The Chainlink

Fixed-gear bikes showing up in every TV ad lately...

Should I be happy that basically every 30 second TV and print ad has a bicycle in it? Or annoyed that they are all bull-horned fixies?  I see them everywhere - for fast food, cell phones, banks...

 

Here's my pitch for a new ad:

 

A woman leaves the Verizon store. Before she pedals away on a nice upright commuter with a basket, she checks her Samsung Galaxy for directions. Then she stops at a red light (camera makes a point to show she's NOT in the crosswalk).

 

There we see a messenger-chic wannabe fixster, with cycling-cap and waxed mustache, gauged ears, a brand-new Chrome bag, and jeans so tight his leg hairs are sticking through, who can't track stand and is riding in circles trying to find an opening to run the red, oblivious to people in the cross walk.

Light turns green, woman goes, and after she swerves to avoid the guy falling over, she says...


"iPhone user."

 


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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MK on October 16, 2012 at 4:57pm

-5,475
your duncle said:

Count the days until you see the ad with "Joe Camel" on a fixie.  

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 17, 2012 at 8:52am

Crap, I'm having a 1989 flashback, now.

your duncle said:

Count the days until you see the ad with "Joe Camel" on a fixie.  

Permalink Reply by Gold Coast Fixed on October 17, 2012 at 10:06am

Fixed gear bikes on commercials? Commercials are OVER.

Paul Gnarlo said:

Relevant video from portlandia - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlGqN3AKOsA

Permalink Reply by baci on October 18, 2012 at 12:17am

 I've just this early summer gotten back into cycling. Absolutly love it. It's been quite a few years; compared to all you youngens, since I've rode.  So I guess I'm curious as to why it would be uncool to ride a fixed or (fixie) gear bike. I guess I understand different types of cycling comes and goes or different styles come and go.

 I don't know, I think they're cool as hell so I'm in the market for one. Definetly not a big box store type, but maybe a new Globe Roll or a Bianchi. Or maybe an old converted road bike from Craigs List. Either way I want one in my Wheel house. So if you see that Poser type next to you down town, it may be me. Give me a little slack, cause I was cool when biking wasn't...  

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 18, 2012 at 12:08pm

I give the old guys on WalMart mountain bikes the most credit of anyone.  They're usually the ones working the hardest for the leastest and a bike isn't so much a choice as a necessity.

Permalink Reply by Peter Richards on October 24, 2012 at 12:40am

Does everyone realize (if I am not mistaken) that the gag in the  "Portlandia" video referenced by Paul, is that the guy has a coaster-brake rig, not fixed? From a stop, as is reached by the character in the clip, going backwards on a fixed bike would be relatively easy. On a bike with a coaster, you can't back up from a stop as you could on a fixed bike, thus you would be more likely to get stuck with your earring on a door-latch-chain, like he did, such as if, for example, your pedal straps were too tight! Pay heed to the gruesome Sheldon Brown images of hand-injuries from the momentum of the spinning wheels effecting strong pull on the chain, and chain-ring, before moving any part of your body, carelessly, in the close vicinity your spinning, fixed drivetrain I would, however, caution everyone! All I can say to Brian is: A. most of those attributes in the image you attached are totally unrelated to the type of bike anyone rides, and, B. are similarly irrelevant to whether they are "unable to track stand", "(illegally) run(ning)the red(s)", "(from your view) oblivious" to pedestrians in "crosswalks", or more importantly, essentially (I would argue), and specifically, a true liability. If so, shame on that person, and thanks to you for cautioning everyone. However, it, also, may be true that everyone would be doing you a favor by asking, in return, that you be sure to make every effort to: 1. keep an open mind, where possible, and 2. (try to) be glad the offenders are not breaking the law, demonstrating their ineptitude, menacing pedestrians, AND blowing exhaust-type-fumes into the atmosphere from a point equidistant, or nearer, to you, and pedestrians, than them (ie. the tailpipe).

Permalink Reply by Peter Richards on October 25, 2012 at 6:39pm

(And) For the record, I have no specific allegiance to bullhorns, especially, for street use. My personal preference is towards drop bars.

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