What You Need to Know to Buy a Fixed Gear Bike
By Elijiah Rampart
So you've decided to buy a fixed gear bike. Could it be the simplistic look, the better control, or the lighter-smoother-faster performance? Are you looking to commute, do tricks, race, exercise, or just plain kick it around the neighborhood? Whatever your reasons for buying a "fixie" there are a few things you must know before you purchase. You will need to know what type of fixed gear you want, how to size the bike for you, and what type of power you will need. Fixies, or a 'skinny bike", are the hippest bike going, and I am sure if you consider these points before you buy a fixed gear bike it will help you find just the right one for you.
On the Road or Around the Track
There are generally two types of fixed gear bikes: road and track. It seems like the differences would be significant, but for all practical purposes they are not that much different. The main difference between the two is that track bikes have no brakes! That's right, when you are racing around the velodrome you have no need for brakes. Know this before you buy your fixie, because being able to brake might be important to you. Most track fixies have the option to add a brake so you can do this when you buy your bike. The other major difference between the two is that track bikes sit up a little higher and the frames are made to have steeper angles. Here is what I recommend, if you are going to commute or ride your fixed gear distances to exercise then get a track bike. If you are riding around town or campus, want to do tricks, or just have a bike to kick around with then get a road bike. Either way, when you want to buy a fixed gear bike you won't be disappointed with either.
One Size Doesn't Fit All
It is extremely important that you get the right size fixie that fits your size and frame. It is very important that you are comfortable when riding your bike. There are two methods to figure out the size you will need. The technical way: measure the inseam of your pant leg and multiply by 0.67. If your inseam is 81 cm then multiplying this by 0.67 gives 54, or a 54 cm bike (notice that cm are used instead of inches, 2.54 cm equals 1 inch). The other method is the rule of thumb: when you stand next to the bike, the cross bar should be about one inch below your privates! Either way, both methods will get you to the right size bike for you. If you can, test drive the bike, or try a friend's fixie, to see how it feels for you.
Gain as a Measure of Power
Finally, you should know how powerful the bike is before you buy it. We are going to use a measure called "gain" to help us understand the fixie's power. Basically said gain measures how far the bike will travel for every inch you move the pedals. The higher the gain the faster the bike will go, but with a lower gain you have more control. You need to understand what it is you want to do with the bike so it will perform to your expectation. The gain is measured by multiplying two ratios together. The first ratio is the number of teeth for the front gear divided by the number of teeth for the back gear. The second ratio is the radius of the wheel divided by the length of the crank. Take these two ratios and multiply them together and you have the gain. For racing you would want a gain that is bigger than 5, and for road use you would want a gain from 3 to 6. As you can see there is some over lap here and ultimately you should try riding a few fixies with different gains so you can "know" what gain you will need.
Understanding these points will help you in your decision to buy a fixed gear bike. Take care when deciding between a road or track fixie, the size of the bike, and how much power it provides and you are certain to find the right bike for you. By using these guidelines I have a few suggestions for an excellent fixed gear road bike or fixed gear track bike. Follow this link to read my recommendations: http://buy-fixed-gear-bike.canemanim.com.
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