's recommendation is certainly a way to go....mimic the expected gearing with your geared bike, and vow to stay away from the shifters for a ride. I don't think I myself would have the leg discipline to ride it "fixed", but giving it a try as a SS might be good.

[SadieKate]

I'm all for singlespeed (meaning a freewheel) as opposed to fixies. I just don't want to work when I'm going downhill. Heck, I just earned to right to coast!

[roadfix]

I'm all for singlespeed (meaning a freewheel) as opposed to fixies. I just don't want to work when I'm going downhill. Heck, I just earned to right to coast!

Well, with flip-flop hubs you can have it both ways....