Fixed Gear vs. Single Speed Bikes

What's the difference between a fixed gear and a single speed bike?

Fixed gear and single speed bikes are close cousins in the cycling world, except one cousin dropped out of high school, is covered in tattoos, and drinks a concerning amount of cheap beer; and the other cousin purposefully takes 8:00 AM classes at the local state college. Although one cousin gets way more street cred while the other cousin is "the mildly successful one" that’ll probably go on to be a dental hygienist (or even a dentist!), they both enjoy a healthy amount of self-inflicted suffering in the name of becoming stronger, better cyclists and get along well at group rides (which is definitely not the case for other types of cyclists).

Fixed gear is the cool cousin and single speed is the successful cousin.

What is a Fixed Gear Bike?

A fixed gear bike is any bike that has a fixed cog fastened with a lockring on the rear hub. This makes for a bike that is unable to coast. If the rear wheel is spinning, the cranks are spinning and vice versa. You must always pedal on a fixed gear.

On a fixed gear, you can’t coast. The cranks and rear wheel are directly connected.

What is a Single Speed Bike?

The difference between a fixed gear and a single speed bike though is that you can coast on a single speed bike since it has a freewheel attached to the rear hub. If you can’t shift gears on a bike and it can coast, it’s a single speed.

On a single speed bike, the freewhweel allows for coasting.

Why ride a fixed gear or single speed bike?

Both fixed gear and single speed bikes only have one gear, meaning you can't change to an easier gear if you're riding uphill or a harder gear if you're riding downhill. The gear you have is the gear you're stuck with. For most people, this will sound unnecessarily limiting, but for fixed gear and single speed riders, this is the biggest reason we choose to ride these types of bikes. The limitation forces riders to make do with what we have and become stronger riders.

Masochistic people find this fun.

That limitation also makes for the simplest, most beautiful bikes that are the easiest to maintain. Fixed gears and single speeds need very little attention to run buttery smooth. They're ready to ride at a moment's notice, and supremely fun to ride since they're always in tip-top shape, or at the very least, a lubed chain away from being in tip-top shape. Anyone who's at least curious about learning how to maintain their own bike can easily learn proper techniques and practices on fixed gear and single speed bikes because they are so darn simple, saving you trips to the bike shop and lots of money in the long run.

They're both surprisingly practical.

Pros of Riding a Fixed Gear Bike

The biggest reason fixed gear cycling has a cult following is that it gives a completely unique riding experience that some riders fall in love with. Riding a fixed gear is unlike riding any other type of bike.

A fixed gear drivetrain gives you a direct connection with your bike. Ask any fixed gear rider, and we'll all tell you that it feels like "a zen experience where you're one with the bike." I know it sounds ridiculous if you've never tried riding fixed gear, but that insanely connected feeling with the bike adds a layer of fun to riding that no other bike can offer. 

That direct link between the legs and the rear wheel allows fixed gear riders to perform maneuvers that can't be done on other bikes like brakeless riding, riding backwards, and balancing on your bike for trackstands. Having all this direct, minute control over the bike with your legs makes fixed gears great for tricking and riding in dense cities. Their maneuverability makes them a ton of fun to ride.

Fixed gears are also seen as "cooler" within the fixed gear and single speed community because it does take more skill to ride. Since fixed gear riding is so niche, it's almost like a secret society. Fixed gear riders automatically treat other fixed gear riders with a baseline level of respect and friendliness. When we see another rider on a fixed gear bike, we immediately know that they "get it." Yes, it's shallow (and cyclists are notoriously shallow), but riding a fixed gear will open up doors of friendship to you that a single speed bike may not open.

You can only get Fixie Points on a fixie.

Cons of Riding a Fixed Gear Bike

Not everyone can get used to having to pedal literally all the time though. For some riders, riding a fixed gear can range from tiring to feeling downright weird and unsafe. Since it is such a unique riding experience, it's definitely not for everyone.

It can be nice to coast, namely on longer rides when you want to give your legs a break and when riding downhill. Riding downhill on a fixed gear can feel dangerous since you need to pedal incredibly fast to keep up with the spinning cranks, and you can lose control of the bike at high speeds if you're not experienced or careful.

With that said, a lot of fixed gear riders tend to ride dangerously and see this drawback as a benefit. If you're skilled on a fixed gear, descending will push you to your limits and is a lot of fun. It will still be slower than descending on a bike with brakes that can coast though.

Not being able to coast also leads to the occasional pedal strike in sharp corners and toe overlap at low speeds. On a non-fixed gear bike, the rider can stop pedaling in sharp corners to aggressively carve, but on a fixed gear, you'll have to adapt your cornering technique to your bike's capabilities since the pedals are constantly turning, lest you want your pedal to smash into the ground and to fly over your handlebars.

Toe overlap is when your foot rubs against your front tire. This normally happens when steering at low speeds. Toe overlap can occur on any type of bike, but it's more pronounced on fixed gear bikes that can't coast. Most riders get used to it, but it can be irritating for some.

Fixed gears allow you to ride brakeless and skid with direct control over the rear wheel.

Pros of Riding a Single Speed Bike

On a single speed bike, you get the simplicity, limitation, and ease of maintenance on a more approachable bike. Riding a single speed bike will feel just like riding any other type of bike, minus the ability to change gears. You can coast to rest, and you can coast when riding downhill.

One single speed rider I met at a fixed gear group ride put all of us fixed riders to shame. We pestered him about why he rides single speed instead of fixed. His response: "I like to ride down hills just as much as I like to ride up them."

Sometimes, coasting is beneficial or even necessary. Single speed bikes are better suited for cyclocross and mountain biking. You don't want to leave whether you're going to clear that corner or land that jump with the proper crank orientation up to chance. Coasting gives you control over your crank positioning during these crucial moments.

Cons of Riding a Single Speed Bike

You don't get the same connected feeling on a single speed bike as on a fixed gear. That alone is enough to drive some riders, like myself, away from single speed bikes and exclusively ride fixed gear bikes.

Single speed bikes don't have the same cult following as fixed gear. At best, you'll be accepted amongst the fixed gear crowd as the significantly less cool cousin. Don't expect to be awarded any Fixie Points. 

Not many 70 year olds are comfortable on a fixed gear, but my dad rides his single speed with swagger.

Is a fixed gear or single speed bike right for you?

The main difference between riding a fixed gear vs. a single speed bike comes down to whether you want to coast or not. The best way to find that out is to try them both.

Many beginner fixed gear or single speed bikes can be set up as either fixed or single speed and come equipped with a flip-flop hub that has a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel on the other side. With a flip-flop hub, you can swap between fixed gear and single speed drivetrains simply by unbolting and flipping the rear wheel to the other side in a matter of minutes. Most people will prefer to ride single speed over fixed gear, hence most beginner bikes that can be set up as both come set up as single speed by default.

Many flip-flop hubs come equipped with a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel on the other, so you can easily swap between fixed gear and single speed riding on the same bike.

Fixed gear is one of those things that you can tell immediately whether you love it or hate it within a few minutes of trying it. Always having to pedal on a fixed gear does take time to get used to, but there are a few people that immediately fall in love with the direct feeling of the drivetrain. Most riders however prefer having the ability to coast since it's more familiar. Try out a fixed gear and a single speed bike to see which is best for you. It all comes down to personal preference, and hopefully you'll find a bike that you love.

Do you want to be the cool cousin or the successful cousin?

Either way, welcome to the Fixie Fam, cuz!

Ride on,