I drive single speed and i am proud of it. Simplicity of this solution is the thing I love in it. Honestly I just wanted something more simple than normal bike with deraileurs and this is the easiest solution - bought cheap retro road bike, removed almost everything and it works perfect for me. For now I don't need to try anything else and changing a frame or entire bike to gain horizontal dropouts is too big of a mess for me.
chiming to your view, I do associate with that. Gears/electric do have it's place to make older and general populace accessible to cycling. on the other hand, that simplicity gives the bike no derailleur, so if it falls, in may be resilient in that sense, it also gives clarity the mind to not shift gears, being able to conquer hills with a handicap/limitation really makes u resilient, or if u have to push up a 20% grade hill, walk/running it, may let u lose dignity, but resilience to indignity is still a thing xD, but it may be egotistical to push through a slight gradient, whilst other cyclists shift into their easier gears and you pass them like a boss, then you're chilling on the flat at 90rpm and they pass you with harder gear lol- "get a proper geared bike, you crazy?", yeah gears are just a luxury, i suppose, but whatever, if you could have the flexible option to bail out at 120 rpm @ 40kph.
@@andrewzhang2621 this is absolutely true, but doesn't match my way of using a bike, which is mostly commuting or even if driving around neighberhood, I'm still in the city. In addition I live in Central Europe, so we have kind of diversed usage of bikes - I mean not only sports. If I had 20% hills nearbym, I would change my gear ratio or consider some crazy solutions like sram automatix or worst case scenario - rear hub with build in gears. This is also important I believe. Before going into single speed or fixed gear you need to know your needs and abilities.
To y'all; one gear= easier life. Fixed, or free. You enjoy the ride. It's your time to engage with all the joggers, and cyclists, who don't care what you're riding. You can't go wrong. Enjoy your ride.
@@artvandalay2736 Hills can be a drag in both directions. But I did live in Denver Co. for 11 years, and I got use to them on my fixed gear. In the end, it’s all about what you like.
I tried a fixed gear, and it was ok, but I truly love the feeling and freedom of being able to coast. Thats one of my happy places. As for the secret club snobbiness that fixie riders sometimes exude, you either accept me and my single speed with, *GASP*, brakes, or you don't, no sweat off my back. Those are the people you want to steer clear of anyways.
I'm an older fixed gear rider. I went back and forth between fixed and single speed. I know single speed is easier due to coasting and at 61 I like coasting but, I just prefer fixed. I commute to work, mostly flat riding and I love it. Thanks for your channel Zach.
Thanks for the video - generally having a single-speed bike often feels like you're on your own community-wise: you're an alien to both the fixed-gear crowd and to all the other bike 'clubs' (road, MTB, bikepacking, folding etc.).
Single speed here my guy. I love to go fast and don't like to stop pedaling but like to coast corners and hills. That fixed gear situation is too much unnecessary evil for my life. Lol
Ive had a state 4130 for years and it was on the freewheel for 1 day. Flipped it over to the fixed hub and took off the breaks and been loving it since. You get better every time you ride. “If it ain’t fixed, it’s broken” lol
My singlespeed cog worn out after 5 years, so i flipped my wheel to try fixed gear. I love how it feels! I can recommend everyone to try it for a week..you won't go back.
I switched from Fixed to single speed when I ruined my fixed wheels in a crash, initially only temporarily but I've stuck with it. As much as I love riding fixed I love going really fast downhill even more.
I recently converted a vintage bike to a single speed and ride it in the city. I love how easy it is to maintain and how simple it looks. Ride safe everyone :)
Thanks for the great vid. Most of my riding is on a road bike but the fixed gear thing really fascinated me so I got a cheap bike ($200) with a flip-flop hub. I tried the fixed gear side for a while but it just wasn't comfortable for me. I love the single speed side and I use it when I ride with my wife since she can't ride like I do on my road bike. Thanks for covering the single speed choice!
i actually started my "one gear" journey w/ a bikes direct bike. i tried the fixed side and like you said, i just felt like it wasn't for me. still totally love fixed gear bikes, their look & "the culture". it's probably super weird, like while i don't ride on the fixed side "ya'll get my respect" i ended up upgrading to a wabi cross thunder and keep it on the single speed side and absolutely love it. thanks for the channel man
I love the look of fixed gear bikes, so raw. But I ride a single speed. I bought a new bike this winter that has a flip flop hub and will try fixed gear riding...in a really big, empty parking lot. At 63 the being cool boat sailed quite some time ago so if fixed gear is or isn't for me I'm still just the old guy on the bike. But in all seriousness the biggest obstacle to riding fixed gear, for me, is my knees and the stress on them during braking. If I ride fixed I don't want brakes and if I have to keep the brakes I might as well stay with the single speed.
You can try riding without a freewheel at any age. And having brakes on a fixed-gear bike isn't forbidden. Actually it's forbidden not to have brakes on any bike. One can also have fenders, racks and reflectors on a fixed-gear bike. Have fun!
I have a Fuji Declaration with a flip-flop hub... After a recent injury to my back, switched to single speed, and never looked back. Our country is immensely hilly with no more than a couple of hundred feet of level road. It is not the poorer cousin by far. I love fixies for their beautiful build and uncluttered lines, but it is, and will remain, very much a minor interest in the cycling world. PS. Love your channel!
I ride SS and with as few gears as possible, and in ALL cases i feel "connected" to my bike. The fact is i tried fixed and spent all of my time FIGHTING the bike. That's not what i build my bikes to do, here's a big difference between getting used to something and knowing you're being limited by its function. And riding SS is more than just about coasting, being able to place your pedal where you need it is important, as is using them as a platform to move your body around on the bike. In fast corners i weight the outside pedal and use my arms and butt to rotate the bike thru the turn, then i can rotate the cranks to the perfect position to power out. Also, people do track stands on all kinds of bikes, even geared ones.
Cool video, Zach! I ride fixed here in urban Manila, even in longer city rides. However, when we're off riding to the mountains outside the city, that singlespeed is a Godsend especially on harsh descents with some steep hills right after. Cheers from the Philippines!
There is a road on the way back into town that I ride often. It has 4 rollers short and steep ranging from 10 to 45 kph. I have yet to beat my time with the same bike with gears. At the bottom of one roller, I was turning about 150 rpm and then almost losing balance at the top. We have a track in my city(138m, 50 degree in the corners). When it opened 15 years ago, I rode a track bike it felt completely natural. I have not ridden there in some time but was fun. BTW track gears were 48/16 and preferred road gear 40/16 - and I cheat because I have disc brakes on the road bike.
Starting with single speed to get my confidence back this season (ended last season with a car hitting my geared bianchi), and once I feel fit and in tune with the roads, I’m gonna flop on over to fixed and give it a go.
Just do it man. Now! I too went to from single speed free wheel to fixed gear. Difficult af at first, but get better and better. Once comfortable, I don't see you going back to free again and probably question yourself why you didn't start it way earlier.
Rahul, most single speed bikes run what's called a flip -flop rear hub, (where you have the option to run either) all you have to do is, take the wheel off turn it 180, put it back on the bike, its that easy
Eh it's not for everyone, but you might have luck with it. Lemme know how it goes. Shouldn't be TOO hard since you have a dedicated single speed. Get a rear wheel with a flipflop hub?
Fixed gears are dangerous and not for everyone. With single speeds you get most of the enjoyment of a fixed gear without the risk. I had a friend, who was a good cyclist, relax at a stop sign and forget he was on a fixed gear. He got a broken collar bone as the result. That being said I've ridden fixed gears for more than 30 years and never hurt myself on them, although I have made a scary offroad excursion into a farm ditch because of a nasty lumber truck. When I get on a fixed gear bike whether it's for a training ride, group ride or velodrome ride I always respect the bike with the knowledge that it is somewhat dangerous.
Much prefer single speed, but I like both bikes for the clean, spartan looks. I always even convert my beach cruisers to singls speed- planning on making one a klunker, just trying to figure out if I should go hardtail or not. If I want real speed, I have a roadbike.
It strikes me that fixed gear riders are a bit snobby. I've ridden both fixed and single speed but prefer single. The only advantage fixed has is the track stand at traffic lights which is a thing of beauty but the ability to coast far outweighs that
I just got my hands on a single speed bike. I grew up riding bmx bikes, but they are too small and childish to ride around (in my opinion). I’ve got a couple of geared bikes, which I’ve never really liked. The chain is super loud on every bump you can hear it flopping all over the place, you also have to be careful with the detailer since it sticks out and needs to be perfectly adjusted for smooth shifting. I didn’t even know single speed bikes really existed, because who would want to make biking harder? It’s perfect for me, the comfort ability of a big road bike, with the heart of a bmx bike that you can toss in the back of your truck without worrying about messing something up.
As a fixed rider that speaks some tagalog i can attest to what you said on both ends. Every time another fixed gear rider goes by in the opposite direction we give each other's bike "the look" and "the nod of approval". And i have to admit i got excellent service and treats from OFW's worldwide by speaking tagalog. (kasi dateng meron pinay nobya ako :P) Kaya mo yan kuya zack.
This may sound stupid but i want to convert my mtb into a single speed for the following reasons: 1. Keeping my bike simple 2. Less maintenance, no luxury or access to a nearby local bikeshop 3. Making it lighter, for my bike to work experience as well 4. Personal preference Why did i bought an MTB instead of a fixie as my first bike? Dunno, peer pressure I guess. But at the end, I almost do bike rides myself and literally no access to trails. I am just being stupid lol. Anyway, thank you for your inputs @Zach Gallardo, might as well convert my mtb into a single speed soon. Cheers.
It makes sense that the fixed gear is cooler since it can do tricks. You should just leave it at that, because the whole college dropout analogy is confusing. To me, the "cool one" that dropped out of school would be the 1 speed, since it can coast and chill.. whereas the fixed gear would be the one that goes to 8AM classes bc it never stops peddling.
I grew up on a bmx. I’d usually pick a bmx when riding with geared riders, just love the flow of the Singlespeed. My riding takes me off road and up gnarly climbs. I like being able to pick a gear that allows me to ride up almost anything but w/ Singlespeed I can still bomb the descent. Also, nothing sucks worse than railing singletrack, getting your timing off and slamming your fixed gear crank into a log 😂. It’s also about letting the bike be free to move around underneath you and pumping through terrain to conserve momentum 👌 Fixed gear has no chill, there’s definitely a flow to it but it’s a different beast. I’ve ridden fixed gear bikes a little (unicycles a lot) on and off road. I miss pumping. I miss the flow. I like the excursions on singletrack, pumping through tight corners. It’s just a different vibe so for now my steamroller will stay Singlespeed:) I guess most of the Singlespeed culture is on the bmx and Mtb side, also there’s a lot of bike packing races being won by singlespeeds 👍
Same feeling here. Rode fixed for a few years but went back to singlespeed for that "flowy" feeling. But riding fixed made a huge improvement to my cadence that I carry over to riding singlespeed.
I went from MTB to Roadbike then found my way to fixed Gear and man Fixed Gear really hits different when riding like you're floating and free. It's just therapeutic, except for the part on climbing uphill but hey that's part of the fun. Also how you can just customize it to the style you want.
Mine has a flipflop hub so I enjoy both,but oh boy in fixed mode you never get a rest and your knees take a hammering.....but I still ride brakes,dont buy into the shit you can stop in time because you cant....
Hi dude. It's nice to see you again. Thanks for the video. The scenario it's beautiful, I love that place. And, obviously I'm on in to the Fixie team, of course. ¡Abrazo fuerte carnal!
I am Mountain, roadie and single speed rider and agree that when you try fixie you either love it or hate and I of course hate it lol, but I enjoy watching fixie riders do their thing, I think it’s cool, just not for me.
Agree. It's like 'eeeh I've tried it, didn't really work out. Single speed? I like it a lot. Really do like me a few gears, but at the same time? Single Speed has that whole get on and go appeal. nothing really to mess up just. GO.
Switching now back to single speed due to knee problems - can't skid anyways, installed breaks and flat pedals without straps so don't need switch to clipless shoes every time and can ride casually anywhere.
SS for me. But mainly because I ride MTB 99% of the time. I get tripped up when I go back and forth between coasting and not coasting. If I had to have one bike and had no trails to ride, it would be a fixed gear for the purity. 👌🏻
I ride a fix gear because I love the connectivness to the road and the powerful my legs have become! I also have a single speed freewheel bike that it's so much more efficient in long distance rides and absolutely love to be able to let go in downhills!
year late weigh in. the things that are dealbreakers for me are the potential loss of control down hills, pedal strikes, difficulty of bunny hops when using platforms, not being able to lean off the back of my bike to go under a low branch, and my knees. i really do enjoy the control at low speed, but i prefer feeling safe.
I can’t ride fixie due to some knee injuries. The only fixie I could ride would need brakes installed and at that point I’d rather just ride my single speed. It’s the simplicity, I got rid of my last single speed and am now back in the market for one lol. Love the videos!
@Bebo My knees are actually damaged from an accident awhile ago! However for anybody that cones across this comment with knee problems dude is right I've been doing yoga for a year and it's help tremendously!
If your riding is all about getting kudos from others, it's pretty sad and up it's self, but each to their own I guess.. They are both great. Go with what suits you rather then soring point for points and getting your ego stroked.
Im full roadie now but I love the simplicity of fixed gear for urban and casual commuting use. A single speed is a good compromise but fixed is just a lot more fun, IMO. A fixed gear track bike with a single speed hub feels weird to me when you run out of gear inches on a downhill.
I bought a 120$ fixed gear off craigslist years ago. It was an early 80s centurion conversion, brakeless, NO foot retention (WTF) , had Velocity B43s with sealed hubs (had no idea what they were). Well i tried the bike, and actually didn't like it right away. This was probably because it had bald tires and no foot retention. I tried to resell the bike to get my money back for a single speed. one girl came and checked it out with her boyfriend, they liked the color but she felt the frame was too big and also felt that fixed gear felt weird and sketchy. well I ended up learning more about fixed and eventually bought some wellgo straps and new tires. I added a front brake (totally didnt work because deep rims and just ruined the paint...soon took it off). I fucking loved that bike. Rode it so much commuting to work and back. It made me fall in love with fixed. I been a fixie nerd ever since, even Zach G sold me on the Wabi classic which I love so much and ride it as much as i can. Modified it thru the years as well. I ended up giving the Conversion to my wife who now loves FIxed gear riding as well (albeit not as crazy as i do), she had to slam the seatpost down but luckily shes not picky and thinks it fits just fine. I ride that conversion here and there to make sure it's still running smoothly which it is!!! and it gives my Wabi a run for its money. The wabi sure feels better but its not a huge difference which surprises me how easy it is to build a fixed gear that feels like a quality bike.
Having tried a road bike with 22 gears (sorry) before switching to a single-speed, and while I probably would agree with Zach's point that a single speed doesn't give you the same connection to your drivetrain and your bike as a whole as a fixie... I have to say I still feel the single speed gives you that connected feeling, if only a little bit. My pedaling feels more efficient, and when I pedal I can feel the chain engaging with the wheel almost directly. None of the nonsense you get with derailleurs and such which make pedaling feel like you're just putting into motion a bunch of turning parts that eventually get to the wheel and make it turn. On a single speed, much like on a fixed gear, _you_ make the wheel turn, and that feeling is amazing. I'll try fixed once I'm used to the single speed life! Ride on everyone, bike is life. :)
@@singletona082 yea just look up "6 bolt fixed cog". There's some by a few different makers like Problem solvers or Origin8. The spacing can be an issue if using a dedicated track frame and not a conversion, but for a track frame you can use a front hub to achieve a non-flipflop (fixed-only) setup. There are some dual disc brake front hubs in existence that'd let you do double-fixed, made for e/motorized bikes but they're rare.
@@Aubreykun Curious. I've got a low end huffy frame that I honestly like. Naturally it's heavy, but honestly? Been serving me well as I figure things out. I look forward to trying to make a disaster out of this.
They really are the same~ there I said it! there is a reason 0ne can buy a flip fI0p hub~ b0th a fixed gear and freewheel are Singlespeed c0nfigurati0ns!
I have done both. During the pandemic, parts and bikes just weren't as available and everything has been expensive. I ended up using BlueBikes as a bike rental option and . . . it's been cheaper than bike maintenance and these kind of rentals are fine for up to 10 miles per trip. Really hard to get out and do a longer ride, but fine for daily usage. Given that the rentals are usually twice the weight of a fixed or a single speed, I have a feeling when I go back, it'll feel really amazing. Just gotta wait the shortage out.
Fixed Gear rider. I converted my dad's 1980's 10 speed to a fixed gear and have never looked back. Love the ride, the road feel, the workout, the simplicity. K.I.S.S. Keep it stupid simple.
riding single speed in a place that isn’t super flat has made commuting much easier for me, personally. i like coasting when i’m tired because, let’s face it, i’m just lazy. mad respect for every day fixed gear riders, though.
I just bought one with a flip flop hub. I'm hoping this'll be my winter beater. But because Ill often have to ride through snow/slush/ice, I think fixie is a death sentence. Not sure how to handle spontaneous rough spots without being able to coast
I have unicycles and they are great for feeling connected with the "bike", but the reason i use a bicycle is for riding fast downhill where the single speed has the advantage.
My city is very hilly with a lot of curbs and sidewalks, EXTREMELY busy roads where cars rarely go below 60 kmph. I ride freewheel: bunny hops are much easier and more reliable, lots of climbing requires a gear like 44/17 or 46/17 so going downhill on a busy road would be a suicide at 130+ rpms.
I didn't know you're Filipino until now, i always watch your videos whenever i have free time, but I don't have a fixed gear. I've always wanted to try one, but don't have the budget to buy one. Maybe soon I'll buy one but not now.
i just bought a fixed gear bike that can flop to single speed. for now, I'm sticking to fixed as it's something new to me. I also like riding my mountain bike and road bike. Pretty much depends on where i want to go and what mood I'm into. I'm thinking of riding my fixie to work but that little slope got me thinking. I already have two bad knees. But, hoping fixed gear will either help improve my leg power or get me into the wheelchair. :p
except maybe a unicycle!! Dont have a fixed-gear yet but i’ve been watching yo shit for a few years now. Just wanted to say, ‘hey, awesome channel”. Informative, great narratives, hilarious, well edited! Keep it up, mang! -
i have to ride single speed now because I had an accident with my fixed-gear that left me in the hospital with 3 surgeries, metal plates and screws installed in my shoulder, and out of the saddle and in physiotherapy for almost 7 months. Now i ride single speed with a front brake. i didn't fall because of lack of brakes on the fixed-gear but honestly this was such a shit experience that I want to minimise my risk on a bicycle in the future as much as possible. but I love simplicity of singlespeed or fixed. for my two fixies I bought a white industries freewheel and also a halo clickster freewheel, wanted to see difference between two on my two bikes and honestly they're both smooth and sound like a swarm of bees but clickster is half the price, so i recommend anyone thinking of clickster to go with it - it also has more points of engagement. feels good to be back on a bike again. and also it has always been a headache in germany riding brakeless fixed-gear so don't have to avoid cops any more which is nice lol
Due to a mechanical failure about a year ago, I had to go free wheel (single speed), after over 10yrs of riding fixed, it was the most terrifying experience, the feeling of coasting with just my brakes to save me was really unnerving, never again, as long as I have air in my lungs, (and decent set of knees), I'll be riding fixed till I can't ride no more
I have a 1X10 but I leave it in one gear the entire time I ride. But for years I had a single speed bike so I was use to it. To be honest fix gear is cool but just not for me.
i have a tip for others find a fixie that could also be converted to a roade bike meaning you have a freewhel on the left and a fixed gear on the right that way you can just turn your wheel 180 now your useing a freewheel and not a fixie although you wouldnt have brakes
I love my single speed, I would never change that for a Fixie, no señor, btw you've got the most Filipino/Spanish family name posible 👍🏻, Gallardo = Brave, good looking, strong.
Recently switched with 19t cog. The thing bring me so much fun as the first time I get to ride a single speed. So hope you can find the RIGHT thing for you Ps: I go way slower but lot more fun
The first time i rode a fixed gear bike my reaction was, meh...I don't hate it, but now that I've been riding fixed gear for 2 months there is no way I'm going back to a normal bike
Yo zach didnt know you were filipino been subscribing for more than a year tho 😂 thanks for the vids helps me with my research and definitely been riding reasonably dangerous since then
I rode fixed when I was 17 and 18, I ride single speed with handbrakes now. If i didn't stand on the pedals so much I'd probably try to get a coaster brake.
been riding fixed for many years and thinking of going single speed just for the fact i can rider longer and have a break on the bike coasting along, less stops longer ride
I drive single speed and i am proud of it. Simplicity of this solution is the thing I love in it. Honestly I just wanted something more simple than normal bike with deraileurs and this is the easiest solution - bought cheap retro road bike, removed almost everything and it works perfect for me. For now I don't need to try anything else and changing a frame or entire bike to gain horizontal dropouts is too big of a mess for me.
chiming to your view, I do associate with that. Gears/electric do have it's place to make older and general populace accessible to cycling. on the other hand, that simplicity gives the bike no derailleur, so if it falls, in may be resilient in that sense, it also gives clarity the mind to not shift gears, being able to conquer hills with a handicap/limitation really makes u resilient, or if u have to push up a 20% grade hill, walk/running it, may let u lose dignity, but resilience to indignity is still a thing xD, but it may be egotistical to push through a slight gradient, whilst other cyclists shift into their easier gears and you pass them like a boss, then you're chilling on the flat at 90rpm and they pass you with harder gear lol- "get a proper geared bike, you crazy?", yeah gears are just a luxury, i suppose, but whatever, if you could have the flexible option to bail out at 120 rpm @ 40kph.
Same here, I ride an old lotus steel frame single speed flat bars.
cheers to that mate , I got a single speed track bike and ride it as daily commute for work, groceries, fun etc.
@@andrewzhang2621 this is absolutely true, but doesn't match my way of using a bike, which is mostly commuting or even if driving around neighberhood, I'm still in the city. In addition I live in Central Europe, so we have kind of diversed usage of bikes - I mean not only sports. If I had 20% hills nearbym, I would change my gear ratio or consider some crazy solutions like sram automatix or worst case scenario - rear hub with build in gears. This is also important I believe. Before going into single speed or fixed gear you need to know your needs and abilities.
What is the point of horizontal dropouts anyway?
To y'all; one gear= easier life. Fixed, or free. You enjoy the ride. It's your time to engage with all the joggers, and cyclists, who don't care what you're riding. You can't go wrong. Enjoy your ride.
not if you deal with hills
@@artvandalay2736 Hills can be a drag in both directions. But I did live in Denver Co. for 11 years, and I got use to them on my fixed gear. In the end, it’s all about what you like.
yep
@@artvandalay2736
WEAK
I tried a fixed gear, and it was ok, but I truly love the feeling and freedom of being able to coast. Thats one of my happy places. As for the secret club snobbiness that fixie riders sometimes exude, you either accept me and my single speed with, *GASP*, brakes, or you don't, no sweat off my back. Those are the people you want to steer clear of anyways.
I'm an older fixed gear rider. I went back and forth between fixed and single speed. I know single speed is easier due to coasting and at 61 I like coasting but, I just prefer fixed. I commute to work, mostly flat riding and I love it. Thanks for your channel Zach.
Thanks for the video - generally having a single-speed bike often feels like you're on your own community-wise: you're an alien to both the fixed-gear crowd and to all the other bike 'clubs' (road, MTB, bikepacking, folding etc.).
@Bebo true as well, mine was more of an observation than a complaint
Single speed here my guy. I love to go fast and don't like to stop pedaling but like to coast corners and hills. That fixed gear situation is too much unnecessary evil for my life. Lol
Ive had a state 4130 for years and it was on the freewheel for 1 day. Flipped it over to the fixed hub and took off the breaks and been loving it since. You get better every time you ride. “If it ain’t fixed, it’s broken” lol
My singlespeed cog worn out after 5 years, so i flipped my wheel to try fixed gear. I love how it feels! I can recommend everyone to try it for a week..you won't go back.
About to buy a bicycle. I'll probably go with a Single-Speed. I see the appeal behind fixed but the "coasting" feature is a huge win for me.
I switched from Fixed to single speed when I ruined my fixed wheels in a crash, initially only temporarily but I've stuck with it. As much as I love riding fixed I love going really fast downhill even more.
I recently converted a vintage bike to a single speed and ride it in the city. I love how easy it is to maintain and how simple it looks. Ride safe everyone :)
Thanks for the great vid. Most of my riding is on a road bike but the fixed gear thing really fascinated me so I got a cheap bike ($200) with a flip-flop hub. I tried the fixed gear side for a while but it just wasn't comfortable for me. I love the single speed side and I use it when I ride with my wife since she can't ride like I do on my road bike. Thanks for covering the single speed choice!
i actually started my "one gear" journey w/ a bikes direct bike. i tried the fixed side and like you said, i just felt like it wasn't for me. still totally love fixed gear bikes, their look & "the culture". it's probably super weird, like while i don't ride on the fixed side "ya'll get my respect"
i ended up upgrading to a wabi cross thunder and keep it on the single speed side and absolutely love it. thanks for the channel man
I've been riding single speed for 10 years now and I bloody love it!
I love the look of fixed gear bikes, so raw. But I ride a single speed. I bought a new bike this winter that has a flip flop hub and will try fixed gear riding...in a really big, empty parking lot. At 63 the being cool boat sailed quite some time ago so if fixed gear is or isn't for me I'm still just the old guy on the bike. But in all seriousness the biggest obstacle to riding fixed gear, for me, is my knees and the stress on them during braking. If I ride fixed I don't want brakes and if I have to keep the brakes I might as well stay with the single speed.
You can try riding without a freewheel at any age. And having brakes on a fixed-gear bike isn't forbidden. Actually it's forbidden not to have brakes on any bike. One can also have fenders, racks and reflectors on a fixed-gear bike.
Have fun!
Im 53 John been riding fixed for about 13yrs now, just look after your knees, thats probably the first thing your going to notice
I have a Fuji Declaration with a flip-flop hub... After a recent injury to my back, switched to single speed, and never looked back. Our country is immensely hilly with no more than a couple of hundred feet of level road. It is not the poorer cousin by far. I love fixies for their beautiful build and uncluttered lines, but it is, and will remain, very much a minor interest in the cycling world. PS. Love your channel!
A guy on another channel got me into fixed gear, you made me a believer.
I ride SS and with as few gears as possible, and in ALL cases i feel "connected" to my bike. The fact is i tried fixed and spent all of my time FIGHTING the bike. That's not what i build my bikes to do, here's a big difference between getting used to something and knowing you're being limited by its function.
And riding SS is more than just about coasting, being able to place your pedal where you need it is important, as is using them as a platform to move your body around on the bike. In fast corners i weight the outside pedal and use my arms and butt to rotate the bike thru the turn, then i can rotate the cranks to the perfect position to power out.
Also, people do track stands on all kinds of bikes, even geared ones.
Cool video, Zach! I ride fixed here in urban Manila, even in longer city rides. However, when we're off riding to the mountains outside the city, that singlespeed is a Godsend especially on harsh descents with some steep hills right after. Cheers from the Philippines!
Same for me but replace Manila with Tokyo.
There is a road on the way back into town that I ride often. It has 4 rollers short and steep ranging from 10 to 45 kph. I have yet to beat my time with the same bike with gears. At the bottom of one roller, I was turning about 150 rpm and then almost losing balance at the top. We have a track in my city(138m, 50 degree in the corners). When it opened 15 years ago, I rode a track bike it felt completely natural. I have not ridden there in some time but was fun. BTW track gears were 48/16 and preferred road gear 40/16 - and I cheat because I have disc brakes on the road bike.
Starting with single speed to get my confidence back this season (ended last season with a car hitting my geared bianchi), and once I feel fit and in tune with the roads, I’m gonna flop on over to fixed and give it a go.
I pray that you gain back that confidence plus ten fold my brother. Keep pedaling
I ride single speed but I would love to try the pure fixie too
Just do it man. Now! I too went to from single speed free wheel to fixed gear. Difficult af at first, but get better and better. Once comfortable, I don't see you going back to free again and probably question yourself why you didn't start it way earlier.
Rahul, most single speed bikes run what's called a flip -flop rear hub, (where you have the option to run either) all you have to do is, take the wheel off turn it 180, put it back on the bike, its that easy
@@jaycee9657 Hi, my wheel has an arrow pointing forward but turning the hub 180 degrees would put this arrow in the opposite direction, is that ok?
Eh it's not for everyone, but you might have luck with it. Lemme know how it goes. Shouldn't be TOO hard since you have a dedicated single speed. Get a rear wheel with a flipflop hub?
@@cisnikko is thata the tyre? if so, the wheel will be marginally worse at braking. you should flip the tyre.
I ride a Genesis Flyer and have it setup with a freewheel. I love coasting, that's the joy of cycling.
Fixed gears are dangerous and not for everyone. With single speeds you get most of the enjoyment of a fixed gear without the risk. I had a friend, who was a good cyclist, relax at a stop sign and forget he was on a fixed gear. He got a broken collar bone as the result. That being said I've ridden fixed gears for more than 30 years and never hurt myself on them, although I have made a scary offroad excursion into a farm ditch because of a nasty lumber truck. When I get on a fixed gear bike whether it's for a training ride, group ride or velodrome ride I always respect the bike with the knowledge that it is somewhat dangerous.
Much prefer single speed, but I like both bikes for the clean, spartan looks. I always even convert my beach cruisers to singls speed- planning on making one a klunker, just trying to figure out if I should go hardtail or not. If I want real speed, I have a roadbike.
It strikes me that fixed gear riders are a bit snobby. I've ridden both fixed and single speed but prefer single. The only advantage fixed has is the track stand at traffic lights which is a thing of beauty but the ability to coast far outweighs that
I just got my hands on a single speed bike. I grew up riding bmx bikes, but they are too small and childish to ride around (in my opinion). I’ve got a couple of geared bikes, which I’ve never really liked. The chain is super loud on every bump you can hear it flopping all over the place, you also have to be careful with the detailer since it sticks out and needs to be perfectly adjusted for smooth shifting. I didn’t even know single speed bikes really existed, because who would want to make biking harder? It’s perfect for me, the comfort ability of a big road bike, with the heart of a bmx bike that you can toss in the back of your truck without worrying about messing something up.
As a fixed rider that speaks some tagalog i can attest to what you said on both ends. Every time another fixed gear rider goes by in the opposite direction we give each other's bike "the look" and "the nod of approval". And i have to admit i got excellent service and treats from OFW's worldwide by speaking tagalog. (kasi dateng meron pinay nobya ako :P) Kaya mo yan kuya zack.
This may sound stupid but i want to convert my mtb into a single speed for the following reasons:
1. Keeping my bike simple
2. Less maintenance, no luxury or access to a nearby local bikeshop
3. Making it lighter, for my bike to work experience as well
4. Personal preference
Why did i bought an MTB instead of a fixie as my first bike? Dunno, peer pressure I guess. But at the end, I almost do bike rides myself and literally no access to trails. I am just being stupid lol.
Anyway, thank you for your inputs @Zach Gallardo, might as well convert my mtb into a single speed soon. Cheers.
It makes sense that the fixed gear is cooler since it can do tricks.
You should just leave it at that, because the whole college dropout analogy is confusing.
To me, the "cool one" that dropped out of school would be the 1 speed, since it can coast and chill.. whereas the fixed gear would be the one that goes to 8AM classes bc it never stops peddling.
Hit the nail on the head......easy maintenance! Also if you ride no brakes, fixed is a must.
I grew up on a bmx. I’d usually pick a bmx when riding with geared riders, just love the flow of the Singlespeed. My riding takes me off road and up gnarly climbs. I like being able to pick a gear that allows me to ride up almost anything but w/ Singlespeed I can still bomb the descent. Also, nothing sucks worse than railing singletrack, getting your timing off and slamming your fixed gear crank into a log 😂. It’s also about letting the bike be free to move around underneath you and pumping through terrain to conserve momentum 👌
Fixed gear has no chill, there’s definitely a flow to it but it’s a different beast. I’ve ridden fixed gear bikes a little (unicycles a lot) on and off road. I miss pumping. I miss the flow. I like the excursions on singletrack, pumping through tight corners. It’s just a different vibe so for now my steamroller will stay Singlespeed:)
I guess most of the Singlespeed culture is on the bmx and Mtb side, also there’s a lot of bike packing races being won by singlespeeds 👍
Same feeling here. Rode fixed for a few years but went back to singlespeed for that "flowy" feeling. But riding fixed made a huge improvement to my cadence that I carry over to riding singlespeed.
Have been subbed for years and for funsies watched your ss vs fixed video last night. What a surprise realizing you recently uploaded this!
I went from MTB to Roadbike then found my way to fixed Gear and man Fixed Gear really hits different when riding like you're floating and free. It's just therapeutic, except for the part on climbing uphill but hey that's part of the fun. Also how you can just customize it to the style you want.
Cool! I ride both. Fixed gear for fun in the sunshine, single speed with a rack, wide tires and fenders for commuting and dealing with bad weather.
💙💛
Since I've subscribed, this was your best explanation of why ride fixed.
Mine has a flipflop hub so I enjoy both,but oh boy in fixed mode you never get a rest and your knees take a hammering.....but I still ride brakes,dont buy into the shit you can stop in time because you cant....
This is why I ride with a flipflop hub.
I ride a road bike and I ain't a snob , my bike is a 40 lb 63 schwinn varsity , in a group ride I have spare parts to help other riders.
Hi dude. It's nice to see you again. Thanks for the video. The scenario it's beautiful, I love that place. And, obviously I'm on in to the Fixie team, of course. ¡Abrazo fuerte carnal!
I am Mountain, roadie and single speed rider and agree that when you try fixie you either love it or hate and I of course hate it lol, but I enjoy watching fixie riders do their thing, I think it’s cool, just not for me.
Agree. It's like 'eeeh I've tried it, didn't really work out. Single speed? I like it a lot. Really do like me a few gears, but at the same time? Single Speed has that whole get on and go appeal. nothing really to mess up just. GO.
First time useing a fixie I crashed and had to go to the hospital, back legs lifted off the bike went over the bars going fast
I like the connectivity this upload gives. congrats on the plus 100000!!
Switching now back to single speed due to knee problems - can't skid anyways, installed breaks and flat pedals without straps so don't need switch to clipless shoes every time and can ride casually anywhere.
I just back from riding my Wabi classic single speed. Very rare occasion. But what a ride it was!
SS for me. But mainly because I ride MTB 99% of the time. I get tripped up when I go back and forth between coasting and not coasting. If I had to have one bike and had no trails to ride, it would be a fixed gear for the purity. 👌🏻
First fixed gear ride of the season today. I'm so happy to get off the winter beater single speed. I hope it stays warm.
You make a compelling argument for n+1 bike ownership.
I ride a fix gear because I love the connectivness to the road and the powerful my legs have become! I also have a single speed freewheel bike that it's so much more efficient in long distance rides and absolutely love to be able to let go in downhills!
year late weigh in. the things that are dealbreakers for me are the potential loss of control down hills, pedal strikes, difficulty of bunny hops when using platforms, not being able to lean off the back of my bike to go under a low branch, and my knees.
i really do enjoy the control at low speed, but i prefer feeling safe.
Got a flip-flop hub, but the freewheel is rusting from disuse. Riding fixed feels smoother.
I ride fixed for my shorter rides (about 20klms) and single speed if on a longer journey.
I do the opposite
Coaster-brake... Clean, simple. Except I walk, at the beach, least for now.
I can’t ride fixie due to some knee injuries. The only fixie I could ride would need brakes installed and at that point I’d rather just ride my single speed. It’s the simplicity, I got rid of my last single speed and am now back in the market for one lol. Love the videos!
@Bebo My knees are actually damaged from an accident awhile ago! However for anybody that cones across this comment with knee problems dude is right I've been doing yoga for a year and it's help tremendously!
If your riding is all about getting kudos from others, it's pretty sad and up it's self, but each to their own I guess.. They are both great. Go with what suits you rather then soring point for points and getting your ego stroked.
Im full roadie now but I love the simplicity of fixed gear for urban and casual commuting use. A single speed is a good compromise but fixed is just a lot more fun, IMO. A fixed gear track bike with a single speed hub feels weird to me when you run out of gear inches on a downhill.
That's why I ride a 56-16 on my single speed. 👌
Going downhill on a fixie sucks bro
Cool but that ain't me. Way too used to pedalling my heart out on a BMX and coasting it out
I bought a 120$ fixed gear off craigslist years ago. It was an early 80s centurion conversion, brakeless, NO foot retention (WTF) , had Velocity B43s with sealed hubs (had no idea what they were). Well i tried the bike, and actually didn't like it right away. This was probably because it had bald tires and no foot retention. I tried to resell the bike to get my money back for a single speed. one girl came and checked it out with her boyfriend, they liked the color but she felt the frame was too big and also felt that fixed gear felt weird and sketchy. well I ended up learning more about fixed and eventually bought some wellgo straps and new tires. I added a front brake (totally didnt work because deep rims and just ruined the paint...soon took it off). I fucking loved that bike. Rode it so much commuting to work and back. It made me fall in love with fixed. I been a fixie nerd ever since, even Zach G sold me on the Wabi classic which I love so much and ride it as much as i can. Modified it thru the years as well. I ended up giving the Conversion to my wife who now loves FIxed gear riding as well (albeit not as crazy as i do), she had to slam the seatpost down but luckily shes not picky and thinks it fits just fine. I ride that conversion here and there to make sure it's still running smoothly which it is!!! and it gives my Wabi a run for its money. The wabi sure feels better but its not a huge difference which surprises me how easy it is to build a fixed gear that feels like a quality bike.
Having tried a road bike with 22 gears (sorry) before switching to a single-speed, and while I probably would agree with Zach's point that a single speed doesn't give you the same connection to your drivetrain and your bike as a whole as a fixie... I have to say I still feel the single speed gives you that connected feeling, if only a little bit. My pedaling feels more efficient, and when I pedal I can feel the chain engaging with the wheel almost directly. None of the nonsense you get with derailleurs and such which make pedaling feel like you're just putting into motion a bunch of turning parts that eventually get to the wheel and make it turn. On a single speed, much like on a fixed gear, _you_ make the wheel turn, and that feeling is amazing. I'll try fixed once I'm used to the single speed life! Ride on everyone, bike is life. :)
with Single Speed, you don't need to think about it..you just pedaling, if needed, Pedal Harder, if you Bonked..then stop. don't think about it.
with Fixed its same..more or less..you need to think about it sometimes..
You can make a flipflop hub with a disc brake capable freewheel hub. There are fixed cogs that fit the 6 bolt pattern - no lockring or w/e needed.
Excuse me what? This is news and... honestly? I wanna know more.
@@singletona082 yea just look up "6 bolt fixed cog". There's some by a few different makers like Problem solvers or Origin8.
The spacing can be an issue if using a dedicated track frame and not a conversion, but for a track frame you can use a front hub to achieve a non-flipflop (fixed-only) setup.
There are some dual disc brake front hubs in existence that'd let you do double-fixed, made for e/motorized bikes but they're rare.
@@Aubreykun Curious. I've got a low end huffy frame that I honestly like. Naturally it's heavy, but honestly? Been serving me well as I figure things out.
I look forward to trying to make a disaster out of this.
The most important is just enjoy what you have and like just enjoy 😊😊
I ride ss but dig fixie culture 🤘
They really are the same~ there I said it! there is a reason 0ne can buy a flip fI0p hub~ b0th a fixed gear and freewheel are Singlespeed c0nfigurati0ns!
im temporarily single speed cause of my messed up shifter😂
I love single speed and that's my preference but I do support fixed riders.
I have done both. During the pandemic, parts and bikes just weren't as available and everything has been expensive. I ended up using BlueBikes as a bike rental option and . . . it's been cheaper than bike maintenance and these kind of rentals are fine for up to 10 miles per trip. Really hard to get out and do a longer ride, but fine for daily usage. Given that the rentals are usually twice the weight of a fixed or a single speed, I have a feeling when I go back, it'll feel really amazing. Just gotta wait the shortage out.
Fixed Gear rider. I converted my dad's 1980's 10 speed to a fixed gear and have never looked back. Love the ride, the road feel, the workout, the simplicity. K.I.S.S. Keep it stupid simple.
riding single speed in a place that isn’t super flat has made commuting much easier for me, personally. i like coasting when i’m tired because, let’s face it, i’m just lazy. mad respect for every day fixed gear riders, though.
Finally hade the change and MAN I LOVE IT SOCAL 💥
Just got mine currently have it on single gear live on hills would definitely like to try fixed gear
I just bought one with a flip flop hub. I'm hoping this'll be my winter beater. But because Ill often have to ride through snow/slush/ice, I think fixie is a death sentence. Not sure how to handle spontaneous rough spots without being able to coast
Fixed gear has definitely changed my biking life forever love it
I have unicycles and they are great for feeling connected with the "bike", but the reason i use a bicycle is for riding fast downhill where the single speed has the advantage.
My city is very hilly with a lot of curbs and sidewalks, EXTREMELY busy roads where cars rarely go below 60 kmph. I ride freewheel: bunny hops are much easier and more reliable, lots of climbing requires a gear like 44/17 or 46/17 so going downhill on a busy road would be a suicide at 130+ rpms.
You’re a great example to others.
I didn't know you're Filipino until now, i always watch your videos whenever i have free time, but I don't have a fixed gear. I've always wanted to try one, but don't have the budget to buy one. Maybe soon I'll buy one but not now.
Dude I straight up was wondering if you made a video about this. I love ss. My knee just can't take on fixed anymore.
i just bought a fixed gear bike that can flop to single speed. for now, I'm sticking to fixed as it's something new to me. I also like riding my mountain bike and road bike. Pretty much depends on where i want to go and what mood I'm into. I'm thinking of riding my fixie to work but that little slope got me thinking. I already have two bad knees. But, hoping fixed gear will either help improve my leg power or get me into the wheelchair. :p
I have two mtb's a cargo bike and a fixed gear. For the last 15 years I always take me fixed for transport.
except maybe a unicycle!! Dont have a fixed-gear yet but i’ve been watching yo shit for a few years now. Just wanted to say, ‘hey, awesome channel”. Informative, great narratives, hilarious, well edited! Keep it up, mang! -
I've ridden black diamond mtb trails and highways shoulders but neither felt quite as dangerous as riding a fixie with no brakes on a college campus.
I went to a bike shop and asked for a lock ring for the cog. He said I don't need it. Told him that I want to stop sometimes.
i have to ride single speed now because I had an accident with my fixed-gear that left me in the hospital with 3 surgeries, metal plates and screws installed in my shoulder, and out of the saddle and in physiotherapy for almost 7 months. Now i ride single speed with a front brake. i didn't fall because of lack of brakes on the fixed-gear but honestly this was such a shit experience that I want to minimise my risk on a bicycle in the future as much as possible. but I love simplicity of singlespeed or fixed. for my two fixies I bought a white industries freewheel and also a halo clickster freewheel, wanted to see difference between two on my two bikes and honestly they're both smooth and sound like a swarm of bees but clickster is half the price, so i recommend anyone thinking of clickster to go with it - it also has more points of engagement. feels good to be back on a bike again. and also it has always been a headache in germany riding brakeless fixed-gear so don't have to avoid cops any more which is nice lol
At just south of 50 I run freewheels but track bikes are the Coolest! SteamRoller Army✌️
Due to a mechanical failure about a year ago, I had to go free wheel (single speed), after over 10yrs of riding fixed, it was the most terrifying experience, the feeling of coasting with just my brakes to save me was really unnerving, never again, as long as I have air in my lungs, (and decent set of knees), I'll be riding fixed till I can't ride no more
Weirdest take I ever heard on fixie preference; scared of brakes.
@Bebo whats why u should check the brakes before every ride. it only takes seconds.
I have a 1X10 but I leave it in one gear the entire time I ride. But for years I had a single speed bike so I was use to it. To be honest fix gear is cool but just not for me.
i have a tip for others find a fixie that could also be converted to a roade bike meaning you have a freewhel on the left and a fixed gear on the right that way you can just turn your wheel 180 now your useing a freewheel and not a fixie although you wouldnt have brakes
I think I'll A)Forget it B)Forget it C)No I like my brakes! Are D) It's C!{I think I'll tell my brother no about going 3 speed are more!
You should ride how you're comfortable. I COULD set my work bike fixed and change up the bars play on it or I could just wait and get a second bike.
I love my single speed, I would never change that for a Fixie, no señor, btw you've got the most Filipino/Spanish family name posible 👍🏻, Gallardo = Brave, good looking, strong.
Recently switched with 19t cog. The thing bring me so much fun as the first time I get to ride a single speed.
So hope you can find the RIGHT thing for you
Ps: I go way slower but lot more fun
Same here... switched to 20 myself... I am never in a hurry when I am enjoying myself.
i have runners knee due to riding in a too high gear on my single speed. don't use to high gears guys.
Ahh thats so fkn true!! I got a fixed gear bike less than a month ago and i LOVE IT
yeah Zach! Gallardo is a Filipino surname, only in the Philippines 👍👍 proud pinoy 🍻🍻
Planning to go single speed on my mountain bike on the trails.
The first time i rode a fixed gear bike my reaction was, meh...I don't hate it, but now that I've been riding fixed gear for 2 months there is no way I'm going back to a normal bike
Same here, fixie was a challenge for me
@Bebo it’s not about getting in shape . Style/Simplicity alone. And it’s cheaper that a hood road bike
@Bebo you really think people rode fixed gear for exercise?? It’s about the style you doormat
@Bebo just say you can’t handle a fixed gear
Durian... Lolz. I haven't ridden a fixie since like 1983 but I'd imagine that shit was a perfect metaphor.
Yo zach didnt know you were filipino been subscribing for more than a year tho 😂 thanks for the vids helps me with my research and definitely been riding reasonably dangerous since then
I rode fixed when I was 17 and 18, I ride single speed with handbrakes now. If i didn't stand on the pedals so much I'd probably try to get a coaster brake.
been riding fixed for many years and thinking of going single speed just for the fact i can rider longer and have a break on the bike coasting along, less stops longer ride