Fab’s Cycle
#01-53 Nankin Row, China Square Central, 3 Pickering St., 6720-8845.
Italian owner Fabrizio believes in creating a personable environment for anyone with a passion for bikes. He stocks or orders bikes from brands such as Kazam, Raleigh, Bionicon, Fuji and Corsair, and also components and accessories from Shimano, Brooks and Holdfast. You can also get cycling-related apparel here. The services are vast and affordable, ranging from full-scale overhauls to small repairs. They’ll even build long-lasting wheels for you from scratch.

Gee Hin Chan
#01-06/07/10/11 Waterloo Centre, Blk 261 Waterloo St., 6337-2948.
While the Crank Arm Steady team prefers to do up their bikes themselves, they still require repairs. For this, they turn to Gee Hin Chian, which stocks components from Japanese brands such as Cat Eye, Panaracer and Shimano. It is a well-known stop for cycling enthusiasts because everything you need to build your bike from scratch can be found here, including forks, seatposts, stems, shifters, derailleurs, crank sets and wheels.

TR Bikes
#01-107 Blk. 7 Jalan Batu, 6345-5085.
Newbies from all over the region have been known to take the first step towards fixie riding at TR Bikes, under guidance from owner Lynten Ong. One of the distributors for renowned custom builders such as Retrotec and Aherne Cycles, TR Bikes also collaborates with an extensive list of suppliers and delivers to anywhere you care to name.

Fixed Gear London

Packed with awe-inspiring photos of the latest tricks and kit, this site shows why the UK continues to set fixie trends around the globe.

People’s Bike

This popular site showcases the latest scene in China. Though founded by expats, the community is now all-inclusive. Besides their now annual Alleycat Races, they also schedule regular bicycle polo games.

Urban Fixed Gear

Despite being based in the US, this online magazine features fixed gear riders from all over the world, including Asia. Check out, amongst other things, the funky Taiwanese girls.

Whether it’s to avoid the ERP rates or the thrill of speeding past rush hour traffic jams, the city’s cycling culture is in full bloom. Nowhere is this more evident than among the small but growing band of hobbyists who enjoy fixed gear riding, or “fixie riding,” as it is better known. We spoke to some of the subculture’s leading lights about the differences between this and regular cycling and how the rest of us can get involved.

Get in Gear
A fixed gear bike is one that has no freewheel, which means as long as the bike is moving, the pedals will turn. You can neither coast nor brake on a fixed gear bike, so riding one requires a lot of skill and practice. Originally popular with bicycle messengers, the habit has been picked up by a broader crowd, who enjoy social group riding and stunt-turning on these one-speed bikes. Offbeat shopping strip Haji Lane sees a regular group of riders pulling stunts and showing off their customized bikes. “The scene here is certainly growing,” says Yasin Rahim, a member of local riding club Crank Arm Steady (http://crankarmsteady.wordpress.com). “We see new riders every Friday when we have our regular night riding session here. There are more female fixie riders, which is very good, and more expats are joining too.”

Fix Up, Look Sharp
Fixie rider and visual artist Luthfi Mustafah, aka The Killer Gerbil (http://thekillergerbil.blogspot.com), explains that riding a fixed gear bike involves very little maintenance cost. But he thinks it’s about more than that. “Cyclists also like that they can push their personal physical boundaries with a fixed gear bike. You can’t coast on your pedals like you would on a regular bike. While having to control your own speed will take some getting used to, it does give you immense satisfaction. It also strengthens your leg power,” he says. Mustafah also points out that riding a fixed gear bike helps increase rider mindfulness. “Not being able to coast makes you work extra hard physically and also keeps your mind alert to your surroundings. It is very easy to lose control otherwise,” he warns. Yasin Rahim says that it’s the sheer simplicity of riding without having to shift gears that attracted him to the sport: “I can’t deny the fact that the adrenaline rush from riding fixed and brakeless on a busy street is a big draw.”

Pedaling Forward
The size of the fixie riding community in Singapore continues to expand. Says Rahim, “Besides the rapid growth, the characteristics of riders have also changed. What started out as something done just for fun has turned into quite a serious hobby for many, with some riders even training to build strength, speed and stamina. Even those who are engaged in bike stunts and tricks work hard to push the envelope.” There’s also been an increase in large-scale events with the upcoming Tour of Singapore, organized by Crank Arm Steady, leading the charge. According to Mustafah, “Last year, a total of 53 riders joined the Tour, during which we rode a total of 150km along Singapore’s coastal line. This year’s edition is set to be much bigger. The total number of riders has more than doubled from last year and fixed gear enthusiasts from around the region continue to express interest.” Rahim adds that prior to the Tour, which takes place on Dec 11, Crank Arm Steady will also be giving the scene a further boost with events such as video screenings and collaborative parties.

Worldwide Wheels: Fixed Gear culture elsewhere

Get Your Own Fix: Source and customize your own bike at the local fixie community’s favorite stores