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Fixed or Free coaster?

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pj21
Posts: 400 - Karma: 4,635
Alright, I have had this on going debate with friends about the advantages and disadvantages of a fixed and freecoaster bike. Which do you thinks better?
Sep 6 2013 4:20AM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
flip flop hubs, best of both worlds
Sep 6 2013 4:24AM
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pj21
Posts: 400 - Karma: 4,635
if you had to pick one?
Sep 6 2013 4:56AM
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2562 - Karma: 4,135
Fixed
Sep 6 2013 7:28AM
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GIF
Posts: 468 - Karma: 1,279
It depends on what you're doing with them and where you live
Sep 6 2013 8:34AM
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the.hellion.
Posts: 861 - Karma: 698
Yep yep !

Or free-wheel. Where I live, every time you ride on the road, you're putting your life on the line... I would not feel safe with fixed... Drivers be too unpredictable.
Sep 6 2013 8:48AM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Fixies are for hipster idiots. Are you a hipster idiot? This one simple question will determine which type of rear hub to purchase.
Sep 6 2013 9:01AM
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
I'm assuming by free coaster, you mean freewheel. A free coaster hub is for bmx's and it allows you to roll backwards without back pedalling. They are super fun.

I would get a flip flop hub and both fixed and free wheels and they you can choose what you want.
Sep 6 2013 10:28AM
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yuck
Posts: 8384 - Karma: 2,090
fixed gear bikes have been around for a very long time and unless you are super insecure about yourself, riding fixed is totally worth the occasional douchebag thinking your a hipster based on which style of hub you use on your bike.

I would recommend at least a front brake too though, if you go with a fixed gear. i used to ride brakeless but you have to worry about your speed a lot less when you have a brake, which makes it much more fun IMO
Sep 6 2013 10:35AM
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Olimar
Posts: 3535 - Karma: 4,076
are we talking about roller coaster tycoon? because I think im gonna go play some.
Sep 6 2013 11:46AM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
brakes only slow you down, pussy
Sep 6 2013 11:54AM
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Joebin
Posts: 1664 - Karma: 867
SS all day. Just because my area is too hilly for fixed though. Being able to pick up speed and coast down a hill gets me where I need to go faster and its not nearly as gnarly as trying to attack an incline with a fixed hub.
Sep 6 2013 12:11PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
are there any advantages to a fixed gear? besides that i assume it's simpler/more durable/easier to fix and maintain?

i dont know much at all about bikes but i cant think of a way a fixie would be advantageous in any way
Sep 6 2013 12:19PM
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gengar.
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 1,641
i have a flip flop, i love it. Freecoast when im riding to class and i know theres gonna be a lot of quick stops and people and fixed when i know i can just ride around and i dont have to pay as much attention
Sep 6 2013 12:23PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
there are no practical advantages of a fixed gear bicycle. it's a fad.
Sep 6 2013 12:33PM
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yuck
Posts: 8384 - Karma: 2,090
so will someone backing out of a driveway

and rubbersoul - no there is no real physical advantage. obviously riding with gears is easier but riding fixed is FUN. thats all really. it's just a sick feeling being connected (using toe traps) and having the bike kinda pushing you along. you feel the momentum of your riding a lot more and it makes even the little rides around town or to a friends house much more fun. it's hard to explain but pretty much everyone i know who has built a fixed gear bike has done it for that sole reason.
Sep 6 2013 12:38PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
cool, that's what i figured. thanks guys
Sep 6 2013 12:40PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
I have a fixie and a BMX bike with a freecoaster (alienation to be exact)
Sep 6 2013 12:59PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
there really is no advantage to riding fixed except saying you ride a fixie

if you're in any area with hills or erratic drivers you want a singlespeed with breaks. or you can wear foot straps and hope you can skid out your wheel and turn to the side fast enough to not get hit and killed

also fixies kill chains, tires, hubs, and cogs way faster than singlespeeds
Sep 6 2013 1:33PM
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pj21
Posts: 400 - Karma: 4,635
My friends who ride fixie say its faster, but i always beat them on the hills
Sep 6 2013 11:59PM
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Theskiingguy
Posts: 476 - Karma: 2,514
hmmm... for some reason I was thinking this would be a debate over these things glued to a table or unglued. Slightly disappointed, but I'll go ahead and say glued because I hate it when coasters stick to the bottom of a cup and fall off.
Click for larger image
Sep 7 2013 12:08AM
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CosmicBrownie
Posts: 199 - Karma: 1,177
Like others have said it really depends what you want. If you want to have fun doing skids, whips, and track stands and stuff like that, go fixed. Just for a commuter though, get something with gears. I ride brakeless fixed around campus and it's just a lot more fun, makes passing period something to look forward to for sure
Sep 7 2013 2:40AM
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Cult_Leader
Posts: 413 - Karma: 40
fixed
Sep 7 2013 11:29AM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Fixies should be left for track bikes and track bikes only.
Sep 7 2013 11:45AM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
i used to ride a fixie, but i switched it over to freewheel, way better. fixed gear riding is actually pretty hard on your knees
Sep 7 2013 12:50PM
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
All day 'err day. Best games ever.
Sep 7 2013 1:14PM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781

loud ass cassette

and brakeless

Sep 7 2013 2:17PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
very very few cassettes/freewheels are loud enough to be bothersome. basically just industry nine
Sep 8 2013 11:50AM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
Your answer is at 3:20

Sep 8 2013 12:02PM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
riding distance fixed blows, and if theres any hills where you live fixed also blows. i would say get flip flop and just split it with a fixed and a free. if you get a good ratio a freewheel can beat old men on their super expensive road bikes.
Sep 8 2013 2:25PM
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