| Some of you may have heard the kid down the | | | | on to the hub and there is no freewheel |
| street or even seen the young punk on the | | | | mechanism. That means you can't coast on a |
| corner riding around and what looks like a 10 | | | | fixed gear bike. Your feet are always pedaling. As |
| speed bike. However, if you take a closer look, | | | | exhausting as this sounds, it does provide you |
| you'll discover that there aren't 10 speeds on that | | | | with more efficiency when pedaling. Most fixed |
| bike. In fact, you'd probably discover that there is | | | | gear bicycles only have one gear ratio. This |
| just a single speed. That's because these kids | | | | means there are no additional gears to switch to. |
| undoubtedly took their parents old Schwinn, took | | | | Your typical BMX bike is a single speed gear, |
| off the derailer, put on a fixed-gear or track-bike | | | | however, BMX bikes tend to have freewheels |
| hub, took off the brakes, slapped on some crazy | | | | (aka you can COAST!). WHY DID FIXED GEAR |
| "mustache" handle bars, rolled up their pants, and | | | | BIKES TAKE OFF? Some say the popularity of |
| rode down to the closes critical mass ride with | | | | fixed gear bikes can be traced back to bike |
| their new converted fixed gear (OR spent a few | | | | messengers. They've been using fixed / single |
| hundred bucks to have someone do it for them). | | | | speed bicycles for years as it helps them get |
| In any regards, fixed gear bikes are all the rage in | | | | around faster (back to the whole efficiency of |
| the hipster population. And it couldn't have come | | | | movement thing). Bike messengers were also |
| at a better time. With gas prices at an all time | | | | known for being renegades on some level and |
| high and the need to go "Green", you can't blame | | | | having a "punk" attitude. This combined with the |
| the kids for huffing it on 2 wheels for free and no | | | | general popularity of bikes, skateboarding, surfing, |
| exhaust smoke rather than spending close to | | | | and anything else that allows the youth of today |
| hundreds each month just to go a few miles | | | | to break free of government mandated roads |
| down the road and spew forth fumes for miles | | | | and public transit system and blaze their own trails |
| (come on admit it - you've driven to places that | | | | across the land (and look good doing it too). WILL |
| you totally could have walked to). So if you're | | | | THE FIXED GEAR BIKE CRAZY LAST? Who |
| new to this fixed gear bike thing and are curious | | | | knows. I honestly hope so because it is a way to |
| about how it all works, here's a quick breeze | | | | cut down on pollutants, spend less on gas, stay in |
| through the basics. HOW A FIXED GEAR BIKE | | | | shape, AND make a statement - ALL AT THE |
| WORKS It's simple. Fixed gear bikes are exactly | | | | SAME TIME! Who could ask for anything more |
| that - fixed! Also known as a fixed wheel bicycle, | | | | (Toyyyota!). |
| it's basically a bicycle without the ability to coast | | | | Jim enjoys stuff. Stuff is cool. This article is on |
| (coast meaning you stop pedaling but the back | | | | fixed gear bikes. They are cool. |
| hub still spins). The sprocket is screwed directly | | | | |