Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - SF Fixie Social Scene

Hey,

Within San Francisco I have noticed over the past several years, fixed gear riders creating a whole new social scene, some much so in the sense it has become like skateboarding about 12 years ago in California, when it became mainstream, however, fixed gears breaches gender and age alot more then skateboarding ever did.

I was interested in what exactly, in an observational sense, is the social scene attached to fixed gears in the city. Where do you see the most fixed gear riders demographically? what age group? where do they tend to hang out, what music, what fashion do they wear. I know the term hipster is thrown around and how does that apply or stereotype fixed gear riders? I was also wondering where the most shops are and where they should be given surrounding, apartments and hang outs that fill with these people. It is

This is partially a school project, Cultural Anthro class. Any help would be great. I have my own observations but I would like to hear from others.

Thank you.

All best,

A

"fixie scene" as cultural anthro topic = fixed gear apocalypse

I am not sure BF is the best place to get info for a scholarly paper. Well, any internet forum for that matter. But if you are looking mostly for anecdotal responses I am sure you will get plenty of that. Pretty sure most people are just gonna call hipster on this one ...

"fixie scene" as cultural anthro topic = fixed gear apocalypse

It exists, it is not necessarily a project, I mean the whole concept of Cultural anthro puts me off a little, but, it is still interesting, if you have any other help. I skateboard and as a skater you know there is a whole lifestyle behind it. I see these bikers every where and want to look at it more.

its a broken social scene

I think its just a lot of people that move in a similar direction- at some point, they cross at bikes. With a crowd as large as SF, you're going to find an example of every kind of cyclist, and just because you catch someone riding a cheap, beat-up fixed-gear and wearing tight jeans and a messenger bag one evening, doesn't mean he doesn't have a suit-and-tie job as well, or that fixed-gear riding is all they do.

Even in a scene as small as Sacramento's, there is a wide variety of ages, amounts of time cycling, income levels, etc.

my friend in SF says more and more previous fixed-gear riders have moved onto road bikes, which makes sense because, you know, the hills and stuff...

...and just because you catch someone riding a cheap, beat-up fixed-gear and wearing tight jeans and a messenger bag one evening, doesn't mean he doesn't have a suit-and-tie job as well, or that fixed-gear riding is all they do.

yeah, but chances are he doesn't.

take that!

yeah, but chances are he doesn't.

take that!



I don't ride a beat up fixed gear, but I do ride this one..

http://i41.tinypic.com/2qbfx1i.jpg

DO wear skinny jeans, no messenger bag...

Either way, young IT professional. - IP Network Engineer.

Too many people quick to generalize.

SF has more diversity in fixed gear riders than I've seen in other big bike cities like NY, Portland and Philly. The scene is big and includes people that you (read: the BF collective) would not normally associate with fixed gear bikes.

Ironically, I think that SF is really ill-suited to fixed gears due to the extreme hills.

I don't ride a beat up fixed gear, but I do ride this one..

http://i41.tinypic.com/2qbfx1i.jpg

DO wear skinny jeans, no messenger bag...

Either way, young IT professional. - IP Network Engineer.

Too many people quick to generalize.
Not that it's bad or anything, but I'd probably put "Young IT Professional" in the top 5 job positions I'd expect a fixed gear rider to have.

Young IT Professionals are generally the hipper of the office 9-5 crowd.



I wanna see like... senior partner in a criminal defense law firm. That'd catch me by surprise.

at first i thought this was the beginnings of some really crappy market research for a viral/guerilla marketing initiative. kinda like, "hey, i want to market to you guys but i dont know **** about ****. so tell me everything about yourselves so i can exploit the **** out of you"

but its about a school paper so nevermind. :)

Well, I do personally know at least one law student and a couple with doctorates in sciences, but I think all if the above have moved on to gears, Lycra and carbon fiber these days.

I don't think SF is unfit for fixed-gears; the worst hills can often be avoided, or they can be fun challenges to ride up on a whim. Plus, the city is really, really small as big cities go. I don't live there and I've ridden from one end to the other (plus some of the southern cities) several times. The greater Sacramento area, otoh, despite being mostly flat, is endless, shadeless, boring sprawl outside of the downtown area, and crossing it in it's entirety would be a chore on any bike. This is me, digressing....

"fixie scene" as cultural anthro topic = fixed gear apocalypse

No doubt. It's finally here!

I don't ride a beat up fixed gear, but I do ride this one..

http://i41.tinypic.com/2qbfx1i.jpg



Skinny jeans & messenger bag or not, that's a rad looking bike. :thumb:
I'm currently doing a black/white build myself (my first)!

^ very nice..

how many of you guys or girls actually live in the city?

... it has become like skateboarding about 12 years ago in California, when it became mainstream, however, fixed gears breaches gender and age alot more then skateboarding ever did.


You may be right, especially compared to boarding, but for a little counter-evidence, and close to home, go to the bikeforums main page, where it list all the subforums.

Just under the Single Speed and Fixed Gear heading, you will see:
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five."

This offends my age sensibilities. And one reason, is that it is a dumb-ass thing to say, even if it were true. Second reason - it is not true. At 55, my latest fixie build is my favorite bike. 2nd favorite is my recent single-speed build, both old Peugeots.

But back to SF. I live 40 miles south and sometimes take a bike on the train, then explore, but I always take my geared bikes.

I live waaay over here in wilmington nc. So i really don't think that what I say will really matter but here we go:
In wilmington it used to be a more post hardcore type of thing. But then alot of people started riding fixed, so the post hardcore group/kids get cars and put street mods on them.
I have been riding fixed for nearly 3 years, I listen to all types of music, metal is my favorite though. I usually carry a messenger bag filled with tubes, school books, tools, sometimes a laptop my phone.
The Age group in wilmington vary if you want fixed riders then like 15- to around 28
Single speed 15- to around 50.
Here fixed gear riders don't really have a specific hangout. I guess back when i first started riding it was at local shows and concerts but now i really dont know.

.

Just under the Single Speed and Fixed Gear heading, you will see:
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five."

This offends my age sensibilities. And one reason, is that it is a dumb-ass thing to say, even if it were true. Second reason - it is not true. At 55, my latest fixie build is my favorite bike. 2nd favorite is my recent single-speed build, both old Peugeots.

But back to SF. I live 40 miles south and sometimes take a bike on the train, then explore, but I always take my geared bikes.

That was my idea, it's not intended to be ageism - it's just a celebration of the badass nature of fixed gears.


Henri Desgrange, the founder of the Tour de France:
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!" (L'Équipe article of 1902)