Quick intro to Fixed Gear Bikes

Here is an article summarizing fixed gear bicycle riding.

What is a “fixed gear”, you ask. It is a bicycle pared to its essence: there are no gears but one, which means that there is just one chainring fitted to the cranks, just one sprocket at the back, and a single loop of chain tensioned between. Neither is there a freewheel mechanism, so you can’t stop pedalling while the bicycle is in motion, because the momentum of the bike causes the pedals to rotate (independently of your force on the pedals making the bike go forward). Track bikes are still made this way, but once upon a time (circa 1900) all bicycles had a fixed gear.