From what I understand, the couriers and by extension anyone that looks of their ilk are banned from the Shortstop. The new hangout is apparently Little Joy. 1 block away, cheap drinks, and a pool table. Above average jukebox, too!

The War of the Fixies, as it eventually came to be known, was among the bloodiest battles of all of athletics - generally only overshadowed by the 1968 season for the Toledo Mudhens. Initially touched off by a fish enthusiast, it polarized the non-freewheeling cycling population with such a speed as was difficult for most outsiders to comprehend.

On one side of the raging torrent of petulance were the pro-brake masses. These were practical types who liked their knees, used fenders to prevent muddy stripes from running up their asses, and generally felt no need to rely on their legs alone for stopping power.

On the other side were the grizzled brakeless fiends, whose hatred of non-leg-based stopping techniques was matched only by their dogmatic opposition to those who consorted with becalipered front wheels. Any more than 120mm of spacing in back and you were the enemy to these riders in an instant.

Somewhere in the middle of the battleground was a curious oasis of apathetic joviality. The people here wondered, "seriously, who gives a sh*t?" and watched the opposing sides sling velodromatic epithets at one another with unsettling enthusiasm. Here, beer flowed freely as the blood mixed with degreaser on either side of their peaceful camp.

As in any religious conflict, both sides felt they had the important dieties on their side and had scars and stories to prove it. But as the battle wore on, dissent broke out here and there. Maybe brakes weren't so bad. Maybe brakeless wasn't so insane. Road conversions? Why not? And yeah, track frames are nice. But the leaders, seeing this, were enraged. This shall not be tolerated! Their diatribes drowned out even the sounds of screeching taxi wheels as their comrades saw their frames crumpled by motorists distracted by the fray.

On the day the battle ended, the sun rose over a destroyed metropolis littered with rusted cromoly, broken aluminum, and the occasional shattered carbon fork. Disembodied spokes stood sticking out of the pavement at odd angles. Smoldering effigies of the enemy hung smoking in the air, throwing shifting shadows in the dawn light.

The middle camp awoke to see this destruction, shaking their heads half from disappointment, half from hangover. There was no disbelief - these guys had it coming. The excitement was over, and it was time to move on. They saddled up on their motley mix of conversions, track bikes, and the occasional multi-speed whatever and rode off to get breakfast. Riding was, after all, the most essential point.

FD, Nice story!

S/F,
CEYA!

very good

throw in some cucumber sandwiches and you got yourself a deal!
:)

H -
you should never say that. instead, smack a stranger.
oh, and keep in mind that 99% of what gets posted here can be ignored...unless the postee is MERTON. Then it's allll bidniz.
:D

Nice read FDave!
now shut up and buy a track bike! ;)

bidniz? Is that a suburban Chicago term? Don't make me come up there and smack your trucker hat straight!

Whatever SCHAUMBURG...how soon we forget!

There was a huge scene in Schaumburg. Have you ever heard of Woodfield and Ikea? Funny, I can still use "I used to live next to Ikea" as an opening to a conversation with women. LOL

IKEA? You use that as an opening line? MKRG, you are single for a reason then. Sorry bro, you'll heal. God speed.

Nice use of the Mudhens.

WTF is a technical 'Bent? Is that a bent without brakes? is it SS or Fixie?
can one ride a technical bent on the track?

War is Peace.

What if we ride trackdrops? I don't like the position provided by 'horns.

excellent story, fd. very graphic. much better than most of the crap in history texts, anyway.

and 165, i was kidding, but you're right; it's blasphemy just saying that.

LOL - I knew you were H. Just funnin'

that was great FD

"What are you all dressed up for?"

Just remembered.
My mothers favorite was watercress in lightly buttered white bread with the crusts removed. Cut in quarters of course.

sandwiches cut in triangles are far superior to any other shape

Absolutely. There is no match for triangular food. My ex used to always bite off the apex of my pieces of pizza, pie, cake, etc., and it would infuriate me to no end. That's the best part! Am I the only one who cares about this?

Triangles win the internet.

good thing you got rid of her, that no good triangle food hating biatch
mmmn... pizza slice apex

Pie is traditionally served in a triangular shape - further indicating its legendary nature.

When I dropped my friend off last night, she was talking about the blueberry pie she was going to have. I went home to an empty plate of sadness.

Say it again...

Finally! Somebody got it! :beer:

.......WAR.......what is it good for..

Am I getting old? :(

I got it, but I didnt' want to be redundant. No worries!