Fixed gear / Single speed

A single-speed bike has one gear and a freewheel, so you can stop pedalling and coast like on any normal bicycle. A fixed-gear bike connects the rear wheel directly to the drivetrain: whenever the bike is moving the pedals turn, and you cannot coast. The Fixie Pro and Urban Fix have a flip-flop hub so you can run either, and the Track Racer is fixed only.

A flip-flop rear hub has a threaded interface on both sides: a fixed cog on one, a freewheel on the other. Reverse the wheel in the frame to switch between fixed-gear and freewheel single-speed. It lets you try fixed riding without committing to it.

Lower ratios accelerate more easily and suit stop-and-go city riding and hills; higher ratios cruise faster on flat roads. Across this range: Minimal 2.44:1, Single X 2.56:1, Street Single 2.65:1, Urban Fix 2.71:1, Fixie Pro 2.82:1, Track Racer 3.33:1.

Every urban model ships with front and rear brakes as standard, and we do not recommend removing them: drivetrain resistance on a fixed-gear bike is not a substitute for brakes, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. The Track Racer is the exception, supplied in brakeless competition configuration for velodrome use only.

Gentle and moderate hills are manageable, especially on the easier ratios, but a single gear means the same ratio for climbing and descending. If you live somewhere consistently steep, a geared bike is the better choice.