Originally Posted by
TejanoTrackie
Wrong assumptions on many counts. Many people, myself included, ride track bikes on the road with slight modification, such as installation of a front brake. We do so for exercise and training, not to make a fashion statement. I don't know any messengers who refer to fixed gear bikes, which is factually what they are, as "fixies." None of my friends, fellow racers or teamates, or acquaintences refer to themselves as "hipsters." IDK for sure, but I don't think "hipsters" live past 40 years of age, so none of them would be posting in this thread. So, use "fixed-gear" or "FG" or "bike with only one sprocket in the rear that does not freewheel," I don't care, but please in the name of all that is holy and sacred, just don't call them "fixies."
Guess it all depends on where you live, where you're from, what your cycling history is and how "prim and proper" you want to be.
I live in Portland, OR, haven for "fixie" riders, hipsters, and a serious cycle crazy town with the largest/most active amateur racing culture/club on the west coast, the Oregon Bicycle Racing Assoc, the largest public organized bike ride in the US (Bridge Pedal) and one of the largest concentrations of daily commuters(tons on fixies) in the US.
In our town even the serious trackies including state champs, of which there are 3 or 4 in my own club, Portland Velo, call their winter "rides" fixies. There are numerous weekend training rides around Portland specifically called "fixie" rides. And no one gets their panties in a wad when a bike is called a fixie. A quick glance at the person using the term can pretty much tell ya whether they're a skinny jean wearin' hipster rollin' on pink ano Velocitys with cut bars or if they're riding a steel framed beaut rollin' on Open Pros with fenders prepping for a "training" ride.
Let's get over ourselves already, just ride our bikes and stop with the holier than thou attitude that a "direct-drive" bike has to be called a freakin' "fixed-gear". I would venture to guess that when I saved my few pennies and purchased my first track bike as a 15yr old in 1973 most folks on the board weren't thinking about buying a "serious" bike of any kind, let alone a weird bike you couldn't coast on and that didn't have brakes. When I went to college we called our bikes "fixes" so it's neither a new nor derogatory term to those of us who have been around a while and we're not offended by it in the least.
Call it/them whatever you want, I think it's great a new niche has been created in our wonderful sport which brings a youthful exuberance along with it. Doesn't mean I'm gonna run out and purchase a pair of skinny jeans but hey, hangin' out with my buds chillin' at the cafe lamenting life and which new top tube protector to buy might be fun for about...37seconds, on second thought no thanks. I'll chose to layer up the clothes, hop on the SS, put my head down and get some miles in.
Enjoy the ride everyone, no matter kind of "ride" it is or what you call it.
KRhea