Inspired by bicycle messengers and racers, a new group of Western youths are jetting through the city streets on fixed-gear bicycles. Now, the trend is gaining momentum on the streets of China.
　　A fixed-gear bike is a bicycle whose pedals rotate at all times, even when coasting. To stop, riders must pedal in reverse, which differs from road bikes. Due to their efficiency, they offer riders a new cycling perspective. Many young people use them as an alternative mode of transportation and as a leisure activity.
　　Reliable and cool
　　Fixies not only are more economical to purchase and easy to maintain than geared bikes, but also possess a sleek appearance. These qualities appeal to youths lacking time and money but wanting to find cool ways to navigate cities.
　　Apart from their reliability, fixed-gear bikes make cycling cool. “Most people choose public transportation to visit places, but what I usually do is certainly out of the ordinary.”
　　More than a trend
　　A graduate student at University of Hong Kong was introduced to this type of bicycle during her sophomore year. She opened a fixie shop in Hong Kong, which her staff maintains in her absence. She sees riding fixies as a lifestyle choice rather than a trend.
　　“When we are riding, we have the opportunity to look around and discover. It is not only a form of transportation, but a way of life,” said she. “We burn calories instead of fuel, and the energy we utilize brings us to a better place.”
　　受到自行车邮递员和自行车赛车手的启发，西方国家一些年轻人流行骑着固定齿轮自行车（又名死飞）在城市的街道间飞速穿梭。现在，这一热潮正在中国的街头蔓延。
　　固定齿轮自行车是一种需要人一直不停地踩的自行车，即使在滑行时也要一直踩。与公路赛车不同，死飞在刹车时需要人向后蹬踏板。因其高效，死飞为骑行者带来新的骑行前景，许多年轻人将其作为一种另类的出行方式或是休闲活动。
　　可靠又酷炫
　　死飞经济实惠，比（活动）齿轮自行车更易保养，还拥有优美的外形。对于那些时间有限、囊中羞涩却还想以炫酷的方式在城市穿梭的年轻人而言，死飞的这些特点正合心意。
　　除了可靠性，死飞这种固定齿轮自行车也让骑行变得更酷，“大多数人都会选择公共交通工具去旅行观光，但是我却喜欢不走寻常路。”
　　趋势之外
　　香港大学的一名毕业生在大二时接触到这种自行车。于是就在香港开了一家死飞店，并雇了员工在她不在时打理生意。她认为死飞不仅是一种流行时尚，更是一种生活方式的选择。
　　她说：“骑行让我们有机会四处游览、不断发现。这不只是一种交通方式，更是一种生活方式，我们不烧汽油却燃烧了卡路里，并将我们带去更好的地方。”