Fixed-gear and one-speed bikes are becoming more popular among those in the Capital region who want to explore cheaper, greener means of transportation.
According to excerpts from the article:
Pro-cycle, a bike shop in Holt, specifically mentions its selection of fixed-gear bicycles in its television commercial, a selling point the shop admits wouldn’t have been in a commercial made several years ago.
The one-speed bike is self-explanatory: It’s a bike that does not allow you to shift gears (because there is only one). If you are going up hill, you simply need to pedal harder.
The fixed gear bike, or “fixie” as it is referred to colloquially, requires slightly more explanation. The back tire of most bikes uses a freewheel hub, which allows the wheel to continue spinning while the pedals remain stationary. The back tire of a fixed-gear bike uses a stationary gear with a lock ring. If the wheel is turning on a fixed-gear bike, the pedals are moving.
Basically, the bike will not coast. One of the dangers of a fixie is that if you are riding down a hill, you can be thrown from the bike if you stop pedaling. Despite this, some people prefer to ride fixed-gear bikes.
Read the entire article here.
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