Fixies

Green&Red

Or more importantly their cyclists, why are they not all taken out and shot?

Where has this obsession come from, it annoys the bejaysus out of me when I see some eijit on a fixie now, and thats all the time, especially couriers.
And more importantly how can we get rid of them?

Chips Lovell

PaulieBoy

Green&Red wrote: »

Or more importantly their cyclists, why are they not all taken out and shot?

Where has this obsession come from, it annoys the bejaysus out of me when I see some eijit on a fixie now, and thats all the time, especially couriers.
And more importantly how can we get rid of them?

I love my fixie!

Squidgy Black

I ride a fixed gear bike, and I guarantee you I ride safer and more responsible than 99% of the gobshítes who seem to think they're professional commuters in the morning.

There's a few eejits riding those cheap Chinese overpriced crap like Create etc.

Also, on the subject of couriers, they're paid to deliver the stuff as quick as they can. Faster you get to your drop off the faster you can get to your next pick up.

furiousox

Nasty thread.

shamwari

furiousox wrote: »

Nasty thread.

Fire extinguishers at the ready......:D

Rogue-Trooper

Is it Friday already?

Mint Sauce

shamwari wrote: »

Fire extinguishers at the ready......:D

Popcorn at the ready.

Lumen

_Tyrrell_ wrote: »

I ride a fixed gear bike, and I guarantee you I ride safer and more responsible than 99% of the gobshítes who seem to think they're professional commuters in the morning.

Aren't all commuters professional by definition?

Beasty

I ride a fixie sometimes:(

25sean

dóp.....

Joxer_S

Green&Red wrote: »

And more importantly how can we get rid of them?

Lets take them all out and shoot them.

CramCycle

Green&Red wrote: »

Or more importantly their cyclists, why are they not all taken out and shot?

Where has this obsession come from, it annoys the bejaysus out of me when I see some eijit on a fixie now, and thats all the time, especially couriers.
And more importantly how can we get rid of them?

For some reason, the only ones that annoy me are the ones who call them fixies, If you say it, then you are more than likely a hipster douchebag, anyone else riding fixed is fine.

monkeybutter

Lumen wrote: »

Aren't all commuters professional by definition?

Are you saying I can't commute to college then? Booo

rollingscone

CramCycle wrote: »

For some reason, the only ones that annoy me are the ones who call them fixies, If you say it, then you are more than likely a hipster douchebag, anyone else riding fixed is fine.

And said Hipsters more and more seem to have slyly flipped their hubs to SingleSpeed.

A few blokes at training were of the impression that Single Speed and fixed gear were interchangeable thanks to one mutual work colleague of theirs who also lectured them at length about the Fixed gear skillset.

I'd love to give it a go to see how it feels, but would probably pancake my face.

Tomred13

Hi

Was a fulltime courier for over 4 years in dublin and i too hated fixie couriers. i used a light hardtail mtb with slicks and i used to blow past any fixie rider, its pure style over substance, a fad adopted from the american couriers where they only travel one or two blocks and never have hills to contend with.
As for couriers in general: its a hard n dangerous job, mon-fri, 8-6 rain hail n snow ( no excuses), often doing over 120k a day before commuting home, not to mention playing with taxis n buses all day as a living and having mates killed. you truely have to love cycling to do it long term..some of the best fun ive ever had in a job and my bike skills are second to none after 4 years in the grinder that is dublin traffic.

Raam

Other people are ****.

CramCycle

monkeybutter wrote: »

Are you saying I can't commute to college then? Booo

Professional timewaster

rollingscone wrote: »

I'd love to give it a go to see how it feels, but would probably pancake my face.

It is amazing how quickly you become used to it but I found it funny when I was switching back and forth alot, when I was on my geared bike, I would not stop pedaling for the first while, when I switched back I would forget that I could not stop pedaling and end up standing as my leg would tense against the pedal as I braked and it would make me stand, in a seated position if not paying attention but never anything dangerous.
The only truly dangerous ones are the kids with underdeveloped muscles riding fixed with no muscles and no brakes. I seen one doing a clown on a unicycle comedy routine going through the junction at the goat as he couldn't stop but tried to slow and his knees were bandying (??is it a word) from side to side and he only slowed enough to put his foot down when he was half through the junction, by which time a car had slammed on its brakes to let him through and then his poor knees seemed to struggle to move again as the frame was too big anyway.

CramCycle

Raam wrote: »

Other people are ****.

Not too stereotype but, yes, yes they are, unless I know them in which case anecdotal evidence seems to indicate the percentage goes from 100% to slightly under 100% depending on how I feel.

Squidgy Black

CramCycle wrote: »

Professional timewaster

It is amazing how quickly you become used to it but I found it funny when I was switching back and forth alot, when I was on my geared bike, I would not stop pedaling for the first while, when I switched back I would forget that I could not stop pedaling and end up standing as my leg would tense against the pedal as I braked and it would make me stand, in a seated position if not paying attention but never anything dangerous.
The only truly dangerous ones are the kids with underdeveloped muscles riding fixed with no muscles and no brakes. I seen one doing a clown on a unicycle comedy routine going through the junction at the goat as he couldn't stop but tried to slow and his knees were bandying (??is it a word) from side to side and he only slowed enough to put his foot down when he was half through the junction, by which time a car had slammed on its brakes to let him through and then his poor knees seemed to struggle to move again as the frame was too big anyway.

The best are single speeds with one brake, I've seen a few lads have nasty accidents when all of a sudden brake cables fail or the lever doesn't work.

Riding fixed without any foot retention is the most annoying thing I've seen people do, then you really know they're dangerous.

VanhireBoys

I hate the ones who ride on a single gear with a freewheel and call them fixies... A fixie is not a town-bike

Real men ride with a fixed wheel and are able to balance the bike at a dead stop.

Pedal back the way and reverse into a driveway

and sit on the handlebars and pedal backwards (on private property)

Safety clip is out of the extinguisher and I am ready ....!

GTDolanator

Fixed gear belong on a track...simple!I rode one for years on the streets of dublin as a courier thinkin i was all cool and hip

Riding one all day every day is hard on the knees thats what made me get rid

There becoming like hand bags a fashion statement nearly,and yes the majority of the people who ride them are utter douche bags

Darkglasses

I think they're kinda cool, wouldn't mind one for messing about with myself. Don't confuse the owners with the bikes, that's another matter entirely.

Raam

I form all my opinions about a person on the basis of the type of bicycle which they cycle.

Chartsengrafs

I'm nowhere hip enough for one (used to be though ), but the simplicity of fixed gear bikes has always appealed to me. A nice one is a thing of beauty.

Ole Rodrigo

I've been riding a fixed for the past few months and its great. This thread is the first bit of animosity I've come across, everyone else seems to like it.

Still rather be a hipster than a triathlete though :-)

Squidgy Black

I know I'm not a hipster anyways, hipsters always have money but pretend to be poor, I'm just plain broke. Also, they wear vintage clothes, I just can't afford to replace my old rags from penneys :pac: And of course there's not a hope in hell of me fitting into skinny jeans.

happytramp

Raam wrote: »

I form all my opinions about a person on the basis of the type of bicycle which they cycle.

At least you're being honest. It usually goes something like this.....

fixed gear = Probably a tosser
Rides a Cervelo = Probably a tosser
Crap bike with rusty chain = Probably a scumbag
Girly bike with a basket = Probably thinks she's great
Commuter with safety gear = Probably a pain in the hole
Tri bars = Definitely a tosser

Darkglasses

happytramp wrote: »

At least you're being honest. It usually goes something like this.....


Rides a Cervelo = Probably in Usher

FYP

dave_o_brien

happytramp wrote: »

At least you're being honest. It usually goes something like this.....

fixed gear = Probably a tosser
Rides a Cervelo = Probably a tosser
Crap bike with rusty chain = Probably a scumbag
Girly bike with a basket = Probably thinks she's great
Commuter with safety gear = Probably a pain in the hole
Tri bars = Definitely a tosser

Just the other weekend I was riding a fixed gear Cervelo with tri bars... Uh oh!

ror_74 wrote: »

Still rather be a hipster than a triathlete though :-)

NEW POLL!

dvntie

On the subject of hipsters
Enjoy :-)
http://youtu.be/Xzocvh60xBU

italodisco

lol i spend my time laughing at hipsters but seriously, leave Fixed Gear /Single Speed alone.

Great to cycle one through town, around flatter parts of town etc.

Something basic and simple but effective .

Just dont wear new balance shoes or a messenger bag with the bike lol

Tomred13

ror_74 wrote: »

I've been riding a fixed for the past few months and its great. This thread is the first bit of animosity I've come across, everyone else seems to like it.

Still rather be a hipster than a triathlete though :-)

As a friend in a well known bikeshop says about triathlete's: why suck at one sport, when ya can suck at three!! he would probably say it better ( so sorry i just know ive offended so many on this site)..is it friday already??

FirstinLastout

Darkglasses wrote: »

I think they're kinda cool, wouldn't mind one for messing about with myself.

You don't need a bike to do that you know, but then going by this forum.....

Raam

If people post up what your bike is (pic optional) then I can think up an insult for you.

rp

Green&Red wrote: »

Or more importantly their cyclists, why are they not all taken out and shot?

OK, I'm willing to believe that you are a far more awesome cyclist than me, a fixie rider, so could you post your rides to Strava, so I can heap kudos on you?

nak

Dublin city centre is the perfect city for fixies or singlespeeds due to the lack of hills. Don't care what bike people are riding (apart from the numpties riding brakeless with flat pedals). Track bike is great for developing a good pedalling style and I feel a bit safer on mine when it's icy in the mornings going to work. Some of the clubs in the UK still encourage people to ride fixed in the winter on flat spins.

rollingscone

nak wrote: »

Dublin city centre is the perfect city for fixies or singlespeeds due to the lack of hills. Don't care what bike people are riding (apart from the numpties riding brakeless with flat pedals). Track bike is great for developing a good pedalling style and I feel a bit safer on mine when it's icy in the mornings going to work. Some of the clubs in the UK still encourage people to ride fixed in the winter on flat spins.

While not quite the Alps or Edinburgh/Prague is still not very flat.

Back in my knee having youth I also ran around Manhattan on foot and it was much much flatter than Dublin.

nak

rollingscone wrote: »

While not quite the Alps or Edinburgh/Prague is still not very flat.

Back in my knee having youth I also ran around Manhattan on foot and it was much much flatter than Dublin.

I'm from Glasgow, so Dublin is flat to me. There a few wee inclines. Lausanne is probably the hilliest city I've seen and people were riding fixies there too (not the couriers though, they have more sense).

rollingscone

nak wrote: »

I'm from Glasgow, so Dublin is flat to me. There a few wee inclines. Lausanne is probably the hilliest city I've seen and people were riding fixies there too (not the couriers though, they have more sense).

Isn't lausanne tiny though? I did a piece on Flon Flon for college during the year and I remember someone telling me Lausanne was smaller than Limerick.

My city steed is a singlespeed that weighs more than most Hipsters never mind their bikes, I don't struggle on any hills, but I do wonder about the knee strain from climbng in places like Christchurch from the quays or Parnell Sq.

nak

nak wrote: »

Dublin city centre is the perfect city for fixies or singlespeeds due to the lack of hills. Don't care what bike people are riding (apart from the numpties riding brakeless with flat pedals). Track bike is great for developing a good pedalling style and I feel a bit safer on mine when it's icy in the mornings going to work. Some of the clubs in the UK still encourage people to ride fixed in the winter on flat spins.

Excuse my ignorance (genuinely) - what is it about a fixed gear that makes it safer in the winter?

rp

rollingscone wrote: »

... but I do wonder about the knee strain from climbng in places like Christchurch from the quays or Parnell Sq.

If you have a pre-existing knee injury or are genetically weak-kneed, then you might want to be careful, but a physio friend told me that mashing a fixed gear up a hill is great for the knees, as it builds the muscles around the joint, protecting it (as long as you build up to it sensibly of course).

rp

Deleted User wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance (genuinely) - what is it about a fixed gear that makes it safer in the winter?

http://sheldonbrown.com/fixeda.html:

A track bike fixed gear gives you a very direct feel for traction conditions on slippery surfaces. This makes a fixed gear particularly suitable for riding in rainy or icy conditions.

Squidgy Black

Deleted User wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance (genuinely) - what is it about a fixed gear that makes it safer in the winter?

Generally you have more control over the rear wheel because you're always driving it forwards and not letting it spin of it's own accord. So because you're always pushing it forwards it's less likely to slip out.

I think. Could be wrong.

rp wrote: »

If you have a pre-existing knee injury or are genetically weak-kneed, then you might want to be careful, but a physio friend told me that mashing a fixed gear up a hill is great for the knees, as it builds the muscles around the joint, protecting it (as long as you build up to it sensibly of course).

I was told the complete opposite, that anyone with any kind of knee pain or injuries is to avoid fixed gear bikes because the strain placed on the knees can do more damage and slow recovery times.

rollingscone

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance (genuinely) - what is it about a fixed gear that makes it safer in the winter?

I remember someone (Caroline_ie?) posting here during the last icy patch that being on their Fixed Gear saved them when they hit an ice patch in the Phoenix Park because they had to keep pedalling and the traction pulled them through.

On a freewheel the would have probably tried to just roll out and overbalanced.

Ole Rodrigo

rp wrote: »

If you have a pre-existing knee injury or are genetically weak-kneed, then you might want to be careful, but a physio friend told me that mashing a fixed gear up a hill is great for the knees, as it builds the muscles around the joint, protecting it (as long as you build up to it sensibly of course).

+ 1. I've been doing laps of Howth on mine lately without any knee complaints. Good for building strength.

nak

rollingscone wrote: »

Isn't lausanne tiny though? I did a piece on Flon Flon for college during the year and I remember someone telling me Lausanne was smaller than Limerick.

My city steed is a singlespeed that weighs more than most Hipsters never mind their bikes, I don't struggle on any hills, but I do wonder about the knee strain from climbng in places like Christchurch from the quays or Parnell Sq.

Lausanne didn't seem tiny to us, probably the same size as Limerick and the suburbs go out quite far. The hills are brutal, all steep, a few 20% ones - 500m change in elevation from the lake to the top of the city. I like hills, was nice going to the lake, not so nice coming back. It was also 30C which didn't help. They have lifts to take you from the higher streets down that are big enough for a few bikes. Bikes can go on buses, metro and trains.

I love the short steep climbs around Christchurch (and I have dodgy old knees).

rollingscone

nak wrote: »

Lausanne didn't seem tiny to us, probably the same size as Limerick and the suburbs go out quite far. The hills are brutal, all steep, a few 20% ones - 500m change in elevation from the lake to the top of the city. I like hills, was nice going to the lake, not so nice coming back. It was also 30C which didn't help. They have lifts to take you from the higher streets down that are big enough for a few bikes. Bikes can go on buses, metro and trains.

I love the short steep climbs around Christchurch (and I have dodgy old knees).

I always win at knee damage trumps.

my left patella is partially worn away with damage to the ligaments at the back and my right knee is a rectangle in a wire cage...the left one sometimes complains when cycling, the right one is generally fine although a few times I've been concerned that I might be pushing out a strand of the wire. Have had the experience before of looking at my leg to see a piece of wire poking out of my shin.

I'd be tempted to try a fixie as active stabilisation is my only hope (hence I try to do mostly trail running these days) but figuring out the cost benefit of muscle building to further wear from knee intensive cycling is beyond me.

rp

_Tyrrell_ wrote: »

I was told the complete opposite, that anyone with any kind of knee pain or injuries is to avoid fixed gear bikes because the strain placed on the knees can do more damage and slow recovery times.

That's not the opposite, that's the same message. It's only a bad thing if you have pre-existing knee problems. If you don't, then it is an excellent preventative measure, a case of Werner Keiser's principle that "Ein starker Körper kennt keinen Schmerz" (a strong body knows no pain), I guess.

nak

Deleted User wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance (genuinely) - what is it about a fixed gear that makes it safer in the winter?

You don't have to use brakes to stop, so can stop slowly and won't risk locking the wheels. You can also feel how much traction you have. Not talking super icy, would need studded tyres then.