I tell you.
The latest craze is giving me the shits.I do ride a Fixie and I enjoy it. There are plenty of reasons not to ride my fixie and I sometimes ride other bikes too, as I have a range of a few bikes I can ride given the ride, weather and terrain.
I have a head turning fixie with a very hard gear ratio. I was always a spin up and push kinda guy, rearly did I sit but I would lean on my saddle. most of my weight was always on my pedals.
I am no longer young or cool or in fashion. I don't try to dress like anyone. I just get up and do my thing and get dressed.
2 days ago a message arrived in my IN BOX and it was from a journalist. They wanted info on "why are fixies so popular".
I really am not the best person to ask. I have a little spoke card that says FIXIES SUCK. I ride one too, and I enjoy it. Please don't forget my other bikes.
The journalist was asking the same basic questions as the previous Jurno asked. The jurno then said that they got a Trek Single Speed, for the article. As far as I know, and that is limited to what I see, I had the idea that Fixed gear bikes have their appeal because of the "basic-ness" of them, the cool in the ride and the feeling of nothing making a rattle sound and feeling attached. This all comes with the riders personalised position, set up and bits. After all there should not be to many bits to a fixie. A real fixie might treat a bike like trash, but you could call that artistic expression and style.
I just find the whole idea of fixed gear bikes on the general market interesting.
Bike messengers are possibly the hardest people you will meet in your urban sprawl, And possibly the hardest working versus how much they actually get for any one job they do.
They have been left unprotected by the law in relation to rights they have on the road (in my city anyway as it is in MOST others). HOWEVER, they are mimicked even to destruction. Everyone wants to look as cool as a Bike Courier. The free life outdoors.
Bike messengers ride fixies cause they want to. There is no reason why they cant. But I warn you budding noobies and fakengers. Riding a fixie is not for the feint of heart.
My neighbour who jumped on my bike made almost a whole 2 pedal strokes before he fell off. yep he tried to stop and paniced. Over the bars he was thrown. Quite funny but pending law suit is what I saw in mid air when everything just stopped. If I could just hit the rewind key and bend his knee. But to my amazment he neglected to let go so he landed on his back and not his face.
Fixies are for those who can do it. When asked by the jurno over the phone interview, what accessory would I not be without. I said a strong and small enough "D" lock. Small enough to put in my butt pocket. and no I dont mean up my arse thanks.
Bike Couriers have spoken to the media a lot of late and even when the journalist asks questions that seem harmless. It seems that the editors at one of our main publishers seem to always put a negative spin on the story when there is a bike courier involved. I can say they are burning their bridges.
2nd Bottom pic is of Simon from
Perth doing a 315 meter skid (
1017.0572999999999 feet)
but while we are at it check this out.
I find myself being less of a Troll or Space Pilot or Conqueror on line and tend to contact a friend or invite them to smirsh ideas.
Times have changed. Wizardry on the apple ][E where on the bottom level if you stayed Left at every junction you would live. Little clues on the walls "ANDREW" was the creator of the game and "WERDNA" was written on the walls. It was written in Pascal and if you opend the bat file all you had to do was go to find roll values... and add some kinda exrta bit like (strength (roll value)*3.3). Keeping the cheat values low meant you could still play the game without playing GOD mode. And the spell Titawait actually was described as a radio active blast
When it came out. Soul Calibur on the playstation really was a gaming benchmark. It had every aspect of a complete game experience. So did lylat Wars on the Nintendo. A very stand out game for its release in game timelines. They actually made the experience GAMELY, fun and mostly playable. I mean Original Sonic with the mega Pad joystick was awesome.
Meanwhile over here, people drink coffee in their caffe's wondering if the bill can be paid with their credit card. Our telcos scoffle over the way they are going to release technology to us to make the most money. A lot how Sony as a game Vendor service. The Playstation 3 and PSP have features that are fantastic making every bit worth the money you spend, Whilst here is the land of Sweeping planes and grand blue mountains these features are released as net get or "to look forward to"..jpg)
My bike is such a floosy, I went to Norton St today for the ITALIAN FIESTA Festival, the street was closed off and the Bike Valet was operational. I arrive in the morning and you can ride down the closed road and things are warming up. 30 minutes later it was chock-o-block with people from everywhere. I was impressed by the vibe of the event and that kids where catered for in both activities and shows.
So I built this with new wheels and parts I had in my garage. the wheels are Velocity with flat spokes and formula hubs. the cranks are from my mate Adam, Raleigh 70's era cranks (170mm) with 50 x 17 ring and cog, turbo seat and nothing fancy bars stem. I am rather scared of my forks. They are series 1 TCR (yes GI##T) and they have a one inch steerer tube. I reckon my bike looks sweet and by the looks of it a lot of others do too.
