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Guest
A fixed gear bike may or may not be a road bike. Traditionally, most of them are, but fixed gear mtn bikes and cyclo-cross type bikes have recently become more popular and are probably more common. Fixed gear bikes were originally mainly designed for velodrome racing where braking is not as important and allowed for trackstands to be done, etc. They have now spread to the other branches of cycling. Cyclists sometimes use fixed gear bikes as an alternative method of training.
The cost is usually less, but they are generally harder to find. Your selection will be less with a fixed gear.
The difference between the two is that on a fixed gear bike, the pedals rotate at all times, even when "coasting". To brake, one puts reverse pressure on the pedal stroke. It is possible to install normal hand-brakes as well, though most don't come this way originally. Fixed gear track frames normally are not set up to accomodate hand brakes and don't have the brake mounting bosses on the frame and fork..
Note that this is different than a single-speed or "coaster" type bike, that does allow you to stop pedalling, but only has one gear.
Of course, with a fixed gear bike one has only one choice of gear, so hills can be a problem.
The cost is usually less, but they are generally harder to find. Your selection will be less with a fixed gear.
The difference between the two is that on a fixed gear bike, the pedals rotate at all times, even when "coasting". To brake, one puts reverse pressure on the pedal stroke. It is possible to install normal hand-brakes as well, though most don't come this way originally. Fixed gear track frames normally are not set up to accomodate hand brakes and don't have the brake mounting bosses on the frame and fork..
Note that this is different than a single-speed or "coaster" type bike, that does allow you to stop pedalling, but only has one gear.
Of course, with a fixed gear bike one has only one choice of gear, so hills can be a problem.