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Fixed gear culture
So this morning I went to a really little bike shop in my neighborhood to check it out. The guy that owned it was really nice and helpfull and we got to talking for awhile about fixed gear culture and the people who are involved. Ive known for a while now that there is obviously a culture somewhat accompanied to fix geared riding in most cities, and he invited me to go to one of the events held on Fridays here in Seattle, but mentioned to me that there are some people that are jerks out there that dont want new people involved in fixed gear riding. I enjoy "talking bike" with anyone, and I dont really mind if people are proud of being involved in a sub culture surrounding it and dont want it "exploited", but at the same time I think anyone riding a bicycle is great, regardless. Why is it that some people feel differently? Maybe the fixed gear snobbery is something I dont understand, but I guess I'd like to know why some people have this mentality in the first place.
If you feel like you're one of these people, mind giving me some insight? Im just curious |
welcome to the world of hipsters!
I haven't figured it out either but then again I'm socially backwards. |
read half the posts on here, those are the people your bike guy is referring to
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Originally Posted by aidy
(Post 8537213)
welcome to the world of hipsters!
I haven't figured it out either but then again I'm socially backwards. Yeah! I suppose I am socially backwards a bit too. I dont mind either way if people feel that way, thats thier deal, Im just curious as to why. It reminds me of the people in the bands Ive played with and even the one Im in now. Music culture and fixed gear culture...eerily similar |
Originally Posted by Saberhead
(Post 8537231)
Yeah! I suppose I am socially backwards a bit too. I dont mind either way if people feel that way, thats thier deal, Im just curious as to why. It reminds me of the people in the bands Ive played with and even the one Im in now. Music culture and fixed gear culture...eerily similar
What they don't realize is they are just as much on a bandwagon as anyone else and are self conscious about their percieved coolness and individualism becoming mainstream. They just can't handle it. :( |
Let them have their culture. Obviously you/we don't need a subculture to feel good about ourselves. We have friends of our own, hobbies of our own, priorities of our own that don't necessarily involve snobbery! I think the more broad a person is, the more interesting they become. Don't hate!
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Originally Posted by ALaS
(Post 8537248)
Let them have their culture. Obviously you/we don't need a subculture to feel good about ourselves. We have friends of our own, hobbies of our own, priorities of our own that don't necessarily involve snobbery! I think the more broad a person is, the more interesting they become. Don't hate!
Originally Posted by ALaS
(Post 8537248)
...priorities of our own that don't necessarily involve snobbery!
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In every field there are people who think they're better than others. That's what people call subculture. Saying subculture is just another way of saying "You're not included."
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is that like as in making yogurt?
"Open hipster mouth, add two large tablespoons of fixed gear culture, and shake well by inversion. keep covered with a cloth on the windowsill for two days at 80-84 degrees, then stir well and refrigerate. good for two weeks but best consumed immediately" |
I guess snobs will be snobs. Let's make our own subculture, the culture that rejects subcultures.
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I say flood the streets with fixed gear bikes: hippsters, parents, children, senators....seriously, I love riding fixed for the same reason I CHOOSE to drive a stick shift car. It just FEELS that much better...as far as the elitist mentality its found anywhere. Unfortunately its hard to ignore with bike kids. But, I find the messengers I ride with on monthly alleycats to be more amenable to newcomers to fixed gear riding than hipster college students who don't ride for a living....perhaps because the messengers know that in the end its just a bike.
Just keep showing up and rub it in their face... |
I'm seeing a big drop in the overall "fixed scene" in my town. My best guess is all the folks that bought a fixed wheel for the style factor have run out of excuses for why it sits in the living room or rides around on their trunk rack instead of actually being ridden. I do, however, still see a group of people sticking to it, trading in their stylish components for functional ones, adding front brakes for emergency stops and tire/knee life extension(you know, practical stuff). In essence, some people who jumped on the bandwagon for styles sake initially, have realized they love riding fixed and will probably stick with it regardless of society's fickle faddishness. Like most fads, some people will end up carrying on well after it's out of style. I'm glad for the current boom of bikes, it really is enlightening people to the fact that a bike is a reasonable transportation form, even one with a single gear and no option to coast. If the masses were just able to realize that you don't have to be a messenger(most of the ones I know are bitter *******s) to be cool, riding a bike is cool, no matter why you do it. As for hipster bashing, I'm opposed, there have been/will always be hipsters, for example: Beatniks and beat poets, folk musicians and such. Representing what you believe in transcends hipsterism and beliefs change over time. That being said, people that buy all the gear and never use it will always be lame, no matter if it's a beret and a tambourine or a fixed gear.
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Yah, coming from someone new to fixed/ss, I definitely feel the more hip than thou attitude. It's all good. My frankenbike conversion looks like complete **** and I actually kinda like it that way.:lol:
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I definitely owe it to trendiness that I heard about fixed, and I'm definitely glad I stopped being so uptight and decided to give it a shot. There's no real "culture" here per se, but every now and again when I go get coffee I'll see a few conversions and a Langster parked outside the coffee shop. Oddly enough, they've asked me about my Planet Bike strap on fenders on a bike with aerobars and custom wheels, so I gather these kids have their wits about them. I think it's probably also a symptom of a bike-friendly town.
By the way, fixed-gear senators would be AWESOME. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wb8bAl1P-N...ainskidnz0.jpg |
Originally Posted by Saberhead
(Post 8537204)
he invited me to go to one of the events held on Fridays here in Seattle, but mentioned to me that there are some people that are jerks out there that dont want new people involved in fixed gear riding. I enjoy "talking bike" with anyone, and I dont really mind if people are proud of being involved in a sub culture surrounding it and dont want it "exploited", but at the same time I think anyone riding a bicycle is great, regardless. Why is it that some people feel differently? Maybe the fixed gear snobbery is something I dont understand, but I guess I'd like to know why some people have this mentality in the first place.
Just ignore them, and hang with the people who aren't jerks. |
it's just like any other trend
people that did it before it got popular will always get defensive towards people who start after they do |
I don't really ride with the exclusively fixed gear kids. I find them obnoxious, so if they want to keep their own little club, that's perfectly fine by me.
The groups that I have the most fun with share my (fairly open) sensibilities on style, attitude, speed, etc. and they are composed of a variety of fixed and geared riders. |
You shouldn't really put much emphasis on the opinion of people who use their bike as a means to a photo op, or merely own it to fulfill a part of them that wants to belong to a certain clique. My bike is my vehicle, my stress reliever, my gym, not an accessory. People who are territorial of something that can only benefit a person's health and the environment is an utter female sanitation bladder!
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Originally Posted by jtarver
(Post 8537887)
I'm seeing a big drop in the overall "fixed scene" in my town. My best guess is all the folks that bought a fixed wheel for the style factor have run out of excuses for why it sits in the living room or rides around on their trunk rack instead of actually being ridden. I do, however, still see a group of people sticking to it, trading in their stylish components for functional ones, adding front brakes for emergency stops and tire/knee life extension(you know, practical stuff). In essence, some people who jumped on the bandwagon for styles sake initially, have realized they love riding fixed and will probably stick with it regardless of society's fickle faddishness. Like most fads, some people will end up carrying on well after it's out of style. I'm glad for the current boom of bikes, it really is enlightening people to the fact that a bike is a reasonable transportation form, even one with a single gear and no option to coast. If the masses were just able to realize that you don't have to be a messenger(most of the ones I know are bitter *******s) to be cool, riding a bike is cool, no matter why you do it. As for hipster bashing, I'm opposed, there have been/will always be hipsters, for example: Beatniks and beat poets, folk musicians and such. Representing what you believe in transcends hipsterism and beliefs change over time. That being said, people that buy all the gear and never use it will always be lame, no matter if it's a beret and a tambourine or a fixed gear.
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Originally Posted by iansmash
(Post 8538332)
it's just like any other trend
people that did it before it got popular will always get defensive towards people who start after they do for me, personally, i got a road bike in a swap, fell in love with it. it finally dawned on me that bikes arent JUST for people with DUI's or broke *****es without a car. then i found out about fixed and trick track via the streetwear, street art, urban culture. foot down comps especially remind me of the days when i was kid watching the xgames when they would have the flatland freestyle bmx competitions. it was like these dudes were dancing with their bikes. it was amazing to see, but it kinda fell off the map (at least fell out of my realm of awareness). when i watch foot downs and people doing 720 big spins, etc etc etc it ignites a flame inside me that says, "get on your bike, ride it, you can learn this stuff if you just try hard and often enough." i grew up playing ice hockey (in south florida, if you can believe that) when everyone else was outside in the heat riding skate boards and surfing and wakeboarding, i was chillin hard inside the frozen tundra of my local rink four days a week, sometimes more. i played travel, high school and in college too. having been buried in one sport, i completely missed out on "extreme" sports. i missed the sense of challenge, and subsequent accomplishment that comes from playing a sport, but i have found it in trick track and fixed riding in general. biking is for the most part a low cost hobby, and i dont need 10 other people to coordinate with. i just get on my bike and go, when i want to, where i want to. besides, id rather be in private when im busting my ass repeatedly trying to learn new tricks! lmao people ask me all the time, "if you want to do tricks, why not bmx?" ill tell you why. im 6' and kinda sorta fat. have you seen how low those seats are on bmx bikes? you basically have to stand the entire time you ride. its completely impractical and uncomfortable. if you want to actually use your bike to get around, bmx makes no sense. track bikes just fit what i wanted in a machine - both tricking, and the ability to go on long, hard rides. to be 100% honest, as of right now i have absolutely no interest in taking my bike to the track. maybe that will change one day, maybe not. but of course there will be those people who might say that at i ride a track bike because i want to be "in the club", or think im somehow "fake" because my track bike might never see a track, they can suck it. no posing here. just a big dude lookin to lose weight, get some exercise and have some fun. |
Originally Posted by aidy
(Post 8537213)
welcome to the world of hipsters!
I haven't figured it out either but then again I'm socially backwards. |
Originally Posted by ADSR
(Post 8538274)
I definitely owe it to trendiness that I heard about fixed, and I'm definitely glad I stopped being so uptight and decided to give it a shot. There's no real "culture" here per se, but every now and again when I go get coffee I'll see a few conversions and a Langster parked outside the coffee shop. Oddly enough, they've asked me about my Planet Bike strap on fenders on a bike with aerobars and custom wheels, so I gather these kids have their wits about them. I think it's probably also a symptom of a bike-friendly town.
By the way, fixed-gear senators would be AWESOME. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wb8bAl1P-N...ainskidnz0.jpg |
It really sucks. Hipsters are everywhere though... You just have to stay above it and do what you enjoy.
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Originally Posted by oneangrytoast
(Post 8539311)
+1. im pretty sure this is all there is to it. the feeling that they are the cool kids and the style makers, but then they get pissy when theyre style catches on. however, i can relate to an extent. when you actually do something because you like it, and have to deal with other people who do its because its cool and the new, in thing, it can be really frustrating. especially to watch some rich kids roll around with all the bling you wish you could afford, but cant, because your mommy and daddy dont pay for stuff anymore. at least, if you are truly into it and on top of your game, you will still smoke that pansy with the hed3 on his color coordinated NJS sparkling bridgestone frame. **** him. hahhaa
for me, personally, i got a road bike in a swap, fell in love with it. it finally dawned on me that bikes arent JUST for people with DUI's or broke *****es without a car. then i found out about fixed and trick track via the streetwear, street art, urban culture. foot down comps especially remind me of the days when i was kid watching the xgames when they would have the flatland freestyle bmx competitions. it was like these dudes were dancing with their bikes. it was amazing to see, but it kinda fell off the map (at least fell out of my realm of awareness). when i watch foot downs and people doing 720 big spins, etc etc etc it ignites a flame inside me that says, "get on your bike, ride it, you can learn this stuff if you just try hard and often enough." i grew up playing ice hockey (in south florida, if you can believe that) when everyone else was outside in the heat riding skate boards and surfing and wakeboarding, i was chillin hard inside the frozen tundra of my local rink four days a week, sometimes more. i played travel, high school and in college too. having been buried in one sport, i completely missed out on "extreme" sports. i missed the sense of challenge, and subsequent accomplishment that comes from playing a sport, but i have found it in trick track and fixed riding in general. biking is for the most part a low cost hobby, and i dont need 10 other people to coordinate with. i just get on my bike and go, when i want to, where i want to. besides, id rather be in private when im busting my ass repeatedly trying to learn new tricks! lmao people ask me all the time, "if you want to do tricks, why not bmx?" ill tell you why. im 6' and kinda sorta fat. have you seen how low those seats are on bmx bikes? you basically have to stand the entire time you ride. its completely impractical and uncomfortable. if you want to actually use your bike to get around, bmx makes no sense. track bikes just fit what i wanted in a machine - both tricking, and the ability to go on long, hard rides. to be 100% honest, as of right now i have absolutely no interest in taking my bike to the track. maybe that will change one day, maybe not. but of course there will be those people who might say that at i ride a track bike because i want to be "in the club", or think im somehow "fake" because my track bike might never see a track, they can suck it. no posing here. just a big dude lookin to lose weight, get some exercise and have some fun. I do feel this way about vinyl records. I think it's awesome that every store now stocks them because it will be around for a bit longer, but it is now used as a fashion statement and that is just annoying. I truely enjoy listenign to my vinyls. I'm 22 and have been using them since I was 16. I think that vinyl format is truely beautiful. It was a fun challenge to find the music you wanted to add to your collection. Now... where's the fun if it's available everywehre? |
Originally Posted by oneangrytoast
(Post 8539311)
+1. im pretty sure this is all there is to it. the feeling that they are the cool kids and the style makers, but then they get pissy when theyre style catches on. however, i can relate to an extent. when you actually do something because you like it, and have to deal with other people who do its because its cool and the new, in thing, it can be really frustrating. especially to watch some rich kids roll around with all the bling you wish you could afford, but cant, because your mommy and daddy dont pay for stuff anymore. at least, if you are truly into it and on top of your game, you will still smoke that pansy with the hed3 on his color coordinated NJS sparkling bridgestone frame. **** him. hahhaa
for me, personally, i got a road bike in a swap, fell in love with it. it finally dawned on me that bikes arent JUST for people with DUI's or broke *****es without a car. then i found out about fixed and trick track via the streetwear, street art, urban culture. foot down comps especially remind me of the days when i was kid watching the xgames when they would have the flatland freestyle bmx competitions. it was like these dudes were dancing with their bikes. it was amazing to see, but it kinda fell off the map (at least fell out of my realm of awareness). when i watch foot downs and people doing 720 big spins, etc etc etc it ignites a flame inside me that says, "get on your bike, ride it, you can learn this stuff if you just try hard and often enough." i grew up playing ice hockey (in south florida, if you can believe that) when everyone else was outside in the heat riding skate boards and surfing and wakeboarding, i was chillin hard inside the frozen tundra of my local rink four days a week, sometimes more. i played travel, high school and in college too. having been buried in one sport, i completely missed out on "extreme" sports. i missed the sense of challenge, and subsequent accomplishment that comes from playing a sport, but i have found it in trick track and fixed riding in general. biking is for the most part a low cost hobby, and i dont need 10 other people to coordinate with. i just get on my bike and go, when i want to, where i want to. besides, id rather be in private when im busting my ass repeatedly trying to learn new tricks! lmao people ask me all the time, "if you want to do tricks, why not bmx?" ill tell you why. im 6' and kinda sorta fat. have you seen how low those seats are on bmx bikes? you basically have to stand the entire time you ride. its completely impractical and uncomfortable. if you want to actually use your bike to get around, bmx makes no sense. track bikes just fit what i wanted in a machine - both tricking, and the ability to go on long, hard rides. to be 100% honest, as of right now i have absolutely no interest in taking my bike to the track. maybe that will change one day, maybe not. but of course there will be those people who might say that at i ride a track bike because i want to be "in the club", or think im somehow "fake" because my track bike might never see a track, they can suck it. no posing here. just a big dude lookin to lose weight, get some exercise and have some fun.
Originally Posted by oneangrytoast
(Post 8539311)
however, i can relate to an extent. when you actually do something because you like it, and have to deal with other people who do its because its cool and the new, in thing, it can be really frustrating. especially to watch some rich kids roll around with all the bling you wish you could afford, but cant, because your mommy and daddy dont pay for stuff anymore. at least, if you are truly into it and on top of your game, you will still smoke that pansy with the hed3 on his color coordinated NJS sparkling bridgestone frame. **** him. hahhaa
Originally Posted by oneangrytoast
(Post 8539311)
+just a big dude lookin to lose weight, get some exercise and have some fun
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