Or people might think you're insane and subsequently avoid the crazy wavy guy.

Where is this discussion headed?

Perfect!

And, I can translate.....Tattoo vans vans, tattoo's and vans. Vans tattoo vans vans tattoo flannel american apparel pants too tight vans tattoo.

(sidenote: I both have tattoos and wear vans, but I'm also 35 and wore vans when my Chris Cook deck wasn't concave)

I'm hatin'.

vans vans vans full sleeve dickies vans vans raw denim? hipster ******

+1

I can't stand most of the people that ride fixed gear bikes any more. I could give a **** if we're all doing the same thing (which, at this point, is have the same type of bicycle drivetrain, the similarities tent to end there). A choice of bike doesn't make up for serious lifestyle/philosophical differences. I have an identity OUTSIDE of the bike I ride, and therefore don't need everyone on a bike to validate and/or accept me.
So what's the problem?

I've been wearing Vans since the early 80s. Where's my prize? :notamused:

http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/d1qo4.jpg
Photo by Big Jonny

go ride your fixie in a team kit that way you can be friends with everyone

I think everyone should just shut up and go ride their bikes already.....Be sure to wave back at me if you see me....If not, its all good.

Too bad riding a fixed gear is not like driving a Corvette.
If two people are driving Vettes, and pass one another, they give one another a nod or wave. A sign of respect for loving the same thing.

I nod and wave and have had the favor returned... what cities are you guys riding in?:

Bend over and I'll show ya. :lol:

indeed

What an incredibly stupid thing to say.

can't nod to every other biker or even fixed rider here in davis, i'd get whiplash.


also, I might nod at someone riding freewheel with just a front brake, which pisses me off because high bike density and noob riders with just one brake = big crashes

ftfy

Wore Vans in the early 80's. You mean they're still hip???

+1 on the "corvette wave"

Really? What about this:
They made clipless Vans when I was a messenger 10 years ago.

Funny thread.

Rob

It's the Jeep wave.

I ride in boots.

no, he is exactly right. no one looks at tatoos and piercings and thinks "what an inviting look, he must be polite and friendly". any smart person would know what they were in for when they started.

I personally have no problems with tatoos and piercings, but they do still have a stigma in society and will cause many people, myself included, to make assumptions.

Read what he posted again. "You got what you wanted". It's an unfortunate characteristic of some people in his generation that they can be so fantastically self absorbed as to think the only reason anyone would do something is to elicit a response out of them, but outside of baby boomer delusion land you'll find that most people aren't thinking about what reaction other people are going to have when they get dressed in the morning, or chose their haircut, or get body modifications.

Being part of the dominant clique in society neither excuses nor condones your ignorance either. It would be similar to you coming downtown and having ten of us confront you in a bar saying "We don't like you old pricks coming down here with your khakis and polos, get the **** out of here" and us justifying our behavior by saying "Well, they got exactly what they wanted wearing those clothes". It's idiotic and juvenile (which is ironic because it comes from old people more often than not).

So I reiterate, it's an incredibly stupid and self absorbed opinion to hold.

They're just mad because having fixies show up on the market from Specialized, Trek, etc. means that the fixie "movement" is dead, and they now have a bike that they can't sell for anything close to what they have in it.

ElTwitcho,

Well, it appears we are both hyper-generalizing. But, I must admit that I do not give everyone the same autonomy and "totally disconnected from the world around me" feelings that you do. I believe that the vast majority of people make statements with their appearance. They are consciously and purposefully sending messages. There are exceptions. We're talking about human beings. Of course there are exceptions. As long as tattoos are not grossly offensive (say racial slurs or outrageous vulgarities) I have no issue with them unless they are below the wrist line or above the collar line. Then, I believe people have made personal decisions that negatively affect them. Again, a very small minority exist. But for example, if you decide to get a neck tattoo then please be very sure you are exceptional at what you do because a price will be paid. That's reality. Same goes for tattoos below the wrist line and anything done to your face. Your face and hands are who you are. Study after study has proven this - yes, we actually look and make judgments about people by their hands. The face is a given. So, if you alter these things in unnatural ways the overwhelming reaction from society as a whole will be negative. Tattoos like say full sleeves are largely taken in stride but they do impart an "outside of the norm" feel. This is intentionally done by the vast majority.

I don't buy the hyper individualism for a second. And again - in the vast majority. Why? Well, let's see. Do you have any idea how many hyper-individualists I've seen with the exact same tattoos and the same types of facial piercings? Very "Lone Wolf" behavior. Give me a break.

You know, I teach my kids to stand tall as individuals. To question the norm. To ask why. Believe me when I tell you there are days my 15 year old pushes those limits. But, I also teach them that true individualism is an inside job. The moment you do what others are doing you are by definition participating in herd behavior. The herd ain't a bad place to be. You can change the herd by being a person of true individualism. You will stand tall and the mirror will always reflect a true man or woman.

Ghandi was an individual but to look at him he was just another old, skinny cat walking down the street. He changed 2 countries.

/thread

you would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't choose their clothes or hair based on what another persons opinion will be.

there actually used to be a dude on here that rode the vans/spd combo, brakeless.

oh but and also: it is incredibly naive to think that because you deserve someone's respect because you both ride a similarly styled bike, because you ride a bike at all. i've found that fixed gear riders in particular believe they are some rarity and as such they are brothers in arms. they are not. listen, you ride a bike, great, here's some empathy. but don't feel like i have to give you the time of day. we ain't nothing special.

finally, this whole thread: tl;dr.

lol i give all cyclists a nod on the trail i ride down, every once in a while you'll see another fixed rider and he'll nod back, but never the millions of ppl on multi speeds