Hot Topics on a Fixed Gear Forum
Folks who own and ride fixies have formed impressive communities of support and guidance. If you’re thinking of jumping into the fixed gear world, you may be somewhat intimidated by your first visit to the fixed gear forums frequented by the members of this community. Fear not, the folks there are always willing to help and answer any questions you have regarding your new biking desires. And if you’re an advanced fixie rider, you can always stumble across new ideas and modifications on an almost daily basis. Here are a few of the hot topics on a popular fixed gear forum, BikeForums.net:
Brakeless Single Speed
A large portion of the fixed gear community actually rides their bikes brakeless. May seem crazy to some of us, but they have developed the knack for weaving in and out of traffic with only their feet to slow them down. The brakeless ride is thought to have evolved from bike messengers in big cities, who simply did not have time to stop or slow down. The fixed gear forum shows a pretty hearty debate on the topic, along with a video of one extreme brakeless scenario in San Francisco. Please note that brakeless riding is not recommended for beginning riders. Read the full discussion by clicking here.
Single Speed Accessories
If there’s one thing fixie riders love as much as their bikes, it’s upgrading their bike’s look with some sweet accessories. If you’ve developed a group of fixie friends, you’ve probably seen some pretty wild paint jobs and accessories. The guys over at BikeForums.net discuss some of their favorite recent purchases. As expected, this particular thread is quite long and diverse. Read the discussion by clicking here.
Building a Fixie
Some guys get the desire to build their very own fixie right out of the gate. If you’re considering doing the same, hopefully you are experienced enough in the field to know the right components to fit your wants and needs. Even so, it can be quite a bit more costly than you’re anticipating. Be sure to sit down and really add everything up before you jump headlong into such an important project. One of the users on BikeForums.net put together a spreadsheet of all his components and tools before he started his project. Good thing, too, since he and the other users on the fixed gear forum basically decided it was too rich for his blood. Read the post by clicking here.
If you’re ready for your first fixie but you don’t want to spend a ton, check out the great lineup from FixedGear.net.
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