The industry here is really strange Roy. The most obscure things can be had easily yet stuff you'd think would be standard isn't. I suffer because I work a bit on the fringes. I like the bars at saddle height, not down around the front axle, I wear street clothes not lycra and prefer toe clips - I ain't no roadie and it's amazing how often I go looking for things that I think are normal and just get blank looks. Here, you have to fit into the industry standards (roadie posseur, slow and fat on your hybrid or stupid on your mtb) or you're not catered for ... which is why I value my two favourite shops, they both understand that cycling is a richer experience than that. On the other hand, when a niche market is set up, it's usually well catered for. The fixed gear scene is growing here so I'm sure I'll find more understanding as the time goes on.

I've seen four fixed gear bikes here in the last month or so - one with low bullhorns ridden by a hyper fit youngster in trendy gear (he was at a classic car meet too ), two middle aged bods (one with even more weight issues) than me both riding Surley's and both in sports shorts and loose shirts, there's another classic racer converstion that parks at work but I haven't met the rider yet and myself on my old classic. That may not sound like a lot but considering we're a relatively small city and this is just from casual observation, that's not bad, and it's an interesting mix of people. Could it be that the hipster style (whatever that is) is actually the minority?

Richard