Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Are we drinking the Kool-Aid?

I was in NYC on Thursday and Friday on business. I noticed something disturbing while walking from train station to hotel, hotel to meeting, meeting to lunch and just about all over Manhattan. I noticed that messengers don't ride fixies! After two days of quickly checking out drive trains as they whizzed by and examining bikes locked to all manner of things, including one junky three-speed locked to nothing at all, I only saw one single speed. I cannot even be sure it was a fixie.

This, of course, has serious implications for us all. How can I be cool if my messenger bike isn't really a messenger bike? I suppose I could just call it a track bike, but Kevin Bacon doesn't act in movies about Marty Northstein.

I’m beginning to think the entire fixie thing is a vast Right-threaded conspiracy designed to boost sagging sales of track gear and used steel frames.

Are any of you people even real or do you all sit in the marketing department at EBay?

Interested in hearing your thoughts - unless you're a shill for Shimano.

The Men In Black will be knocking on your door real soon now...

Did you get a fixed just because a messenger does? Sorry for you. The only thing I bought because messenger's used them was my bike bag. I figured they'd know what holds up to that use.

I have to say this and only this: Whoa!

My bike delivers my ass where it is required to go. It delivers me here and there and almost anywhere. Though I do not get paid to ride my bike I would definitely say this bike is in the delivery service...anyway who cares that messengers in NYC don't ride fixed. If I were messengering there I wouldn't ride my fix. I'd buy the beat up old schwinn down at goodwill to get stolen not and old steel fix that I've put time and money into.

Did you get a fixed just because a messenger does? Sorry for you. The only thing I bought because messenger's used them was my bike bag. I figured they'd know what holds up to that use.

I think you need to turn up your sarcasmeter a bit, Im thinking the question was more rhetorical than real... ;) as to whether messengers favor gears, my observations are to the contrary but Ive not been to NY. most of the ones I see are fixed or ss. but thats in chi or milwaukee.

I think you need to turn up your sarcasmeter a bit, Im thinking the question was more rhetorical than real...
I think you could turn your talk****tameter down about three notches too.

Sweet Willie,

Is that bag of yours the Timbuk2 "pick your three color panels" custom bag or the single colored Patagonia one? I hadn't heard which one was endorsed by FUBMA, the Federation of Urban Bicycle Messengers of America. They would probably know what bags work best.

Sweet Willie,

Is that bag of yours the Timbuk2 "pick your three color panels" custom bag or the single colored Patagonia one? I hadn't heard which one was endorsed by FUBMA, the Federation of Urban Bicycle Messengers of America. They would probably know what bags work best.


i have a timbuk2....i got it super cheap bc i worked at a sporting goods store (city sports)...i only had to pay material cost.

i now wish i had got a different brand bc here in philadelphia all the lame ass scenesters have timbuk2's as a status symbol....look at my cool bag, im hip!
these lamers dont even ride bikes

My bike used to be wrapped with generic electrical tape, but then I saw on the FUBMA website that most of the messers in NYC use 3M tape. It was a pain pulling off all of that old tape and replacing it with the 3M, but sooooo worth it.

i now wish i had got a different brand bc here in philadelphia all the lame ass scenesters have timbuk2's as a status symbol....look at my cool bag, im hip!
these lamers dont even ride bikes

haha..I hear that..I'm in the same boat.. but I cant justify spending another 80-100 on a bag when I've got a perfectly good one :(

my brother in law just got a badass custom bag from reload :)

I think you could turn your talk****tameter down about three notches too.

huh?? :(

I never even knew about the fixed gear/bike messenger relationship until about a year ago when I discovered this forum. I had a ball bearing question and eventually ended up in the fixed gear area. I had been riding my fixed for four years as a training tool for road riding. Someone told me fixies were great for winter and spring training and that is all I knew.

When I found this forum I was amazed that people used these bikes for city riding. So I started getting ideas and using my fixed gear for more and more types of riding.

I do not pretend to be a messenger or want to be one.

I think that the fixed gear bike is so versatile because of it's simplicity.

It's not just for messengers anymore!!

My bike used to be wrapped with generic electrical tape, but then I saw on the FUBMA website that most of the messers in NYC use 3M tape. It was a pain pulling off all of that old tape and replacing it with the 3M, but sooooo worth it.
LOLCOML... pass me that grape stuff please

Sweet Willie,

Is that bag of yours the Timbuk2 "pick your three color panels" custom bag or the single colored Patagonia one? I hadn't heard which one was endorsed by FUBMA, the Federation of Urban Bicycle Messengers of America. They would probably know what bags work best.
Deerest Superchica,

I don't follow FUBMA, they are too left wing for me, and they primarily ride full suspension plastic bikes. More accurately, I follow the Cooalition of ogled leppers. They dictate what's suitable.

Actually, someone here (who's not a messenger) recomended a shop in SF to go check out while I was there. I ran into a few people with the bags (one of which who is psuede messnger) and they all swore by them. So I picked one up. It's a factory second, so, I'm not fully sworn in.

Besides, Patagonia is for the french messenger crowd.


Luv, yours,

Slick Willie.

Interested in hearing your thoughts - unless you're a shill for Shimano.

I ride a fixed for the training, challenge, simplicity, beauty and fun. I could care less what messengers do, use, or ride. That being said I DO own a messenger bag. It was a gift, a Timbuk2, and it has been great. Its at least ten years old, and it has carried heavy books for grad school most of that time. I have enjoyed the multiple inner pockets, its waterproof, and it looks a lot better than a backpack IMHO.

My profuse apologies -

I figured "Slick" Willy would be a little too left-leaning for you. That's why I went with Sweet Willy instead. Besides, it sounds kind of pimp - like your gold seat. I personally think you should braze a giant gold dollar sign on the Bianchi's head tube, but that might be a little over the top.

In the interest of full disclosure my "messenger" bag, is an ugly ass yellow Pedro's bag I bought on sale at Performance for $20. I'm not sure if mine is cool or not since there weren't any messengers around.

As for Patagonia, I was unaware of its French popularity, especially since it's an American company. I always figured the French guys just stuffed packages under their berets or had their impossibly thin girl friends hold the packages while riding on the handlebars.

-The Goat

My profuse apologies -

I figured "Slick" Willy would be a little too left-leaning for you. That's why I went with Sweet Willy instead. Besides, it sounds kind of pimp - like your gold seat. I personally think you should braze a giant gold dollar sign on the Bianchi's head tube, but that might be a little over the top.

In the interest of full disclosure my "messenger" bag, is an ugly ass yellow Pedro's bag I bought on sale at Performance for $20. I'm not sure if mine is cool or not since there weren't any messengers around.

As for Patagonia, I was unaware of its French popularity, especially since it's an American company. I always figured the French guys just stuffed packages under their berets or had their impossibly thin girl friends hold the packages while riding on the handlebars.

-The Goat
SuperCabra,


Well, Slick certainly had fun at work.. don't we all wish we could have fun at work? So... well... I got a "chrome" bag. Sits well on my back with a load of junk. I wasn't looking for cool, but more durabilty. I'm a bit rough on things. It cost a fortune. My package stays in my shorts, but papers, clothes, lunch items... gots to go somesplace..

I think the french simply forgoe bags and drink thier lovely wine where ever they can get it. and what they do with thier packages is a buisness of their own.

Let's throw some batteries!

I dunno...using Gov't resources/taxpayer dollars to chat on bicycle forums sounds like fun...
Point taken.

And I won't post on this forum any longer then. Thanks.

My profuse apologies -

I figured "Slick" Willy would be a little too left-leaning for you. That's why I went with Sweet Willy instead. Besides, it sounds kind of pimp - like your gold seat. I personally think you should braze a giant gold dollar sign on the Bianchi's head tube, but that might be a little over the top.

In the interest of full disclosure my "messenger" bag, is an ugly ass yellow Pedro's bag I bought on sale at Performance for $20. I'm not sure if mine is cool or not since there weren't any messengers around.

As for Patagonia, I was unaware of its French popularity, especially since it's an American company. I always figured the French guys just stuffed packages under their berets or had their impossibly thin girl friends hold the packages while riding on the handlebars.

-The Goat


superchivo is officially funny.
-rob

Point taken.

And I won't post on this forum any longer then. Thanks.


Buck up camper...It's all in good fun...

I just ordered the messenger bag they had at Sierra trading post. It is on the way but they have not delivered it yet.

My previous bag I got at the Salvation Army for $1.50. It is this fake leather plastic job. It sits right on my hip and is very comfortable. I like it a lot but I like to get the big oversized books from the library and they just don't fit. The coolest thing about it is it has a special cell phone holder. I hate cell phones so I try to see what kind of stupid things I can fit into the holder. There is no brand name on it and I think it is suppose to be a purse.

When I get my new bag am I going to have to go to therapy so I don't end up buying an SUV????

Hey william I have a chrome bag too, well actually two of them cause I liked the first so much. They are different sizes though, personally I prefer them to timbuk2 bags.

oh yeah and most messenger's I've seen in edinburgh and boston ride fix's and ss's. I got mine for winter training and commuting.

Chrome bags are amazing. If you can't afford PAC (and who can?) they're the next best thing.

Iwish I had one, and I've never even seen one. Where can you buy them?

i have a pac bag...and a chrome bag. i got them both on sale.

i really like the pac bag. (http://www.pacdesigns.com/about.htm)

You didn't see the messangers on fixies because they flew by you.

I live in NYC and a fair amount of the messangers ride track only, brakeless and helmetless.

Yeh, I agree with Shishi at the CCC there were five messers from NYC and I know at least three of them were fixie, brakeless, and helmetless.

Those motherfckers were faster than anything.

It is highly possible that I missed a few while on the street and I was in meetings during most business hours. However, I expected a higher percentage of the messengers I did see to be fixies/ SS.

They just seemed conspicuous by their absence if you know what I mean.

i live in nyc area, most of them ride fixies, in the worse weather some ride mtb's. but they without a doubt ride mostly fixies, all of the chinese delivery guys ride mtbs but those bags on the front of the bikes are chinese food not packages, duh.

hey what's wrong with being a messenger-poseur? I'm mean I love being yelled at by peds. hasseled by cops. spit on by drivers. and always being told to use the freight elevator.

I think the real issue is that everyone thinks anyone on a bike who isn't lycra-ed out is a messenger.

oh and chrome and timbuk2's both rule.

jeff

I have a RELoad...been nice. Had it for 2+ years now.

i saw a REload bag at a shop here...it had a pirate ship on the flap. it was beautiful.

*fapfapfap*

i saw a REload bag at a shop here...it had a pirate ship on the flap. it was beautiful.

*fapfapfap*


any of the ones that have embroidery on em or whatever are just oh so expensive...but it is nice to go in their shop and browse :)

Arrgh...Pirate bag here:
http://reloadbags.com/bags/cstock.html

http://reloadbags.com/bags/cstock/4.jpg

what do they have against the honda element?

Perhaps somebody can answer this question for me. What is the advantage of a messenger bag over a backpack. I understand that they are quicker to get stuff into and out of because you can just rotate them around to the front but if you aren't a messenger wouldn't a backpack be more stable with two straps.

-s

(just trying to assist in the thread drift)

http://reloadbags.com/bags/cstock/4.jpg

what do they have against the honda element?

Because it's one of the ugliest vehicles on the road right now?? :p :D

"What is the advantage of a messenger bag over a backpack?"

I realized the advantages of my messenger packs when I accidently left it in China since last summer. They're all just personal preferences but:

1. They can hold an ungodly amount of stuff without affecting your balance. Wearing a regular backpack all your stuff actually pulls you backwards. I noticed my back was getting really tweaked. Messenger pack tend to hold their weight either up high in the small of your back or right around the hips depending on your style.

2. Truly waterPROOF. I've been using a snowboarding backpack and let me tell you its a water sponge. I think it has to be all the zippers and pockets on the outside that rap water. Also the back would soak up sweat and all my papers would get extremely gross. I felt bad for my prof. I've had my timbuk2 for 4 years now and it never gets anything inside wet. The huge flap just sheats water away.

3. Access. when your grabbing something from a backpack you have to take one strap off and while your fumbling usually the other one does too. Putting 'em back on when a light turns green isn't as elegant.

4. they're just as stable. with the "third leg"

anyone know anything about these? http://www.gogofaster.com i won one on ebay a few weeks ago, still waiting for it to get here...

Unique I'd say...not sure on the durability though. New company I think.

http://reloadbags.com/bags/cstock/4.jpg

what do they have against the honda element?

I think thats supposed to be a Hummer or some universal representation of an SUV. But you probably already knew that. :D

Messenager bag for me distributes the weight more evenly over my back. I have chronic back problems, but with the Chrome bag I use now...I just have some small aches with very heavy loads.

Also, the water proof aspect makes it worth every penny. I have had trips home in down poors and snow showers. While I am a wet spunge...my bag is dry and everything inside is dry.

----
i live in nyc area, most of them ride fixies, in the worse weather some ride mtb's. but they without a doubt ride mostly fixies, all of the chinese delivery guys ride mtbs but those bags on the front of the bikes are chinese food not packages, duh.

-------


Sorry to reenter the fray with an asynchronous comment, but If the Chinese guys in Nuevo York are using bikes to deliver Chinese food, aren't they bike messengers too? What makes them different from the tattooed guys (and girls) with taped frames except that it is a lot "cooler" to jet through traffic delivering important documents than it is to jet through traffic delivering greasy lo mein?

This strikes at the heart of why I started the post. There seems to be a tacit understanding of what makes a "real" messenger cool. The messengers I saw in NYC (at least) didn't match that stereotype, at least in their choice of bicycle. Just throwing that out there.

Unique I'd say...not sure on the durability though. New company I think.

yeah, it looked cool in the auction, and the price was right... time will tell if it holds up... i suppose i'll write up some kind of review after i've used it for a while...

edit: here's the bag: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3636001976

Point taken.

And I won't post on this forum any longer then. Thanks.

That's all it takes to get rid of him? - And all this time I was saving for a hit man. :mad: