| Some of you may have heard the kid down the | | | | you stop pedaling but the back hub still spins). The |
| street or even seen the young punk on the corner | | | | sprocket is screwed directly on to the hub and there |
| riding around and what looks like a 10 speed bike. | | | | is no freewheel mechanism. That means you can't |
| However, if you take a closer look, you'll discover | | | | coast on a fixed gear bike. Your feet are always |
| that there aren't 10 speeds on that bike. In fact, | | | | pedaling. As exhausting as this sounds, it does |
| you'd probably discover that there is just a single | | | | provide you with more efficiency when pedaling. |
| speed. That's because these kids undoubtedly took | | | | Most fixed gear bicycles only have one gear ratio. |
| their parents old Schwinn, took off the derailer, put | | | | This means there are no additional gears to switch |
| on a fixed-gear or track-bike hub, took off the | | | | to. Your typical BMX bike is a single speed gear, |
| brakes, slapped on some crazy "mustache" handle | | | | however, BMX bikes tend to have freewheels (aka |
| bars, rolled up their pants, and rode down to the | | | | you can COAST!). |
| closes critical mass ride with their new converted | | | | WHY DID FIXED GEAR BIKES TAKE OFF? |
| fixed gear (OR spent a few hundred bucks to have | | | | Some say the popularity of fixed gear bikes can be |
| someone do it for them). | | | | traced back to bike messengers. They've been using |
| In any regards, fixed gear bikes are all the rage in | | | | fixed / single speed bicycles for years as it helps |
| the hipster population. And it couldn't have come at a | | | | them get around faster (back to the whole |
| better time. With gas prices at an all time high and | | | | efficiency of movement thing). Bike messengers |
| the need to go "Green", you can't blame the kids for | | | | were also known for being renegades on some level |
| huffing it on 2 wheels for free and no exhaust | | | | and having a "punk" attitude. This combined with the |
| smoke rather than spending close to hundreds each | | | | general popularity of bikes, skateboarding, surfing, |
| month just to go a few miles down the road and | | | | and anything else that allows the youth of today to |
| spew forth fumes for miles (come on admit it - | | | | break free of government mandated roads and public |
| you've driven to places that you totally could have | | | | transit system and blaze their own trails across the |
| walked to). So if you're new to this fixed gear bike | | | | land (and look good doing it too). |
| thing and are curious about how it all works, here's a | | | | WILL THE FIXED GEAR BIKE CRAZY LAST? |
| quick breeze through the basics. | | | | Who knows. I honestly hope so because it is a way |
| HOW A FIXED GEAR BIKE WORKS | | | | to cut down on pollutants, spend less on gas, stay in |
| It's simple. Fixed gear bikes are exactly that - fixed! | | | | shape, AND make a statement - ALL AT THE SAME |
| Also known as a fixed wheel bicycle, it's basically a | | | | TIME! Who could ask for anything more (Toyyyota!). |
| bicycle without the ability to coast (coast meaning | | | | |