Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Messengers and Fixies- What's the connection?

Just as the subject says. Its a pure curiosity question. I see that many fixie setups are ridden by messengers, or that most messengers use fixies. Why? What is the attraction?

Less to break, less to steal.

And it's more indie.

Six degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Ok, couple of points here, based on NYC experience, which is where the fixie thing started in the 70s:

First of all, most messengers don't ride fixies...most messengers don't do alleycats or critical mass, most messengers don't participate at all in messenger culture. They are usually black or hispanic immigrants, (many undocumented) riding whatever bike they can get their hands on (often cheap mountain bikes), and they messenger not because they love bikes but because they can't get any other jobs. Many are recovering from drug problems or are ex-cons. They are trying to survive and feed their families. In NYC, I'd guess maybe 20 percent of messengers ride fixed, do alleycats, listen to punk rock, and all the other stuff we associate with messenger culture.

Anyway, the origin of the trackbike-messenger thing is that track racing (velodrome and grass track) is big in the west indies, guyana, dominican republic, jamaica, etc. Lots of guys who grew up down there later immigrated to new york to work in low-wage jobs like bike messengering. Manhattan is flat, these guys already knew how to ride track, add in bike theft and bad weather and you can see how they would start riding fixies.


Just as the subject says. Its a pure curiosity question. I see that many fixie setups are ridden by messengers, or that most messengers use fixies. Why? What is the attraction?

Ok, couple of points here, based on NYC experience, which is where the fixie thing started in the 70s:

accurate response. there are relatively few messengers in this city on fixies. relatively few even really look like "bike types". many are just normal guys, not fast, not flashy, just getting their job done.

also, if your job was riding around the city all day, would you really want to go brakeless?

i would not.

"based on NYC experience, which is where the fixie thing started in the 70s"

I'll agree that the masses riding track bikes in the streets probably has its roots in NYC; but certainly not the fixed gears in general. FGs have certainly had a showing in every decade this century; whether the recent disciples of fixiemania had ever noticed them or not.

And it's more indie.
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What's indie?

Ok, couple of points here, based on NYC experience, which is where the fixie thing started in the 70s:



i think that's fairly accurate. at least from what i've seen first hand and what i've read so far.

Thanks guys. I have no preconceptions of messengers riding fixies but on the 'net that's what I've seen lots of reference to. Thanks for the info :)

Manhattan is flat, these guys already knew how to ride track, add in bike theft and bad weather and you can see how they would start riding fixies.

peligro - could you expand on the bad weather thing? i'm not sure i follow. is a fixie better in bad weather?

peligro - could you expand on the bad weather thing? i'm not sure i follow. is a fixie better in bad weather?

Of course they are. Your rims get covered with slush and oil, and your brake pads don't grip as well. A fix is like the poor man's disc brake, gives instant stopping power even if the rims are mucked up. Derailleurs, cables, housing, etc. also need more maintenance when you ride in bad weather.

Please note that I am saying that a fix and a front brake is better in rain/snow than a freewheel + two brakes. I don't ride brakeless and sure as hell wouldn't in bad weather.

"based on NYC experience, which is where the fixie thing started in the 70s"

I'll agree that the masses riding track bikes in the streets probably has its roots in NYC; but certainly not the fixed gears in general. FGs have certainly had a showing in every decade this century; whether the recent disciples of fixiemania had ever noticed them or not.

We were talking about fixies and messengers. Fixed gear bikes in general of course have been consistently popular in England since the late 19th century and perhaps some other places as well.

Keep in mind: Not all messengers ride fixies.

I think the perfect winter bike would be a fixed mountain bike with big fat tires and really low gearing like 2:1. If you were going slow you wouldnt need brakes at all.

And yeah, when the windchill is -10 that's a bad time to have a mechanical problem so the simpler the better. My SS didn't have one problem last winter. I had already decided if i got a flat i was just walking it, no way i was gonna take the gloves off to change a tire.

I think the perfect winter bike would be a fixed mountain bike with big fat tires and really low gearing like 2:1. If you were going slow you wouldnt need brakes at all.

And yeah, when the windchill is -10 that's a bad time to have a mechanical problem so the simpler the better. My SS didn't have one problem last winter. I had already decided if i got a flat i was just walking it, no way i was gonna take the gloves off to change a tire.

That depends on where you live - fat tires 'seem' better for snow, but I've had a lot of trouble with big knobbies in the winter. It's too much friction. I like knobies on the side in the winter, but with only little ribs in the center. I also think brakeless is better in the winter - I've gotten extreme buildup of snow around the brake that solidified around the brake while I was at work and had to chip it off in order to get the front wheel rolling again.

I have had to change tires at 40 below, as well as pulling out the wrench and putting the chain back on. It all sucks then. But if I were on a road bike, I'd probably have had problems a LOT earlier (thinking months) But if the flat is close enough to work or home, then it is walked - frostbight is BAD.

I think fix is better for winter riding - you don't ever need to lock any of your wheels with the brake, so you slip a lot less often.

Keep in mind: Not all messengers ride fixies.


Correct. Just look a Smilin Jack Casey. His bike magically transformed between Fixed, SingleSpeed and Gear depending on the scene.

Just as the subject says. Its a pure curiosity question. I see that many fixie setups are ridden by messengers, or that most messengers use fixies. Why? What is the attraction?

low maintenance, supreme handling, no 'steal me' appeal.

LIKE OMG WTF SWEET!!!11!! I'm soooo like indie now!!!1!!!111


What's indie?

:D :D :D roflamo!!

Not all messengers ride fixies.

But fixies are ridden by all posengers.

Ergo, posengers are...??...

I've always hated syllogisms.

That depends on where you live - fat tires 'seem' better for snow,


yeah..this is a pretty common misconception both for bikes and cars.. in the snow, you want a thin tire that is going to cut through the snow and down to the pavement... not float over the snow..

I messenger on a fixie cuz you ride differently, you pace yourself more. but, I did ride a freewheeler 1x mtb too, and so on.

its bad to stereotype, bu7t there are a couple kinds of messengers:
broke junkie (magna)
temp worker (huffy)
real messenger for life, trying to feed familly, often poor immigrants (beat up road bike or mtb, but well equipped, with slicks at least)
lifer hotshots, fast, burnt out, grumpy (beat to **** fixie or ss)
temp hotshot, working its for a year or two (shiny fixie)

there is plenty of overlap of course, but that covers most of em. I guess im the last one *cowers in shame* but addictive as it is, id rather not turn into a grumpy *******

yeah..this is a pretty common misconception both for bikes and cars.. in the snow, you want a thin tire that is going to cut through the snow and down to the pavement... not float over the snow..

amen to that. 25 to 28c is good

I messenger on a fixie cuz you ride differently, you pace yourself more. but, I did ride a freewheeler 1x mtb too, and so on.

its bad to stereotype, bu7t there are a couple kinds of messengers:
broke junkie (magna)
temp worker (huffy)
real messenger for life, trying to feed familly, often poor immigrants (beat up road bike or mtb, but well equipped, with slicks at least)
lifer hotshots, fast, burnt out, grumpy (beat to **** fixie or ss)
temp hotshot, working its for a year or two (shiny fixie)

there is plenty of overlap of course, but that covers most of em. I guess im the last one *cowers in shame* but addictive as it is, id rather not turn into a grumpy *******

Don't worry, your bike will look **** quick enough :D

well, my fixie IS trashed compared to a track ridden one, but its still comparatively shiny

amen to that. 25 to 28c is good

I think the reason why it is a common misconception is because it works. Thin tires in snow just suck, they slide, they don't get traction. A set of tires with an open pattern like continental town and countrys is good.

I think 25c is best for less than a couple of inches of snow- it cuts thru and sheds slop quickly. On really icy packed or deep stuff, anyting without studs is going to slide a little. Knobbies stink.

I think the reason why it is a common misconception is because it works. Thin tires in snow just suck, they slide, they don't get traction. A set of tires with an open pattern like continental town and countrys is good.

Agreed. I've biked through 5 Minnesota winters without thin tires. Most of the time I'm not riding through deep snow, anyhow, since the streets here get plowed within hours of (and throughout) a heavy snowfall. I've also never had any need for studded tires.

Agreed. I've biked through 5 Minnesota winters without thin tires. Most of the time I'm not riding through deep snow, anyhow, since the streets here get plowed within hours of (and throughout) a heavy snowfall. I've also never had any need for studded tires.

When you get multiple layers of packed ice, with powder snow on top studded tires are ace. A good combo is a 28 studded ice tire with 25 cyclocross rear, both nokian (other cycloX tires just flat out way too quickly, IMHO)