Originally Posted by
cc700
King of the Hipsters, you have defended your rightful crown.
I maintain my disbelief. It's just a machine. It's a beautiful, simple, direct machine with two bearings around each of four axises (wheels, crank, and headtube) making a rolling conglomerate of metal and rubber.
A single blade of grass is as much testament to our relationship with reality as the most expertly crafted NJS, hand-drawn chromoly steel, scandium septuple butted aluminum, carbon injection hydroformed sex panther doused bike will ever be. Sure as salt, it's easier to recognize and assign meaning to certain objects over others when confronted with such a feeling of connection... but easier don't make right. it don't make better. it don't make meaningful.
to convey such a meaning to others and to attribute it to the ideal of a fixed gear bike is doing a disservice to reality, fixed gear bikes and yourself.
cc700,
Define "meaning". You can define it for you but you sure can't define it for me. Anything physical is exactly that - physical. The "meaning" assigned is up to the individual. I think the most common example of this is art. You look at something and see the essence of life. I see a waste of good materials. That type of thing.
I wouldn't go as far as to call my fixed gear experience spiritual. But, I'm happier fixed than I am geared or SS. People can make arguments all day comparing and contrasting features of different types of bicycles. I'll listen and I'll enjoy hearing you out. But, the evidence of my own experience will outweigh even the most well thought out, contrary arguments.
If you've never been touched by something yet I assure you that one day you will be touched. It will make no sense for whatever it is to have such an affect on you but the affect will be there. You will be more alive. The world will be a better place. Pettiness will evaporate - if only for a few moments. You will have arrived. You will be truly human. You'll have no control or choice over what "that" is. Because, it's not a choice.