I think it goes without saying that riding a fixie properly takes quite a bit of skill and finesse; the pedals being directly connected to the rear axle demands a fluid pedaling technique when riding at speed, not to mention the skill required to stop (quickly) without brakes. The issue I have with the fixie community is not so much the bike as it is with the silliness of riding a single speed in a city overrun with long, steep hills. For the most part, it means people are choosing this vehicle for its form rather than its function; the result is a preponderance of people who lack the skill to handle such a machine.
Not long ago, we were sitting in traffic in downtown Seattle. Sitting in traffic is what we do in downtown Seattle, and people commonly ride their bike instead since commuting by bike during rush hour is much more sensible than doing so by car. As we poked along, I noticed a guy weaving through traffic. The rider was adorned in typical fixie garb: messenger bag, tight jeans, enormous belt buckle. As he approached, the erratic nature to his motion belied his misplaced confidence in his skills. He seemed to be enjoying the responsiveness of his bike and was whipping around cars as he picked his path along. But there was a problem: he was over-steering and his efforts to stop his bike were overstated; he lacked the subtlety of a skilled rider but rode with an aplomb that goes hand-in-glove with someone whose aptitude doesn’t quite match their attitude.
I held my breath as he passed our car. He veered to the right and then quickly to the left before falling over onto the trunk of a beautiful, black Mercedes just in front and to the right of us. Owing to the nature of his fixed gear, his bike continued moving forward and his body lay limply and ineffective over the car as his belt buckle scraped a clean, uninterrupted gouge along the length of the car’s gleaming, black body. He moved his arms down to try to push against the car, searching in vain for purchase to slow his movement. He tried to pull his feet from his pedals but was unable to, thanks to his feet being secured by a set of cool, double-strap toe clips. Finally, he alighted upon the rear-view mirror which detached from the car’s body with a sickening crunch before he came to his feet just in front of the car, grimly facing the driver whose dismembered mirror he held like a football.
Traffic started moving again at this point so we didn’t get the opportunity to see how the interaction between the driver and Fixie played out, but the manner in which he stood fidgeting with the wires that dangled from the dismembered mirror, face agog at what had just transpired didn’t bode well for his negotiating position.
Posted in: Bike Setup / Seattle / Technology
The damn kids with their double track straps. They are bringing down the bar for the Jim Thomsons of the fixed gear world. In the Northeast that kid would get a pistol whipping. I bet he has no idiot insurance.
I love stories like this, Frank. That one photo says it all and it makes my blood pressure go up.
“get thee on a track ye little poser*”
*substitute “tosser” or “pussy” here
@john
I have to say, I respect that Northeast mentality of, “I hereby shoot you for the crime of High Sucking.” People in the Northwest are altogether too accepting of one another. A little dose of judgment is helpful for making you think twice before being a giant tool.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha, that’s the funniest shit ever!
You should’ve hung around to see what happened to the stupid sack of shit when the driver got to him.
I bet he wished he had a brake after that.
Giant tools don’t have judgement, that’s a contributing factor to why they are giant tools.
Perhaps the said giant tool would have better served the Mercedes driving public by starting with the freewheel side of a flip flop hub, a hand brake, big BMX platform pedals, and suspenders.
@brett
Indeed. Chicken and the Egg.
@Marko
And training wheels.
Cognitive Disonance is the term we’re looking for here.
@Marko
My second grade education level always reminds me of Pearl Jam’s song, Dissonance, whenever I see that term.
I’m all for getting more people on bikes. Fixed gear bikes with no brakes gotta be the worst choice for all hipsters looking to start riding.
I think some of the bikes look cool – just use a single speed with brakes though. Makes way more sense.
Email from a friend of mine (ex road racer) awhile back…
“Speaking of cars and bikes, I had a freaky car accident back in October. We were driving in NYC near the West Side Highway, going through a green light when a cyclist blasts into my left front fender landing on my windshield. He said he didn’t notice the red light on his street. He was very lucky, didn’t get hurt or do any damage to his fixed gear road bike. I don’t know how those guys can ride fixed gear bikes in city traffic, but you see them all the time. He did smash my windshield , but I was glad he was okay.”
@Dan O
Une velo sans le brakes is designed for one thing: the track. And even then, I bet these guys would have liked to have a set:
Even the the Jim Thomsons of the fixed gear world, as John pointed out, have the sense to mount an “oh shit” brake.
@frank
Yes, it’s true, my trusty fixed-gear commuter has not one — but two! — brakes. In the city, when you need to stop, it’s probably because you REALLY need to stop. I must have a lot to live for. Likewise, if people dig pure bikes enough they are willing to get crushed in traffic, so let ‘em, I say.
@all
Anyone else notice that Frank posts a lot about fixies considering he does not own or ride one? Kind of like the bi-curious guy who really wants to know what it’s like, but doesn’t want to get his dick all dirty, ay?
@jim
Spankles very nearly convinced me to buy a $500 chrome 61cm Bianchi Pista last weekend. I resisted. I suddenly understand it’s probably because I’m Fixiphobic.
Funny story, but you got it backwards. Fixed in hills just makes your legs strong. Track bikes on the street are for idiots.
His pedals aren’t connected directly to his rear axle. Ciao.
Hey Frank,
I liked your story, it fits my effort in class to teach attitude matching one’s aptitude.May I borrow this story for my class. I would need to remix/shorten it.
@Anisha
All yours! We would be honored! If you don’t mind, it would be fun to see the final version when you’re done revising!
Dear Frank,
I am adapting the story for a 10th Standard class, whose 2nd language is English…Would greatly appreciate if you could pitch in to make it funny.
The hot afternoons in India not only left one perspiring and dehyrated but also stuck in large traffic jams with non co-operating cows on the road. Frank sat behind the wheel waiting for the traffic to inch forward. The line was long, the movement slow. He thought it impossible for a fixie bike to be rode in such conditions.The pedals are directly connected to the rear axle demanding a fluid pedaling technique when riding at speed, not to mention the skill required to stop (quickly) without brakes.
For the most part,Frank felt these people were choosing the vehicle for its form rather than its function; the result being a majority of people who lacked the skill to handle such a machine.
This particular rider was adorned in typical biker garb: messenger bag, tight jeans, enormous belt buckle. As he approached, the erratic nature to his motion belied his misplaced confidence in his skills. He seemed to be enjoying the responsiveness of his bike and was whipping around cars as he picked his path along. But there was a problem: he was over-steering and his efforts to stop his bike were overstated; he lacked the subtlety of a skilled rider but rode with an aplomb that goes hand-in-glove with someone whose aptitude doesn’t quite match their attitude.
I held my breath as he passed our car.He veered to the right and then quickly to the left before falling over onto the trunk of a beautiful, black Mercedes just in front and to the right of us. Owing to the nature of his fixed gear, his bike continued moving forward and his body lay limply and ineffective over the car as his belt buckle scraped a clean, uninterrupted gouge along the length of the car’s gleaming, black body. He moved his arms down to try to push against the car, searching in vain for purchase to slow his movement. He tried to pull his feet from his pedals but was unable to, thanks to his feet being secured by a set of cool, double-strap toe clips.Finally, he alighted upon the rear-view mirror which detached from the car’s body with a sickening crunch before he came to his feet just in front of the car, grimly facing the driver whose dismembered mirror he held like a football.
@Anisha
You did a great job, I hope your students enjoy it! (I’ve spent my fair share of time in India and can not imagine riding a fixie in that traffic!! Cheers!)
@Anisha
If you are telling the story, then the last paragragh needs to be changed from ‘I’ back to ‘Frank’.
So “I held my breath” would be “Frank held his breath”. Then make it clear that the rider is not Frank. i.e “Frank held his breath as the reckless rider passed his car.”
And maybe a concluding sentence at the end to wrap it up a bit better.
Wow, just dug this up. What a hilarious story! This pretty much sums up how I feel about a LARGE majority of people on fixed gears in our U.S. conurbations – you need to learn how to ride that thing before you go tearing through traffic without brakes. And, you should still have a brake.
The dude in the photo is spot on – ugly tattoos, cool bag, crappy Peugeot, no bar tape, probably no plugs.
I really, really want a trained sociologist to write something serious on the fixed gear craze, as it is amazing to me that people will grab a nice bike, rip the gears off, tear the brakes off, then go riding it around. Stunning.
I can’t believe he scratched the hood AND broke off the mirror.
A few weeks back was finishing up a 35 mile ride, cruising it in. Noticed someone drafting me really closely…while I coasted down a hill. Huh? Didn’t feel much like talking, so dropped him. A few blocks later, as I’m coasting again he pulls up alongside me. “What’s the rush?” He asks…as he then works really hard to accelerate past me. I was speechless. Then I noticed he was brakeless, on a carbon track bike. Goodness, some people are sure idiots.
@Ron
I saw your other post on the Customize your Ride article; you’re really dead-on with your assessment. As a Velominatus, I am always happy to see a bike. Period. Fixie, commuter, Toilet Seats (as my dad calls the traditional Dutch Bikes). I like seeing people customize their bikes because it is the act of a Velominatus to change their machine to suit their needs and their desires.
But, when people are drawn to something through a desire to be part of a trend rather than part of a purpose, form ceases to follow function and confidence ceases to grow with aptitude. And that is a terrible thing.
This guy was a classic example of how these things go badly.