Fixed: A Bike With Nothing Extra
Sometimes the things we remove from our lives make room for the things we actually enjoy.
Years ago, while living in a major city, I started noticing the messenger riders weaving through traffic. Their bikes caught my attention—not because they were expensive or packed with the latest technology, but because they were the opposite.
Their bikes were stripped down to the essentials.
No unnecessary parts. No complicated systems. Just a machine designed to do one thing extremely well: move efficiently through the city.
The more I watched them, the more curious I became. What was it about these simple bikes that attracted so many riders?
Eventually, I realized this was exactly the type of bike I wanted to ride.
The Rebuild
At that point in my life, I was working hard and not making much money. I had given up my public transportation pass and started riding my bike to work instead. Not only did it save money, but I discovered I actually enjoyed the ride.
My existing bike needed some work, and that gave me the perfect opportunity to rebuild it into something simpler.
I removed the broken gears and rear brake. I replaced the multiple chainrings on the crank with a single ring. I installed a new rear wheel, added a new handlebar, aligned the drivetrain, and kept the parts that still worked well.
The result was a fixed-gear bike.
A fixed-gear bike connects the rear wheel directly to the pedals. When the bike moves, the pedals move. There is no freewheel system like most modern bicycles, and there are fewer moving parts to maintain.
The simplicity was exactly what attracted me.
The Nod
I still remember my first ride home from my office job. I was wearing old clothes, carrying my messenger bag, and riding through the city on this stripped-down bike I had built.
As I passed some of the messenger riders who had inspired me, one of them gave me the big nod.
They thought I was one of them.
I wasn’t delivering packages across the city, but for that moment, I felt like I had become part of the culture that first caught my attention.
There was something satisfying about riding a bike that had nothing extra. Every part had a purpose. Every movement connected directly to the machine.
Is It for You?
Now, I should add a little context: I used to race bicycles, so I was already an experienced rider. A fixed-gear bike requires a different style of riding and is not for everyone.
Does everyone need one? Absolutely not.
Is it the perfect bike for every situation? Definitely not.
But I think there is something valuable about trying something different. Sometimes we add complexity because we assume more is better. Sometimes removing things reveals what we actually enjoy.
A fixed-gear bike may not be for you—and that’s okay.
Our advice is simple:
Give it a try.
You might discover, like I did, that removing a few things can sometimes add a lot more enjoyment.
Doug is OK.