Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - LA Times Fixie Article

http://www.latimes.com/sports/cycling/la-tm-bikes40oct02,1,4542820.story?page=1&cset=true&ctrack=1

;) Fixed It

If anyone has had direct interaction w/ this article's author (John Balzar), please contact me directly. I'd like to compare notes. -Matthew / info@kogswell.com

The author's bike (http://jonnycycles.com/images/0027%20035.jpg)

That's one of the first good fixed-gear articles in a mainstream publication that I've read. Mentioning the FGG along with the standard messengers and alleycats shows they at least did some homework. The only thing missing was the FGE.

Mehow, I'm a journalist. That's messed up. Don't just copy someone elses work in its entirety and post it on a message board. You totally circumvented the LAT's revenue model and gave away their work for free. And people wonder why newspapers are closing left and right around the country.

Anyway, it's a good story. My favorite snippet of the article:

"And in one of the odder advertising ploys of late, Lincoln sought to promote its Navigator SUV by associating it with images of New York City bike messengers—an ad that raised howls of protests from fixed-gear cyclists, who view 3-ton vehicles with the same loathing they have for packs of hounds on the loose."

Mehow, I'm a journalist. That's messed up. Don't just copy someone elses work in its entirety and post it on a message board. You totally circumvented the LAT's revenue model and gave away their work for free. And people wonder why newspapers are closing left and right around the country.

Anyway, it's a good story. My favorite snippet of the article:

"And in one of the odder advertising ploys of late, Lincoln sought to promote its Navigator SUV by associating it with images of New York City bike messengers—an ad that raised howls of protests from fixed-gear cyclists, who view 3-ton vehicles with the same loathing they have for packs of hounds on the loose."


I apologize if my actions hurt someone in someway. Thanks for bringing it to my attention from that perspective.

"A fixie becomes a wonderful extension of the ambulatory process. It's another limb that you use to dance, weave and flow through the space that's available to you on the street."


So true and very elegantly put. I might have to use it next time someone doesn't understand the feeling of riding fixed.

that's a classy bike. love those weinmann levers and the centerpulls are just awesome. great piece too. i like the fact he emphasizes that fg riding seems to be a domain of eccentric geezers just as much as young urbanites.

"And in one of the odder advertising ploys of late, Lincoln sought to promote its Navigator SUV by associating it with images of New York City bike messengers—an ad that raised howls of protests from fixed-gear cyclists, who view 3-ton vehicles with the same loathing they have for packs of hounds on the loose."[/QUOTE]


Packs of hounds on the loose? WTF? Is that a problem for fixed gear riders in LA?

"And in one of the odder advertising ploys of late, Lincoln sought to promote its Navigator SUV by associating it with images of New York City bike messengers—an ad that raised howls of protests from fixed-gear cyclists, who view 3-ton vehicles with the same loathing they have for packs of hounds on the loose."


Packs of hounds on the loose? WTF? Is that a problem for fixed gear riders in LA?[/QUOTE]

I carry a revolver with silver bullets just in case.

Well, he didn't mention this forum, but, yeah, a good article.

I apologize if my actions hurt someone in someway. Thanks for bringing it to my attention from that perspective.

No hard feelings here. Cheers.

I heard about this article and was asked to have my bike used in for a photo....they never called. Thanks for posting.

i also thank you for posting. it's frustrating that newspapers don't make more of their articles available on-line. i also have a hunch that the reasons newspapers are going belly-up has to do more with their spurious ownership and business ties (often not very far removed from arms-manufacturers) than it does with people reposting articles in forums.

that is to say, if i couldn't have accessed that article, i would have counted it a loss rather than going out and buying an LA times or subscribing on-line. either way the paper doesn't get my money, and i doubt i'm alone on this.

if the LA times does go bankrupt in the next little while, well, i guess i'll just have to owe someone an apology.

i also thank you for posting. it's frustrating that newspapers don't make more of their articles available on-line. i also have a hunch that the reasons newspapers are going belly-up has to do more with their spurious ownership and business ties (often not very far removed from arms-manufacturers) than it does with people reposting articles in forums.

that is to say, if i couldn't have accessed that article, i would have counted it a loss rather than going out and buying an LA times or subscribing on-line. either way the paper doesn't get my money, and i doubt i'm alone on this.

if the LA times does go bankrupt in the next little while, well, i guess i'll just have to owe someone an apology.

You don't have to pay for the online subscription. Just give some demographic information. They make money by selling advertisers a shot at targeting a more accurate demographic.

Newspaper sales have been steadily declining since the internet has become main-stream.

About layoffs and closings read here:



NYT to lay off 4 pct of work force (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050920/bs_nm/media_newyorktimes_dc)

Philly Newspapers Announce 100 Job Cuts (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050920/philadelphia_newspapers_cuts.html)

Birmingham Post Herald Closing (http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=17501)

Edit:

Mercury News plans to shrink newsroom by 52 jobs (http://gradethenews.org/2005/mercbuyouts.htm)

"The newspaper industry has been struggling with a lackluster ad market, increased newsprint costs and circulation declines as reader turn more often to the Internet for news."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050920/bs_nm/media_newyorktimes_dc

Your spam content also usually goes up after subscribing to their "free" service.

Your spam content also usually goes up after subscribing to their "free" service.


I didn't say it was "free". I said you don't have to pay money. You pay with your demographic information.

i for one am not into subscription newspapers online.. it really limits where you can collect your news, in an age where we finally can get all sorts of information if theyd let us.. who gives them correct information anyways? whats wrong with a newspaper making their money off of advertising like everyone else? (thats a question.. not a wise a$$ comment)

If you don't want to steal it and you don't want to give your demographic information, take $0.50 to the newsstand and buy a paper and pay your bit for the journalist's work.

hey, living in NYC, i'd much rather pay for a New York Times than the post or daily new.

The only thing missing was the FGE.

whats fge?

firefox-bugmenot. I have no guilt.

If you don't want to steal it and you don't want to give your demographic information, take $0.50 to the newsstand and buy a paper and pay your bit for the journalist's work.

who said anything about stealing, yo.. there are plenty of newspapers that do not farm data, and let you read the content.. so i choose those.. they use the advertisers to pay the writers, like a weekly .. 50 cents is barely covering printing costs... its not whats paying the writers. You need to take this up with the editor on the yacht eating mango-basil chicken with escargot..

whats fge?

http://thefge.com/

Newbie here...
In the article is stated that in a fixie the pedals only stop spinning when the bike stops completeley. Is this true? Is there any other way to have a fixie with "normal" pedals? Thanks for answering!

thats what puts the fix in fixie

Newbie here...
In the article is stated that in a fixie the pedals only stop spinning when the bike stops completeley. Is this true? Is there any other way to have a fixie with "normal" pedals? Thanks for answering!

If you have a fixie with "normal" pedals (so you can coast) it would be called a single speed.

Mehow, I'm a journalist. That's messed up. Don't just copy someone elses work in its entirety and post it on a message board. You totally circumvented the LAT's revenue model and gave away their work for free. And people wonder why newspapers are closing left and right around the country.I agree with you about the copyrights issues, but I'd say newspapers are having financial issues because the coverage and content is generally crap these days (above article not included). I mean, you live in B-more, just look at that sorry excuse we have called the Baltimore Sun! The music industry blames the internet, the news industry blames the internet, they blame everyone but themselves. (P.S. I'm talking about management, not the writers/photogs.)

i have two friends who are journalists. i don't believe the issue is whether or not i'm looking out for journalists. i understand your position, and i don't know if i'm just a bit too cynical or you're just a bit too idealistic, but i don't think we live in a world where we need to feel bad for reading a MAJOR newspaper article for free for fear of screwing over journalists. someone else said it, but management screws over journalists.

what if you were at a cafe, and there was a newsstand across the street and a copy of the LA Times that someone had left on the table? you wouldn't just read the free copy? what's the difference?

If you don't want to steal it and you don't want to give your demographic information, take $0.50 to the newsstand and buy a paper and pay your bit for the journalist's work.

Carelton - I understand what you are saying, but why not get a red star by your name by helping out BikeForums? You are quite passionate about the reprinting of a newspaper piece, but how about helping out these very forums for "free" information they provide by ponying up a mere $25 for a lifetime membership? It's not like the people who run the forums are doing this as a public service for Carleton the Journalist.:D

P.S. I think posted an article in a limited forum is acceptable (but technically illegal) use, but your points make sense too.