wish I’d written that

And while I don’t like everythng the kids do to make their fixie bikes look nutty, I’d say fixies have gotten a lot of kids on bikes that would otherwise not be on bikes. So to me it’s all good.

I have none of the “5 Inexplicable Fixie Fashions” on my Fixed Gear…does he hate me too? I will admit however, it is kind of an overdone, poser fad.

Allow me to restate what I’ve posted in the past, I ride a fixed gear cuz I can’t afford to upgrade my road bike. Its fun, easy to maintain and I don’t gotta shave my legs (anymore).

And, here’s a “+1” to whatever Demoncats says when he reads this article and responds below.

I’m guilty of two offenses: handlebars and brooks saddle.

Why hate on another cyclist? Doesn’t make sense.

it’s mostly tongue in cheek isn’t it? I found it pretty funny.

when I am dong big climbs …

only one gear … the easiest one …. Mr Fixie …. not funny …. tired.

Separately, I am far too old to be cool enough to understand Fixie “dudes”

Just askin’

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

Those who like fixies: enjoy. Those who don’t: Moan til’ your hearts are content!

To my eye there are some really cool bikes on there, especially the vintage conversions and original track bikes. But there are also some hideous monstrosities on there too. Somewhere on there is a restored vintage bike that I hand-made a custom copper head-tube badge for….but I dunno exactly where it is.

are the fixie hipsters that weave through cars and pedestrians when running red lights. I suspect it’s because they’re not strong enough or skilled enough to stop.

Their behavior reflects poorly on all of us. And that’s not okay.

what annoys me isn’t the bikes, which are beautiful…frankly it’s the attitude of some (there are tons of fixies where I live), maybe I’m projecting this onto them some, but a lot of these guys seem to think they’re god’s gift to cycling…and that everyone who rides a bike with a derailleur is somehow missing the boat, isn’t “really” cycling. On top of that they seem to think they’re the ultimate speed machines. Do they not realize that they’d get dropped within the first 5 minutes of a serious ride?

OK I know I sound kind of like an ass here, I don’t mean to be…and all you guys who have posted here obviously seem really cool. I’m probably way off in my opinions here. I had a good conversation on this site, a few months ago, asked why people want to ride fixed gear bikes. Got some great answers, one guy (maybe itswells, can’t remember) talked about how he loved to go on fixie rides in the winter, because he could get the same workout in 2 hours that he could get in 4 on a road bike. I thought that was cool. So, apologies if I’ve hurt anyone’s feelings…I’m just trying to understand, dammit! ;)

Except maybe for the “exercise loop” and certain Saturday-morning-only riders, seems like every rider in town has given me a “hi there” wave (and not the one-finger version, either). Fixie couriers, the older commuter dude with the giant construction-zone-type flashing light bungied on his rear rack, bike punks (also often fixie— “cheap to maintain and fix”), students on hybrids and mountain bikes, couples on tandems, even little kids on trikes.

I have not seen top tube pads or spoke cards much, either. And don’t dis a Brooks on any bike. Though if you’re putting one on a streamlined fixie, and buying one new, may I suggest one of these? Or go for the green one.