Hipsters? HED? Aerospoke? what?

Hello! You were of big help when I had to choose my first single speed (fixed), and when I was rebuilding a very old frame (custom paint + total build).

I come back, because I took the occasion of changing bike (I am leaving my fuji classic), and to know a bit more of this 'urban single speed' world. I know London and England in general has a lot in common with velodromes, track races, and 'urban fixies' if that's the name.

Now, the thing is: the word hipster. I know the meaning of the word and concept, but I don't really have it clear what does it have to do with riders and bikes.

And anyway my question is: now it is quite some time single speed and fixed gears have been very common in the cities outside the oval tracks...but what is the point of mounting 1000 euros wheels (HED, ZIPP) to do funny tricks like no hand trackstands and so on?

I like the kind of bike, it is really the one I prefer for the city. I have ridden all kinds of bikes, and I find a single speed the best for the streets. Comfortable, light, fast, low maintainance. I would never go without brakes as I think skidding is not safe enough (?).

But anyway, you know more than me...could you give me a picture of what it is like now? Doesn't matter if I live in a totally different place (switzerland), your explanation could still be very helpful. All the videos on youtube show track bikes and components, used in a way that has nothing to do with 'racing' or even 'riding'.

thanks!

Aesthetics. If there is a question there then that is my answer.

1000 euros aero wheel in the hands of a 16year old doing skids...hmhm makes sense.

1000 euros aero wheel in the hands of a 16year old doing skids...hmhm makes sense.

Ahh you've been reading indarippas threads then!

^ beat me to it!

Why do higher end everday family road cars have large alloy wheels and low profile tyres.

It makes it loads more expensive to for a tyre, awkward to have a matching spare wheel yet its dead common.

Why? Because some people believe the aesthetics is worth the cost.

This is why i only date models.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7dnvxvcGRc

I may or may not be related to one of them so be careful heartbreaker.

1000 euros aero wheel in the hands of a 16year old doing skids...hmhm makes sense.

Ahh you've been reading indarippas threads then!

Please..... I'm 15 :)

Also I don't know anyone who's owned one from new, 2nd hand on eBay man.

Here's a handy list of urban fixie aesthetic choices and why 'the kids' go with them:

• Aerospokes are lighter and more durable than silver ones with many spokes
  
• riding brakeless enables clearer vision of what traffic ahead may or may not do
  
• bigger, track specific chainrings enable more skid patches
  
• lo-pros offer an aerodynamic advantage on city streets
  
• lots of kids like custom steel frames (often made by frame builders in the North of England). This is why for many kids full 'NJS' builds are the best (NJS is the premier heritage craft bicycle company in Merseyside)
  
• black bikes generally go faster hence the paint jobs
  
  

Sorry for the short list, I'm sure many here can add to it.

you missed the bit about impractical riding positions... Slammed stems and risers are the only way to compliment any aerospok

impractical? you mean aero, right? thats why i slam and trispok. makes me way faster, especially when i ride in a hoody, which is almost always.

You know what....The answer to the question infact deserves some scholarly thought and informed reposnse as we are stepping on subcultural themes all spun together with theories of post-modernisation, materialism, politics of taste and value, borders between aesthetic & function, recontexualisation of 'bike stuff' etc... either that or some of us simply are a bunch of elitist spinning round our urban ends on some impractical components and im chatting doo doo.

You know what....The answer to the question infact deserves some scholarly thought and informed reposnse as we are stepping on subcultural themes all spun together with theories of post-modernisation, materialism, politics of taste and value, borders between aesthetic & function, recontexualisation of 'bike stuff' etc... either that or some of us simply are a bunch of elitist spinning round our urban ends on some impractical components and im chatting doo doo.

Here's a handy list of urban fixie aesthetic choices and why 'the kids' go with them:

• Aerospokes are lighter and more durable than silver ones with many spokes
  
• riding brakeless enables clearer vision of what traffic ahead may or may not do
  
• bigger, track specific chainrings enable more skid patches
  
• lo-pros offer an aerodynamic advantage on city streets
  
• lots of kids like custom steel frames (often made by frame builders in the North of England). This is why for many kids full 'NJS' builds are the best (NJS is the premier heritage craft bicycle company in Merseyside)
  
• black bikes generally go faster hence the paint jobs
  
  

Sorry for the short list, I'm sure many here can add to it.

correct me if im wrong but i thought NJS was from Japan?

Merseyside?

It's just as serious as any of the other statements.

you are meant to add to the confusion

such as ... yes i have a black bike and it is by far the fastest of all my bikes

etc..

http://youtu.be/GbcfyLfPdlc

correct me if im wrong but i thought NJS was from Japan?

Merseyside?

Have you been pondering this for nearly three months?

No no that was 3 months of research that was

• black bikes generally go faster hence the paint jobs
  .
  

Its not really black but contrast...
http://white.stanford.edu/~brian/papers/mri/mtColor/behavior.pdf

"This result suggests that the reduced apparent speed of low contrast targets and certain colored targets is caused by a common cortical mechanism. The cone contrast levels that equate perceived speed differ substantially from those that equate visibility."

This is why highly graphic motifs with black and white are quite popular:

Deep...

Combine the wheels with that frame and you're getting there...