Here’s a feature in yesterday’s New York Times on the fixed-gear/track bike phenomenon we’ve also noticed around NYC. These bikes have fixed rear cogs so that coasting is impossible. Instead of using hand brakes to stop, riders simply control their speeds by pedalling, or skidding.
It’s a good overview of the history and current culture of the fixed-gear lifestyle. And the author compares it to skateboarding and surfing, sport counter cultures that eventually suffered from being over-popularized.
If you’re interesting in digging deeper, let us also direct you to the MashSF blog.
Read the full article here
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interesting article. one thing, could you avoid linking to the last page of times articles… just a bit of hassle to click back 2 pages…
April 30th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
George,
Sorry about that – I’ve fixed the link & republished. Thanks for pointing it out.
April 30th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Well, it has the cornerstone of any Sunday newspaper trend piece:
“the fixed-gear bike culture could be the tip of something that nobody can accurately predict but something that is huge”
April 30th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
anyone see the beautiful film on youtube with folk pulling some sick (and graceful) stunts, on ‘fixies’ ? some straight up BMX rips, but the ‘powerskids’ rock…
so used to seeing a few couriers in london just jumping red lights – makes a nice change…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0AFpq6jFok
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 am