Fixed gear or hybrid bike?

[RyanAtTanagra]

Since then, cycling bikes with a freewheel just feels terrible - as if I have very little connection the bike and road.

I switched back to a multi-geared freewheel as well recently, as I wanted something with a rack and saddlebags that could be more utilitarian.  Agreed, I lost some feel and control at low speeds.  It's all tradeoffs.

Edit to add:
Thinking back on it more, my fixie was flat-out more fun to ride, hands down.  In the city, anyway.

[PDXTabs]

I'm currently car-less and rely on the bus and walking to get around...but for anyone else that lives in Boston, you know how unreliable public transit is! I'm looking into getting a bike to shorten some of my walks.

Riding fixed gear bicycles on the street was popularized by bicycle messengers, which is to say that:

• They were already in amazing shape.
• They had very little extra money.
• They rode dozens of hours a week, and every part that broken was $$$ they didn't want to spend.

For an only bike I would suggest something like the Raleigh Redux. It's 1x8 which IMHO is a great commuter drive-train with only half of the parts to go bad. It also comes with disc brakes which IMHO should be considered required for an only-bike in 2019. If you love it you can upgrade it from 1x8 to 1x11 for a few hundred dollars.

In fact, my favorite bike is a Surly Crosscheck with an aftermarket front disc fork and a 1x9 drivetrain (but nowadays you can get a Surly Straggler). I love it, but I paid a lot more screwing around with it than that turn key Redux, and it honestly isn't much better.

EDITed to add - the commuting forum on bikeforums.net is really good.

[FIREstache]

I spent quite a few years riding a fixed gear bike.  Eventually, I switched to a new bike with gears.  I loved it, and I can't imagine ever going back to a fixed gear bike.  I highly recommend a geared bike.

[flipboard]

• They had very little extra money.
• They rode dozens of hours a week, and every part that broken was $$$ they didn't want to spend.

So you're saying fixed is extra-mustachian?

This certainly is an interesting thread - there are a few people with experience of both (who have explained the tradeoffs), and a lot of people who've never used fixed and yet have infallible opinions about them.

[PDXTabs]

So you're saying fixed is extra-mustachian?

Absolutely.

This certainly is an interesting thread - there are a few people with experience of both (who have explained the tradeoffs), and a lot of people who've never used fixed and yet have infallible opinions about them.

If sstants had a bike we could explain to them how to calculate gear inches and then help them set their existing bike up to try say, 70" (with is actually shorter than any new fixed gear I've ever seen for sale) for their commute. Then they could try it out on their own and report back how fun or punishing it was. I'm totally fine with fixed gear and single speed riders, but unless you live somewhere very flat I won't recommend it to someone for their only bike if they are inexperienced enough to be asking for help.

[vand]

If you only plan on having 1 bike then for god's sake get one with gears that can do everything you need.

Fixed/Single-speed is for enthusiasts and the N+1 cohort.

[flipboard]

Fixed/Single-speed is for enthusiasts and the N+1 cohort.

Citation needed - I know plenty of normal people who are happy with fixed or single-speeds. Yes, there are plenty of posers, there are plenty of normal people happy with their fixed gears. (Simpler maintenance often makes them a better choice for the average person...)

[vand]

Fixed/Single-speed is for enthusiasts and the N+1 cohort.

Citation needed - I know plenty of normal people who are happy with fixed or single-speeds. Yes, there are plenty of posers, there are plenty of normal people happy with their fixed gears. (Simpler maintenance often makes them a better choice for the average person...)

Whatever.
I know lots of fixed/ss owners. None of them only have 1 bike.

[Metalcat]

Ugh, I'm way too old and injured for a single speed, and my doctor would slap me upside the head if I bought a fixie.

Why and why?

Very bad knees.

[flipboard]

Fixed/Single-speed is for enthusiasts and the N+1 cohort.

Citation needed - I know plenty of normal people who are happy with fixed or single-speeds. Yes, there are plenty of posers, there are plenty of normal people happy with their fixed gears. (Simpler maintenance often makes them a better choice for the average person...)

Whatever.
I know lots of fixed/ss owners. None of them only have 1 bike.

Whatever.
I know lots of fixed owners. None of them have more than one bike.

[RyanAtTanagra]

Fixed/Single-speed is for enthusiasts and the N+1 cohort.

Citation needed - I know plenty of normal people who are happy with fixed or single-speeds. Yes, there are plenty of posers, there are plenty of normal people happy with their fixed gears. (Simpler maintenance often makes them a better choice for the average person...)

Whatever.
I know lots of fixed/ss owners. None of them only have 1 bike.

It was my only bike for years.  In San Francisco (very much not flat).  But I do agree with the point that if someone is inexperienced enough to ask what they should get, they should probably get a geared bike.

[SnipTheDog]

Buy an e-bike for god's sake.  https://www.haibikeusa.com/ or https://www.radpowerbikes.com/ or build your own: https://lunacycle.com/

[FIREstache]

It doesn't look like the OP is wanting to spend as much as an e-bike costs.