How the fixed gear might save us.
So Ive gotten a bit of flack about the piece I posted here a couple of months back written by Duncan Davidson as being an indication that were on the anti fixie-fad bandwagon. I will say again, that this is not the case. I for one welcome the influx of new blood for two fairly simple reasons. One, as I stated previously, the more folks on bikes, the better. The second, I believe that the bicycle world in general was long over due for a shot of something of the non-traditional variety.
Photo of Rob by Geoff Badner.
Ok, now hear me out- Take skateboarding for example. For as long as I can remember, there were skateboarders who were proficient in other realms aside from their professional vocation. Chuck Treese, and Steve Caballero, Both professional skateboarders, as well as accomplished musicians. Mark Gonzales, Natas Kaupas, and Ed Templeton redefined street skating, but always continued to peruse careers in fine art. Todd Swank, musician and professional photographer, Lance Mountain, artist. Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, musicians, Neil Blender, renaissance man.. The list goes on and on. Can you name one professional cyclist, or non-professional cyclist for that matter, who not only immerses themselves in cycling but an extra curricular creative endeavor as well? Yeah, theyre out there, but the list is a pretty short one.
The bicycle world has never had anything like the 'Beautiful Losers' art exhibition thats traveling around the globe, or a movement like Hamburger Eyes. I mean for crying out loud, Juxtapoz Magazine was born out of the skateboarding world. There is an entire and vibrantly thriving scene there. What does bicycling have?
At the risk of reeking of sour grapes, Ive recently been rejected from the art show happening in conjunction with The International Bicycle Film Fest on account of the fact that my work has nothing to do with bicycles. Im employed in the bicycle industry, have a long and sordid history on the bike, and I make art, but thats not enough. When I was on the road and there were messenger shows, I was rejected for the same reasons.
My hope is that the fixie trend will bring into our fold a new way of thinking, as well as a new way of relating with our surroundings. Here come alot of folks who arent saddled with the overall relatively conservative and self-important goggles that the bicycle world tends to look at itself through.
There is a creative force behind this whole thing, that as I see it, cant do anything but breathe some new life into a rather stale world that embraces an archaic and tunnel visioned tradition.
It probably wont happen tomorrow, or the day after, but I have hope that one day in the near future we will experience a positive and creative backlash from this movement weve been repeatedly accused of hating on.
Anyhow, on to other news. The Phoenix alley cat I laid on you back a month or so ago went off without a hitch, so the no-good-nics are up to it again. Hot Citys getting hotter.
Comments
10 of us through another cycling forum just did a ride from Fort Worth Texas to Dallas and back on the inter-city train. It was a blast. About half of us were fixed gear and a rider was ss. A fixie bonding experience for sure. I welcome anything in this direction: the more bikes, the better and shaking up the 'elite racing' bike culture is needed. I can see now why fixed gear is 'bout cult status because I'm in the cult drinking koolaid now. Riding those things is a blast, and although it's easier and cleaner a ride some people shy away from it. There I go getting 'elite' on the cult. Man, that human nature is just one thing after another.
Posted by: David Loving | May 23, 2007 02:07 PM
#### that I ride fixies, gears, bmx, mtb, motorbikes, i love it all yet in sydney i still ride lonely. wish we could love it all cos it has two wheels and looks like a split-apart yin/yang.
Posted by: 002 | May 22, 2007 08:11 AM
I can definitely agree to that Jay, shortly after I wrote that comment I broke my right collar bone, gave me some time to reflect on it since then, I've been in a few races trying to heal, and it seems like the fixed community has grown with the new influx of kids to the university. I'll say I'm just glad they're on a bike and not in a car, and as long as everyone treats each other right I could care less what kind of bike it is....good comment though man.
Posted by: Josh Long | April 27, 2007 06:41 PM
eh. skating has it's divisions just like bikes, there's just not as many. you have the long boarders, the guys that only skate tranny / parks, the avid street skaters, the transporation only skaters, the aging old school guys that love to rip bowls / pools, the rare type that still does downhill skating / freestyle skating / slalom / any type of now defunct form of skating. they don't all look down on eachother consciously but it's out there.
i think the fixed gear community for the most part is a lot different thna other cyclist communities although there's definitely those that ride fixed / bmx, fixed street / velodrome, fixed / road, etc. and than fixed / skateboarding too...
Posted by: jay | April 27, 2007 05:21 AM
I completley agree, I grew up as a skateboarder in southern california, we grew up around the pro skate scene and all of the examples you provided are great. I myself am a graphic/web designer, but take on a lot of street art and film projects. I now live in Santa Cruz, and there about 15 kids on fixies here, but thats all they do, they try to be a messengers and take on that trend aspect of it. I ride mine to work and back everyday, but I seem to treat it the same way I treat my board, I live on it, but I still have a life that reaches away from its trend influences, and farther into my own personal creative influences. I just would like to see a community like we had as skateboarders down south. I know what your getting at though.
Posted by: B34NS | March 7, 2007 08:20 PM
talk is better than no talk.
fidel hats and skinny pants is better than farts and shats
Posted by: mullah bin makdag | February 27, 2007 06:28 AM
Again- no Jr. High diploma here.
Posted by: Stevil | February 26, 2007 11:43 PM
Stevil, I believe you meant "long and sordid history." And it is true. But it really may stem from the fact that your Mom is the Mayor Yachats. Politics, boy. Politics...
Posted by: Pinto | February 26, 2007 08:46 PM
I agree to an extent. In SF at the infamous ZEITGEIST, there is such a vein of outsider-ness it is amazing. Also with the fixie culture in the city, there is some crossover to the skateboarding world, but nothing like what you mentioned between skating/street art/ everything else.
I think it is because unlike skateboarding, cycling has many faces, and not all of them agree. In fact many of them outright disagree with each other. Yes, you have the punk skaters, and you have the hip-hop/urban skaters, but with cycling you have the fixie/messengers, the 29'ers, the lycra wearing racer-boys, the Darth Vader freerider/downhillers, etc... and it seems that they all look down on each other, instead of collaborating on something like this.
The energy wasted on defining what is 'in or out' is what keeps something like this from happening. Until we all agree that 2 wheels are better than 4, and stop shutting the other guys out because they roll on another type of rig, we won't get something as cool as that.
Posted by: gimp | February 26, 2007 10:26 AM