The fixed-gear bicycle, also known as a fixie, is quite the rage for Australia's hipster set, says the Aussie newspaper The Age, but the bike's appeal travels beyond Down Under. The fixed-gear bike has many fans in America, according to The Wall Street Journal and Sheldon Brown, despite the bike's array of challenges.
What It Is
A fixed-gear bicycle has only one speed and lacks a freewheel. The freewheel is the mechanism that allows you to coast on a bike, which means you have to keep pedaling the fixie at all times. Fixies have no hand brakes but stop when you jam your feet on the pedals. Some get rid of the brakes altogether to further enhance the thrill.
Why You'd Want One
Fixies, in addition to being hip, give you a more intense workout than a traditional bicycle, according to The Wall Street Journal and Sheldon Brown. With no gears to give them a boost, riders' strength, endurance and stamina are what keep the bike going. The rider has to keep going, too, as there is no way to coast with your feet on the pedals. Since the fixed-gear bikes lack hand brakes, or sometimes any brakes, stopping the bike becomes an art form, even a competitive art form. Some riders boast about their ability to stop the bike with a fancy forward skid called the "skip stop" that relies on balance, precision and strength. Fixed-gear bikes are also lighter than other cycles bogged down with gear mechanisms.
Why You Wouldn't Want One
Despite their hip status, fixed-gear bikes come with potential hazards. Since coasting to slow down is not an option, braking has to be done at full speed, which can throw riders over the handlebars. Fixing a fixie also can be difficult, especially if you put it on a repair stand. The wheels move freely during repairs, often resulting in cut fingers.
Why You Really Wouldn't Want One
Men might have another reason for steering clear of the fixed-gear bicycle, according to The Wall Street Journal. Since riders cannot stand up and coast on the bike, their constant seated position, especially on longer rides, can hinder the blood flow to the reproductive organs. A decreased blood flow to the reproductive organ, however slight, is one of the disturbances that can lead to erectile dysfunction, according to the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
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