“I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn’t it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer. We are getting soft… As for me, give me a fixed gear!”
- Henri Desgrange, Founder of the Tour de France, L’Equipe article of 1902
A book devoted to the desirability of fixed / single speed bikes. For devotees of these sleek elegant machines, they will probably not need any justification for their passion. But, if you do need it, ‘The Cult of Fixed‘ gives many reasons.
As for me, I’ve never owned a fixed. So I feel a bit like a kid admiring the chocolate box of Willy Wonka, despite never having being able to eat them for myself. I’ve just stuck to eating boring old, economies of scale, made in Taiwan, cheap and cheerful chocolate. (i.e. mass produced Aluminium / Carbon fibre bikes)
It is interesting how passionate people can get about fixed gear cycling. I may not wholly understand it. But, I like it.
But, ask any of the 190 pro cyclists in the Tour de France, who have just passed over innumerable mountain passes, whether they would like to go back to the days of ‘purity’ single speed a la Desgrange. – You wouldn’t be given any answer just a stony glare and grim dismissal.
“Fancy road and mountain bikes are clearly no longer king of the roost – or the road. It’s the scards of fixed-gear, town, single-speed and other urban bicycles that are drawing the crowds.” Eli Milchman, Wired.
- Well not entirely, but, if you like fixed you’ll probably like the book.
The Cult of Fixed at Amazon.co.uk
in my yoof, when I was slim & race fit, I used a fw during the winter. It kept your fitness levels up. As for going up hills that never seemed to be the issue – but coming down was a problem as you were fighting the pedals going round at an ever increasing rate instead of free-wheeling. This had a tendency to slow you down. as most of this activity tended to be in the Peak District it made for exciting riding, especially during the social season when club dinners & other celebrations abound.
Give me gears though. Fixed tend to be for simplicity & utility or the track. They have their place as do all types of bike – just depends on the application.
You really should get a fixed bike, they are great! Although I have to agree that I wouldn’t fancy go up, or down, an alpine pass on one!