I just don't see the Appeal in riding on a fixed gear bicycle other than track use,I'd think that riding on the road or paths would be difficult if you had constant grade changes.

Seems like a new bike fad...like riding "brakeless".I have seen so many kids mess themselves,others and their bikes up because they thought it would be cool to ride brakeless.

My riding buddies younger brother joined us this one time at this local bmx/skate park to show off his brand new $750 dollar "we the people"bike w/o brakes,anyway he comes off of one of the ramps and T-bones this other kid who came off a grind early,broke the one kids leg and caused $170 worth of damage to his new bike...totally could've been avoided if he had some brakes to lay into.

 

grade changes don't really matter unless it's a serious incline, like going on an overpass. Keeping a good cadence and momentum lets you get around just fine. My bike is not cheap at all, but it's fixed gear and brakeless. I ride it on tracks and I'll ride it around on the road too, it's fun. I'm not dodging cars and pedestrians though, I'm in a fairly open area. I don't do it because it's the fad or what all the kids are doing, I'm doing it because I have a good time and it's great exercise. It's also why I invested a pretty good chunk of money into my bike instead of buying some cheap entry level or conversion. Unless you ride or have ridden one, it's pointless to even try to explain it I guess. It's one of those try it first and then see how you feel about it things.

 

I built a fixed gear bike about ten years ago for trials. Maybe it is a fad now but fixed gear setups have been around for many years.

 

It is a huge fad. Go to your nearest college campus.

I understand the appeal for bikers. Work on your cadence, yaddy yadda. But if, like the original poster obviously is, a newbie rider, I just laugh.