Does London have a distinct fixie style?

Does London have distinct fixie style? For example San Fransisco is famous for aerospoked wheels, Japan for keirin bikes and cutting off drops.

I'd like to think we're more pragmatic. But that's utter tosh isn't it?

Perhaps we're just not loud ;)

judging by fixedgeargallery pictures, i get the impression there are more vintage, handbuilt road frames converted to fixed gear here, as opposed to off the peg bikes and track frames.

I wished that all of us could have bikes that were "born" in UK.

Where did you get yours?

Mines from birmingham, UK.

Raleigh of Nottingham.

made from scaffold poles.

GRRRR

Off the pegs or mingers. Of course there's the U.S. copycats...

(I'm sure i'll get some shit for that)

i don't think the 'messenger' style dictates the fixed style here in the u.k. like it does in the u.s. the rich history of track/fixed riding has more influence here imho.

Paying too much for bikes is the british fixed style.

i thought that was the japanese thing? those njs frames aren't exactly cheap!

Compared to what you fuckers pay over there they are. My RAP (rest it's steely soul) cost me $400US aka roughly £200 and that was including suntour headset. Most other keirin frame/forks/occasionally HS/BB's I know of in NYC go for between $400-750. Langsters at Evans go for £400.

Edit: don't even get me started on the condor pista.

I think paying too much for everything is the English way. You had beer whilst in London right?

yep, I had a mate bring back an audio recording item for me from the states.

cheapest price here £800
online shop in US $750

still, my bike cost £27

Phil Wood High Flange front and rear hubs
$322 (£160) in the USA (inc postage to the USA) or £220 in the UK (not inc postage).

We pay too much for everything.

Thankfully my wife is from Chicago so she's bringing some bike bits back with her.

Perhaps this is why conversions are the thing here? The budgets haven't changed but what you can do with the same money is wildly different.

It's true for new bikes, but not secondd hand stuff (until recently). A keirin frame for $600 (£300) is not cheap. You can get decent second hand frames here for £100 and decent bikes for £250.

I think the proportion between couriers and non-couriers (don't make me use the F-word) is very different from NYC for example, or Tokyo or SF (I guess cause I haven't been there for a while). In london I'd say 80% of guys (or girls) on fixed gear bikes are couriers. In NYC I'd say 50%.

maybe I'm wrong.

Also less brakeless riders in London as some courier companies don't allow it.

I also think that people in London riding fixed are either messengers, ex messengers, friends of messengers who've been introduced to that style of riding, and of course, trackies.

how many seriously just decided to ride fixed "for fashion" without having some prior contact in those areas?

The niece of a friend whose half-cousin had a package delivered to his office by a messenger told me about fixed gear bikes and I was hooked.

Seriously - wait a bit and the "hipster" thing is going to explode, like in Tokyo. I get asked almost everyday where to get a bike from by designers, photographers, and other randomly trendy people.

lets hope they've got some road sense and/or some skills then!

this is not a good time to be looking for a S/H track frame

i got into it through messengering, realising everyone else was quicker than me and my geared bike, then found out about it more through mr sheldon's website

RPM how many seriously just decided to ride fixed "for fashion" without having some prior contact in those areas?

When i got my first just over 2 years ago, i hadn't had much concept (and very little 'understanding'). I'd chatted briefly to people riding fixed and read a bunch of stuff online about it and as i had a bit of cash to get something cheap 2nd hand I thought i would try it out. It wasn't for 'fashion' i don't think - just out of interest.

there can't be anyone who's got into fixies without reading Sheldon..

i'm sure there will be rpm, like yorgo says the fixie trend IS going to blow up... my friend bought a bianchi pista off the peg and she'd probably think you were talking about a pantone colour if you said sheldon brown to her

Heh!

well, it's all good really, if it means people are riding

actually, if I ever meet your friend I'll be sure to say "Sheldon Brown" to her

look out for a bianchi pista with pink deep v's and a lunatic owner