My mate just got back from a business trip to San Francisco
He said pretty much every hipster he saw was riding a fixed gear bike?
Say what? Surely in the most "hilly" city in the US guys should at least be riding Mountain Bikes and not bikes with no gears or brakes
Anyone in SF confirm this or is he just pulling my leg?
Is it possible that what your friend described as "Fixies" were actually Single Speeds with BMX Freewheels?
A Single Speed in SF would be doable if the gearing were suitable for the rider ... [INDENT]FWIW. I've included a picture of a Single Speed whose gearing should be suitable for riding in SF. [/INDENT]But, managing the descents with a Fixie could be a bit taxing!
BTW. MTBs may have lower gearing than the typical Road bike, but they otherwise aren't ideal for riding on pavement.
There will always be a few that ride fixies anywhere. And don't forget that many a person (hipster)has been known to ride their fixie in the flatter sections and walk it elsewhere.