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Thread started by Dick Neptune at 08.7.08 - 7:31 pm
Before anyone snaps back at me, please note:
I own a fixie and I enjoy riding it. I am a fan of all things bike.
Many of you are extremely skilled and physically strong riders, and you also tend to be the ones who are open to all types of cycling and never cut anyone down. None of this is really directed toward you. You guys are cool.
This message is directed toward those who use a bicycle as a form of accessory to your little hipster outfits, and those of you who really don't know why you are riding fixed, but you just know it is so in style this year. Finally, this is directed toward the fixie hipster kids who make fun of cyclists who choose to embrace technoloy and focus on function over form - I am referring to spandex and geared bikes. Could anyone look me in the eye and tell me that tight cutoff jeans, leather belts, and camper shoes are not form over function? Admit it, you are going for a look - BIG TIME. Going for a look is cool by me, but if you choose to make fun of "roadies" for "going for a look", aren't you being a bit of a hypocrite, especially when roadies are probably trying less hard than you?
A few things for all ya'lls:
1.) A long time ago all bikes were fixed gear. Then, one day someone said "shit, this is retarded - I'm going to invent the free hub." Cycling got one step less retarded.
2.) A long time ago all bikes were single speed. Then, one day someone said "shit, this is retarded - I'm going to invent the derailleur." And again, cycling got one step less retarded.
3.) "Spandex", as it is commonly referred to as, is worn for FUNCTION. If you were to do more than ride a few blocks in downtown LA you might suddenly notice your body's core temperature increases and reduces your ability to produce power and causes you to dehydrate unless you can allow it to cool. What if there was a material that could cover your body while still allowing your skin to breath? Oh shit, this is! Spandex. Secondly, what if there were a material that allowed for flexibility reduced chafing, and was light-weight? Holy Fuckballs, there is! Spandex.
None of us wear our gay spandex because we think it looks cool. We wear it because we don't really care abotu looks - we care more getting the most out of our bike ride.
So, before you shout at a "roadie" such intelligent exclamations as "!@#$?" or "fruitcake", or before you choose to think you are an elite form of man kind, just know that some of us !@#$?s also ride fixie and could probably put you to shame if we ever really wanted to - just as i know some fixie guys can beat the hell out of me on a road ride on geared bikes.
All forms of cycling are good. You are not "exteme" or "bad ass" for riding fixie through traffic lights and around cars (thats actually boarderline retarded. I am not "extreme" or "bad ass" for racing criteriums at 35mph, elbow to elbow with other !@#$?s (also pretty retarded).
Really, i just ask that if you ride fixie as a form of fashion statement or cultural trend, perhaps have some respect for those of us who ride for reasons that don't come and go with the times. Back before you joined the hipster-fixie craze, (you know, when you were doing the raver thing), some of us were already riding, and for no other reason than because we love to ride. When you sell your fixie for $25 and jump on the next bandwagon, guess what, us !@#$?s will still be riding.
I'd say if anyone, regardless of what they ride or drive wants to be a dick towards you, kick'em in the shins, right-hook to the face, and scream, "Hallelujah" into the sunset!!!
A dick is a dick, and that's all their is to it.
That and being a chickenshit for the most part.
In fact, most dicks are also chickenshits on the inside.
It's simple, really. A cool fixie is a fast one.
The first time I saw one was a crazy pizza delivery guy in DC in 93, fkn rad dude could ride around shit like time stood still.
Go to the mission in SF where fat kiddies ride them like beach cruisers.
Blame it on Nylon magazine of you need to point fingers...
I LOVE fixies (or any bike for that matter) as a trend, a fashion, a think that makes somebody feel cool, warm, hip, happy, and accepted.
I think its GREAT!
I can't wait until KMART starts selling fixies instead of mountain bikes.
I think the general populace would be better served and get more bike for their money.
I just got my first fixie last week.
I ride it around in my rolled up jeans and I love it.
So does it make me a hipster poser if I start riding a fixed gear sometimes now? Yeah I've known a guy for years who rode one (hehe tallcans) and I was kind of interested, but then a few months ago I was reading good ol' sheldon brown's website and what he had to say about fixed gear pros and cons and that really sparked my interest in giving it a try for myself. It's definitely not going to change the way I dress or act. I just see it as a new way to have fun and mess around on a bike, which is what I love to do.
Now that there's the hipster factor is it an issue to start doing it if you're not a hipster?
"We wear it because we don't really care abotu looks - we care more getting the most out of our bike ride."
Hahahah, you're so full of shit. If it's not about the looks than why do 99% of you lycra clad "roadies" wear the team kit of your favorite HGH abusing heroes? Why not black shorts and plain white jerseys? Much more functional than your gaudy Team Chipotle shit.
I have lycra shorts. I don't bother wearing them unless I'm going to be out more than 3 hours. Less than that my cut off levis are fine and no one stares at my huge balls bulging out of my chamois.
I have too much caffeine coursing through my body. I need to log off and go outside. I think I'm gonna set up my tent in the back yard by the tomatoes. Okay, bye.
to me the spandex riders are completely not functional unless they are racing. that's cause I'm a commuter. I ride every day and by consequence so do most "hipsters". so I need my jeans and t-shirt so as to blend in with society when I get off my bike. wearing spandex and clip shoes would be ludicrous. fixed gear bikes I dont have one but they are functional too. less parts = less hassle.
I wear spandex and clipless shoes (mountain ones that you can walk in) to work every day and I don't have any trouble blending in at work. I stop in a bathroom and change my clothes when I get there. This way, I also avoid stinking up my office by walking around with the sweat of a 10 mile bike commute on me. Many of my spandex shorts are pretty old, and while the chamois is still comfy, the spandex is often so thin from washing as to be see-through, so depending upon the state of my laundry pile, I may or may not be wearing shorts on top of my spandex, but I prefer not to if I'm in a newer pair and if I won't be 'socializing' on my bike, since the shorts are always snagging the seat and such. I do try to spare you all the image of myself clad in skin tight spandex on the party rides if at all possible.
I've caught more than a few women in my building staring at my junk when I come in in the morning, too. I find it kind of amusing watching them try to avoid looking at my junk if I strike up a conversation with one of them before changing clothes. It's payback for years of low cut necklines on women in the workplace. What's funny is that they are much less practiced at maintaining eye contact while conversing than most guys I know. It's funny as hell watching them struggle to keep their eyes pointed above my shoulders. One of these days I'm gonna have to shove something ludicrously oversized down the front of my shorts before walking in and see what happens.
How many single speed free-wheels are out there? That's what I ride. I also like the simplicity and clean look of not having gears and shifters but I think pedaling constantly, especially downhill or when negotiating sections of shitty pavement, is silly. Plus, I ride too much mountain bike and roadie-roadie bike to want to make the mental switch all the time to fixie. I'm lazy.
Oh, I just read what handbone wrote. We say it all the time, I don't know what it means but I assume it's some kind of French mating call. It seems to work?
I'm glad we have gone from moralistic pressures on others, to defining life for others. Thanks for cutting us all up into groups, and then using these groups to determine where on the status ladder we all are.
I have a fucked up colored fixie that matches my shoes. I wear tight jeans. I am the ultimate cheap hipster, as I have no NJS stamps, but I flow freely with the colors. Form over function, right! Fuck spending money on exspensive well made parts, justlets go with colors.
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Ridazz Roulette!
Some times I feel like a nut.
Sometimes I don't. (or vice versa) Whatever. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care.
You guys don't know anything. Hipsters ride BMXs, duh.
How about we shoot each other with love ray guns.
Dubya don't like skinny-jean hipsters with their toe cages. Dubya loves Brooks Brothers socks with SIDI shoes!
I think the different bike-type riding people need to stop drawing