Origin8 UNO

Looking for a great value in a production fixed gear? Check out the Origin8 UNO. Origin8 is a fairly new brand 2 1/2 years old, but they've been really stepping things up in the fixed gear market. They're bringing in deep rim wheels with sealead bearings, colored saddles, colored cranks and handlebars. They make a real cool pedal that will take a traditional toe clip. Rubber track bar grips in colors and a host of other cool stuff, but back to the Bike! The UNO is a Tig-Welded Chromoly frame painted in Charcol Grey. The bike comes with Bull horn handlebars, front and rear brake for those who want to run it as a single speed. Three pice alloy crank 46x18. Alloy wheels with sealed bearing Formula Track Hubs 32 spoke and a nice leather seat. Right now from the production bikes I've seen and ridden out there this bike gives you the most bang for your buck. This bike sells for somewhere between $500 and $600. So if your looking for a first fixie and want something already built the UNO would be a good choice!

Commuting Single speed vs. Fixed

I've been commuting by bike the last month. I have two bikes which I use, one is a single speed the other a track bike. The single speed is a KHS Flight 100 which used to be my fixed gear bike. It was the only bike I had that was set up to take a rear rack. I installed a rack so I could carry panniers on the rear. The bags allow me to carry achange of clothes, lunch, drinks, extra tire and rain gear. With the extra weight on the back and riding in traffic I decided to try it as a single speed with a free wheel. I also opted for platform pedals without clips. A pretty standard single speed set up. The bike works fine as a commuter. The extra weight on the back affects the handling especially in windy conditions. Overall it serves it's purpose. The gearing I think is a 48/16 or 17 which seems to be perfect.

Now the Fixed Gear bike. A classic steel frame track bike. I run a front brake, chopped drop bars and 48/17 gearing. To carry my stuff I have to carry a backpack. The backpack works fine except when I carry my lunch, then it's a tight fit. This set up is definitely a better ride. You don't notice the backpack that much and the bike handles a lot better then with panniers.

Riding the fixed to work is definitely more fun! The bikes faster and handles better!

The Essence of Fixed Gear

What's so special about riding fixed gear. I thought about this today while I was out pedaling. I have six bikes. Road bikes, Recumbent, Mountain bike and single speed. (I work in a bike shop).
So why is it, my favorite bike is the fixed gear? It's probably the cheapest bike I own. It's definitely the simplest. So what is the magic of this bike that draws me to it? Then it hit me Satori! A Zen like enlightenment! When you ride any other bike it feels like a separate machine. You are operating a machine. If you stop pedaling the machine will continue to run like a car you are basically driving the bike.
Now the difference : With fixed gear you are one with the bike. You are directly connected to the road through that bike! The bike speeds up and slows down according to your pedaling... you flow. You can not stop pedaling unless the bike stops. You have become the bike! That is the difference!
So for all the money you spent on that expensive carbon fiber road bike you can never experience the same relationship that you can on that simple fixed gear.
Now grasshopper you understand the essence of fixed gear