1. Fuji Feather Fixed Gear Bicycles A fixed gear bicycle, or commonly known as a fixie, is a single-geared bicycle that has no freewheel mechanism. The cog on the rear wheel is directly connected to the hub, causing the pedal to move at the same speed as the wheel. So the riders cannot coast which means that they cannot rest their legs and need to pedal when the bicycles are moving. Since the pedal and the rear wheel is directly connected, the rider can stop the bike by forcing the pedals in the opposite direction. This allows the bike to skid down the road. Therefore, break levers are not necessary for fixies and many cyclists choose to ride without them. The simplicity of fixes not only gives the classic and vintage appearance but also reduces the price. Fixies are becoming an urban trend, which is influenced by the culture of bike messengers. In big cities like New York and Chicago, bike messengers can move much faster than cars because they can operate through the heavy traffic. They prefer riding fixies because of their durability, low maintenance, simplicity and ease. Messengers with brakeless bikes, tight jeans, messenger bags and no helmet created a hipster look which attracted many young cyclists. Additional to the hipster look, many cyclists like fixies because they feel directly connected to the bike. So why fixie ?

2. Why Fuji Feather? Fuji is a Japanese bicycle manufacturing company established in 1899 and it is one of the oldest bicycle brands in the world. It still remains in the industry as one of the best bike manufacturing company. If you are a bike lover and would like to tip your toe in fixed gear, the Fuji Feather is the best bike to start with. The Fuji Feather is the perfect bicycle for urban cruising, daily commute, and even high- speed thrills. Combined and engineered with high quality products, it is strong and durable in any given condition. The followings are the specification of this beautiful bike. Colors and Size There are five options colors: chrome, black, dark green, red, and light blue. Also there are six options for sizing. When choosing the size, you should consider your height as well as the length of your Leg. Following figures below show the color options and a sizing chart. Frame Size Height (ft) Inside Leg (Inches) XS (49cm)4'10 - 5'124 - 29 S (52 cm)5'1 - 5'525 - 30 M (54 cm)5'5 - 5'926 - 31 L (56 cm)5'9 - 6'027 - 32 XL (58 cm)6'0 - 6'328 - 33 XXL (61 cm)6’1 – 6’629 - 34 The design of the Fuji Feather is simply amazing. The Feather matches the colors perfectly to give classical vintage style. The leather saddle matches the color of the handle bar grip. Except for the frame, all parts are matched with silver color. Just like its name, the Feather weighs only 23 pounds. It is easy to lift the bike with one hand. With all the described specifications, this top quality fixed gear costs only $545.

3. Parts When the pedals are rotating, the directly connected crankset spins with them. Then the chain forces the cassette to rotate, causing the rear wheel to rotate as well. Due to this reason and the fact that fixies are single-geared, the ratio of the number of teeth of the crankset and the cog is important. The Fuji Feather has 46 teeth alloy crankset and a 16 teeth rear cog. This ratio gives 76 gear inches which is suited for both hills and flat roads. For fixed gear bicycles, it is necessary to lock your feet to the pedal. However, this bike comes with alloy cages for the pedals so that the rider does not need to wear cycling shoes to lock their feet. Also the alloy crankset, rear cog, pedals, and cages add the classical appearance. Chain The main frame of the Fuji Feather is made by chromoly steel, which is short for chromium and molybdenum combined. Chromoly is more durable, lighter and stronger than the standard 1020 steel which is a common metal for cheaper bicycle frames. Crankset & Rear Cog & Pedals Hub Tires Brake Main Frame & Rear Triangle & Fork If you are hesitating to buy this bike because it is a fixed-gear, Fuji provides a flip flop hub so that you can change your riding style. To illustrate, the hub has freewheel cog on one side and fixed gear cog on the other side. So you can change your riding style just by flipping the hub. The chain is KMC Z410A. KMC is a well-known company that manufactures premium chains. As a stretch proof treatment, the chains undergo a process of heating and cooling the steel alloy before production. This generates strong and hard steel chain that lasts long for your Fuji Feather. As I mentioned previously, brakes are optional. However, it is recommended to have at least a front brake for an emergency stop. Fuji provides alloy Tektro Road Caliper brake set and an alloy brake levers. Tektro is well known for producing outstanding brake sets. The Road Caliper is worth $80. The size of the tire is 700 x 25c, or 211 cm circumference. The tire gives extra traction, which is helpful to stop the bike by skidding. Also the tire has Phalanx flat protection. This helps the tires to roll in any road conditions without giving flat tires.

4. Work Cited 1. "Bicycle Messenger History and Culture of Fixie Bike." Big Shot Custom Single Speed Bikes. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.. 2. Jordan. "Gear Ratios. What Does It All Mean?" Pure Fix Cycles. 9 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.. 3. "Fuji Bikes - Heritage." Fuji Bikes - Heritage. Fuji, Web. 24 Mar. 2016.. 4. "Getting the Right Size." Cycle Experience. Cycle Experience, Web. 24 Mar. 2016.. 5. "The OnlineMetals Guide to (chromoly) Alloy Steel." Onlinemetals.com. Onlinemetals.com, Web. 24 Mar. 2016. 6. Bike Messenger Clement. Digital image. Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. 7. Brother Build. Digital image. 17 June 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. 8. New York Sky Line Blue Sky. Digital image. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. 9. Skid. Digital image. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. 10. "WHAT MAKES KMC CHAINS SO STRONG AND DURABLE?" Web. 24 Mar. 2016.