Fixed gear article on the Today programme, Radio 4

Checkout on IPlayer, was just before 8.30am, if you can be arsed. Was fairly neutral. More a brief informational for the unknowing.

I heard it, they did acknowledge at some point that it had reached the UK (I think) by talking about the increased popularity of fixed gears, but I did think they could have just interviewed some people in London instead of going over to the States.

Also the usual aren't they all crazy because they all drive without brakes type stuff.

The fact they mentioned having no brakes but they didn't really make a big thing of that, I thought, and that suprised me. Completely agree with you over the states thing. Guess they had a few days for that reporter to kill whilst he was in the States?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8067000/8067862.stm

Yup why Washington DC to report something happening under their noses?

Lazy & bizzare

A few days to kill or it was just a big jolly...

I think we should all email in telling them off for being lazy and not checking out the action on their own front door - maybe get Velocio to email them the stats from the looking for a sponsor page, shows how big things are in the UK.

That's bollocks, neuroportal, they really DID do the whole "shock horror Brakles Fixie is it safe?!" angle.

I would say they did this cos there was something really secret happening that day in Washington, like involving lizard men and baby eating contests. So they decided to find a bit of cultural 'news'.

One massively good observation, though, was that it is now 'mainstream'. Look out for more Signs of the End Times on the mass media.

is this thread a lure to out the old duffers who wake up to the today programme? this old duffer heard it too.

it was predictably embarassing (jolly beeb reporter saying "gosh" and "fixie" a lot) but it was neutral to the point of being banal which was a bit of a relief. it was also the first mainstream piece i've heard to mention the coming fixed gear apocalypse by acknowledging that the phenomenon had now entered the mainstream and concluding that when something enters the mainstream (i.e. when jolly beeb reporters become aware of it i assume?) it ceases to be cool. the piece finished with the assertion that fixed gears will soon be riden by nurses and grannies alike.

fair enough.

is this thread a lure to out the old duffers who wake up to the today programme? this old duffer heard it too.

it was predictably embarassing (jolly beeb reporter saying "gosh" and "fixie" a lot) but it was neutral to the point of being banal which was a bit of a relief. it was also the first mainstream piece i've heard to mention the coming fixed gear apocalypse by acknowledging that the phenomenon had now entered the mainstream and concluding that when something enters the mainstream (i.e. when jolly beeb reporters become aware of it i assume?) it ceases to be cool. the piece finished with the assertion that fixed gears will soon be riden by nurses and grannies alike.

fair enough.

i heard it too, i agree... talked about brakles fixiebikes® but didn't make a big deal of it - seemed to think some were street legal, too.

also, it was pretty funny when the reporter bloke tried out the bike shop guy's bike. cue lots of huffing, puffing and straining followed by: 'i can see why this is fun'!

mmmm...personally I did think it was no more than anyone unfamiliar with fixed gear making a comment about having no brakes. It was what I would have expected off anyone who wouldn't know/have ridden fixed. So in that sense I didn't think it was bad, just a normal question. As the intro said "...might *seem *like a foolhardy idea..." but didn't lay into it. Not defending the BBC, just how it came across to me.

Mainstream? How many people will try it, then give up. Plenty of used OTP in the coming years then.

Maybe. Guess I was just bracing myself for 'ooher no brakes' and I got it. And it has to said they failed to mention how one can bring a fixed bike to a halt without brakes.

Yes it was certainly quite a shock to hear them say they're not cool if we've heard of them. Amazingly postmodern moment that.

And it has to said they failed to mention how one can bring a fixed bike to a halt without brakes.

pretty sure either the reporter or the american bloke interviewed mentioned something about using your legs to stop?

anyway, made a nice change from listening to John Humphreys trying to monster some politician.

/duffer mode

pretty sure either the reporter or the american bloke interviewed mentioned something about using your legs to stop?

anyway, made a nice change from listening to John Humphreys trying to monster some politician.

/duffer mode

but hes the only one who does beast those twisted operators....long may it continue.
comment before last about the postmodern representation very astute.
last word should go to Tynan
"brakeless- yeah bway!"

this was just as boring as i expected it to be, but to be honest its still publicity and i'm glad that bikes (fixed gear in particular) are being talked about more and more and 'explained to the public' if you will.

but hes the only one who does beast those twisted operators....long may it continue.
comment before last about the postmodern representation very astute.
last word should go to Tynan
"brakeless- yeah bway!"

don't get me wrong, I'm all for monstering pols but sometimes humphreys' style startes to grate. my wife told me he is going to be replaced with Alan Titchmarsh though, not sure if she was taking the piss or not...

I listened to it and it just gave me the impression that everyone who rides fixed in DC rides brakless. Maybe they do?

"fixies" bleugh.

haha "speedernometer"

they ride with no brakes? wankers, no wonder why all these accidents happen!

the today programme is a bit bugging.

i got an answerphone message from my grandma saying she heard this article. surely this is a clear sign that the fixed wheel apocalypse is already upon us? repent and save yourselves!