I'm a single/fixed gear nub
03-15-10 | 12:22 PM
#1
Thread Starter
luv13ug
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: California
Bikes: Vilano Single/Fixed gear
I'm a single/fixed gear nub
Hi everyone!
I just got into the whole single speed / fixed gear scene not knowing that here and everywhere else we are looked down upon or made fun of... It really discourages me that these other bikers (road bikers mostly) talk smack on people that prefer a single speed or fixed gear bike. I mean, is there anything wrong with riding this way?
I just want to know why everyone is so anal about it. I just feel that people put a bad name to it since it's the "in" of today. But who knows I'm just talking with a 1 month experience to this bike culture.
Here's a bad picture of my bike lulz. I'll take some better ones tonight
It's a Vilano and it's just a starter bike for me. I call her "Black Die-I-Might" due to an incident I had already with the bike. I was hit by an f-350 (side view mirror) but i was literally knocked off and both the bike and I survived and nothing damaging at all.
I just got into the whole single speed / fixed gear scene not knowing that here and everywhere else we are looked down upon or made fun of... It really discourages me that these other bikers (road bikers mostly) talk smack on people that prefer a single speed or fixed gear bike. I mean, is there anything wrong with riding this way?
I just want to know why everyone is so anal about it. I just feel that people put a bad name to it since it's the "in" of today. But who knows I'm just talking with a 1 month experience to this bike culture.
Here's a bad picture of my bike lulz. I'll take some better ones tonight
It's a Vilano and it's just a starter bike for me. I call her "Black Die-I-Might" due to an incident I had already with the bike. I was hit by an f-350 (side view mirror) but i was literally knocked off and both the bike and I survived and nothing damaging at all.
03-15-10 | 01:50 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 795
Likes: 22
Forget the tribal warfare. There are fixie riders who look down on roadies, steel framers who look down on aluminum, spandex people who look down on skinny jeans, hipsters who look down on commuters, and it goes on and on and on and on. Almost everyone who rides bikes in North America is doing it at least in part because they like it, and almost everyone is just out for fun and happy that you are too.
03-15-10 | 01:51 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 0
From: Central CA
Bikes: A little of everything
Forget the tribal warfare. There are fixie riders who look down on roadies, steel framers who look down on aluminum, spandex people who look down on skinny jeans, hipsters who look down on commuters, and it goes on and on and on and on. Almost everyone who rides bikes in North America is doing it at least in part because they like it, and almost everyone is just out for fun and happy that you are too.
03-15-10 | 02:04 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
I just got into the whole single speed / fixed gear scene not knowing that here and everywhere else we are looked down upon or made fun of... It really discourages me that these other bikers (road bikers mostly) talk smack on people that prefer a single speed or fixed gear bike. I mean, is there anything wrong with riding this way?
03-15-10 | 02:40 PM
#6
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Super Pista, Basso, Big Dummy
You think other types of cyclists look down on you? Just wait until you get a taste of the infighting/class warfare that exists right here. Nobody hates us like we do! Die hipster, die!
03-15-10 | 02:43 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 0
From: Central CA
Bikes: A little of everything
03-15-10 | 03:13 PM
#10
Thread Starter
luv13ug
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: California
Bikes: Vilano Single/Fixed gear
hahah!! Thanks guys for the kind words. Yeah I've been looked down upon for years when i started rollerblading and that **** sucked ass. But i'll keep my head up and ride what i want.
Oh and a nub is just another way to spell/say "newb" hehe
Oh and a nub is just another way to spell/say "newb" hehe
03-15-10 | 08:19 PM
#13
.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 12,769
Likes: 38
From: Rocket City, No'ala
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
03-16-10 | 08:08 AM
#15
Sir Fallalot
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 17
Forget the tribal warfare. There are fixie riders who look down on roadies, steel framers who look down on aluminum, spandex people who look down on skinny jeans, hipsters who look down on commuters, and it goes on and on and on and on. Almost everyone who rides bikes in North America is doing it at least in part because they like it, and almost everyone is just out for fun and happy that you are too.
03-16-10 | 08:27 AM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 795
Likes: 22
03-16-10 | 08:51 AM
#18
Veteran Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,854
Likes: 913
From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels
Isn't this a basic cultural difference between east and west? In eastern culture acceptance and conformity to a collective standard, whereas in western culture it's more about self and rebellion.
03-16-10 | 08:56 AM
#19
Thread Starter
luv13ug
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: California
Bikes: Vilano Single/Fixed gear
Seems like it makes sense. Western culture did pretty much forced new ways to the Eastern region. But honestly, I don't look down on anyone doing anything with their lives. It's what they want and we all have to accept it.
03-16-10 | 09:03 AM
#20
Sir Fallalot
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 17
They do and as well they should. Singlespeeders are all about humility and honor. Honor, humility and self-confidence. Actually, honor, humility, self confidence and an almost fanatical devotion to ... nothing, really. Nobody expects THAT!
03-16-10 | 10:08 AM
#21
Thread Starter
luv13ug
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: California
Bikes: Vilano Single/Fixed gear
So wait, all-in-all, single speed riders are good or bad people?
03-16-10 | 11:53 AM
#22
Banned.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Do people really turn their noses up at fixed gear riders? I know there is (or used to be) a bit of a backlash from people who felt that non-bike messengers shouldn't be riding fixed gear bikes for some reason. I read a blog recently where the author referred to track bikes as "messenger bikes"... that whole attitude always seemed kind of odd to me. Bike messengers didn't invent track or fixed gear cycling, and from my personal experience the only thing most fixed gear riders have in common with messengers is that they can't coast on their bikes. I live in Florida and I don't think I've ever even seen a bike messenger here. Nothing against messengers, but I certainly don't find that career to be anything special... certainly not special enough to warrant imitation.
03-16-10 | 12:07 PM
#23
a.k.a. QUADZILLA
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Super Pista, Basso, Big Dummy
Do people really turn their noses up at fixed gear riders? I know there is (or used to be) a bit of a backlash from people who felt that non-bike messengers shouldn't be riding fixed gear bikes for some reason. I read a blog recently where the author referred to track bikes as "messenger bikes"... that whole attitude always seemed kind of odd to me. Bike messengers didn't invent track or fixed gear cycling, and from my personal experience the only thing most fixed gear riders have in common with messengers is that they can't coast on their bikes. I live in Florida and I don't think I've ever even seen a bike messenger here. Nothing against messengers, but I certainly don't find that career to be anything special... certainly not special enough to warrant imitation.
Originally Posted by BikesnobNYC
"Save The Track Bike" is actually about making sure people remember that the "OGs" of the fixed-gear scene (meaning the people who have been riding track bikes since waaay back in 2005) are still cool. I know what else you're thinking: "Aren't the people now trying to save track bikes the ones who ruined them in the first place by putting Hed 3s on their keirin bikes after watching MASH?" Absolutely not. In the fixed-gear universe, these are the very people who invented track bikes. See, track bikes were invented in or around 2005, and the scene reached its apex in early 2009, at which point it was promptly closed. It's vitally important that the new generation of fixed-gear freestylers regards them as the pioneers they are instead of dismissing them as the creepy old guys at the party which is what they look like now.
03-16-10 | 12:07 PM
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
03-16-10 | 12:26 PM
#25
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 150
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
Bike messengers tend to be seen by many as fringe / anti establishment types who oddly enough... earn their living off the establishment.
Truth is that many are only there because they are addicted to fresh air and adrenalin and many of the guys here are family guys with wives and children and a mortgage.
Keep riding long enough and your fixed gear will start looking like this... and you might even have a bike or 7 with gears.
Truth is that many are only there because they are addicted to fresh air and adrenalin and many of the guys here are family guys with wives and children and a mortgage.
Keep riding long enough and your fixed gear will start looking like this... and you might even have a bike or 7 with gears.