Do people really turn their noses up at fixed gear riders? I know there is (or used to be) a bit of a backlash from people who felt that non-bike messengers shouldn't be riding fixed gear bikes for some reason. I read a blog recently where the author referred to track bikes as "messenger bikes"... that whole attitude always seemed kind of odd to me. Bike messengers didn't invent track or fixed gear cycling, and from my personal experience the only thing most fixed gear riders have in common with messengers is that they can't coast on their bikes. I live in Florida and I don't think I've ever even seen a bike messenger here. Nothing against messengers, but I certainly don't find that career to be anything special... certainly not special enough to warrant imitation.