On Sun, Oct 26, 2008 at 8:51 PM, landotter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Oct 26, 8:54 pm, Horace <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Hi Jim, >> >> I never recommend that people ride fixed gears in the street. That's >> my opinion, but if you want to do it, that's up to you. > > > Why's that? I have a fixed that I often ride on the street, either > with spds on a nice 40 mile weekend jaunt, or with some MKS Sylvan > Tour flats--without toe clips even! I find it as safe or even safer > than a geared bike for an experienced rider, of course, as it keeps > one at attention at all times.
When people ask me, I don't recommend it because (1) I don't see any reason why riding fixed (in the street) would be better than riding with a freewheel; and (2) I think a fixed gear is slightly less safe than a bike with a freewheel because there is a higher likelihood of a pedal strike. I think the argument that it is safer because it requires greater attention is a poor argument. If you say it requires greater attention, you're saying it is inherently less safe. Is a loaded gun safer than an unloaded one? There are a couple of arguments in favor of riding fixed that I concede readily. Some people ride fixed because they like it. And if that's the case, I say go for it. I don't think it's THAT much more dangerous than a freewheeling bike. And some people ride fixed because they think it's "cool" or fashionable. I'm okay with those reasons too. But, no, I certainly don't buy the argument that it's safer. I would say that for an experienced rider, it is "negligibly less safe" than a bike with a freewheel. So I concede it for fun and fashion -- but those are matters of taste, and my tastes run counter. That's why I don't recommend riding fixed when people ask for my opinion. Horace. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
