Originally Posted by
Amory Blaine
... it has become like skateboarding about 12 years ago in California, when it became mainstream, however, fixed gears breaches gender and age alot more then skateboarding ever did.
You may be right, especially compared to boarding, but for a little counter-evidence, and close to home, go to the bikeforums main page, where it list all the subforums.
Just under the Single Speed and Fixed Gear heading, you will see:
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five."
This offends my age sensibilities. And one reason, is that it is a dumb-ass thing to say, even if it were true. Second reason - it is not true. At 55, my latest fixie build is my favorite bike. 2nd favorite is my recent single-speed build, both old Peugeots.
But back to SF. I live 40 miles south and sometimes take a bike on the train, then explore, but I always take my geared bikes.