Fixies in Aliso

[donkey]

Originally Posted by Amon Amarth

If anyone wants to jump on the 'ol band wagon....I'm selling my Specialized Langster.....

I don't suppose it's a 56cm with the brushed raw finish?

Mine's dented......I'd like a new one.

B

Originally Posted by mtnbikerfred

Bike messengers ride them out of necessity because they are inexpensive, reliable, and light. Period.

Those are basically the same reasons that I choose to ride a fixie.......are they less valid because I'm not delivering packages all day? I don't get it

The main reason though.......they're fun. You should probably give it a good, honest shake on the streets for a few weeks before you knock it.

B

[kdog4130]

I do think there is a place for fixies, and do think that it's great these people are getting involved in cycling. I could do without the tight pants, permanent hoods of their sweatshirt over their heads, even on a sunny day, and all around emo attitude. Yes, it is a fad. Yes, I am hating! I do have a fixie.... a 84' Centurion (Dave Scott) It does not get ridden, with the exception of me trying to do circles in reverse in front of my house.

Most of these kids are into it because it is a fad......and I am glad it brings attention to cycling.....but I still do not know if it is the right kind of attention. I saw a fixie hanging in my local Active skateboard shop....YIKES!!!!

[foofighter]

i still need to get some pics of these guys

[bighit8]

Never tried a fixed gear, so I will hold judgment.

[SAR_boats]

I tried the fixie thing......for about 10 minutes. I would seriously kill myself on one if I tried commuting with it. I love the simplicity (and reliability) of single gear but you can't anticipate every situation so I'll stick to SS and great brakes.

Besides, since I don't have to use my legs to stop I can push a bigger gear. For a while I was running a 46-13. I dropped it to 44-15 because headwinds were no fun but I can still spin comfortably at 20mph.

So, if fixies are the new fad, then I guess I just ain't trendy. To each his own. They aren't hurtin me so I don't have a problem with them.

[0gravity]

Originally Posted by Amon Amarth

http://yamabushi.wordpress.com/tag/bike-messengers/

That link is everything about the latest trend. Somehow riding a fixed gear has become real trendy. The only prob is they are trendy, look at me, im to cool for gears and im all anti corporate, and will never buy big store bought bikes, snobs that think anything other than fixed is being a sell out. I have been riding a fixed gear for 20+ years and my current commuter is a '62 Armstrong 3spd converted to fixed. Also my off season road bike is a SS, and I ride my track bike at the Home Depot Velodrome. I have seen and talked to a bunch of these guys and they really give normal, safe riders a bad name. They ride around darting through traffic pretending they are messengers. They are posers. Just check out lafixed.com and you would see they think that they are the only "true" bike riders.

I have to kind of agree with a lot of that.

I've got a single speed for my basic city cruising (photo). I tried it fixed for month or so didn't like it. I know going fixed is all the fashion now, but I can't get comfortable with it and I find it stressful--especially if I'm doing a fun group social ride, bar-bike crawl or something like that.

And I figured out what it is: I don't like riding fixed because I put in much more time and mileage on both my mtn bike and my other road bike (fast and geared) so my brain is always thinking "freewheel". It's a muscle memory thing. It's hard to switch between the two. So I'd just rather not bother. Going freewheel with the single speed seems to work best for me. Maybe when I get bored, I'll throw it back on.

I have to admit, though, I look forward to getting spoke cards from the rides. It's kind of a cool ritual.

[doug m]

Originally Posted by mtnbikerfred

Listen. Fixies are cool.... on the track. IMHO, just stupid on the street. Waaayy too dangerous

Bike messengers ride them out of necessity because they are inexpensive, reliable, and light. Period. The side benefit is that the average Joe walking down the street in NY, Chicago, Baltimore, or Philly isn't going to jump on one a ride way without hurting himself. Back in the day, most fixies came out of the rafters in an uncle's garage so some poor schmuck could get a job. That's all that was available to them. Given the choice, most would rather have brakes than look cool.

The guys that ride them are hugely talented, but a little crazy. The fact is that most of fixie riders in OC are just a bunch of rich emo-kids with wheels. I hope none of them pay with their lives trying so hard to look cool.

Yeah, man, http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html, Sheldon was such a rich hipster emo messenger type bent on riding dangerous bikes. You're such a fool.

[scruffylooking]

Hey guys, I think Foo meant this to be a fun post. Let's keep it STR classy round here, k?

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by kdog4130

I could do without the tight pants, permanent hoods of their sweatshirt over their heads, even on a sunny day, and all around emo attitude.

Most of these kids are into it because it is a fad......and I am glad it brings attention to cycling.....but I still do not know if it is the right kind of attention. I saw a fixie hanging in my local Active skateboard shop....YIKES!!!!

"They are not like me so I must hate them"

[mtnbikerfred]

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

"They are not like me so I must hate them"

Sorry if I offended any fixie riders. You're using some very strong language here that I'm uncomfortable with. I don't hate you and neither does anyone else on STR. All I'm saying is don't do anything stupid. I'm looking forward to joining another fixie group ride. The Ronald McDonald house charity ride was a blast, and I met some of the strongest, most talented riders out there.


Here's my problem: I'm seeing the next generation of cyclists playing Russian roulette on bikes. I do not like it, but you are free to do what ever you want. Listen to one thing I say though: It's not a matter of "IF", but rather "WHEN" you'll get hit or run over bombing hills and losing control, running lights because you can't stop, splitting traffic when there's a perfectly good shoulder to ride. Why would you do stuff like that?! The logical conclusion is that some fixie riders truly have a death wish that goes along with the image/attitude most of them project.

Now that we cleared that up, Let's go ride!!!

[hoovermd]

Well, I have to admit that I love riding fixed.
Found out by accident because I ride a 'Cross bike with a flip-flop hub. Tall gear on the fixed side, mo' sane gear on the freewheel side.

Went out today for a quick jaunt to the LBS and lo and behold it turned out to be a 40 miler fixed.

Yes, I wear a helmet, pack my own shit like tools and tubes and have brakes. Simply pump the cross tires up to 100PSI and I'm off. Love passing the tri-guys .

The weird thing is that there is something almost primal about riding a bike so connected to the road. After all, we all started on tricycles didn't we?

Not sure I'd ride fixed MTB tho'...

[foofighter]

found out today that my buddies little bro is all into the fixie scene and found this video titled Taco Tuesday. I guess they meet up at triangle square and then head over to the offices off anton (across from south coast plaza)

http://www.vimeo.com/376126/

and critical mass in sin city vegas

http://flickr.com/photos/redroomatom...7604098378179/

[dubl_xl]

Check out this link if you want to see shiny purple rims

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lePP2...eature=related

[bighit8]

Im gonna make a fluorescent sleeve less shirt that says totttaly awesome, front and back. Plus a "No Fear" cap with the bill flipped up and blinking lights.

[richie_rich]

Flatland, gymnastics and dance meets fixie...check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiE1Q...eature=related

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by richie_rich

Flatland, gymnastics and dance meets fixie...check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiE1Q...eature=related

interesting

[bighit8]

I can only remember the splits!

[kdog4130]

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

"They are not like me so I must hate them"

You obviously missed the main theme of my post. I work in a shop, so these folks keep me employed. The word hate, is not used like I want to beat them up! Take it easy man! Nobody is attacking you personally.

[roadkillross]

not all fixed gear kids are emo. i have yet to meet one here. just cuz i roll my pants up doesnt make me emo. i listen to just about everything. and emo is one of my least fav. stop stereotyping and let those enjoy what they enjoy. i love both mtb and fixed. if u love mtb, then love that. dont be a downer and hate on ppl who love fixed, for whatever reasons.