

I still wasn’t fully convinced, however, so that’s why I got the Restrospec Mantra.

At first, I had a hard time adjusting to the different mechanics of it all, but after a while, I got the hang of it. However, a friend of mine told me all about his “fixie” and how he loved it so much better than a multi-speed bike, so I decided to try it. When I first heard about fixed-gear bicycles, I was skeptical as to why anyone would ride one. Q: Does this bike have front and rear brakes?Ī: Unfortunately, it only has brakes on the front, not the back.

For that reason, the Mantra comes with a flip-flop hub so you can ride either fixed gear or freewheel, meaning that you can coast. Since the gear is designed to move the wheel with the pedal, that means that you have to keep pumping your legs at all times.įor novices, this feature can take some getting used to. Flip-Flop HubĪnother significant change that newbies experience coming from a multi-speed bike is the fact that they can’t coast anymore. That being said, however, you can still slow yourself by pedaling backward, so the Mantra works for both beginners and experts alike. However, newbies just starting on their first fixie may not adjust that quickly to having to reverse pedal just to slow themselves down.įor that reason, the Mantra comes with handlebar brakes so newcomers won’t be struggling to stop and potentially help them avoid a collision or accident. Handlebar Brakesįixed gear biking enthusiasts will tell you that you don’t need to have a braking system for your ride. Today I’ll be showing you why the Mantra is the bike to get if you’ve ever been interested in riding a fixed gear, and why this bike is ideal for almost anyone. However, this model is really designed for those who want to crossover into the single speed world. Even if you’ve been riding fixed gear bikes, you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of the Mantra. Are you interested in getting a fixed gear bicycle? Are you new to single speed bikes and want to try it out? If so, then the Retrospec Mantra Fixie Bicycle is for you.
