Uni Project Help - why do you ride fixed?

Hi all,

I'm currently doing a graphic design uni project that requires us to create a magazine. I'm looking for some answers from real people to add into the articles. None of your replies will be published anywhere reall, they will just be used as part of the research and prototype versions. Answer all or just a few of the questions, it's up to you. You can answer here or send it to me in a message if you'd like. Anything will be helpful! Here we go.

-Why do you ride fixed?

-How important is your bike/s to you?

-How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

-What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

-What's the best thing about riding in London?

-Why do you ride fixed?

Mostly because the experience is very different (and equally fun) to riding with a freewheel. I also dig the way they look and the simplicity of the drive train/lack of gears.

-How important is your bike/s to you?

Very, both functionally as well as emotionally. I use it as my main way of transportation as well as for leisure. I would be really sad if any of my bikes got stolen.

-How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

Devastated, as it's my main hobby as well as part time job. A lot of my time goes into cycling related stuff (riding, fixing, maintaining, upgrading, reading, watching).

-What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

Don't rush into it. Do research before you spend your well earned money on a crap bike. Probably do start with an of the peg bicycle before wanting to assemble your own (assuming no prior experience with bikes). Although I made some mistakes early on (that ultimately only costed me money), I've learned a lot from all of them. Don't be afraid to be/admit you're wrong. Listen to people with (more) experience. Have fun above all else.

-What's the best thing about riding in London?

Unfortunately can't answer this one as I don't live there and have never cycled there either. If I would have to guess: the busyness of the streets and lack of proper cycle paths (in comparison to for example The Netherlands), which would make it a little bit more dangerous and therefor fun? Also the fixed community and the city itself.

Hope it helps!

-Why do you ride fixed?

shits and giggles. greater control at slow speeds when filtering. the challenge of riding long rides and doing hills in one gear (both grinding up and spinning down)

-How important is your bike/s to you?

they are a huge part of my work, recreating and social life

-How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

i almost lost a leg a few years ago and was terrified when i was waiting to find out if it would be amputated

-What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

don't ride a track ratio on the streets, use at least a front brake and foot retention. ride like you'd want to see a car driven. don't ride like a cunt

-What's the best thing about riding in London?

its faster than driving or public transport. you see so much more.

@Tijs Thanks for the replies, much appreciated!

-Why do you ride fixed?

Cause it's cheap, you can simply not look after it and it'll still be cheap to service.

-How important is your bike/s to you?

It's my main transport, without it, I can't go anywhere quickly, cheaply and easily (despite owning a Freedom Pass for free travel on public transport)

-How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

Pass, it's my main tools for depression.

-What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

Don't worry too much about it, just don't start taking everything off and ride without brakes.

-What's the best thing about riding in London?

Not much, it's great to ride, but at a cost of public's perception.

Why do you ride fixed?

Why I ride now is different to why I started, but it's because it's fun. It's just another part of cycling to enjoy. It may improve suplesse, strength at al, but it's mainly because it's fun.

How important is your bike/s to you?

I love my bikes, I worked hard to buy them and they have given me a lot of pleasure but my bikes/a bike are different things. I don't need my bikes to be happy, I just need a bike. I may have spent a lot of money and a lot of time searching out the right bikes for me but if they were to disappear tomorrow, I'd be ab;e to adjust to having any other bike as long as I could cycle.

How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

Pretty bad I'd guess. It's always been a huge part of my life. I'd like to think I'd be one of the positive people and I do have other interests I could pursue but who knows? I'd get fat, that's for definite!

What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

Try it out and see if you like it. It's nothing to be frightened of, it's only pedalling.

What's the best thing about riding in London?

I don't ride in London very often so I can't really answer this but from my limited experience it's that you get to learn the city in way you can't on the underground and that it's cheaper and quicker than driving/taxis by a long way and it's more reliable than publc transport.

Why do you ride fixed?

A simle question but it is rather complicated to respond to.

There is the usual it is such an easy thing to do. Also, it was something I became interested in because a friend rode fixed and it seemed worth trying as it was different. Now, or rather eventually, it is my preffered style of riding.

-How important is your bike/s to you?

Again rather complex. I'm definitely not one of those fr whom the bike or maybe a bike takes on great significance and is "my pride and joy". I have too many bikes for that and have owned/had too many in the past for any bike or bikes in general to have a specific meaning.

Clearly there are other issues about bike ownership sunch as the freedom it gives to do things beyond the basic utility. Several of the other responses explore that better than I feel I ever could.

-How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

As unhappy as if I was prevented from enjoying other physical activity but I'm sure that as with plenty of things that I am no longer able to do or do in the same manner as when younger/fitter I would get by.

-What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

Do it. Ask other people if you know anyone else who rides fixed. Don't believe those who either have it as a quai mystical experience or at the other end it is more dangerous. You will eventually find that you love or hate it and only by doing it will true feelings emerge

-What's the best thing about riding in London?

The freedom is by far and away the best. However it is often not easy to remember that there is a freedom when it takes at least an hour to get beyond the urban streets and enjoy "real" freedom. Living in N1 has a few downsides!!!!

Why do you ride fixed?

I think I just enjoy the simplicity of it. I don't really get that much claimed zen-ness from it more than I do riding other bikes. However, it offers a different balance of challenges and rewards.

How important is your bike/s to you?

Very. They're an extension of who I am. In the same way that a painter without paint is just a person stabbing a canvass with a fluffy stick. Give them the means of expression and their nature shines forth.

How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?

I dread the occasion when that happens as I feel sure it will. I think that mostly I would feel lost. I often see Karen Darke out in the Peak District and hope that should I find myself in her position, I would be able summon at least a portion of her strength of character. I sometimes contemplate what other pursuits I would take up if I couldn't ride again but what can replace that freedom of human endeavour on the open road? If I'm lucky, I'll find something that gives me some peace. It'll take a lot though, to keep me off of some kind of bike.

What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?

I think that depends on who it is really. I know some people who are very ill-suited to riding fixed, it isn't in them to ride this way. I suppose ultimately it's the same with anything really. Give it a go, don't expect too much, have patience and be honest with yourself about it. If you love it, exploit it as far as you can. If you don't, it doesn't matter really, you're not any less of a cyclist if you don't take to it.

What's the best thing about riding in London?

I live in Sheffield. I can be in the Peak District (it's great for fixed honest) in about ten minutes from my front door. However, like much of central London, London Road is often given to congested traffic. Cycling means it's less of a concern. The rest of the city, well, it's like any city I've been in. Cycling just adds to your freedom to move about it, to explore, pick out new routes and react more flexibly as the roads and traffic dictate.

A reply from my partner who is not on the forum but rides fixed

Why do you ride fixed?
I started riding fixed because Matt Seaton said that there was nothing like it. He said that feeling more intimately connected to your bike was a transcendental experience.. As I had friends who rode fixed & agreed with him, I bought a cheap fixed, and found that they were all right. Now I ride fixed (but only on flat-ish terrain) for all the above reasons, and because I think/hope it will improve my fitness and pedalling smoothness.

-How important is your bike/s to you?
They are pretty important. But a sense of perspective is needed – none of them is as important as my children/my friends/my home.

-How would you feel if you weren't able to ride a bike again?
Hopefully, I’ll never have to find out. My cousin has Parkinsons, and says that the worst thing about it is that she can’t ride her bike any more. .

-What advice would you give people who want to get into riding fixed?
Keep pedalling.

What's the best thing about riding in London?
Lots of things - Traffic’s going slowly, so it’s relatively safe; Car drivers are used to/expect to see cyclists; nice being able to see things; often quicker than by tube

1. Because I ride on track
   2 Very Important - bit of an obsession. Exercise, mental health, pastime etc etc
   3 Beyond gutted
   4 Think about why a fixed may be better for you than geared- (there are numerous good reasons) - fit a front brake -it's the law and style points won't save your life (see question 3)
   5 Leaving it and entering countryside