Video: Mission Fixie Culture Contextualized

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Video: Mission Fixie Culture Contextualized

Posted on 08 October 2008 by john

Finally I get it! Here in fly-over country it takes so much longer for the really cool trends to get to us. It’s always reassuring to know that I am not a dork when I ride around on my fixie. I’ve got to get me some of them rolled up pants though… Thanks very much to Godot for the video.

12 Comments For This Post

bikefool Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 9:48 am
That was a good picture of fixies, only missing the -sshats at critical mass.
Hot Beth Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Ortwin Stieber is rolling in his grave
Pedicab Benji Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I saw a guy in mid Missouri riding a fixie with a Front disc wheel.
jg in pdx Says:
October 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
your facial hair (now missing?) and unkempt hair (also missing?) would have truly completed your SS look, at least if you were to make an appearance in the Pac NW. as for the pants, Pac NW style says just shorten a pair of well worn carhartt’s and add a wool cycling cap made from recycled sweaters. a vintage euro wool jersey would help – I know you have one of those – paired with a Rapha or Assos rain slicker – expensive, I know, but it’s the quality, man, the quality.

you’ll get it right, eventually.
Double G Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Yep, the mustache would have been a good first step to fixed gear hipsterdom. To complete the bike you need to get some bull horn bars and some Velocity Deep V rims (powderocated a bright color) along with a matching tape. You also need one of these:

http://uglypads.com/
Clam Chowder Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 10:41 am
The NYT has laid out the whole vibe for you. If you page forward you’ll also see a woman who rides a Pinarello Prince (a Prince for god’s sake) around Central Park.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/10/09/fashion/20081009_BIKES_3.html
Mavic Man Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I like the pic of you very much. Rather timeless. Very British. Could be taken in 1950 before a run at the Calshot Spit, Hampshire velodrome. Or before your early Spring fixie training rides before a grand tour. Back in the day, a fixie was supposed to get supplesse back in your legs for the season. You seem like a merino wool fixie rider to me. My upgrade would be a Brooks leather saddle.
john g. Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Ummm… pipe insulation? BMX tube pad? SS’ers must be suckers.
Mavic Man Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
PS-And lose the brakes too.
john Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Mavic Man – I’ve plenty o’ wool stashed in the collection and an old Ideale saddle. Would that do instead? BTW, it’s brake no ’s’ for my rig
Mavic Man Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Ideale is better; Brooks is the man. Down with the man.
jg in pdx Says:
October 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Funny about the brake/fixie thing in Oregon . . . Oregon statute requires that all bikes have a brake and your legs apparently don’t count. Actual ruling from the Multnomah County Court in a case a year or so ago brought after a fixie rider was given a ticket. The popo (Portland Police) have a love/hate relationship with the cycling community out here – funny given the “mecca” label attributed to Portland. Interpretation was almost negated by legislative action in 2007, but the bill didn’t pass. One of the reasons the bill didn’t pass was because a shop employee at River City Bicycles in Portland that had a mother in the legislature told her mom that fixies are unsafe w/o brakes, and the mom promptly killed the bill.