Popularity...

Got a bike as a kid as everyone does.
Then started building/maintaining my BMX's at about 12. Used to love buying an old frame, stripping it and repainting. My favourite was an 80's Haro Master which I stripped and varnished bare metal.
Then got into mountainbiking and later back into road bikes.
Moved to Melbourne AUS a few years ago and got introduced to fixed there. Had to leave my beloved Kenevans there so am building up a new steed now.

Been waiting to get paid by cheapskate design agencies and it's finally come. Let the build begin.

i sometimes sit here and
think
the-smiling-buddha
you are like the poet of
fgss

long live smiling buddha.

If Micheal Rosen rode fix he'd write that ;)

except he'd a fit a bit in about his Grandad snoring, or something

that was real sweet smiling buddha...

this thread probably seen its peak, but I hab me for the sake of it..
I have been riding a beloved SS vintage bike from the 50s in Hamburg
and loved it. heavy as a rock, but unbreakable until it broke and left behind a widow rider in grief
when I moved to London 4 months ago, I was looking for a new ride....You can imagine the rest
I do not know much about parts other than those on my bike, because I maintain them.
seeing other bikes, starting customizing..
I like it a lot & I am sure the hype will pass..dont care

unbreakable until it broke?

Hahaha :)

scott not scot [quote]TheDude alas I am the only person i know riding fixed in or around my area (Ipswich).

Believe me man...they're there...they're everywhere...you just haven't seen em yet!

"The first rule of Fixed club....is you don't talk about Fixed club"[/quote]

i thought that too .....only one sighted so far, i now know theres more out there!!

only been riding fixed for 6 months but loving every minute

I was looking at bikes for ages deciding what to buy. Part of my job is managing courier contracts at a bank in town and I had noticed all the messengers rode fixed so there must be something in it.
Anyway, I thought sod it, bought a Langster, flipped the wheel round and haven't looked back. I just love riding it.
I had some cleats on order at Apex in Clapham, phoned them and they said they were in so I rode all the way up there. Actually they hadn't come in at all but I didn't care, it was a good excuse to get out on my bike.
Now I feel I've cheated a little by buying a pre-built bike and have the unexplainable urge to change perfectly servicable parts on it.
There really is something oh so satisfying about overtaking a lycra clad w*nker on a hill every morning!

I'm a lycra-clad wanker. Bring it.

My history of shame in chronological order - over the last 17(ish) years.

Marin Palisades Trial (Cyan) - stolen
Muddy Fox (bright Yellow) - stolen
Marin Pine Mountain (Black) - stolen
Kona Exsplosif (Gold) - stolen
Klein Mantra Comp (Purple) - stolen
Klein Mantra Race (Carbon) - stolen
Klein Adroit (Purple) - stolen
Klein Attitude (grey) - stolen (and recovered !! - but frame damaged beyond repair)
Klein Attitude (Blue) - got very drunk - attempted to cycle home, woke up on the sofa with a badly cut face/black eye - no bike - no memory.
Specialized S-Works HT (red/White) - sold
Klein Adroit (Green) - stolen
Klein Attitude (Blue) - Still in my possession after nearly 3 years !!!!

So. . . .

Over the years in an attempt to get the weight down on my bikes (my current SS klein with slicks weighs a smidge under 14lb) I have dumped heavy stock parts and replaced them with some of my home made efforts, chain guides, shifters, brake levers etc - around Klein number five I removed the front and rear gears + shifters during one such attempt to modify them, that must have been around 2003 - and they never went back on as I found I didn't really need them in London.

I am still on a single speed MTB, but am considering a fixed 700c machine, but am unsure of the advantages as yet. . . .

W8nking in lycra must be very satisfying.

leeww
Over the years in an attempt to get the weight down on my bikes (my current SS klein with slicks weighs a smidge under 14lb) I have dumped heavy stock parts and replaced them with some of my home made efforts, chain guides, shifters, brake levers etc - around Klein number five I removed the front and rear gears + shifters during one such attempt to modify them, that must have been around 2003 - and they never went back on as I found I didn't really need them in London.

Any pics of these mods?

I'm not the best person to tell you of the benefits in switching from single speed free wheel to fixed. But here goes:

• You can ride backwards (with practice) - totally useful. You'll probably give up riding forwards altogether.
  
• You don't have to have brakes on your bike which will probably really appeal to you being a weight weenie - it is however illegal to ride a bike without brakes. But fuck it you'll be an awesome urban outlaw from now on so probably won't care. Red lights will be invisible to you. You'll be like Robin Hood but on a bike and with worse clothes.
  
• The bike looks cleaner and less cluttered - because bikes are only for looking at
  
• Your knees will wear out quicker or become more improved and somehow work better depending on who you ask.
  
• You can skid the back wheel which I'm sure is something you've totally been dying to do but unable to do on your freewheel bike
  
• The pedals will always move round when the wheels are moving. This is great when you're riding close to kerbs or leaning into a corner.
  
• You're part of the scene!!!!!!!!! Go nuts, get yourself a bunch of tattoos, hang your keys from a chain and always wear a cycling cap. PPL will know you're totally hip and may even mistake you for a bicycle messenger courier.... which would be totally sweet. Dude.
  
  

tallsam removes tongue from cheek.

Sorry. I'm a cunt.

tallsam Any pics of these mods?

There are a few around the internet somewhere, I will try and find some if you are interested.

Thanks for the rest of advice !!! - particularly this:

tallsam * You're part of the scene!!!!!!!!! Go nuts, get yourself a bunch of tattoos, hang your keys from a chain and always wear a cycling cap. PPL will know you're totally hip and may even mistake you for a bicycle messenger courier.... which would be totally sweet. Dude.

I really wanted to be a fakenger not a messenger, the last thing I want people to think is that I make my money delivering post for ' the Man™ ' on a push bike, no fucking way !

Think I might get an EVANS™ tattoo and one of these:

Rad.

lol

ryuumac W8nking in lycra must be very satisfying.

As satisfying as in any other clothing.

leeww
Marin Palisades Trial (Cyan) - stolen
Muddy Fox (bright Yellow) - stolen
Marin Pine Mountain (Black) - stolen
Kona Exsplosif (Gold) - stolen
Klein Mantra Comp (Purple) - stolen
Klein Mantra Race (Carbon) - stolen
Klein Adroit (Purple) - stolen
Klein Attitude (grey) - stolen (and recovered !! - but frame damaged beyond repair)
Klein Attitude (Blue) - got very drunk - attempted to cycle home, woke up on the sofa with a badly cut face/black eye - no bike - no memory.
Specialized S-Works HT (red/White) - sold
Klein Adroit (Green) - stolen

What do you do? Leave them outside your nearest ghetto with a "Free Bike" sign attached?

hippy [quote]leeww
Marin Palisades Trial (Cyan) - stolen
Muddy Fox (bright Yellow) - stolen
Marin Pine Mountain (Black) - stolen
Kona Exsplosif (Gold) - stolen
Klein Mantra Comp (Purple) - stolen
Klein Mantra Race (Carbon) - stolen
Klein Adroit (Purple) - stolen
Klein Attitude (grey) - stolen (and recovered !! - but frame damaged beyond repair)
Klein Attitude (Blue) - got very drunk - attempted to cycle home, woke up on the sofa with a badly cut face/black eye - no bike - no memory.
Specialized S-Works HT (red/White) - sold
Klein Adroit (Green) - stolen

What do you do? Leave them outside your nearest ghetto with a "Free Bike" sign attached?[/quote]

• bag of crack taped to the saddle and giro checks as spoke cards, they can't resist.
  

6-packs of Stella acting as tassles..

hippy 6-packs of Stella acting as tassles..

• some string tied around one of the cranks and attached to a broken fridge and a dog.