I like riding fixies for training. They really smooth out your pedal stroke and there is no coasting allowed. The fixie "scene" is weak sauce though... messengers are bad ass, kids pretending to be messengers are not.
I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I absolutely detest fixie kids, I have a few at my school, and I swear I'm going to go crazy if I hear another one talking about his cranks while pointing to his pedals! And isn't it just the most perfect thing that their daddy's from laguna buy them 4000 dollar italian racing frames for them on christmas, just for them to turn them into useless junk, aaaaaaahhhhh, it's so aggravating! Now thats out I apologize for my bluntness, and anybody who's into this, have fun, I will do my best not to run you over when I see you.
Ironic, kewl, "just trying to fit in", a "new" social scene...we all had them. For me it was Mods, Heshians (sp?), rock-a-billy, and surf or surf/punk (neon suffering) The desired image gives kids that would otherwise get their butts kicked regularly finally have a social group to chill with. I find the retro neon sunglasses, tight jeans, and pack of smokes rolled up in a sleeve laughable and silly - but they are riding. I just wish they would add retro helmets to their ensamble(sp). Hate seeing brain trauma. The 'fixed gear' should stay in the velodrome, its like driving a car or motorcycle without brakes - F'in nutz.
Never thought to put it into words but I'd say this pretty much nails it. Still no different then all the other stuff kids do it just seems most of these guys are of an age where they should be getting out of this stage? I rode Friday with some guys up in Salem Or. and a few fixie kids showed up.(transplants from Portland) They were cool and all but that's a bad area for them. I had never seen someone take a newer model Colnago and convert it into a fixie. What a waste.
Sorry to disagree with you guys. It's not about street cred or 'wanna be messengers.' It's a new cycling culture based on style and, sorry to sound gay for you guys, about having fun on bikes! Young kids having fun making their bikes look cool and riding everywhere instead of driving, making us old farts look..... old!! Damn them! I can't even fit into those skinny jeans. While we show up to our mtb and road rides with as many as 5 to 40 people, these young (and presumably homosexual) kids from all walks of life are gathering in the hundreds for their little fun rides. I guess they should be saving their money for real mtb's and carbon road bikes so they can look and be more like us. But guess what? After getting involved in bike culture (gasp) they often branch out to buy bikes with gears and ride onto our trails (and thereby helping the bike economy too). How dare they! Sure many of them look like fishies out of water and some can't stop without brakes and care more about riding backwards. And I'd look like a fool if I wore their skinny pants. But it's still about bikes and riding bikes.... and bikes are cool.
I was taking my daughter to the high school on Monday and asked her which parking lot to enter. She said 'the Senior lot, not the Junior' and then added 'although it doesn't matter anymore'. It dawned on me that because of the under 18 driver license restrictions, that has been a great influence in the rise of 'fixie culture'. It's probably kept a few LBS' in business too. What else are they gonna do, pimp out Razor scooters?
for answers to all your questions not answered by maninashed check this out....http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5684963/
Honestly, I think Fixies are kinda cool. Constantly mashing, never stopping. Sounds like a great idea for me to commute to and back school while staying fit and having fun. I'm an XC-Rider so something like that would keep me in good shape for the races and stuff, without even trying! And no, I don't wear tight jeans, a V-Neck, ridiculous sun glasses, or chose to purchase neon colored frames. I'm probably going to get mauled by everyone on this forum.
