Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the May's Giveaway: Win the LIVALL PikaBoost 2 E-bike Conversion Kit


Single speed or fixed
#1
what is done differently in setting up a single speed and fixed?
  Reply
#2
It can be both. Fixed gearing is usually associated with Track bikes with no brakes. Resist pedal to slow. Track bikes are single speed, We can also get SS with a disc brake. What is your question??
Wheelies don't pop themselves. (from a QBP fortune cookie)
  Reply
#3
(01-09-2011, 12:17 AM)RobAR Wrote:  It can be both. Fixed gearing is usually associated with Track bikes with no brakes. Resist pedal to slow. Track bikes are single speed, We can also get SS with a disc brake. What is your question??

sorry. I meant what is done differently in building the hub?
  Reply
#4
Any standard freewheel hub or cassette hub can be made into a single speed. You either put on a single speed freewheel (or just use one gear on a normal freewheel) or use spacers to fill up the cassette and have a single cog on that.

A fixed gear should use a specific fixed gear hub. They have two separate threads on the gear side, one for the cog and a smaller, reversed thread for a lockring. It is possible to make a normal freewheel hub into a fix by jerry rigging a lockring, but there are safety issues. It's also common to see "flip flop" hubs where one side is made for fixed and the other for single speed freewheel so you can easily go back and forth. Or you'll see hubs that are "fixed" on both sides so you can have two different sized cogs for different road conditions.

You have to have brakes on a single speed. You don't "have" to have hand brakes on a fix because you can stop yourself using the pedals. But lots of people put at least a front brake on a fix when used for street riding. Even someone very skilled at braking using the pedals on a fix still can't stop as well as someone with handbrakes since it is the equivalent of just having a back brake (which is typically about half as powerful as a front.) And it takes some practice and skill to even achieve that level of braking with just the pedals.

Single speeds are really just normal bikes without multiple gears. Nice that they're a bit simpler, lighter, etc. But fix is a bit different riding experience. I recommend trying it. But it's not the most practical for commuting, etc.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
The great thing about trikes
Today 12:06 PM
Third best reason to ride a bent or trik...
Yesterday 05:59 PM
Biking with helmet laws
Yesterday 10:23 AM
Is anyone riding with music?
06-03-2025 09:15 PM
"There's been better times
06-03-2025 09:10 PM
What was your first bicycle?
06-03-2025 04:25 PM
Where are you from and What is your favo...
06-02-2025 06:22 PM
Effective Breathing Method I use to go u...
06-01-2025 11:50 PM
Attack // Force tire style narrow front ...
06-01-2025 12:47 AM
First long distance ride..
05-31-2025 10:33 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Criminal
22 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
18 posts
no avatar 3. rydabent
17 posts
no avatar 4. GirishH
17 posts
no avatar 5. SPINMAN
12 posts