The Chainlink

Washington Post on "Fixies"

The Washington Post talks about fixed gear bikes in D.C. today. This is a very loooonnnnggg article. Something for couriers/messengers to read over lunch.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on September 28, 2009 at 2:03pm
You can get a fixie from Urban Outfitters? Somehow that does make complete sense.
Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on September 28, 2009 at 3:28pm
Decent article with accurate typifications. Good read for not just couriers/messengers. Thanx for sharing.
Permalink Reply by XV on September 28, 2009 at 4:49pm
does anyone else think of crystal-healing, homeopathy and other new age BS whenever a brakeless interviewee spouts such phrases as "super-aware" and "flow"?
Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 28, 2009 at 6:07pm
"You don't want to ride a track bike every day," he says. "It just wears you out."

True that...
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on September 29, 2009 at 8:12am
Sorry to give a thumbs down to this article, but I'm doubtful the author has ever ridden one. Anybody who describes fixies as 'sort of dumb', 'impractical', and 'super hip' within the first few paragraphs basically kills my attention. As long as Im giving my unsolicited two cents Ill throw in one of the better definitions I have read over the years, which I kept:

"A fixie is a bicycle reduced to its simplest and most elegant form. Lightening-fast, uncompromising and demanding: a bicycle that has rediscovered its true nature of an obvious and naked cycling machine, magically transforming every ride into a sensual dance imbued with speed, balance and rhythm."

Now thats a person who knows the true joy of a fixie.
Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on September 29, 2009 at 8:48am
chixieonfixie said:


"A fixie is a bicycle reduced to its simplest and most elegant form. Lightening-fast, uncompromising and demanding: a bicycle that has rediscovered its true nature of an obvious and naked cycling machine, magically transforming every ride into a sensual dance imbued with speed, balance and rhythm."

Now thats a person who knows the true joy of a fixie.

Until he discovers the joy of riding mopeds.
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on September 29, 2009 at 1:28pm
I'm simply fascinated the WP would pay this much attention to the topic. However fixies are everywhere in the District.

chixieonfixie said:
Sorry to give a thumbs down to this article, but I'm doubtful the author has ever ridden one. Anybody who describes fixies as 'sort of dumb', 'impractical', and 'super hip' within the first few paragraphs basically kills my attention. As long as Im giving my unsolicited two cents Ill throw in one of the better definitions I have read over the years, which I kept:

"A fixie is a bicycle reduced to its simplest and most elegant form. Lightening-fast, uncompromising and demanding: a bicycle that has rediscovered its true nature of an obvious and naked cycling machine, magically transforming every ride into a sensual dance imbued with speed, balance and rhythm."

Now thats a person who knows the true joy of a fixie.
Permalink Reply by XV on September 29, 2009 at 3:30pm
chixieonfixie said:
"A fixie is a bicycle reduced to its simplest and most elegant form. Lightening-fast, uncompromising and demanding: a bicycle that has rediscovered its true nature of an obvious and naked cycling machine, magically transforming every ride into a sensual dance imbued with speed, balance and rhythm."

Now thats a person who knows the true joy of a fixie.

Umm seriously? I ride a 'fixie' and all but I don't have such delusions or pretensions about it . Lightening fast? I'd give geared/TT bikes the prize for that. Also brakeless zen-seekers don't want go too fast lest they be suicidal. Uncompromising? I think it's pretty obvious that by removing your brakes you're compromising safety for aesthetic.
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on September 29, 2009 at 4:23pm
What's true about a fixed gear ride is that it is best suited to city riding in flatland - DC was a swamp and is relatively flat. Otherwise riding to the VA burbs is killer hills. Immediate topo to MD is not such a big deal.

After I moved here I spent quite a lot of money on an old Campy equipped Marinoni Special someone had discarded in the trash. Everything had to be rebuilt and repacked. Some idiot had tried to jam a cassette hub on the rear - ON AN ORIGINAL 1977 MARINONI SPECIAL LUGGED AND BRAZED WITH COLUMBUS SP TUBES. When I rebuilt it as it was intended, when I put a new Miche track hub on the rear with DB spokes, when I had a new Campy 48 tooth track chainring on it, when the Selle Italia "Cento" anniversary saddle was installed on the original Campy seatpost, after I acquired the n.o.s. Cinelli handlebars and stem, after the insanely smooth period Gipiemme pedals were installed (similar to Campy Record), and when I installed new Tufo tubulars,

...it sang to me - like a finely tuned instrument hitting the sweetest spot you've ever heard. It was like riding a rocket with gears or mounting a phoenix with pedals. I could put it over my shoulder like a shopping bag with a half gallon of milk in it and I could lift it with one finger.

It was like dating a beautiful woman for awhile, only knowing that she would eventually want a big house and grand places to explore year 'round, which are things I certainly can't provide. We rode around together, saw Chicago at speeds I've never seen on a bike. Then it was time to let go.

I sold the bike to someone with more space and hopefully more money.

I kept the bikes that can survive winter and can haul my gear.
Permalink Reply by yellow jello on September 29, 2009 at 7:58pm
The article was entertaining, but I was kind of bothered by how it accentuates the stereotype of fixie riders. I think a lot of us ride fixies for fun, and perhaps training. We ride carefully, with a front brake, helmet, proper lighting at night etc. We don't weave through traffic, and we don't run red lights. Heck, some of us even stop at stop signs!

Except now when I meet someone and tell them I ride a fixed gear bike, he'll be like "I saw that WashPo article..you anarchist! I don't want my taxes to go towards healthcare fixing your knees!"

Then there's the guy on his $5000 triathlon bike in the aero position zipping down the LFP threatening everyone's life screaming "ON YOUR LEFT" at every pedestrian, stroller pusher, and obese self-conscious biker trying to lose weight. Maybe someone can do an article on that subgroup of bikers and call them 'sort of dumb,' while describing the thrill of going fast, passing the slowpokes, shaking your head at them while you pass, scaring the children, the pleasures of chamois butter..... and end the article with "You don't want to ride fast everyday, you need to let your body recover."

Labels are for jars.
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on September 29, 2009 at 8:52pm
If you want, I can take you to the Northbrook velodrome and you can watch how fast fixies can go. Its a lovely place where no one uses brakes. I do use a front brake in the city and I think most people at least have one. Uncompromising in their simplicity, yes. Pure bike and no accoutrements. Bikes weren't invented with umpteen gears. I have a road bike and sure I can go a lot faster on it, no doubt, but there is nothing like rolling down an open stretch of road on a fixie, thats all I'm saying. It was a romanticized quote, but fitting for anyone who appreciates the beauty of the purest of cycling machines.

XV said:
chixieonfixie said:
"A fixie is a bicycle reduced to its simplest and most elegant form. Lightening-fast, uncompromising and demanding: a bicycle that has rediscovered its true nature of an obvious and naked cycling machine, magically transforming every ride into a sensual dance imbued with speed, balance and rhythm."

Now thats a person who knows the true joy of a fixie.

Umm seriously? I ride a 'fixie' and all but I don't have such delusions or pretensions about it . Lightening fast? I'd give geared/TT bikes the prize for that. Also brakeless zen-seekers don't want go too fast lest they be suicidal. Uncompromising? I think it's pretty obvious that by removing your brakes you're compromising safety for aesthetic.
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on September 29, 2009 at 8:53pm
Nothing like a guy who simply prefers to single stroke it.

envane x said:
chixieonfixie said:


"A fixie is a bicycle reduced to its simplest and most elegant form. Lightening-fast, uncompromising and demanding: a bicycle that has rediscovered its true nature of an obvious and naked cycling machine, magically transforming every ride into a sensual dance imbued with speed, balance and rhythm."

Now thats a person who knows the true joy of a fixie.

Until he discovers the joy of riding mopeds.

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