Another fixie conversion question- anyone out there ride one?

[SadieKate]

Got one but I'm not a flopper.

[Christopher]

Is there a track near you? Riding fixed is just so different than gears. It feels great once everything is set up right as there's so much less to worry about. But it's not for everyone.

If your area (SEPA? ) is hilly then you'll really struggle on a fixed. I can climb okay on gears but get defeated by any hill over 10% on a fixed, and descending with your legs spinning like crazy is scary!

Also fixies can be a bit of a pain in heavy traffic as you often find that the pedals are in the wrong place for setting off again. Not a problem if you can trackstand (I can't) but otherwise you have to unclip, lift the rear wheel off the ground and rotate the pedals.

If you are using an old 10-speed then there is the risk of pedal strike in corners, where the inside pedal hits the ground and lifts up the entire bike. Not nice. Mine used to do this sometimes (it has 170mm cranks) until I put narrow Shimano pedals on it.

Think hard before committing any $ to this. Converting an old 10-speed to a fixed can easily cost $300. Converting to SS can be a lot easier: get the rear wheel re-dished and buy a sprocket and chain & see how you go.

[Beane]

I feel moderately qualified to respond to your question, having just gone through the whole thing myself-- converted to a single speed, found it wasn't for me, and got a new geared bike and sold off all the ss parts.

I found that I really liked the single speed (which may not have been the case with fixed gear) EXCEPT for the one hill that I needed to climb to get to my house. I found myself making excuses for why I shouldn't ride that day and took the bus instead.. I would even ride to work/school and then take the bus home (our buses have bike racks) to avoid the hill.

If you're at all unsure of your abilities, I would definitely recommend getting a flip flop hub and doing ss before going straight to fixie.

You would definitely be a stronger rider... and as far as getting in over your head.. I don't think so. There are so many resources and websites you can consult, and if something is too hard, just go to your LBS to ask for help. Don't be scared off by the project aspect of it. On the flip side, do your homework and get advice on your particular bike and your riding needs/wants before doing anything major.

Deb's advice is good. Beyond that, maybe even try to borrow someone's ss or fixie for a test ride. Now that some of the major companies are selling ss/fixie bikes, you should be able to try one without too much trouble. I was definitely walking up the hill to my house, but I didn't feel like a poseur. You should think of it as just different. So many people ride them now (at least where I live) that it's really not a club anymore.. Good luck in your decision! And don't worry too much.. if it doesn't work out, just switch it back and sell what you bought.

[KnottedYet]

Kona makes the ss joke on their website for their flip-flop: "yeah, it really has three speeds; sit, stand, and walk."