# Commuting on a fixed gear **URL:** \ **Category:** Fixed Street\ **Created:** [May 14, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663 "2009-05-14T00:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![horatio](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/horatio/32/42_2.png) [@horatio](https://fixed.org.au/u/horatio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/1 "2009-05-14T00:02:52Z")
As somebody who rides a fixed-gear as a work commuter everyday for the last three years, I find fixed gears have distinct advantages, and disadvantages. The truth is, I’m considering changing to a FREEWHEEL :-o :-o :-o, Don’t get me wrong, I love fixed-gears, but when you’re tired, the constant leg rotation and lack of freewheel can get on your nerves. This is my personal opinion of course, but I thought it might be interesting to gauge peoples thoughts. Advantages: - Great in the city where there is lots of stop/starts -Great ability to be in control of your bike at all times -Low maintenance -Good on flat surfaces Disadvantages: -Decents are annoying (once the novelty of the SPIINNNN wears off) -High-end bike speed is limited (damned roadies keep overtaking me bahh!!) -Constant leg rotation means to you get saddle-sores more quickly -Standing starts can be tiring when you have a high-ish gear ratio -Hills -Fixed gear specific components can be a pain when you’re not using them on a velodrome. Ie hub spacings on road frames. What you reckon? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dromedary](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/dromedary/32/135_2.png) [@Dromedary](https://fixed.org.au/u/Dromedary)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/2 "2009-05-14T00:11:46Z")
Headwinds! On really windy days grinding it the whole way can be a bit of a downer. ---
**Author:** ![JLN\_not\_ZLTN](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/jln_not_zltn/32/74_2.png) [@JLN\_not\_ZLTN](https://fixed.org.au/u/JLN_not_ZLTN)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/3 "2009-05-14T00:13:15Z")
I’ve been riding to work on my various fixed’s for the last 8 or so months (a conversion and three different track bikes). I love it and can’t see myself changing to a freewheel or geared bike any time soon. It’s approximately 10km’s each way, one straight road (pretty much), no real hills. Some days I get overtaken by roadies, other times I overtake them. Which is always fun. I reckon I can easily sit on about 25-30kmh with 49x17 or 42x15 with out really trying. In saying that I’ve never actually figured out my speed and I’m probably going about 4kmh’s. But yeah, I’ve never really been upset riding fixed. Maybe because you’ve got 2+ years on me, it’s different. ---
**Author:** ![shortsie](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/shortsie/32/89_2.png) [@shortsie](https://fixed.org.au/u/shortsie)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/4 "2009-05-14T00:17:09Z")
you know what they say, fixed aint free. Advantages: > - Great in the city where there is lots of stop/starts freewheel just as easy. > -Great ability to be in control of your bike at all times > -Low maintenance > -Good on flat surfaces i have the same level of control with a freewheel, same amount of maintenance. > Disadvantages: > -Decents are annoying (once the novelty of the SPIINNNN wears off) yes they are, specially if your tired. > -High-end bike speed is limited (damned roadies keep overtaking me bahh!!) easier to keep up with a freewheel because you can do very high cadence bursts. > -Constant leg rotation means to you get saddle-sores more quickly freewheel allows you to rest that ass. > -Standing starts can be tiring when you have a high-ish gear ratio harden up, your just whinging now. > -Hills see above. > -Fixed gear specific components can be a pain when you’re not using them on a velodrome. Ie hub spacings on road frames. meh. the thing you missed is FIXED IS FUN. ---
**Author:** ![iwearmoccos](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/iwearmoccos/32/26_2.png) [@iwearmoccos](https://fixed.org.au/u/iwearmoccos)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/5 "2009-05-14T00:19:34Z")
Just take your feet off and rest them on the top of your forks. I do that when my legs are tired, works wonders ---
**Author:** ![tim](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/tim/32/95_2.png) [@tim](https://fixed.org.au/u/tim)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/6 "2009-05-14T00:21:34Z")
Yep, I can hear where you are coming from. I changed to SS for a while a few years back and hated it. It was BORING! All of those things you mentioned in your post as being disadvantages is what i eventually realised was keeping me interested on the commute! So give it a go, switch to freewheel and see how you go! PS this is coming from the perspective of a roadie/trackie. ---
**Author:** ![horatio](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/horatio/32/42_2.png) [@horatio](https://fixed.org.au/u/horatio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/7 "2009-05-14T00:39:30Z")
> [@shortsie](#): > > i have the same level of control with a freewheel, same amount of maintenance. Really? bear in mind that I’m not somebody that can completely overhaul a geared bike. Fixed gear I can handle. Or do you just mean SS? > [@shortsie](#): > > harden up, your just whinging now. haha true I was running out of points there. > [@shortsie](#): > > the thing you missed is > FIXED IS FUN. Okay I see your point. But you make fixed gear sound like a novelty- something you might ride on Sunday for ‘fun’ and then put in the cupboard for the rest of the week. Commuting is not necessarily ‘fun’. 😑 ---
**Author:** ![shortsie](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/shortsie/32/89_2.png) [@shortsie](https://fixed.org.au/u/shortsie)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/8 "2009-05-14T00:50:07Z")
> Really? bear in mind that I’m not somebody that can completely overhaul a geared bike. Fixed gear I can handle. Or do you just mean SS? SS > Okay I see your point. But you make fixed gear sound like a novelty fixed is fun, but there are easier ways to ride a bike. thats all, i have been really enjoying SS, but i still ride fixed because its something different. it really not a big deal, its not like your thinking of buying a recumbent. SS/Fixed, it doesnt matter, they are both, versatile, quick and have very little maintenence. ---
**Author:** ![kiwicyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/kiwicyclist/32/62_2.png) [@kiwicyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/kiwicyclist)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/9 "2009-05-14T01:03:32Z")
I’ve commuted riding fixed for about 2 yrs - about a 40min 10k ride in. I changed to fixed after 2 weeks of ss because it was more challenging (terrifying for the first couple of rides actually) and therefore rewarding and I couldn’t really see the point of singlespeed (still can’t frankly unless its for mtb or longer rides with lots of hills - just my opinion). Yes there are some disadvantages but imho the pros outweight the cons. Pros also include (in no particular order): big man thighs; souplesse; skids; easy trackstands; the whole zen thing with the traffic; strength training for other cycling disciplines; peeps yelling ‘pop it up’. p.s. agree with the saddle sores risk though… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Commuter](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/captain_commuter/32/16_2.png) [@Captain\_Commuter](https://fixed.org.au/u/Captain_Commuter)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/10 "2009-05-14T01:59:26Z")
Wind? Rain? Tired? Wind? HTFU. Standing starts are hard? gear down. Saddle sores? HTFU. and get onto one of these: > **[Saddles for REAL MEN!](https://www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html)** > > POWerwheels, to make your bicycle go faster. ---
**Author:** ![icecream](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@icecream](https://fixed.org.au/u/icecream)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/11 "2009-05-14T02:02:02Z")
get a flip-flop. ---
**Author:** ![horatio](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/horatio/32/42_2.png) [@horatio](https://fixed.org.au/u/horatio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/12 "2009-05-14T02:11:56Z")
> [@Captain Commuter](#): > > HTFU. haha yes I was waiting for this 🙂 I have a flip-flop hub, but I never use it. Interested in one of those White Industries freewheels- you know the one with 100 ratchet pawls. ---
**Author:** ![Azz](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/azz/32/157_2.png) [@Azz](https://fixed.org.au/u/Azz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/13 "2009-05-14T02:32:10Z")
I wish I could just ride again :oops: ---
**Author:** ![Rooster](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/rooster/32/169_2.png) [@Rooster](https://fixed.org.au/u/Rooster)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/14 "2009-05-14T03:28:17Z")
I think icecream makes a very reasonable point. Maybe if you used your flip-flop, you could use the freewheel when you commute to work, and then when you feel like going fixed again for a bit, just switch the wheel over. That way you could have the best of both worlds. =D ---
**Author:** ![Bender](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/bender/32/111_2.png) [@Bender](https://fixed.org.au/u/Bender)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/15 "2009-05-14T03:47:23Z")
Get one of those Sram hubs from Evan @ Cyclic or be his test pilot. ---
**Author:** ![ruma](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@ruma](https://fixed.org.au/u/ruma)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/16 "2009-05-14T03:50:13Z")
fixed all the way. ---
**Author:** ![horatio](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/horatio/32/42_2.png) [@horatio](https://fixed.org.au/u/horatio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/17 "2009-05-14T03:59:08Z")
> [@Bender!](#): > > Get one of those Sram hubs from Evan @ Cyclic or be his test pilot. Hey that’s a great idea- Evan can I be your test pilot? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![murrs](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@murrs](https://fixed.org.au/u/murrs)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/18 "2009-05-14T04:41:07Z")
Take a concrete pill and harden the f\*\*k up; hit some hills and become superhuman… if the roadies are overtaking you, you need a bigger ratio ---
**Author:** ![LiamC](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LiamC](https://fixed.org.au/u/LiamC)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/19 "2009-05-14T08:01:43Z")
After commuting various routes to my jobs over the years on my roadie, then discovering fixed. There’s no comparison fixies win allllllll the way… Gotta agree with the past posts though a lil man the f\*\*k up never hurt anyone. and learn to spin till you have thigh’s like pop eye’s for arms, that’ll keep the roadies at bay. 😉 I think it’s a great idea to have a flip-flop, then you can try free without too much worry & when you do get sick of the dark side flip it right back over 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![spud](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/spud/32/12_2.png) [@spud](https://fixed.org.au/u/spud)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663/20 "2009-05-14T15:16:31Z")
Seriously just go get a freewheel for $10 and try it. [Next page](https://fixed.org.au/t/commuting-on-a-fixed-gear/39663.md?page=2)