Foo - The Iran of Cycling: fixed gear (fixed-gear?)

I had to ask. Don't want to start a war here but seriously I
want Foo's opinions. I'm just curious. Foo is a cross section of
all kinds of cyclists. Thus your opinions will be valuable and interesting
Call it sociology. Pure curiousity.

Bike snob called the crop current fixed-gear riders the "Iran of Cycling"

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

I thought it was really, really funny. So what do you all think of this
cohort of cyclists and their predilections? I didn't put this in X forum because
I want Foo's opinion. I hold aside, completely and totally, my own partisan
stance (which by the way is moving towards the retro-grouch version of fg--
think waxed cotton seat bags and lugged steel).

Is this culture of fixed gear a rip-off? A *******ization? Free-spirited kids?
Unruly attitudinal jerks? Will it destroy knees? Do you simply not care?
Are you sick of u-lock wielding simians polluting your bike lanes? Is
it all that? Is it zen? A return to DIY roots?

Not talking about true track or path racing, off-season roadie training,
old tyme ASC hubs, Major Taylor or your granpa who rode a fixed-gear bike
cuz it was all he had.

I have a fixed gear bike but it ain`t the end-all-be-all. I also have a high$ CF road bike. It ain't the end all be all either. I don`t have any tatoos. I am not cool and I am old enough to realize I never was. I like jeans and T-shirts. If I could own only one bike it would be my 13 year old mountain bike. I can go any where on it. I`m not a bike snob, there is always someone faster, wealthier , trendier. I just like to ride my bike.

I have a fixed gear bike but it ain`t the end-all-be-all. I also have a high$ CF road bike. It ain't the end all be all either. I don`t have any tatoos. I am not cool and I am old enough to realize I never was. I like jeans and T-shirts. If I could own only one bike it would be my 13 year old mountain bike. I can go any where on it. I`m not a bike snob, there is always someone faster, wealthier , trendier. I just like to ride my bike.

This is all good. I agree with you in almost all regards--except I seldom go
off road so if I were limited to one bike it would be a road bike with
gears and a porteur rack. I'm kinda talking about the cultural manifestation
of all the fixed-gear stuff--not individuals who may be totally reasonable people--as
you seem to be.

I wouldn't say the Iran of cycling, more like the Brooklyn of Cycling.

I wouldn't say the Iran of cycling, more like the Brooklyn of Cycling.

good metaphor. captures the demographic well. messengers being displaced
by others (*cough*hipsters*cough*) with some trackies, cyclists, commuters,
roadies and retro-grouches thrown in

I really can't find it in me to get upset over even the most stereotypical brakeless, nouveau-punk, pseudo-anarchist hipster fixed-gear rider. I'll grant that I don't exactly live in a "mecca" of such people, but even so, it doesn't bother me.

These people are (generally) building, or at least customizing their own bikes, and I think that's pretty cool, even if the resulting bikes may or may not be something that is pleasing to my eye, or something that would seem to make sense. They're having fun with whatever they put together for whatever their purpose. Track racing, long-distance riding, traversing city streets, riding them like giant BMX bikes, or simply hanging them on the wall as art, it's all in good fun.

Fixed gear bikes may be reaching trendy status, but again, so what? I still think fixed gear bikes are fun to ride, whether or not Mr. Popped Collar Frat Boy has one.

Sure, some fixed-gear riders may be dickbags (and they may be vocal to the point where they seem like the majority), but there are dickbag road bikers, dickbag mountain bikers, and I'm sure there's even a dickbag bike tourer or two out there.

So go forth! Wear thy skinny jeans, vegan slip-on shoes, ironic t-shirt and no helmet on your riser-equipped brakeless conversion! Do what you like and have fun! Just don't be a dickbag. No one likes a dickbag.

I just think they are fun to ride. :)

I just think they are fun to ride. :)And really, what else matters?

I'm so glad I finally got around to building one up. It's really a ton of fun. I really like the aesthetic, too. I'm really a fan of simplicity, and such a bike is about the epitome of simplicity, at least for a conventional bicycle. Pretty, too. :)

I just think they are fun to ride. :)

That is for shizzle. Crossing town without putting a foot down is fun.

Sometimes the attitude of other fg riders makes me ashamed to ride fixed.
Somewhat more lately--less than in the past. Having spent some time fixing up bikes
for people who really can't afford any kind of decent bike the exclusionary
attitude and one-upmanship of fg culture rubs me the wrong way. That is nothing
new to cycling per say, but it runs against the DIY origins of this current crop
of fixed gear riders.

And really, what else matters?

I'm so glad I finally got around to building one up. It's really a ton of fun. I really like the aesthetic, too. I'm really a fan of simplicity, and such a bike is about the epitome of simplicity, at least for a conventional bicycle. Pretty, too. :)

Yup, I love the sleek, simplistic lines of a fixed gear bike. I love the way my body moves the bike either slow or fast depending on how my legs move. I love the lightness of it all.

And really, what else matters?

I'm so glad I finally got around to building one up. It's really a ton of fun. I really like the aesthetic, too. I'm really a fan of simplicity, and such a bike is about the epitome of simplicity, at least for a conventional bicycle. Pretty, too. :)

I'm on the same page with you for most of this. I am just disappointed in the culture at times.
I think we have similar taste in bikes.

Sometimes the attitude of other fg riders makes me ashamed to ride fixed.I can certainly see that. The SSFG forum is rather unpleasant at times... okay, most of the time. I try not to make that connection, though. Arseholes are arseholes no matter what they ride or drive.

That is for shizzle. Crossing town without putting a foot down is fun.

Sometimes the attitude of other fg riders makes me ashamed to ride fixed.
Somewhat more now than lately. Having spent some time fixing up bikes
for people who really can't afford any kind of decent bike the exclusionary
attitude and one-upmanship of fg culture rubs me the wrong way. That is nothing
new to cycling per say, but it runs against the DIY origins of this current crop
of fixed gear riders.

Yes, there is definitely an elitism that I see in some riders that I wish I didn't see. But hey, there are people that will act that way no matter what they are doing. As long as you stay grounded and keep everything real, then let them live in their own worlds. I'll just smile and go along my merry way. :)

Yup, I love the sleek, simplistic lines of a fixed gear bike. I love the way my body moves the bike either slow or fast depending on how my legs move. I love the lightness of it all.Yep. Being directly in control of your speed is a really neat feeling. Riding a fixed gear bike is exactly like riding any other bike, but at the same time, completely different. I don't know, I guess that's the "zen" so often spoke of and made fun of.

I don't get it.
When i rode my Mountain bike i virtually never used the shifter cause the dérailleur was shot which sort of made it a fixed in sense. I don't get it. I didn't realize there was a sub-culture. or that i had to wear special clothings, special tattoos or act a special way.

I don't get it.
When i rode my Mountain bike i virtually never used the shifter cause the dérailleur was shot which sort of made it a fixed in sense. I don't get it. I didn't realize there was a sub-culture. or that i had to wear special clothings, special tattoos or act a special way.

this not getting it is called zen.

Yep. Being directly in control of your speed is a really neat feeling. Riding a fixed gear bike is exactly like riding any other bike, but at the same time, completely different. I don't know, I guess that's the "zen" so often spoke of and made fun of.

Fixed as in the pedal always spins even when you're not pedaling?

Fixed as in the pedal always spins even when you're not pedaling?

yes, as long as the rear wheel is turning, and in the same direction.

There is pressure and resistance. There is push and pull. There is perpetual motion. All at the same time.

I'm on the same page with you for most of this. I am just disappointed in the culture at times.
Yes, there is definitely an elitism that I see in some riders that I wish I didn't see.Understood. It would be nice if there were a more pleasant community (like a Foo for fixed gear), for sure.


I think we have similar taste in bikes.Seems like. :)


let them live in their own worlds. I'll just smile and go along my merry way. :)That's about my attitude as well. Them having an attitude about whatever it is they have an attitude needn't affect my own.

Fixed as in the pedal always spins even when you're not pedaling?Right. There's no freewheel. The cog in the rear is attached directly to the hub, and cannot move independently from it.

One can, at least in theory, travel backwards by pedaling backwards.

That's about my attitude as well. Them having an attitude about whatever it is they have an attitude needn't affect my own.

The way I see it is that life is too short and too precious to burden myself with the annoyances of others. I have my own happiness to think of!

you mean all the fixie ridin' hipster poseurs out there? ;)

come to Portland. ride your bike. any bike. who cares? :)

One can, at least in theory, travel backwards by pedaling backwards.

That is a LOT more difficult than it sounds! I can barely move backwards a few feet without losing my balance. Damn learning curves....

I've been thinking of selling mine, but then I keep remembering how fun my fixie is to the point that I decided to start building a 2nd fixie.

ride your bike. any bike. who cares? :)That's almost bumper sticker material, there. :)


That is a LOT more difficult than it sounds! I can barely move backwards a few feet without losing my balance. Damn learning curves....Heh. I know. I tried it once and just about lost it almost instantly.


I decided to start building a 2nd fixie.Yeah, I'm kind of wanting to build a second one as well. A beater for just screwing around, most likely.

you mean all the fixie ridin' hipster poseurs out there? ;)

come to Portland. ride your bike. any bike. who cares? :)

I was born in that town. I'd love to check out the old place.

Yeah, I'm kind of wanting to build a second one as well. A beater for just screwing around, most likely.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/konarider24/raliegh.jpg

That's my winter project.
Currently just frame and fork.

that's what you call fork rake.
report back on how it rides--probably comfy
as heck.

Raleigh Record, very nice.

Generalizations are easily applied to any group of people and it's the quickest fall back of most people (see what I did there?). Fixed gear riders are hipsters. Roadies are poseurs. Commuters are Freds. As with any generalization, it's just a cover for a book you haven't read. When I commute, it's on a fixed gear. When I ride around for exercise, more often than not, it's on a fixed gear. My jeans are loose, my belt is sans studs and my bike rocks fenders, an HID, a Superflash and an incredibell.

Generalizations are easily applied to any group of people and it's the quickest fall back of most people (see what I did there?). Fixed gear riders are hipsters. Roadies are poseurs. Commuters are Freds. As with any generalization, it's just a cover for a book you haven't read. When I commute, it's on a fixed gear. When I ride around for exercise, more often than not, it's on a fixed gear. My jeans are loose, my belt is sans studs and my bike rocks fenders, an HID, a Superflash and an incredibell.

This is all true--and I'd love to see pics of your bike. It sounds cool.
But there is still a recognizable class of fg riders as of late. Not
commuter/all-weather training fgs mind you.

He was hardly the greatest mind of the twentieth century, but I'm surprised at how often the phrase "Can't we all just get along?" comes to mind.

http://img.timeinc.net/time/2007/la_riots/king_rodney.jpg

By time I'm done with it, it should be gorgeous.

My post above is of course not directed at this thread, and it was half serious, half tongue in cheek. However I am just glad to see people riding, whether it's on the road, off-road, multi-use path, or anywhere in between. I think we have more shared qualities and things in common than differences.

My post above is of course not directed at this thread, and it was half serious, half tongue in cheek. However I am just glad to see people riding, whether it's on the road, off-road, multi-use path, or anywhere in between. I think we have more shared qualities and things in common than differences.

Then you sir are an asset to cycling.

Then you sir are an asset to cycling.

Most people would say that you're half right and I'm just an ass. ;)

This is all true--and I'd love to see pics of your bike. It sounds cool.
But there is still a recognizable class of fg riders as of late. Not
commuter/all-weather training fgs mind you.
I know the class of which you speak. And that's what I mean. A generalization applied to them is still a generalization made to simplify how people classify them, then dismiss them. Look past it, and you'll see all of humanity represented from the rich to the poor and the saints to the sinners and everyone in between. Twenty years from now, they'll be parents approaching middle age with rapidly spreading guts and insisting to their kids that they were "cool". And their kids will take one look at pics of how they were dressed and laugh their asses off.

I know the class of which you speak. And that's what I mean. A generalization applied to them is still a generalization made to simplify how people classify them, then dismiss them. Look past it, and you'll see all of humanity represented from the rich to the poor and the saints to the sinners and everyone in between. Twenty years from now, they'll be parents approaching middle age with rapidly spreading guts and insisting to their kids that they were "cool". And their kids will take one look at pics of how they were dressed and laugh their asses off.

That is funny. I wonder what kind of bikes their kids will be riding?

This is all good. I agree with you in almost all regards--except I seldom go
off road so if I were limited to one bike it would be a road bike with
gears and a porteur rack. I'm kinda talking about the cultural manifestation
of all the fixed-gear stuff--not individuals who may be totally reasonable people--as
you seem to be.


Thats cool whatever works. Ride a bike if you like riding a bike. Find something else to do if you don`t like bicycles. The amount of gears means squat. 2 little tires and leg power is all that matters. Biggest prob with fixie/hipsters is it ain`t about the bike..or cycling. Real cycle enthusiasts are beyond that.

"Hey kids, see how cool I was when I was younger?"


http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006/mar/NathanFabian-2.jpg

":rolleyes: Whatever, dad!"

Most people would say that you're half right and I'm just an ass. ;)

Yeah but most people voted for Bush a few years ago.

Oh garsh!

ok now I am laughing at natty fab, and myself and this whole thing--
a lot.

I know the class of which you speak. And that's what I mean. A generalization applied to them is still a generalization made to simplify how people classify them, then dismiss them. Look past it, and you'll see all of humanity represented from the rich to the poor and the saints to the sinners and everyone in between. Twenty years from now, they'll be parents approaching middle age with rapidly spreading guts and insisting to their kids that they were "cool". And their kids will take one look at pics of how they were dressed and laugh their asses off.

Ahhh whatever, you hippie! ;):p:D

ok now I am laughing at natty fab, and myself and this whole thing--
a lot.

Cheers! :beer:

Yeah but most people voted for Bush a few years ago.Oh, now ya done it. Good jerb.


ok now I am laughing at natty fab, and myself and this whole thing--
a lot.Yeah, that picture still makes me laugh.

"Hey kids, see how cool I was when I was younger?"


http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006/mar/NathanFabian-2.jpg

":rolleyes: Whatever, dad!"


You should put a front brake on that thing you hipster! If not your going to Die!:D

You should put a front brake on that thing you hipster! If not your going to Die!:D

Nobody dies in suburban neighborhoods!


*snork*

Nobody dies in suburban neighborhoods!


*snork*

lolz, off ta bed.

Brakes (breaks!) are for losers. You just skid and bunnyhop over obstacles as you bash them with your U-lock and take a swig of PBR.