Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - how many times...

...have you had to explain why you went singlespeed/fixed gear to a family member that just doesn't get it over the holidays so far. I am up to around 5-6 now. No matter how I explain they still look at me like I'm dumb. Nothing new really. It's just happening a lot more this month.

So you don't eat meat? You don't like Bush? You don't have gears on your bike? You are not part of our family are you?

So you lost how many pounds biking? Why do you look so slim now (been slim for 5 years aunty...) ? Why don't you have any winter backup fuel on you (we do live in canada, where it is common place to gain 10-12 pounds in winter, never understood why) ? How many bikes do you have now? Why did someone give you a free custom frame? Why on earth don't you put gears on it (cause I'm poor, and this is christmas...)?

The usual really. 3-4 times, I think.

so you're in my family?? why have we not met?

What you really mean is, how many times do people fail to understand why I ride a bike? ....and why I would want to? and why I recycle? and why I care about pollution? why I'm an artist? why I have a mohawk? (?? why not ?? :) ) YEAH, the list goes on...

I feel ya, man.

Zero. I left the fixed gear part out when mentioning bikes to the family on the phone. Everyone here already knows. I guess I'm lucky.

My little brother seemed to get it: "One speed? That sounds like it would make you ride really fast!"

Hey you two, there are to be no success stories in this thread!

Alright, how many times did you explain it?

My favorite question:
Aren't you going to put some pants on?
(I wear old wool knickers in the winter...)

I went looking for some of those last week, but couldn't find them. I even went to the store that the person I saw wearing them told me they bought them. Bummer :(

Golf Pro Shops?

Aren't those handlebars dangerous? They stick straight ahead. What if you hit someone?

So you pedal backwards to stop? Like my old schwinn?

Never had the question. Then again all my friends bike and know why I built an ss and my family lives on the other side of canada :)

OMFG! There are Canadians here?!? ;)

Lots of us in mountain biking. I am no pure bred though. I have gears on my other bikes :) (dang mountains)

Last week I had trouble explaining to someone why I didn't have a kickstand. I didn't even get into the lack of gears or brakes.
With most people, I just say I am into biking, and only bother explaining fixed gear if they seem interested.

WHAT? No kickstand? Dude all my bikes have kickstands.

Actually, my mom OFFERED me a kickstand for christmas. Somehow she still thinks I'm in grade school, while I'm trying to have her keep her promise of paying my University, to no avail.

I'm trying to have her keep her promise of paying my University, to no avail.

Eh, suck it up, work 3rd shift/go to school full time and get no sleep like I did. ;)

OMFG! There are Canadians here?!? ;)

We're here, we're ungeared, get to use to it!

I crack myself up...oh well back to the poutine.

I went looking for some of those last week, but couldn't find them. I even went to the store that the person I saw wearing them told me they bought them. Bummer :(
I think they run small , and most folks say to order a size larger than ya normally wear, but here's a link for ya
http://www.surplusmarketonline.com/mall/productpage.asp?prod=201

Eh, suck it up, work 3rd shift/go to school full time and get no sleep like I did. ;)

Like I'm doing, actually, don't have much of a choice. Too bad there is no messenger work in quebec, that'd be my favorite job around here.

I lost count with the in laws, of course then again they were still getting over the new tattoo (Tikit Mask wearing bike rider taking up the outside of my right calf), and that I missed the snow in Houston.

WHAT? No kickstand? Dude all my bikes have kickstands.

I got a carbon fiber kickstand in my stocking!! definate UPGRADE!! :p

You ride how far to work??!! (ummm.. it's only 20m rt)
How do you get around with one gear? (ummm...you get off your ass and pedal...)
Why don't you just drive your car? (ummmm....because they SUCK and they SMELL)

I think they run small , and most folks say to order a size larger than ya normally wear, but here's a link for ya
http://www.surplusmarketonline.com/mall/productpage.asp?prod=201

Cool - those look a lot like the ones he had. Wool shrinks anyway, and there will be layers underneath, so bigger is definatly better...

Yup, and we're slowly invading the States...I'm starting in the Poconos, PA. Slowly, we will overcome....Actually, I've got dual citizenship so I argue with myself daily...

yeah I am with you all on that. lots of my family members act like they feel bad for me. lik it isn't a choice (whatever the issue is at the time)

Are those real sideburns?

No such problem here.

In fact I took my brother, his wife, and my sister's SO, Russell (They're a long-term, non-married couple, might as well just call him a brother-in-law, except for that whole "law" part.), on an 18-mile mountain bike ride the day before Christmas.

On Christmas day I led all of them, plus my Dad and my Uncle on a short (Short for me, but 8 miles was probably plenty for my uncle and my dad.) ride around town to run some errands.

My brother commutes on a SS that he built-up after I sold him on the idea of SS for commuting and gave him a bunch of spare parts I had to help with the build. His wife also bicycle-commutes (now with a new Nite Rider) and is currently working (in the office) for Denver/Boulder couriers. My sister commutes by bicycle (Though she relies on Denver public transport during the colder months.), and Russell is a recreational roadie and commuter who recently built up a singlespeed (no fixed for him yet) road bike.

My Mom & Dad got bicycles for Christmas last year, and don't ride nearly enough, but they do ride.

Nobody in my family questions my bicycle addiction, 'cause they're all hooked too. ;)

-Trevor

I think they run small , and most folks say to order a size larger than ya normally wear, but here's a link for ya
http://www.surplusmarketonline.com/mall/productpage.asp?prod=201

Whoa. Thanks for that link. 100% wool and nine bucks a pair. Cool!

-Trevor

my biggest problem is explaining is why i have never had a license and up until about 2 months ago hadn't ever driven a car. i would love for someone to ask me and actually understand my reasons. oh well, florida doesn't get many people who use a bike as their main tranportation.