Fixed-gear bikes, or “fixies,” are so hip now that they are almost exclusively associated in the casual cyclist’s mind with “hipster” riders in major cities, but the original goal of the design was safety. The Rover of 1885 used cranks and a chain to send power to a fixed-gear rear wheel. At the time, this was fairly radical; besides the “penny-farthing” big-front-wheel bikes that dominated the period, there were significant numbers of treadle-driven efforts that used no chain whatsoever, not to mention the front-wheel-drive bikes!
One hundred and thirty-six years later, the appeal of the fixed-gear bicycle is simplicity, not safety. Acceleration and deceleration are both handled via pedal pressure. There’s very little to go wrong. These bikes are weather-resistant, long-lived, and charming in their lack of levers and mechanical addenda. Mandatory for certain timed competitive events and almost-mandatory in the secretive world of professional bike messengers, the “fixie” is also de rigeur among those who hold aesthetics to be the highest purpose of a bicycle.
Choose Your Purpose
Interested in racing? Then you’ll want something with razor-sharp geometry and attention paid to reducing both aerodynamic and mechanical drag. The vast majority of buyers, however, won’t be happy with a bicycle like that. Instead, they will want a comfort-oriented bicycle with upright seating and a large saddle, or a “cafe racer” that evokes the heavily chromed, thin-tubed racing bikes of the pre-World War I era without those machines’ absolute focus on performance.
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To Brake or Not to Brake
True fixed-gear race bikes have no brakes. Should you skip them as well? It might look cool at the coffee shop, but there is little reason to operate a brakeless bicycle unless you are an exceptionally skilled rider with a high risk tolerance. The reaction most novices have to danger on a fixie—to pull their feet off the pedals and squeeze the brakes in a death grip—won’t be very productive if you have no brakes.
How We Chose
Every bike here has been thoroughly evaluated and vetted by our team of test editors. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience racing and riding these fixies to determine the best options. Some models have been tested by our staff and those that haven’t have been carefully chosen based on their value, quality of parts (many of which we’ve tested separately), our experience riding similar models, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended buyer.
Retrospec Harper Singlespeed
The Harper is the epitome of fixie as cost-conscious commuter. With a flat bar, brakes for both front and rear wheels, and 700c x 28mm tires, this is a great choice for someone with a short commute or a desire to spend as little as possible. For a few dollars more, Retrospec offers a version with a coaster brake; make sure you really want to ride fixed-gear before you decide against it.
Fyxation Pixel
Fyxation is a new direct-to-consumer brand that strips the frills out of bicycles but retains some color and aesthetic appeal. The Pixel looks pleasingly retro while offering some up-to-date touches like a three-piece aluminum crank. With brakes front and rear, this is not a hardcore choice, but the long stem length separating the rider from the flat bar should offer an increase in hill-climbing power and top speed at the expense of some comfort. Up to 32mm tires can be fitted after the sale to increase isolation from rough roads. If the fixie lifestyle turns out to be less than satisfactory after the fact, the flip-flop rear wheel can be fitted with a conventional one-speed freewheel. If you never stop pedaling, nobody will notice you’ve made the change.
Wabi Lightning
At just 18 pounds (claimed), the Wabi Lightning is fast enough to race but handsome enough to leave outside a Chelsea coffeehouse. Credit the Columbus Spirit tubing, made in Italy and shipped to Taiwan for assembly into a rocketship frame. Everything about the Lightning can be customized, from the handlebar shape to the gearing. Not quite a fully custom, top-shelf fixie, the Lightning will be indistinguishable from that for virtually every normal human being you might meet.
State Ghoul Core-Line
State is an explicitly urban-focused company—its collaboration with the estate of rapper Notorious B.I.G., called “Ready To Die,” sold out immediately—and the Ghoul is your ticket to become a bike messenger or at least impersonate one for your dating-site profile picture. This is a flip-flop bike offering freewheel and fixed modes as standard, but there are no brakes. Try the “longhorn” bar for additional lane-splitting ability. Despite the mild steel frame, the Ghoul comes in just under the 25-pound mark. Want more bling? State has plenty of options.
Schwinn Kedzie Singlespeed
This single-size, no-frills, flip-flop commuter bike won’t garner too many admiring glances from the fixie crowd—but when the price is this right, who cares? The Kedzie has brakes front and rear, a flat bar, two color choices, and a plastic chainguard for wet-weather comfort. The bar and stem have considerable rise to them, so expect more of a beach-cruiser response at speed, rather than the finely tuned but high-strung steering of a traditional fixie.
6KU Fixed Aluminum
What sets 6KU’s offering apart from the other budget bikes? An aluminum frame, which saves weight and transfers more pedal power to the wheels, at the expense of some ride comfort. The flip-flop rear hub is standard, and the bike is monochrome finished to reduce corrosion and decrease the likelihood of theft. 6KU is the manufacturer as well as the retailer, so there’s some cost savings there that translates into a slightly higher grade of equipment than what you’ll find on similar competitors. A riser bar and a long seatpost allow for easy adjustment to suit a variety of riders beyond the six standard frame sizes.
Bianchi Pista Steel
Remember what we said about fixies being less likely to attract thieves? With the Pista Steel, you can throw that out the window. This Bianchi costs nine hundred bucks but looks like it could cost nine grand. The steel frame shines, the drop bar looks like serious business, and the Bianchi logo is large enough to be seen from space. The relatively low cost can be credited to some budget component choices, like a flip-flop JoyTech rear hub. Geometry is aggressive and rider-forward, so you’ll need to be on your toes. Happily, there are brakes both front and rear if things get out of hand. Make sure you buy a lock for this one, because even your neighbors will be jealous.
All-City Thunderdome
If there’s one bike brand that is adored by the street-style set, it’s All-City—and with the Thunderdome, this fashion-focused company has finally decided to drag its customer base into the no-excuses world of velodrome racing. The round-tubing aluminum frame is approved for UCI competition, as is the carbon fork. Cane Creek supplies the headset. For 2021, the geometry has been relaxed slightly to provide a compromise between board-track and criterium events. Naturally, it’s gorgeous from stem to stern. Could you buy a Thunderdome and sentence it to a life of Starbucks rides? Yes, you could. But wouldn’t that be a little cruel?
Priority Ace
The Ace is Priority’s fixie with a touch of class. It’s designed for commuters who like a little pep in their daily ride but aren’t fans of bike maintenance. Recreational-focused riders will do fine with the easier gear ratio and budget-friendly parts of the $499 Ace of Clubs. Performance-minded riders will appreciate the Ace of Spades for its carbon fork and seatpost, and higher gear ratio. Both models feature a flip-flop hub with a cassette body and fixed thread that lets you easily swap between fixed and freewheel cogs with a standard bottom bracket tool. And all adult Priority models use a quieter, cleaner, less-mess Gates belt drive instead of a traditional chain and cassette. A 680mm-wide, flat handlebar and 28mm WTB ThickSlick tires round out this clean-looking, stylish city fixie.
Jack Baruth is a writer and competitor who has earned podiums in more than fifteen different classes and sanctions of automotive and cycling competition, in both amateur and professional capacities, as well as an enthusiastic hobbyist musician and audiophile who owns hundreds of musical instruments and audio systems. His work has appeared in Bicycling, Cycle World, Road & Track, WIRED, Wheels Weekly, EVO Malaysia, Esquire, and many other publications. His original design for a guitar, the Melody Burner, has been played by Billy Gibbons, Sheryl Crow, and others.
