Velodrome track bikes, and why they are illegal on the road
A true velodrome track bike has no brakes fitted. Braking is done by resisting the pedals, which are locked to the rear wheel by the fixed gear. This is fine on a banked wooden track where all riders are going the same way and no external obstacles exist. It is illegal on UK public roads, where bikes must have two effective braking systems fitted.
The quick fix is simple. A front brake bolted on. Some track frames have drilled front forks that will accept a caliper. Some do not, and require a drilling operation that is not always straightforward, particularly on carbon forks where drilling can compromise the structure. If you are buying a track bike for road use, check whether the fork is already drilled or buy a fixed-gear road frame instead.
Brake-free track bikes seen on the road are not compliant with UK road traffic law. The penalties are small fines in most cases, but your insurance, both personal and third party, is affected, and in the event of a collision, responsibility may be assigned differently.
Fixed gear road bikes, the sensible cousin
A fixed-gear road bike looks similar to a track bike but is built for road use. The fork is drilled for a caliper brake, there may be mudguard mounts, the bottom bracket sits a little lower, and the geometry is slightly more relaxed. For riding on British roads, this is the bike you want.
Condor, Charge, Mercian, Brother and Fuji have all made dedicated fixed-gear road bikes at various points. Steel frames dominate this market, partly for aesthetic reasons and partly because steel is easy to repair and modify. Older frames from the 1970s and 1980s, often from British brands like Holdsworth, Bob Jackson or Mercian, are particularly prized.
The single-gear, fixed-cog arrangement is not a gimmick. A fixed-gear forces you to pedal constantly, which builds a smooth pedalling style, and to think ahead about gradients and traffic flow. Many road riders use a fixed-gear through the winter for these reasons, even if it never becomes their main bike.
Typical prices on Cyclesite
Under three hundred pounds you are in older steel frame territory. Roberts, Holdsworth, Falcon, Peugeot. Condition varies wildly. A decent older frame with a new chain, tyres and cables can be a pleasure to ride. Check the bottom bracket and hub bearings before committing.
Three hundred to six hundred pounds buys quality used track or fixed-gear road bikes. Condor Pista, Charge Plug, older Fuji Track, Bianchi Pista. Most bikes in this range have steel frames, reasonable condition components, and have been well cared for.
Six hundred to a thousand two hundred pounds is where the premium steel frames live. Mercian, Bob Jackson, Rourke, Ritte. Hand-built British frames with quality build kits. These bikes hold their value well and are often sold by riders moving on rather than bikes that have worn out.
Above one thousand two hundred pounds you are in serious track bike territory. Cervelo T4, Felt TK, Specialized Langster Pro, or carbon track bikes built for competition. These are rarely sensible road bikes but they appear on the used market when riders step away from racing.
What to check before buying
The rear wheel and hub setup matter most. A true track hub is a double-sided fixed hub, with a threaded cog on one side and a threaded lockring behind it. Some hubs are flip-flop, with a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel on the other, letting you swap between fixed and single-speed freewheel riding. Check the cog is properly tightened and the lockring is in place. A cog that spins off the hub under load is dangerous.
The chain needs to be at the correct tension. Too loose, and it can jump off the chainring. Too tight, and it puts stress on the bottom bracket bearings. A well-adjusted fixed-gear chain should deflect about 10 millimetres at the midpoint when pushed firmly.
Check the frame for signs of the bike having been crashed. Fixed-gear riders on the road do crash, and frame damage at the head tube and bottom bracket is not uncommon. Look for cracked paint, weld repairs, or any misalignment of the front and rear wheels.
Brakes, if fitted, should operate crisply. Caliper brakes on older steel frames often have long cable runs that can stretch or corrode. Fresh cables and pads are worth budgeting for on any used fixed-gear bike.
Riding a fixed-gear in the UK
Fixed-gear riding is rewarding but it has a learning curve. For the first few weeks, the bike feels like it is riding you. The pedals never stop turning. You cannot freewheel around a corner. You need to think ahead about every stop, every junction, every gradient change. After a month, it becomes second nature. After six months, riding a freewheel bike feels slightly unusual.
Winter is when a fixed-gear earns its keep. Simple drivetrain, less to service, less to corrode. A fixed-gear with mudguards and a decent front brake is the lightest maintenance winter bike you can own. The downside is the knee strain on long climbs. A fixed-gear with a 42 by 17 gear is fine for most of the UK but will make you work on anything steeper than a five percent gradient.
Every fixed-gear listing on Cyclesite with a frame number is checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before the listing goes live. Fixed-gear bikes, particularly premium steel frames from Condor, Mercian and Bob Jackson, are popular theft targets because they sell quickly. Always photograph the frame number on collection.
