Issue date: 12/12/08 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Alton Richardson A bike rode by someone trying to stay more traditional will often have handlebars called "drop bars" which curve down in a half circle just like a road bikes would. They would ride the same size wheels for both front and back and the would focus all their attention on riding instead of tricks.

Media Credit: Alton Richardson Riding downhill causes the rider to ride at a high "cadence" which is the rate of pedal stroke movement and can be very dangerous in high traffic areas but exrtremely exciting when able to ride un inhibited by vehicles.

Media Credit: Alton Richardson LPC Fire Science student Mike Anderson inspects his "Soma Rush" track bike which he built from the ground up. He handbuilt the wheels after ordering the parts and put everything together on his own with non stock high end components.

Media Credit: Alton Richardson Stopping without brakes may seem impossible, but if you lock your cranks up then your rear wheel will cease to spin thus skidding on the ground causing you to slow down.

Media Credit: Alton Richardson On a fixed gear bike, the rear gear or "cog" is fixed to the hub so that coasting is not an option. If the bike is pedaled forwards it goes forwards and if pedaled backwards the wheel spins backwards.

Your heart beats at its limit as you weave your fixed gear bicycle around the roadway avoiding potential death at every turn and intersection. Your legs are burning from continuous pedaling and slowing down since there are no brakes on this bike. Solely you control any form of movement on this machine reminiscent from the 1800's. There are no gears. There is no coasting. Only movement and riding sans brakes can be considered pure and exciting.
Riding a bike in this style may sound frightening when described at first, but often after a day of riding a fixed gear there is no looking back. It's an addicting decision and is made for many reasons.
"Therapy and pleasure" and "the escape from reality" keeps Mike Anderson, 23 who is working towards his AS in science via Fire Science, riding his fixed gear.
What makes a fixed gear bike different from the rest of the pack is its simplicity. A single gear fixed to the rear wheel so it doesn't coast is essentially the gist of it.
While the looks of one's bike plays an important factor too. Flashy and or dull colors, high end professional components or restoration of old ten speeds are all different rides that can be found in the fixed gear culture and online with a quick search.
The fixed gear "scene" is currently huge and is embedding itself into current pop culture. These fast and chic bicycles can easily be found in mass all over the world.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools