Pimped out fixies. Cool as a very cool thing or a bit crap?

[theboymoon]

Maybe i'm a bit slow on the uptake (it has been said before)...

But i've noticed while trudging around brissle that a fair few people are riding about on fixie's but not your usual rusting, beaten and battle scarred, chain-last-oiled-in-1983 type fixie. More lumo green front rim, pink rear rim and crazy narrow white flat bars type fixie....

And then in a rare sojourn to the village this weekend (i tend to stay away from big cities they are scary n stuff) i saw countless lahdaners scooting about on their SERIOUSLY pimped out fixietastics. heck, there's even a shop just off brick lane where you can get your pimping done. Fortunately, no two wheeled version of Westwood was in attendance.

I don't think i get it. I mean, its not like you can chain them up outside the station once you've waxed no doubt serious cash on these creations.

so, polar cap chic or total fashion victim in a skinny jean stylee?

[neil_bolton]

Very fecking gay.

I want to angrily veer into the riders of such steeds when I see them on the road - they seem to think they look so cool, but all they are is a very badly dressed (usually some scruffy tt, with drainpipe jeans and some seriously knackered plimsolls on) and have no idea how to ride a bike properly.

Proper messengers with the bikes that these are styled on probably hate them, and wouldn't give a flying feck what their bike looked like.

Trying to look awkwardly uncool so you think you are actually quite damn cool = Uncool x Infinity to anyone but your skinny crack smoking mosh mates.

Anyone noticed I don't like them?

[Mekon]

I am gonna get a new doo to top mine off. It's a new fkin' paradigm.

[arryb]

I quite like those But I don't commute on my bikes, don't have a fixie and so won't be pimping it

[Davi]

Don't get the animosity toward em? it's a bike. If it's because of the riders lack of ability, do you also hate all Fezza's, Lambo's, Porsches etc.... you can guarantee the vast majority that drive them haven't got a clue how to get the most out of them.

I'm considering something similar at the moment for the commute, only with bits scrounged / bought off the bay and in a "murdered out" look I think they call it . Since starting a cycle commute in a few weeks ago I've discovered a problem with my gears so only bothered changing a few times so thats just an unnecessary maintenance procedure IMO.

[longblackcoat]

It was the same with singlespeed mountain biking a few years back. And now with 29" bikes. Just ignore it, they'll go away soon enough.....especially if they don't bother with brakes and commute through major cities.

[900T-R]

Never seen them before but I like' em...

[CooperS]

Really like them and if I had the time and the capacity not to go over the top I would build one.

Try this site for more info.

http://www.londonfgss.com/

Think what grinds some people’s gears are that it’s been taken up by fashion’ites in the cities such as London and Bristol and could be seen as a fad and nothing more.

Cyclists as we all know are a funny bunch and I suppose although these new comers aren’t harming anyone, no one wants to see their thing abused.

TBH I’m currently living in Bristol (near Clifton for any locals) and I could not even contemplate riding a fixed wheel maybe a single speed but a fixed would kill me with the hills between the flat and work.

[hondafanatic]

I like them.

If this gets more people out on the bike and off their backside then I'm all for it.

Although, as I'm one of the least trendy people you're ever likely to come across and I really like them, then they cannot be in slightest bit trendy by proxy.

[fivesixseven8]

Working in London, I'm seeing loads of bikes like this at the moment. Part of me thinks they look damn cool, part thinks that the practicalities of having 10" wide bars and only one brake may not lend themselves well to navigating the roads of West London!

[Tall_Paul]

CooperS said:

Really like them and if I had the time and the capacity not to go over the top I would build one.

Try this site for more info.

http://www.londonfgss.com/

Think what grinds some people’s gears are that it’s been taken up by fashion’ites in the cities such as London and Bristol and could be seen as a fad and nothing more.

Cyclists as we all know are a funny bunch and I suppose although these new comers aren’t harming anyone, no one wants to see their thing abused.

TBH I’m currently living in Bristol (near Clifton for any locals) and I could not even contemplate riding a fixed wheel maybe a single speed but a fixed would kill me with the hills between the flat and work.

I live in Bristol and ride a fixed gear I live in Bradley Stoke though, so it's a bit flatter over here, still a damn good workout though! The fixed gear scene hasn't really fully hit Bristol yet, there are a quite a few fixies about but I haven't seen many (if any) of the "hipster" style bikes as posted above. I ride a simple road style fixed gear, nothing flashy. In fact the bikes posted by the OP are quite restrained compared to what some people are riding in London...

[Beyond Rational]

Methinks the green movement is partly to blame, as is the need to display wealth whilst being authentic, for those times when commuting on an E-120 is a bit obvious.

[LRdriver II]

nah.. its a fashion thing. The messangers in NY started it all, for it to spread across to europe (copenhagen is also packed with the things) and all the messangers ride them here.
Next thing you know, its become a cool fad, with all the fashionistas doing it ("fakies") and the bike manufacturers jumping on it.

Never mind the fact that the bikes are illegal as hell, with no brakes, no reflectors etc, etc.. so the cops in Denmark are starting to crack down.

BUT, I do love the simplicity and its always nice to see old italian steel frames riding around. Weirdly enough I would love one to ride around with but the bike theives are also cashing in on the trend (ironic as the whole point is to have a boring bike to avoid it getting nicked..)

[Baby Huey]

Their are loads around trendy Shoreditch. It may be a trend but I think they look great.

[Henry Hawthorne]

Something like a Bob Jackson, a Masi or a 14 Bike Co. (the shop mention that's off Brick Lane) are all very, very cool. I think they're nice and the detailing on the frames really are up there... If someone is willing to spend £1000s on a bike with no gears and a steel frame I have loads of respect for them.

I think it's the gumps who ride around with their long coats and trilbies on look like complete tts. I think this is opitimised by the Charge Plug - wide tires, stupidly heavy frame, and so on. Yes, it looks nice but everyone knows it's a st bike. However, each to their own. Like someone said - if someone wants to get off their arse and ride a bike then it can only be a good thing (as long as they have brakes and lights!).

[CooperS]

Tall_Paul said:

CooperS said:

Really like them and if I had the time and the capacity not to go over the top I would build one.

Try this site for more info.

http://www.londonfgss.com/

Think what grinds some people’s gears are that it’s been taken up by fashion’ites in the cities such as London and Bristol and could be seen as a fad and nothing more.

Cyclists as we all know are a funny bunch and I suppose although these new comers aren’t harming anyone, no one wants to see their thing abused.

TBH I’m currently living in Bristol (near Clifton for any locals) and I could not even contemplate riding a fixed wheel maybe a single speed but a fixed would kill me with the hills between the flat and work.

I live in Bristol and ride a fixed gear I live in Bradley Stoke though, so it's a bit flatter over here, still a damn good workout though! The fixed gear scene hasn't really fully hit Bristol yet, there are a quite a few fixies about but I haven't seen many (if any) of the "hipster" style bikes as posted above. I ride a simple road style fixed gear, nothing flashy. In fact the bikes posted by the OP are quite restrained compared to what some people are riding in London...

I think im staying in student land so see a variety of fw cool bikes which getting ridden by students to pubs round here to many more pratical road ss by 'grown up's' going to work (see some on my site)

[snotrag]

Beyond Rational said:

Methinks the green movement is partly to blame, as is the need to display wealth whilst being authentic, for those times when commuting on an E-120 is a bit obvious.

I just printed that out, its going on the notice board at work

As for the bikes - yes, its fashion driven nonsense. Lots of people now coming into the shop buying them, who would be a million times better off with a different style of bike.

Its a step backwards in the name of fashion. And they are also VERY dangerous and a lot of people are getting knocked off them cos they cant steer or stop.

fking stupid things. People who actually ride Track must find it all rather amusing.

[theboymoon]

Beyond Rational said:

pic that sums it all up very nicely ta

[anonymous-user]

its one thing to get the bike, but to then buy the bag, wear a moth eaten beanie hat and pretend you are a messenger is truly cringe-worthy... everyone knows real messengers are too poor to stand around posing!...

[theboymoon]

snotrag said:

Lots of people now coming into the shop buying them

Does it not make you want to pick them up by their floral printed wing collars and shake vigourously in a vane and fruitless attempt to try and knock some sense into their tousle-locked noggins?

Edited by theboymoon on Tuesday 26th May 22:37