Being fixed on cycling reveals true personality

Regular readers of this column will know that I have an affinity with fixed-wheel bikes. That is to say bikes with only one gear and no freewheel. This means you can’t stop pedalling, thus making hilly routes a challenge in both directions.

My favourite is a 15-year-old fixed-gear bike, on which I have cycled thousands of miles and it still remains my go-to for most road rides.

Such bikes might seem like an anachronism in the modern world of technology-led cycling where everything is produced to make it easier and more comfortable.

But there are benefits to riding “fixed” and their popularity remains high among many riders.

They are also a tangible link to cycling’s roots because originally every bicycle had a fixed wheel.

Fixed-wheel bikes are what riders must use in a velodrome and on those occasions the absence of brakes makes the encounter even more primal.

Their simplicity is part of the attraction. Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree once said: “You can always add something, but you come to the point where you can’t take any more away. That’s a fixed-wheel bike”.

Once the mainstay of British club riders, especially through the winter, the fixed-gear bike was easy to clean, saving more expensive “racing season” cycles for better weather and cutting down on maintenance costs.

They are also a great training tool through the winter months, giving you more pedalling for fewer miles.

As society has become more affluent and bicycles cheaper the fixed-gear bike has taken a back seat in club life with riders able to afford geared bikes for both summer and winter.

Hence the fixed-gear has become more of a specialised item and something used by aficionados of the sport.

In recent years there has been a resurgence of these bikes, led mainly by urban riders who have found they are ideal for commuting.

So-called “hipsters” are synonymous with them and no self-respecting, espresso drinking, tweed-capped, bearded rider should be seen without their “fixie”.

These kinds of associations and clichés mean the fixed-gear can often be viewed with a tinge of parody but their stripped-down nature allows huge scope for personalising the bike.

Stacks of coffee table books on the subject are testament to the fact this has almost become a sub-culture and an art-form with “pimped-up” bikes reflecting the personality of the rider.

In an age when mass-produced, homogenised bikes from the East represent the bulk of what most people buy it is not surprising that fixed-gear bikes have become the outlet for selfexpression and creativity.

Fashion and culture aside, ultimately the reason fixed-gears remain so popular and the reason I still ride one regularly is that they are great fun – and that is what cycling is all about.

Start: Where to Ride:

Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh. 1.6 miles – 266ft height gain – Average gradient 3.1%. OS Landranger 1:50,000 Map 66 NT 277740 – Junction of Duke’s Walk and Queen’s Drive. Located in the heart of Edinburgh, this well-known and popular landmark is well used by cyclists and runners alike wanting to test their stamina with the climb to the highest point of the capital.

Distance: Description: The current Strava fastest times from Holyrood to the top are:

Queen of the Mountain – 9mins 3s King of the Mountain – 7mins 32s

Join:

the Blazing Saddles Strava Club at www.strava.com/clubs/Blazing SaddlesWeekendCourier