Fixed gear versus single speed
A single speed bike has one gear, but you can freewheel. A fixie has one gear and you cannot freewheel. The pedals are locked to the rear wheel by a threaded cog. When the wheel turns, the pedals turn. When you stop pedalling, the wheel stops driving.
Most fixies in the UK have a flip-flop rear hub, with a fixed cog on one side and a single speed freewheel on the other. Swap the wheel around and you have a single speed freewheel bike for commuting, or a true fixed-gear for rides where you want the direct connection to the rear wheel. A flip-flop hub is the most practical setup for most riders.
A true fixed-gear has a learning curve. The pedals never stop turning as long as the bike is moving. Brake by resisting the pedals as well as using the front brake. Think ahead about gear ratios, gradients, and junctions. The reward is a feel for the bike that no geared system can match.
Prices on the used market
Under two hundred and fifty pounds you are in entry-level territory. Charge Plug, Fuji Track, older Mongoose Cachet. Aluminium or basic steel frames, flip-flop rear hubs, reasonable components. Good first fixie for a newer rider.
Two hundred and fifty to five hundred pounds buys quality used fixies. Condor Pista, newer Fuji Feather, Brother Kopek, State Bicycle Co. Most bikes in this range are well made, have decent wheels, and are built for road use with at least a front brake fitted.
Five hundred to a thousand pounds is where proper steel frame fixies sit. Mercian, Bob Jackson, Holdsworth, Rourke. Hand-built British steel frames with full build kits. These are often sold by riders moving on rather than bikes that have been ridden into the ground.
Above a thousand pounds you are into premium territory. Cinelli Vigorelli, older Cervelo T4 rebuilt for road use, high-end Condor models, carbon track bikes adapted for the road. Unusual specs and custom builds become common above this price point.
Brands worth knowing
Condor, based in London, has been making fixies for decades. The Pista is their classic and a favourite among UK cycle couriers. British made, well supported, and worth the premium.
Fuji makes the Track and the Feather at accessible prices. Both are well-regarded starter fixies, with steel frames that punch above their price. Used Fuji fixies are plentiful and easy to find.
Mercian, Bob Jackson and Rourke represent British steel frame traditions. Each has decades of history, frames are built by hand, and the waiting lists for new frames are long. Used examples command strong prices but are usually in excellent condition.
Charge Plug was a hugely popular British fixie through the 2010s. The Plug 0, 1 and 2 covered different price points, and all of them are common on the used market. Well-designed, practical bikes.
Brother Cycles, also British, makes the Kopek and All-Day models. Smaller brand with a dedicated following. Worth seeking out if one appears.
What to check before buying
Start with the drivetrain. The chainring should have even wear across all teeth. The rear cog, whether fixed or freewheel, should spin smoothly and lock into place cleanly when ridden. Any play between the cog and the hub is a sign the hub threads are worn, which is a replacement wheel.
Chain tension. A properly adjusted fixie chain should deflect about 10 millimetres at the midpoint when pushed firmly. Too loose and the chain can jump off. Too tight and the bottom bracket bearings wear quickly.
Frame. Steel frames last indefinitely if kept dry, but can hide rust under paint around the bottom bracket and chainstays. Look carefully at these areas. A magnet that does not stick strongly to a frame is a clue that the steel has rusted underneath.
Brakes. UK road law requires at least one effective brake on any bike ridden on public roads. For a fixie, a front caliper or disc brake is standard. Check the pads, the cable, and the lever feel. Sticky levers usually mean the cable needs replacing.
Living with a fixie
Fixies are low maintenance by design. No derailleurs to adjust, no cassette to wear out, no shifter cables to fray. A chain, a cog and a chainring are the only drivetrain parts, and they wear slowly if kept clean and lubricated.
Winter riding is where a fixie really makes sense. The simple drivetrain copes with road salt and grit far better than a geared bike. A fixed-gear with mudguards and a front brake is often the ideal winter bike for a road rider.
Gear ratios need thought. A 42 by 17 gives a low enough gear for most British hills while still being rideable on the flat. For flat cities, 48 by 17 is a popular choice. For hilly regions, drop to 42 by 18 or even 40 by 18.
Cyclesite runs every listing that supplies a frame number against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before it goes live. Fixed-gear bikes are popular theft targets, particularly premium steel frames. Photograph the frame number on collection and keep receipts where you have them.
