Single Speed & Fixie Bikes

A fixed gear or “fixie” bike is a bicycle with a single gear that is attached in a fixed position to the rear wheel. This means whenever the bike’s rear wheel is moving, the pedals are moving, too. Fixie bikes are known for their simplicity, lightweight design, affordability, and durability, as they lack the complex gearing mechanisms of other bikes. Fixies are often favored by urban cyclists for being lower maintenance, having clean aesthetics, and offering a unique riding experience, which requires continuous pedaling and allows for advanced techniques like skid braking and riding backwards.

A single-speed bike, as the name suggests, is one with a single gear, or “speed.” This means it lacks the derailleurs and shifters found on multi-gear bikes, and only has one ratio between pedal and wheel revolutions, resulting in a simpler, lighter, and cheaper design.

Fixie bikes are a type of single-speed bike, but many single speeds are freewheel, where the gearing is not in a fixed position on the hub, allowing the rider to coast without pedaling. Freewheel single speeds are more versatile for casual riding and navigating varied terrain, but retain the simplicity and low-maintenance benefits of a single gear setup. Other single speeds, like many kids’ bikes and our Harper Coaster, use a coaster brake, which engages a drum brake when pedaled in reverse.

Sort of, but not exactly. It’s like comparing rectangles and squares. By definition, all fixed gear bikes are single speed, but not all single speed bikes are fixed gear. Single speed bikes can also be freewheel. So no, the terms do not mean the same thing, but single speed and fixie bikes are often grouped together.

Fixie bikes aren’t for everyone, but they offer a unique blend of simplicity, efficiency, and connection to the riding experience. Their lack of gears and derailleurs, and in some cases even brakes, translates to lower maintenance, lighter weight, cheaper cost, and a clean aesthetic. The direct drive mechanism also creates a more efficient transfer of power and a heightened sense of control, allowing riders to feel intimately connected to the bike and the road. This also enables techniques like skidding, riding backwards, and track stands, adding an element of skill and fun.

In a sense, fixie bikes are like automobiles with manual transmissions. They aren’t as efficient or easy-to-drive as modern automatics, and require much more control and concentration, but there are plenty of die-hard adherents who swear by them because they offer a more intimate, hands-on riding experience.

Fixie bikes do come with drawbacks. Chiefly, the fixed-gear mechanism can take some getting used to, potentially leading to falls or loss of control for inexperienced riders. The lack of gears makes hill climbing significantly more challenging. The inability to coast is also tiring on longer rides, and requires more focus and anticipation when navigating traffic or varied terrain. However, when you buy a fixie bike with a “flip flop” hub, like our Harper Fixie or Harper Plus Fixie, you can swap the rear gear hub from freewheel to fixed gear, and get the best of both worlds!

A “flip flop” hub is a single-speed bicycle gear hub that lets you switch between a fixed gear and a freewheel setup. These hubs have a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel on the other. If you want to ride fixed, you install your rear wheel with the fixed cog facing outwards (on the rider's right side). If you want to coast, simply flip the wheel around to use the freewheel side. This versatility makes flip-flop hubs popular for single-speed riders who want the option of both riding styles without having to buy two separate wheels or hubs. Our bestselling Harper Fixie bikes come with a flip flop hub.

While fixie bikes are often associated with having no brakes, this isn't always the case. Some riders choose to ride brakeless, relying solely on their legs and the fixed gear to slow down and stop. This is often seen in velodrome track cycling and some urban riding styles. However, many fixie bikes, especially those used for commuting or general riding like Harper, are equipped with handlebar-mounted front and/or rear rim brakes for added safety and control, particularly in traffic or on hilly terrain. Others, like Harper Coaster, use a coaster brake, so pedaling backwards engages an internal drum brake in the rear hub.

Compared to a freewheel single-speed bike or a multi-geared bike, riding a fixed gear (“fixie”) bike is certainly challenging. The continuous pedaling and inability to coast require a different approach to riding, demanding more focus, anticipation, leg strength, and stamina. It takes practice to control your speed and come to a stop smoothly using leg resistance or brakes. But with practice and patience, most people can learn to ride a fixie. If it’s your first time purchasing a fixie bike, consider one with a “flip flop” hub, so that you can switch your bike to freewheel as well.

Fixie bikes (and single-speed bikes in general) are not ideal for uphill riding, because they only have a single gear. You can't shift to an easier gear ratio for climbing, so hills are significantly more challenging and require greater leg strength. You'll need to push harder and faster on the pedals to maintain momentum, and this can be tiring, especially on steep, sustained inclines. While experienced riders tackle hills on fixies all the time, it involves more effort and a slower pace compared to geared bikes. If you frequently encounter hills on your rides, a fixie might not be the best choice.

Yes, you can definitely ride downhill on a fixed gear (“fixie”) bike, but it requires a different approach and awareness compared to a freewheel bike. Since you can't coast, your legs will be constantly moving with the pedals as the bike gains speed. You'll need to control your speed by resisting the pedals, or using brakes if you have them. Going too fast might lead to a loss of control. Some riders enjoy the sensation and challenge of controlling their speed on descents, while others might find it tiring or prefer the ability to coast.

On a fixed gear bike, when you stop pedaling the pedals will keep moving, and your legs will continue to move with them. This is because the pedals are directly connected to the rear wheel, so as long as the bike is moving, the pedals turn. If you're not prepared for this, your feet can fly off the pedals, potentially leading to a loss of control or a fall. This is probably the single most difficult thing about riding a fixie. You'll still need to use your legs to resist the rotation and slow down, or use brakes if your bike has them.

Yes! It takes practice, but you can ride a fixie bike in reverse. This is one of the coolest features about this style of bike. Because the pedals are directly connected to the rear wheel, moving the pedals backwards will propel the bike in reverse. This is also called riding “fakie” and is a popular trick among fixie enthusiasts. However, it requires practice and balance, as you need to coordinate your pedal strokes with steering and maintain control while moving backwards.

Yes, fixed-gear bikes can be quite good for exercise! Since you're constantly pedaling, they engage your leg muscles throughout your ride, building strength and endurance. This constant resistance also provides a great cardiovascular workout. On a fixie bike, you'll find yourself working harder, even on flat terrain, compared to coasting on a regular bike, so you’ll burn far more calories. Just keep in mind that the lack of gears can make hills very challenging. Consider your local terrain and fitness level. If fitness is your primary goal, consider a hybrid or fitness bike.

With all the high-tech innovations of modern cycling, fixed gear bikes may seem like an oddity, but actually, the earliest bicycles were all fixed gear! Before the invention of the freewheel mechanism in the late 1800s, all bicycles had a direct drive system where the pedals were fixed to the rear wheel. This fixed gear system was simple to manufacture and maintain, with fewer moving parts that could break or require adjustment. It also provided a very efficient power transfer from the rider to the wheels. Essentially, fixie bikes were the natural starting point for bicycle development. Their inherent advantages in efficiency and control have kept them relevant in certain cycling disciplines, and as a popular choice for urban riders today (see below).

Fixies always were the standard for track cycling in velodromes, and remain so today. The fixed gear allows for greater control and responsiveness on the track, enabling techniques like track stands and quick accelerations.

Fixie bikes are also common among urban cyclists. Their use was popularized by professional courier riders in dense urban cities like San Francisco and New York City during the early 2000s. Bike messengers were drawn to these bikes because they were lightweight, low maintenance, reliable, and cost-effective. This, coupled with the steep learning curve to ride a fixie, also reduces the chance of bike theft, which can be common in urban areas. (Always use a bike lock!)