General Cycling Discussion - Would you consider this a hipster bike?

I know its a touchy subject, and if you want to ridicule someone please ridicule me rather than each other or parts of the cycling community. But I do have a question I wanted the board's view on.

I love riding road bikes more than any other type of bike. The problem is that even within the city, I make quite a lot of kilometers/miles and my current "beater" or "pub" bike is an awful and uncomfortable bike (that I ride 80-100 km a week ). Therefore I was looking for a cheap road bike for everyday use that I could lock lock up outside / ride in the winter / not clean every single week.

That quickly takes me into the vintage road bike category. Fine, these bikes have components that can last ages, attractive steel frames and there are a lot of second hand ones that are being sold. My problem is,.... I do not want to look like a try-hard or someone trying to look cool. I just want to be comfortable and take my road bike anywhere without being "that guy". I am fully aware that this is stupidly ironic. After all, apparently I care a great deal about what I look like. But so be it.

Anyway, here is the bike. Penny for your thoughts:

http://verkopen.marktplaats.nl/photopopup/574467108/1

Would add white bartape. Apparently it is in perfect condition. Can go pick it up this Saturday.
EDIT: Will add fenders as well (SKS chromoplastic)

I know its a touchy subject, and if you want to ridicule someone please ridicule me rather than each other or parts of the cycling community. But I do have a question I wanted the board's view on.

I love riding road bikes more than any other type of bike. The problem is that even within the city, I make quite a lot of kilometers/miles and my current "beater" or "pub" bike is an awful and uncomfortable bike (that I ride 80-100 km a week ). Therefore I was looking for a cheap road bike for everyday use that I could lock lock up outside / ride in the winter / not clean every single week.

That quickly takes me into the vintage road bike category. Fine, these bikes have components that can last ages, attractive steel frames and there are a lot of second hand ones that are being sold. My problem is,.... I do not want to look like a try-hard or someone trying to look cool. I just want to be comfortable and take my road bike anywhere without being "that guy". I am fully aware that this is stupidly ironic. After all, apparently I care a great deal about what I look like. But so be it.

Anyway, here is the bike. Penny for your thoughts:

http://verkopen.marktplaats.nl/photopopup/574467108/1

Would add white bartape. Apparently it is in perfect condition. Can go pick it up this Saturday.

Doesn't look too much like a hipster bike to me, then again, isn't that hip?

I consider that to be a pretty nice middle of the road, road bike. Nothing hip or glamorous about it. If it were mine it would have fenders, racks and lights....kind of like my Giant Excursion :innocent:

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/45015/2824109370066886751S500x500Q85.jpg

I consider that to be a pretty nice middle of the road, road bike. Nothing hip or glamorous about it. If it were mine it would have fenders, racks and lights....kind of like my Giant Excursion :innocent:

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/45015/2824109370066886751S500x500Q85.jpg

That is a beautiful bike. Adding fenders is very practical and a great way to de-hipstify it. I was actually planning on doing that with the Dutch weather and all (middle of summer, we have had rain for a straight week).

Thanks! I actually have two of them. :D

They were a Euro spec bike back around 1989/90. I much prefer the fully equipped bikes, like you can easily purchase in places like the Netherlands, but not the US :(. All but my road racing bike and mountain bike have fenders, most have racks and several have permanent lights installed.

Aaron :)

It's difficult to see what condition the bike is in (rust, damage) but that looks like a nice vintage road bike. Level the seat, replace that horrid seat wedge, get some nice white bar tape and ride that beauty! The blue color is stunning.

I would pass on it if it were not the right frame size.

So, do you have a grasp on what is the Bike frame size you are comfortable with?

Data numbers.. ST & TT lengths.

If Not, sort that out first..

It's got brakes. It's got gears. How could people mistake it for a hipster bike? The bigger question would be, do you dress like a hipster?

It would only look like a hipster bike if you converted it to a brakeless fixed gear with skinny 700c wheels, and switched the handlebars for chopped and super narrow flatbars :p

That's what I see a lot of hipsters riding these days. Or they'll buy an off-the-rack fixed gear with flat bars/risers...

its only a hipster bike if you are a hipster.

shades, beret, sandals, check.

.. needs some place to carry the Bongo-Drums, man ...

Nice Bike! :thumb:

BTW

There's a difference between being "Hip" and being "Fredly".

I rather think the Fred thing is coursing through your veins!

If you had asked this in the Single Speed and Fixed Gear forum they would have laughed at you and shown you what hipster bikes look like. They just had a long thread about the whistling sound that is caused by stretched earlobes. The answer to your question is no.

In my mind, a Hipster Bike is a cheap Chinese knock off track bike with chopped BMX bars and a painted chain, being walked rather than ridden by a girl-jeans-wearing, ironically mustachioed, Parliament-smoking, PBR-guzzling Trustafarian.

Your bike is fine.

Much like the R.O.U.S.s, I don't think hipsters exist! Nice bike, though.

Thanks for all the reactions. Seems like the consensus is that I am fine as long as I dont grow a mustache and ride around in v-neck shirts. I think the closest I get to being a hipster is wearing suede Clarks. Though I am not even sure whether that can be considered hip. My dad wears them too...

Of course I have to see the bike first before I buy it. I know it is "roughly" the right size, but I have to see it / try it to know for sure. I wont buy a bike that is too large or (much) too small. Though I am less picky with the size and geometry on this than I am with my good road bike. It will be hard for it to be less comfortable than my current beater. If its a decent size and I can get comfortable it will do.

Again thanks for the responses everyone. If I end up getting the bike and add bartape/fenders, I will make a pic.

I'm guessing that there aren't hipsters around where Grim Ace lives. If there were, he wouldn't be asking such a question.

Of course, if he wants to make sure that no one mistakes him for a hipster, what could be better than fixing his bike up as a scraper bike (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scraper+bike).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCEQxOCFHJw

So, you think it's hipster just because it's a classic bike? Go over to the C&V forms with that suggestion, see how many friends you make.

It's only hipster if you convert it into a breakless single speed, and take everything else off the frame too. Otherwise, it's nice looking beater.

I consider that to be a pretty nice middle of the road, road bike. Nothing hip or glamorous about it. If it were mine it would have fenders, racks and lights....kind of like my Giant Excursion :innocent:

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/45015/2824109370066886751S500x500Q85.jpg


Love that bike !!


It's got brakes. It's got gears. How could people mistake it for a hipster bike? The bigger question would be, do you dress like a hipster?

262458

side note: spent the first 22 years of my life in LR. happy to see another Arkansan

side note: spent the first 22 years of my life in LR. happy to see another Arkansan

We've made some progress bike wise. Come on back some day and enjoy riding the River Trail (http://arkansasrivertrail.org/).

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/images/photos/high-res/North_Little_Rock_River_Trail_Bicycle_Fall_0105_tn.jpg

If you had asked this in the Single Speed and Fixed Gear forum they would have laughed at you and shown you what hipster bikes look like. They just had a long thread about the whistling sound that is caused by stretched earlobes. The answer to your question is no.

OMGWTFBBQ? srsly? Link? This has got to be entertaining...

We've made some progress bike wise. Come on back some day and enjoy riding the River Trail (http://arkansasrivertrail.org/).

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/images/photos/high-res/North_Little_Rock_River_Trail_Bicycle_Fall_0105_tn.jpg


That looks awesome. Added to my list.

As long as you don't remove the brakes, derailers, chop the bars, get a color chain with matching grips, and grind off all the cable stops, derailer hangers, and put supr deep Vees with a track hub on, then film yourself doing elephant trunk skids next to the bike polo field, you will be fine.

nope

Ok so, I ended up going for another bike because the frame size ended up much smaller than what the seller said it would be (I kind of suspected it from the way the frame looked in the picture, but the seller assured me it was actually an 58 cm frame. I should have known better).

I got into contact with a guy who fixes old Koga Miyata's. Went to his house where he proudly showed me some of his collection. Cool dude, and he had some fantastic looking bikes for sale.

Sorry for the crappy pictures, but now that it is dark I wont be able to take better ones until tomorrow. they dont really do the bike justice.http://i.imgur.com/UjYbZ.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/na6jR.jpg?1

Its a Koga Miyata Granwinner from 1986 if I'm not mistaken. And in awesome, largely original condition. Of course I was worried that the paintjob (which is original, the stickers have just been removed) made it look a little too fancy. But I no longer care. I love this bike. It is the perfect size, and rides great. And I cant help but love the color. I traded in another old Koga granwinner I had (but was much too small for me).

There is one problem however. I was looking for a pub/beater bike. Price-wise this fits the bill, but I like it so much that I would still be worried about leaving it places. I lock up my bikes well and dont leave them anywhere for too long, so I think I am going to use this as my bike for around the city. Maybe I'll also use it to replace my "modern" racing bike every now and then, and as a commuter when the weather is good. I will just have to be a little more careful than I would with a typical beater bike. Maybe in the future I will have to resist the urge to buy a nice bike and get a crappy one that i can leave at the trainstation at night and not worry about it. Though I doubt I could do that to any functioning comfortable bike.

Again thanks for the responses in this topic. And about the original question: I just have to accept that I like colorful looking bikes. Time to grow up and stop caring.

My "pub/beater" bike has been around with me for over 30 years, it was my only bike and form of transportation for several years. I highly recommend a similar bike if you can find one. Mine happens to be a 1972 Raleigh Sports Standard. My buddy rides an old Huffy Cruiser that is set up pretty much the same way.

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/45834/2927508510066886751S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/1658/2826631600066886751S600x600Q85.jpg

Grim Ace, the blue Koga Miyata Granwinner is a beautiful bike and it looks to be in good condition. And it's cat approved! I wouldn't think anything is safe overnight at a train station unless it's a total rust bucket.

@wahoonc, I may still look for something like that in the future. Though with the distances I often cover, something that feels slightly faster may be better. Looks both durable and comfortable though!

@a1penguin, thanks for the positive responses. First thing that happens when I bring a new bike into the apartment is my cats give it a thorough examination (which can take up to 20 minutes). Just gives me that extra bit of confidence when they approve.

@wahoonc, I may still look for something like that in the future. Though with the distances I often cover, something that feels slightly faster may be better. Looks both durable and comfortable though!

@a1penguin, thanks for the positive responses. First thing that happens when I bring a new bike into the apartment is my cats give it a thorough examination (which can take up to 20 minutes). Just gives me that extra bit of confidence when they approve.

Depends on your terrain, I can roll that old Raleigh along at 17mph (27kph) with no problem, usually though I am enjoying the scenery and trying to avoid the heat so I move a bit slower. :P

Aaron :)

http://images.craigslist.org/5Ke5Je5M83K13Ff3Jfc6k9004c09f831b15e6.jpg

^^Now THAT is a hipster bike.

Looks like a nice, unpretentious vintage bike to me. You'd need to install riser bars, neon-green deep-vee wheels, and BMX pedals to make it an ironic hipster bike.

Handle bars are too long for most hipsters, the ones I have observed like the ridiculously short straight bars.

Aaron :)

Is it a hipster bike?

Lugged frame? Check.
Matching color scheme? Check.
Outrageously priced components? No.
Outrageously priced components that aren't necessary for the type of riding the bike is actually used for? No.
Do you name-drop the components EVERY CHANCE YOU GET? No.
Do you criticize the frat boys and sorority girls for being superficial when you, in fact, are the most brand-sensitive consumer on the planet who only talks to people who dress EXACTLY like you do? No.
Do you consider a low-quality beer as manna from heaven, only because your hipster friends think it is cool? No.
Did the total cost of the bike equal three months of pre-tax income, but when you park it you pretend it's disposable when in fact you NEVER LET THE BIKE OUT OF YOUR SIGHT FOR ONE SECOND? No.
Do you secretly wish to stop at every red light because you think people will be impressed with your track stand? No.
Do you wear women's jeans because you somehow think they will find a man wearing their clothes is attractive? Dear God, I hope not.
Did you pay $30 for a T-shirt because it looked like something you would find at a thrift store? No.
Do you own a pair of Buddy Holly glasses? If so, shame on you.

Is it a hipster bike?

Lugged frame? Check.
Matching color scheme? Check.
Outrageously priced components? No.
Outrageously priced components that aren't necessary for the type of riding the bike is actually used for? No.
Do you name-drop the components EVERY CHANCE YOU GET? No.
Do you criticize the frat boys and sorority girls for being superficial when you, in fact, are the most brand-sensitive consumer on the planet who only talks to people who dress EXACTLY like you do? No.
Do you consider a low-quality beer as manna from heaven, only because your hipster friends think it is cool? No.
Did the total cost of the bike equal three months of pre-tax income, but when you park it you pretend it's disposable when in fact you NEVER LET THE BIKE OUT OF YOUR SIGHT FOR ONE SECOND? No.
Do you secretly wish to stop at every red light because you think people will be impressed with your track stand? No.
Do you wear women's jeans because you somehow think they will find a man wearing their clothes is attractive? Dear God, I hope not.
Did you pay $30 for a T-shirt because it looked like something you would find at a thrift store? No.
Do you own a pair of Buddy Holly glasses? If so, shame on you.

I feel like I just had a quick hipster 101. I dont think I am fashion sensitive enough for all this lol. Though perhaps, people may see me wearing an old hoodie and my awkward dirt cheap prescription glasses and may think I am making a fashion statement. At least its better than them thinking i am homeless I guess.

I am actually buying a second old bike, this time as a present for a friend of mine who I make trips with. He used this one on our last trip together and was impressed with how nice of a ride it still is, despite being so old. That is the thing about these older bikes. They are cheaper than something you get from Walmart, but they still ride nice and last you another 20 years with some regular maintenance and careful handling.

No.

I am actually buying a second old bike, this time as a present for a friend of mine who I make trips with. He used this one on our last trip together and was impressed with how nice of a ride it still is, despite being so old. That is the thing about these older bikes. They are cheaper than something you get from Walmart, but they still ride nice and last you another 20 years with some regular maintenance and careful handling.

Yeah, older bikes can be sweet.

This is close to what I think of when I imagine a hipster bike.

http://www.ahipster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/fixie-hipster-bike.jpg

Fixie Hipster Bikes (http://www.ahipster.com/category/fixie-bikes/)