Are All Single Speed Bikes Fixed Gear

In this guide we will explore all the ins and outs about the best gear ratio for fixed gear or single speed bike.

Are all single speed bikes fixed gear.

Similar as fixied gear bikes the speed is decided by the gear ratio you have on the bike for the same person. Swapping between the two allows the rider to choose between a freewheeled single speed and a fixed gear. Coasting is all about being able to ride downhill or moving on momentum without having to pedal the bike. They both have a 1x crankset and one rear cog.

Some single speed bikes come with a flip flop hub that means the hub is double sided. Every fixie can be considered a single speed bike. If you want to get a higher speed there are three ways switch to a different gear ratio. However not every single speed bike is a fixie.

A single speed bike is any type of bike that does not have multiple gears but instead just one single gear or speed. When the wheel turns the cog turns meaning you have to pedal as the chain translates the movement to the front cog wheel and onto the cranks. A single speed bike is one of the most common and perhaps the oldest type of bike and bike mechanism in the market. Fixed gear bikes have a rear cog that is fixed to the rear hub so they do not have a freewheel.

As we can see from the above examples there s the principal number formatted as aa bb 44 16 or aa bb 44 16. It s harder to pedal on a fixie. A fixed gear bike or fixie lacks the freewheel option of a single speed. The single speed can either be a freewheel or a single speed spacer kit on a traditional hub.

They re easily confused partly because they look nearly identical and partly because fixies often have flip flop hubs that allow them to also be single speed bikes. There is no coasting riding without pedaling on a fixed gear bike. On a single speed you can coast and that makes corners a little bit easier. You can coast on a single speed bike but you can t coast on a fixie.

On the outside fixed gear and single speed bikes look pretty much the same. Single speed bikes have a single gear that is attached to the cog that allows coasting. Now we said that a single speed and a fixed gear could be the same bike. A single speed is a bike with one cog but the cog is not fixed to the wheel per se.

It s easier to ride a single speed bike because pedaling is easier. In other words all single speed bikes have a simple and efficient straight chain line from the crank to the rear gear on the wheel. However there s an important difference between the two. The rear cog is joined with the rear hub.

Two of the most common fixed gear ratios are 44 16 2 75 and 46 16 2 88. Commuter bikes fixed gear mountain bikes fixed gear road bikes city bikes cruiser type bikes track bikes and bmx bikes are some of the many different kinds of bikes that fall under the category of single speed bikes. Before selecting the right mount for you it s helpful to note the difference between a fixed gear fixie bike and a single speed. Coasting is when you ride without putting your feet on the pedals.

This means that the cog will turn whenever the wheel turns.