Fixed-Gear Bikes: “Some sort of new age weight loss gimmick?”
Hipster Runoff's Carles, lord of the alt. bros, trains his wilting criticism on fixie riders and all that they represent:
Have yall heard of fixed-gear bikes? Does n e1 know how they work, and why people buy them? Feel kinda like it might be more advantageous to have a bike with multiple gears, but I think sometimes ’subcultures’ can develop out of people ‘being unreasonable.’
I think with only 1 gear, u have to do more work in order to ride ur bike fast. Might be some sort of new age weight loss gimmick, kinda like what ‘large people’ will do in order to shed some calories. Not sure how useful[.]
One of Carles' commenters suggests that "there’s already a fixie backlash"–and several other commenters concur–regrettably, even: "It’s complettely [sic] stupid. Too bad all the boys that ride them make me wet my panties."
Let's face it, once a meme shows up on Hipster Runoff, it's no longer cool. My advice to fixie-riding hipsters is this: Get a fucking haircut. Quit talking about Animal Collective. Invest in some deodorant and at least one solid Brooks Brothers outfit (yes, this means foregoing those heavy-ass clown wheels). Then when you scoot around on your death machines, everyone will think you're ironic instead of stupid.
4:30 pm
Some people ride them because they're simple and cheap to fix and maintain, compared to a 21-speed bike, 20 of whose speeds are totally unnecessary in a city as flat as D.C.
5:04 pm
2b3s-
that's why people started riding them- think couriers in winter in the 90's- but most who ride them strike me as a bid faddish and poseur.
5:16 pm
i can't believe this post didn't get deleted by andrew or darrow for its fixed cog blasphemy and efficiency ignorance.
i don't even know where to begin with you, riggs.
start here:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html
see you at the top of the hill.
i'll try not to celebrate my victory with too big of a backward circle.
5:32 pm
As a friend puts it, "It's the white belt you can ride".
5:36 pm
Wait a minute, this is not a flat city! Notable hills include of course the big one up the meridian from U Street to Columbia Heights, and the hills going up and down into Rock Creek Park.It's not exactly the Netherlands...
6:38 pm
I didn't speak to "hills," "flatness," or other utility concerns.
I just posited that y'all look like a bunch of dirty hippies, scooting around on your silly bikes with your greasy hair.
6:39 pm
I'll see your sheldon brown and raise you a velo orange.
11:24 am
Mike: Why view everything through the tired lens of the late 90s hipster/anti-hipster wars? It's just a bike. Who cares if it's a fad? So's just about everything else in life.
8:52 pm
everybody shut the fuck up and go riding
5:57 am
Liked the website and posting this good stuff keep them coming