How Does a Fixed Gear Bike Work?

Most people are familiar with the common mountain bike. Fixed gear bikes, however, are a relatively new addition to the world of pedal bicycling. If you are interested in bicycling and want to try something new, consider testing out a new fixed gear bike.

Riding with a Single Gear

Fixed gear bikes differ from traditional mountain bikes due to the fact that they only have one speed, or gear. Mountain bikes typically have 10 or more gears. A fixed gear bike is designed to have a single gear. The bike is powered in the normal fashion; the rider must pedal the fixed gear bicycle which causes the chain to rotate around the single gear, or sprocket.

Mechanics of a Fixed Gear Bike

An experienced rider will notice that a fixed gear bike does not have any gear shifters or multiple chain sprockets. Fixed gear bicycles are outfitted with only one sprocket. The chain is secured to the sprocket through the use of metal teeth, which pull the chain along as the rider pedals the bike. The sprocket of the fixed gear bike is attached to the bike's rear wheel. As the rider pedals the bike, the chain causes the sprocket to move, which in turn moves the rear wheel, causing the fixed gear bicycle to move forward. The rider is able to control the speed and direction of the bicycle's movement through the use of the bike's handlebars and brake levers. The rider can steer the bike simply by turning the handle bars. They are able to slow or stop the bike by squeezing the brake levers, which are located on the handlebars.