Being laughed at riding fixed?

Park up a motorbike in good weather and on your return you generally get some old boy telling you all about the bikes he used to have.
I like it. It's a sense of continuity - living history, if you will...

They're normally shaking walking sticks at me.

Not like in Italy. I once pulled a cracking wheelie in Siena and some old boy smiled and gave me the thumbs up!

Thread drift - saaaaareeee.